General Studies Paper 1UPSC Books
World Geography
Is world Geography asked in UPSC? How can I prepare for world Geography for UPSC? Is world Geography in UPSC Prelims? Is Geography for UPSC tough?

Geography is one of the main subjects of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. It comprises Human Geography, Physical Geography, and World Geography. Questions from World Geography are asked in both Prelims and Mains of the IAS Exam. This article gives you certain tips needed to solve the map questions from the world maps section. Read on to find out what to learn, how to learn, and what questions you can expect from this section.
- Origin and Evolution of Universe Solar System
- Geomorphology
- Climatology
- Oceanography
- Biogeography
- World Economic and Human Geography
- Important Places Mapping
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY
- Universe
- Theories of evolution of Universe
- Star Formation
- Formation of planets
- Earth Evolution& Basics
- Evolution of Earth
- Evolution of Atmosphere
- Evolution of Hydrosphere
- Earth’s Geological time scale
- Origin of life
- The Earth’s Movements-Revolution and Rotation and Seasons
- Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and its ffects
GEOMORPHOLOGY
- Earth’s Interior
- Sources of Information about the Interior (Direct Sources, Indirect Sources – Earth Quake Wave, Volcanoes)
- Structure of the Earth’s Interior
- Mechanical and Chemical categorization of internal structure
- Geology and Rock System
- Minerals
- Major Elements of the Earth’s Crust
- Physical Characteristics
- Classification –
- Rocks ( Aggregate of Minerals )
- Classification
- Igneous
- Sedimentary
- Metamorphic
- Rocks & landforms
- Rocks & Soils
- Geomorphic Processes
- Endogenic Forces
- Diastrophism
- Orogenic
- Epierogenic
- Earthquakes
- Plate movements
- Volcanism
- Exogenic Forces
- Denudation Processes
- Weathering & its Significance
- Mass movements & their impact
- Erosion Transportation & Deposition
- Endogenic Forces
- Earthquakes and Volcanism
-
- Earthquakes: Reasons, Distribution & impact
- Volcanism
- Types and distribution of Volcanoes
- Volcanic Landforms (intrusive)
-
- Distribution of Continents & Oceans
- Theories
- Continental Drift Theory
- Convectional Current Theory
- Mapping of the Ocean Floor
- Sea Floor Spreading
- Plate Tectonics
- Isostasy
- Theories
- Landforms and their evolution
- Causesof landform development
- Geomorphic Processes
- Geomorphic Agents
- Geomorphic Agents and Landforms
- Running Water
- Development of a river System
- Erosional Landforms
- Depositional Landforms
- Ground Water (Karst Topography)
- Erosional Landforms
- Depositional landforms
- Glaciers
- Erosional Landforms
- Depositional Landforms
- Waves and Currents
- Winds
- Erosional Landforms
- Depositional Landforms
- Landforms across the world
- Rivers and lakes
- Mountain and Peaks
- Plateaus
- Causesof landform development
OCEANOGRAPHY
- Hydrosphere
- Water on the Surface of the Earth
- Hydrological Cycle
- Submarine Relief Features
- Relief of the Ocean floor
- Divisions of the ocean floor
- Minor relief features
- Temperature and Salinity
- Temperature of the Ocean Water
- Factors affecting Temperature distribution
- Horizontal and Vertical Distribution
- Salinity of the Ocean Water
- Factors affecting salinity
- Horizontals distribution of salinity
- Vertical Distribution of salinity
- Density of Ocean Waters
- Movements of Ocean Water
- Factors influencing Movement
- Waves
- Motion of waves
- Characteristics of wave
- Tides
- Types of Tides
- Importance of Tides
- Ocean Currents
- Characteristics of Ocean Currents
- Types of ocean currents:
- Major Ocean currents of the World
- Effects of Ocean Currents
- Marine Resources
- Surface water resources
- Ground water resources
