(Exam Paper) UPSC IAS Mains 2014: Geography

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(Exam Paper) UPSC IAS Mains 2014: Geography

Paper- I

Section ‘A’

1. Answer the following in about 150 words each:

a. Define the term ‘meander’ and describe the basic characteristics of entrenched meander and ingrown meander.
b. Discuss the salient features of ‘sirocco’ and ‘mistral’
c. Give an account of the nature of biosphere as an ecosystem
d. Sate the uniqueness of the Eurasian Steppe Biome.

2. A. State the concept of plate tectonics. How does it help in explaining the formation of the Himalays and Appalachian Mountains?
b. Describe the origin and development of thunderstorms with examples.
c. Enumerate the major causes of increasing degradation of environment in hills and hill slopes, and state its down-valley impact.

3. a. Discuss the nature and origin of Indian monsoon and recent techniques of its prediction.
b. State the concept of erosion surfaces and highlight the factors responsible for their development.
c. Give a critical account of reasons and consequences of marine pollution.

4. a. Explain weathering and mass wasting, and describe their geomorphic significance.
b. Define zoogeographic region. Also describe the basic faunal makeup of the Neo-Arctic zoogeographic region.
c. Give an account of recent observations on coral bleaching with reference to Clive Wilkinson’s Report.

Section – B

5. Answer the following in about 150 words each:
a. Elaborate the concept of mental map.
b. Give an account of food security issues in developing countries.
c. Discuss the factors responsible for counter-urbanization.
d. Explain the relevance of bottom-up and top-down approaches in the development of agrarian economy.
e. Critically analyses application of models in Geography.

6. a. Explain the necessary conditions of takeoff and subsequent stage of development of a nation as propounded by Rostow.
b. Discuss environmental and economic problems associated with coal production.
c. Discuss the contribution of geographers in the development of radical geography.

7. a. Giving suitable examples, describe the importance of system analysis in geographical studies.
b. “Rural sustainability is necessary for urban sustainability.” Discuss the statement in the backdrop of integrated development approach.
c. “Indo-Gangetic hearth is considered to be one of the world’s richest cultural realms.” Examine.

8. a. Explain the qualitative and quantitative methods of delineation of the sphere of urban influence.
b. “World is passing through a global resource dilemma.” Comment
c. “Food productivity with purity of ecosystem is the need of the hour.” Elaborate.

Paper- II

Section A

1. A. On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in you QCA Booklet the significance of these locations, whether physical/commercial/economic/ecological/ environmental/cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry:
(i) Guru
(ii) Bhor Ghat
(iii) Shravanabelagola
(iv) Kalibangan
(v) Ganga Sagar.
(b) Explain how eco-tourism activities could be important livelihood options in the Himalayan and North-Eastern regions of the country.
(c) How is drainage pattern determined by the water divide?
(d) Location of thermal power plants and coal fields in India are not mutually conducive. Analyse.
(e) Why has agro and social forestry has failed to achieve its objectives?

2. (a) Bring out the distribution of Laterite soils in India and their specific use for agriculture.
(b) Suggest the measures of wild-life conservation with reference to extinction of rare species.
(c) Describe the problems of agro-based industries in India in general and cotton textiles in particular.

3. (a) Highlight the socio-economic and ecological roles of River Cauvery in its reverie tract.
(b) Discuss the problems and prospects of National Waterway No. 1.
(c) Explain the concept of ‘Make in India’ and indicate the essential inputs for its success.

4. (a) Describe the salient climatologically characteristics of Rayalaseema region.
(b) ‘In spite of various negative impacts of Green Revolution, there is a demand for New Green Revolution’. Elaborate.
(c) What are the desired possible change in our trade policy to promote the development of cottage industry?

Section B

5. (a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in your QCA Booklet the significance of these locations, whether physical/commercial/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more for each entry:
(i) Mundra Port
(ii) Chandipur
(iii) Mahendragiri
(iv) Hazira
(v) Vembanad Lake
(b) Highlight the implications of declining child sex ration in India.
(c) Analyse the feasibility of ‘Smart Towns’ Development in India.
(d) Comment on the criteria of identifying Drought Prone Areas in India.
(e) Bring out the role of terrain in determining India’s political influence over neighboring countries

6. (a) Discuss the trends in emigration focusing on its marjor thrust
(b) Account for the multiple problems of urban agglomerations.
(c) Evaluate the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.

7. (a) How can a meaningful skill development progamme contribute to the economic growth of hill areas?
(b) Differentiate between the ‘intensity’ and ‘magnitude’ of an earthquake and explain its varying impact in different parts of India.
(c) Discuss the implications of India’s strategic location with reference to the Indian Ocean.

8. (a) India is involved in a number of border disputes. Explain the reasons and remedies.
(b) Discuss the concept of Command Area Development and evaluate its success with reference to Indira Gandhi Canal.
(c) How has an inappropriate urban land use policy accounted for undesirable development in and around metropolitan cities?