Maharashtra PSC: Geography: Revised Syllabus for State Services (Main) Examination (Optional)

Geography (Code No : 203) Paper – I
Principles of Geography Standard : Degree

Total Marks : 200
Nature of Paper : Conventional Type
Duration : 3 Hours

Note :
1) Answers to this paper must be written either in English or in Marathi.
2) This paper will test the candidate’s ability to comprehend, to analyse, to interpret, to criticise and to appraise subject matter related to the topics/sub topics mentioned below.
3) To test spatial analysis and synthesis abilities, appropriate number of questions will be asked providing necessary outline maps.
4) It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub topics mentioned below.
 

Section - A (Marks : 50)
1) Geomorphology :
    1) Interior of the earth- composition and physical conditions.
    2) Rocks and minerals- formations, types.
    3) Factors controlling landform development.
    4) Endogenetic and exogenetic forces.
    5) Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust- geosynclines, continental drift, isostasy, sea-floor spreading.
    6) Vulcanicity, earthquake and plate tectonics.
    7) Drainage network pattern and types.
    8) Concept of geomorphic cycles- landforms associated with fluvial, arid, glacial, coastal and Karst cycle.
    9) Applied geomorphology and recent trends in geomorphology.

2) Climatology :
    1) Atmosphere- composition and structure.
    2) Solar radiation- insolation and heat balance.
    3) Weather elements- temperature, pressure, planetary and local winds, monsoon, Jet stream, air masses and fronts and cyclones.
    4) Classification of climate- Koppen and Thornthwaite.
    5) Climatic changes.
    6) Weather forecasting- modern techniques.
 

Section - B ( Marks : 50 )
3) Oceanography :
    1) Bottom topography- Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.
    2) Ocean deposits and coral reefs.
    3) Temperature and salinity.
    4) Ocean currents and tides.
    5) Marine resources.
    6) Sea level changes.

4) Biogeography :
    1) Soils- genesis, classification, distribution, erosion and conservation.
    2) Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals.
    3) Problems of deforestation and forest conservation measures.

5) Environmental Geography :
    1) Ecology and Ecosystem- energy flow, material cycle, food chain, webs, and biotic and abiotic components.
    2) Biosphere- different biomes- Tundra, Taiga, Grassland, Tropical rainforest, Marine communities.

    3) Environmental degradation and conservation, global ecological imbalances- pollution and green house effect, global warming, reduction in bio-diversity and depletion of forests.

    4) Environmental laws and environmental impact assessment.
 

Section - C ( Marks : 50 )
6) Geographical Thought :
    1) A brief study of geography in ancient and medical period.
    2) Development in 20th century.
    3) Man and environment, determinism and possibilism, areal differentiation, spatial organisation. quantative revolution. positivism, humanism, radicalism and behaviouralism in Geography.

7) Population Geography :
    1) Patterns of world distribution, growth and density of population and population policies.
    2) Causes and consequences of migration.
    3) Demographic transition.

8) Settlement Geography :
    1) Rural and Urban settlements- site, situation, types, size, spacing and morphology.
    2) Classification of towns.
    3) Urbanisation- process and problems.
    4) Rural – Urban Fringe, and sphere of urban influence.
    5) Central place theory and rank size rule.

9) Social and cultural Geography :
    1) Social structure and social process.
    2) Ethnicity, tribe, caste and religion, dialect and language.
    3) Social well being.
    4) Environment- culture interaction.
    5) Cultural regions.

10) Political Geography:
    1) Concept of state, nation and nation state.
    2) Frontiers and boundaries.
    3) Global strategic views- Heartland and Rimland theories.

Section - D (Marks: 50)
11) Economic Geography:
    1) Evolution of world economy and measures of economic development.
    2) Economic activities- production, consumption and exchange.
    3) World distribution of resources.
    4) Agriculture- Typology and distribution.
    5) Industries- Locational pattern and problems, types- textile, iron and steel, sugar and automobile.
    6) Transport- Modes and cost.
    7) World Trade- Factors influencing trade, problems and prospects, globalisation, GATT and WTO.

12) Regional Planning :
    1) Concept of region- types of region and methods of regionalisation.
    2) Growth centres and growth poles.
    3) Regional imbalances.
    4)Environmental issues in regional planning and planning for sustainable development

13) Techniques of spatial analysis :
    1) Cartographic techniques.
    2) Statistical methods.
    3) Computer application.
    4) Remote sensing.
    5) GIS and GPS
 

Paper - II
Geography of India With Special Reference to Maharashtra
Standard: Degree

Total Marks : 200
Nature of Paper : Conventional Type
Duration : 3 Hours

Note :
1) Answers to this paper must be written either in English or in Marathi.
2) This paper will test the candidate’s ability to comprehend, to analyse, to interpret, to criticise and to appraise subject matter related to the topics/sub topics mentioned below.

3) To test spatial analysis and synthesis abilities, appropriate number of questions will be asked providing necessary outline maps.
4) It is expected from candidates to study the latest and recent developments and happenings pertaining to the topics/sub topics mentioned below.
 

Section - A (Marks : 50)
1) Location : Space relationship of India with neighbouring countries.
2) Geology : History, major rock types and structure, earthquakes, and landslides.
3) Physiography : physiographic regions and drainage.
4) Climate : Mechanism of Indian monsoon, monsoon forecast, distribution of rainfall, cyclones, droughts and floods, and climatic regions.
 

Section – B (Marks : 50)
5) Soil : Classification, distribution, problems and conservation.

6) Natural vegetation : classification, distribution, forest produce, utilisation and conservation, national forest policy and Agro and social forestry.

7) Surface and ground water : distribution, utilization and conservation, national water grid.

8) Energy and mineral resources : distribution, utilization, conservation energy crises and conservation.
 

Section - C (Marks : 50)
9) Agriculture : Infrastructure–seeds, fertilizers, power, irrigation, institutional factors, land holdings, land tenure and land reforms, land capability agricultural productivity, land capability, green revolution and, socio-economic and ecological implications, significance of dry land farming, livestock resources and white revolution, blue revolution, agricultural regionalisation, agro-climatic zones.

10) Industry :
    1) Industries in pre-independence and post-independence period; locational factors of cotton, jute, iron and steel, fertiliser, paper, drugs and pharmaceutical, automobile and cottage industries.

    2) Industrial complexes and industrial regionalisaiton, new industrial policy, liberalisation, globlisation, privatisation and industrial unrest.

11) Transport, Communication, Trade and Tourism : Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks, national and foreign trade, export promotion zones, developments in communication technology and its impact on economy and society, types of tourism, development of tourism.
 

Section - D (Marks: 50)
12) Cultural Setting : Racial and ethnic diversities, major tribes, tribal areas and their problems, cultural regions, growth, distribution and density of population, demographic attributes, migration and associated problems, population problems and policies.

13) Settlements : Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements, census definition of urban areas, morphology and classification of Indian cities, problems of urbanisaiton.

14) Regional Development and Planning : Regional development policies in different five year plans, river basin development, command area development, drought prone area development, hill and tribal area development, metropolitan region and national capital region, planning regions and regional disparities in economic development.

15) Political Aspects : Geographical basis of Indian federalism, state recoganisation, regional and linguistic consciousness and national integration, international boundary of India and related issues, India and geo-politics of the Indian Ocean.

16) Contemporary Issues : Environmental hazards– epidemics, issues related to environmental pollution, environmental impact assessment, environmental degradation and management, population explosion and food security, problems of agrarian unrest, issues related to poverty; concept of sustainable growth and development and disaster management.