- Inland water resources
- Oceanic Water Resources (Marine Resource)
- Utilization of oceans by man
- Water consumption patterns
- Water Conservation and Management (Techniques)
- Ocean Deposits and Corals
- Terrigenous Deposits
- Volcanic Deposits
- Biotic deposits
- Abiotic Deposits
- Coral Reefs
- Probable origin of Coral Reef
- Types and significance of Coral Reef
- Issue of Coral Bleaching
CLIMATOLOGY
- Atmosphere
- Composition of the Atmosphere
- Structure of the Atmosphere
- Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature
- Solar Radiation and Isolation
- Heating and cooling of atmosphere
- Terrestrial Radiation
- Heat Budget of the Planet Earth
- Temperature
- Factors Controlling Temperature Distribution
- Distribution of Temperature
- Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
- Atmospheric Pressure
- Vertical variation of pressure
- Horizontal distribution of pressure
- World Distribution of Sea Level Pressure
- Factors affecting the velocity and direction of the Wind
- General Circulation of the Atmosphere – Pattern of Planetary Winds
- Latitudinal Variation of Atmospheric
Heating - Emergence of Pressure Belts
- Hadley Cell , Ferrel Cell, Polar Cell
- Seasonal Wind
- Local Wind
- Land and Sea Breezes
- Mountain and Valley Winds
- Air Mass, Fronts, Cyclones and Jet Stream
- Air mass & fronts
- Cyclones
- Thunderstorms
- Tornadoes
- Water in the Atmosphere
-
-
- Water Vapour
- Humidity – Absolute and Relative
- Saturation – Dew Point
- Evaporation and Condensation
- Dew
- Frost
- Fog & Mist
- Clouds
- Precipitation
- Rainfall
- Snowfall
- Sleet Hail
- Hailstones
- Types of Rainfall
- World Distribution of Rainfall
-
- Climatic Zones of the World
- World Climate
- Koeppen’s Scheme of Classification of Climate
- Climatic Zones of World
BIO-GEOGRAPHY
- Soil & Its Characteristics
- Soil Characteristics
- Factors Responsible for Soil Formation
- Process of Soil Formation
- Soil Profiles and Horizons
- Classification of Soil
- Soil Degradation, Erosion and Conservation
- Vegetation resources
- Types of natural vegetation
- Forests
- Significance of forests
- Factors of forest development
- Classification of forests
- forest cover
- Grasslands
- Desert vegetation
- Tundra Vegetation
- Deforestation
- Conservation of forests
- Reforestation
- Afforestation
- Forestry
- Social forestry
- Agro-forestry
- Farm Forestry
- Community Forestry
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF INDIA
- Physiography of India
- Location
- Geopolitical Significance of India
- Geological Divisions
- The Peninsular Block
- The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains
- Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain
- Physiographic Divisions
- Drainage System
-
- Drainage Patterns
- Drainage System of India
- Himalayan Drainage System
- River Systems of Himalayan Drainage
- Indus river system
- Ganga River System
- Brahmaputra river system
- Peninsular Drainage System
- River Systems of Peninsular Drainage
- Small Rivers Flowing Towards East and West
-
- Climate
- Factors influencing the climate of India
- Monsoon
- Mechanism of the Monsoon
- Classical Theory
- Modern theory
- Air mass theory
- Jet stream theory
- ELNINO and LANINA & their impact
- The rhythm of Seasons
- The cold weather season
- The hot weather season
- The southwest monsoon season
- The retreating monsoon season
- Climatic Regions of India
- Soils in India
-
- Classification of Soils
- Soil textures
- Issue of Soil degradation & Soil Erosion
- Soil Conservation
-
- Natural Vegetation
- Types of Forests in India
- Forest Cover in India
- Forest Conservation
- Forest Problems in India
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
- Floods and Droughts
- Forest fires
- Deforestation
- Desertification
- Pollution
- Climate Change and Global Warming