UPSC Geography Syllabus 2024 : Indian and World Geography Topics for CSE(IAS) Exam
Indian Administrative Services 2025 ( IAS )
UPSC Geography Syllabus is not very well defined in the official notification. The Union Public Service Commission will conduct the CSE (IAS) prelims 2024 on June 16, 2024. The Indian and World Geography questions forms a major part of the IAS prelims exam. The candidates care suggested to prepare all the topics of UPSC Geography syllabus to ensure their selection in the UPSC IAS exam. Read here detail topic-wise Geography syllabus for the UPSC prelims exam.
UPSC Geography Syllabus 2024:
Union Public Service Commission will conduct the UPSC CSE (IAS) Prelims Exam 2024 on June 16, 2024. It is a trend that the Commission ask around 14 -16 questions from the UPSC Geography syllabus. The candidates are suggested to prepare all the topics of UPSC Geography syllabus for the prelims and mains exam but the Commission does not mention the Geography Topics in detail. The candidates are required to deep dive in the standard UPSC Books to extract all the topics of UPSC syllabus of India and World Geography. The candidates should note that the UPSC syllabus for the Indian and world geography is one of the most extensive entities in the whole UPSC IAS syllabus.
UPSC syllabus for the Indian and world geography is not explained in the official notification. Only one line is mentioned which compels to take the broadest interpretation of the topic. UPSC Geography syllabus includes all the elements of the universe and hence the number of topics is large. The candidates are required to prepare all the topics because all of them are interrelated. The candidates need to take at least three readings of the books to prepare and understand the interrelations of topics. Moreover, various geography topics related to climatology are based on the principles of Physics which makes the topics difficult to understand for the candidates having a humanities background.
The candidates should note that the IAS syllabus is not released separately on the official website. The Union Public Service Commission releases the IAS syllabus as a section in the IAS notification. The candidates can download the IAS syllabus pdf as given here for all their preparation references.
The candidates can check the subject-wise IAS main syllabus in the official pdf.
The Union Public Service Commission releases the IAS syllabus as a part of the Civil Service Exam notification PDF. The candidates are required to download the Notification PDF to get the IAS syllabus PDF. The candidates can download the IAS syllabus PDF available here.
The candidates can download here the IAS Syllabus PDF
Also Read: UPSC Answer Key 2024 Live Updates
Geography not only provides the understanding of the environment but also broadens the worldview of the candidates which helps in understanding various other aspects of society. Economic, demographic, and other branches of geography are interlinked with different subjects of the UPSC syllabus. Indian and World Geography topic include all the physical, economic and political aspects of geography. The candidates should understand that they have to study the following topics for the Geography section of the IAS exam.
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The Indian and the world geography syllabus is very broad and the candidates find it very difficult to prepare this section. The Indian and World Geography syllabus, in a broad sense, covers almost all the aspects of the General Studies syllabus except current affairs. Current Affairs on the other hand is the other largest section of the IAS syllabus. It influences the questions from almost all the other sections.
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- UPSC IAS Syllabus 2024: Geography Topics
- Physical Geography topics
- Indian Geography Topics
- How to Prepare Geography for the IAS exam?
- Best Books for Geography
UPSC IAS Syllabus 2024: Geography Topics
IAS Syllabus for geography is very broad and scientific in orientation. All the geographical phenomena follow the scientific principles of Physics and Chemistry. The candidate needs to visualise the pressure concepts at the global level to understand the movement of gases and water currents. The IAS prelims syllabus does not explain the actual content of the syllabus. It only mentions the Geography syllabus given below.
The Union Public Service Commission mention the Ethics syllabus in the IAS notification. The candidates can see below the IAS main Ethics syllabus as mentioned in the official notification:
- Ethics and Human Interface: Essence, determinants and consequences of Ethics in-human actions; dimensions of ethics; ethics - in private and public relationships. Human Values - lessons from the lives and teachings of great leaders, reformers and administrators; the role of family society and educational institutions in inculcating values.
- Attitude: Content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
- Aptitude and foundational values for Civil Service, integrity, impartiality and nonpartisanship, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance and compassion towards the weaker sections.
- Emotional intelligence: Concepts, and their utilities and application in administration and governance.
- Contributions of moral thinkers and philosophers from India and the world.
- Public/Civil service values and Ethics in Public administration: Status and problems; ethical concerns and dilemmas in government and private institutions; laws, rules, regulations and conscience as sources of ethical guidance; accountability and ethical governance; strengthening of ethical and moral values in governance; ethical issues in international relations and funding; corporate governance.
- Probity in Governance: Concept of public service; Philosophical basis of governance and probity; Information sharing and transparency in government, Right to Information, Codes of
- Ethics, Codes of Conduct, Citizen’s Charters, Work culture, Quality of service delivery, Utilization of public funds, and challenges of corruption.
- Case Studies on the above issues.
The above syllabus is taken from the official notification of UPSC CSE.
The Union Public Service Commission introduced the Ethics paper in 2013. The ethics paper is an essential component of the IAS Main Examination. The Ethics syllabus is important because the right strategy can fetch good marks in the paper. The Ethics papers is designed to check the Integrity and Moral principles in the candidates.
