SYLLABI FOR THE EXAMINATION PART-B PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

• Geomorphology : Origin of the earth; Geological Time Scale; Interior of the earth; Types and characteristics of rocks; Folding and Faulting; Volcanoes; Earthquakes; Weathering; Landforms caused by fluvial, aeolian and glacial actions.
• Climatology : Structure and composition of atmosphere; Temperature; Pressure belts and Wind systems; Clouds and rainfall types; Cyclones and anti-cyclones; Major climatic types.
• Oceanography : Ocean relief; Temperature; Salinity; Ocean deposits; Ocean currents, El Nino and La Nino; Waves and tides.
• Biogeography : Origin and types of soils; Major biomes of the world; Ecosystem and food chain; Environmental degradation and conservation.

• Man and Environment Relationship : Growth and development of Human Geography; Concepts of Determinism and Possibilism.
• Population.—Races of mankind and tribes; growth and distribution of world population; migration; population problems of developed and developing countries.
• Economic Activities.—Food gathering and hunting; pastoral herding; fishing and forestry; Types of agriculture-shifting, subsistence, commercial and plantation; Mining, Power; Manufacturing—locational factors of textile, iron and steel, sugar and fertilizer industries; Tertiary activities—trade, transport, communication and services.
• Settlements.—Origin, types and patterns of rural settlements; Processes of urbanization; morphology and functional classification of towns; million-cities and mega-cities.

• Major Natural Regions ; Characteristics, economic base and human adaptation.
• Regional Geography of Developed Countries : Canada, U.S.A., Western Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
• Regional Geography of Developing Countries : S.E. Asia, S.W. Asia, China, Southern Africa and Brazil.
• Regional Geography of South Asia.

• Physical Setting.—Landforms, drainage, climate, soils and natural vegetation.
• Economic Base.—Minerals & energy resources, aquatic resources, forest resources; irrigation, agriculture and industries; trade and commerce.
• Population.—Growth, distribution and density; demographic characteristics.
• Environmental problems, developmental issues and regional planning.

• Ancient Period.—Contributions of Indians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs.
• Pre-Modern Period.—Contributions of Verenius, Kant, Humboldt and Ritter.
• Modern Period.—Dichotomy of determinism and possibilism; contributions of Ratzel, Semple, Huntington and La Blache.
• Recent Period.—Quantitive Revolution; Radicalism, Behaviouralism and Humanism.

• Maps : Scale types and uses.
• Diagrams : Types and uses
• Projections : Types, characteristics and uses.
• Remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) : Aerial photographs and imagery, GIS.