Physical Geography topics
Outer Space
- Solar System and other Celestial bodies
Our planets - Theories and phenomenon associated with the outer space
Earth and it's Interior
- Materials of the Earth’s Crust: Rocks and Minerals
- Latitudes and Longitudes
- Motions of the Earth
- Distribution of Oceans and Continents
- Timeline of evolution
Geo-morphology
- Mineral and Rock Systems
- Geomorphic Processes
- Volcanoes
- Landforms and their evolution –Exogenic and Endogenic
- Rocks and Associated Economic Minerals
- Soils and associate crops
Climatology
- Atmosphere – Composition and Structure
- Solar Radiation-Heat Balance, Transfer & Distribution of Temperature
- Cyclones
- Insolation and Heat Budget
- Humidity and Precipitation
- Weather System and Atmospheric Circulation
- Water Content in the Atmosphere and its impact
- Climate types and Vegetation across the world
- Climate Change and its impact
See here: India Polity and Governance Syllabus
Hydrology
- Ocean and Movement of Ocean Water (Water Currents)
- Marine Resources
- Marine Flora Fauna and Deposits
- Drainage patterns and resultant landforms
Economic Geography
- Types of Economic Activities
- Mineral and Power Resources
- Agriculture
- Industries
- Human Resources
Biodiversity and Conservation
- Environment
- Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
Human Geography Topics
- Demography and Population pyramids
- Population Growth and associated theories and models
- World Population Distribution, Density and Growth
- Human Development
- Human Environment–Settlement, Transport and Communication
- Human-Environment Interactions The Tropical and the Subtropical Region
- Transport and Communication
- International Trade
Pollution
- Types of pollution
- Pollution and its impact
- Global warming and its impact
- Global initiatives for tackling climate change
Indian Geography Topics
- India and its physical features
- Mountain system in India
- River system in India
- Natural Vegetation and wildlife
- Agriculture and cropping pattern
- Urbanisation and population distribution in India
- Economic activities of the population
- Energy Resources in India
- Mineral Resources in India
- National Parks and Wildlife centuries
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The candidates should dwell deep into these topics and explore the details because the UPSC ask questions from the details and micro concepts. The Geography concepts are based on scientific principles hence the candidates having humanities academic background find it difficult to understand.
See here: IAS Current Affairs Syllabus
How to Prepare Geography for the IAS exam?
Geography is one of the most extensive sections of the IAS General Studies syllabus. Geography touches all aspects of life in one way or other. Some geography mentors say that General Studies is the extension of Geography but it is not the case.
The candidates should start with the NCERT books. NCERT books are essential for IAS preparation because the NCERT builds the conceptual foundation of the subject necessary for the IAS exam. The candidates can read the geography NCERT books of Class VI to XII. Candidates can skip the NCERT book of class VI and VII but the NCERTs of class VIII and onward are essential.
Only NCERT books are not sufficient for the IAS exam. The candidates need to take references from the standard reference books also. The candidates should also prepare the topics-wise notes. There are various topics that are intertwined in each other such as soil and crop pattern, rock system and mineral resources and the like. Besides the above, the candidates must discuss the geographic phenomenon with their friends and mentors. They should try to link the theoretical knowledge with the practical aspects because, in recent years, UPSC is asking about the practical aspects of weather, rain and other geographic phenomena.
See here: How to prepare for IAS exam?
Best Books for Geography
The geography is very broad and the candidates cannot cover the geography syllabus from one book. The candidates need to refer to various books for the topics given below.
- Geography NCERT books of class VI to XII
- Goh Cheng Loeng’s Certificate Physical and Human Geography
- Indian Geography by Majid Hussain
- Concise Geography by ALS
- Environment by Shankar IAS academy
- Oxford Student Atlas
See here: Best Books for IAS Exam
The candidates can also read if they have time
- Physical Geography by Roopa Publication
- Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
- Human Geography by Majid Hussain
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The candidates should analyse the UPSC CSE previous year question papers to know the trend of the most asked topics. The Commission releases the UPSC question paper on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The candidates can get the UPSC question paper of previous year here. The candidates can downloa
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The Union Public Service Commission will release the UPSC Civil Service (IAS) notification on January 14, 2026. With the release of official notification, the UPSC IAS Application form 2026 will also be activated for the candidates. The last date to apply online for the UPSC CSE (IAS) exam 2026 wil
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Yes, the Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC CSE (IAS) Main exam admit card 2025 on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The candidates are required to log in with their UPSC OTR and password. The UPSC CSE admit card will inform the candidate about their UPSC exam centre.
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The UPSC CSE (IAS) exam result 2024-25 was released on June 11. The Commission released the final UPSC CSE (IAS) 2024 cutoff for all the categories and stages of exam. The Commission released the UPSC Cutoff 2025 for all the stages of exam as given below:
| Category | CS (Prelim)* | CS (Main)# | CS (Final) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 87.98 | 729 | 947 |
| EWS | 85.92 | 696 | 917 |
| OBC | 87.28 | 702 | 910 |
| SC | 79.03 | 685 | 880 |
| ST | 74.23 | 684 | 884 |
| PwBD-1 | 69.42 | 663 | 876 |
| PwBD-2 | 65.30 | 696 | 913 |
| PwBD-3 | 40.56 | 307 | 701 |
| PwBD-5 | 40.56 | 361 | 461 |
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The candidates should prepare the five fundamental subjects as mentioned for the IAS prelims exam. These fundamental subjects are
The candidates should also prepare the Environmental issues because they have gained more importance in the recent years.