[Download] UPSC Mains-2014: Geography Optional Paper 1 & 2, including Hindi medium PDF

1. Instructions for UPSC Geography Mains
2. Geography Optional Paper 1: SECTION A
3. Geography Optional Paper 1: SECTION B
4. Geography Optional: Paper 2: SECTION A
5. Geography Optional Paper 2: SECTION B
6. Original Scan for Hindi medium

Instructions for UPSC Geography Mains

1. Illustrate your answers with suitable sketches, maps and diagrams wherever necessary. These shall be drawn in the space provided for answering the question itself.
2. Each paper has 3 hours and 250 marks.
3. There are EIGHT questions divided in two Sections and printed both in HINDI and in ENGLISH.
4. Candidate has to attempt FIVE questions in all.
5. Question Nos. 1 and 5 are compulsory and out of the remaining, THREE are to be attempted choosing at least ONE question from each Section.
6. The number of marks carried by a question/part is indicated against it.
7. Answers must be written in the medium authorized in the Admission Certificate which must be stated clearly on the cover of this Question-cum-Answer (QCA) Booklet in the space provided. No marks will be given for answers written in medium other than the authorized one.
8. Word limit in questions, wherever specified, should be adhered to.
9. Attempts of questions shall be counted in chronological order. Unless struck off, attempt of a question shall be counted even if attempted partly. Any page or portion of the page left blank in the Question-cum-Answer Booklet must be clearly

Geography Optional Paper 1: SECTION A

Q1. Answer the following: 150 each: 10 x 5 = 50 marks

1. Define the term ‘meander’ and describe the basic characteristics of entrenched meander and ingrown meander.
2. Discuss the salient features of ‘sirocco’ and ‘mistral’.
3. Discuss an account of the nature of biosphere as an ecosystem.
4. State the uniqueness of the Eurasian Steppe Biome.
5. Illustrate the origin and nature of Sargasso Sea and Lagoon

Q2. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

1. State the concept of plate tectonics. How does it help in explaining the formation of Himalayas and Appalachain Mountains.
2. Describe the origin and development of thunderstorms with examples.
3. Enumerate the major causes of increasing degradation of environment in hills and hillslopes, and state its down-valley impact.

Q3. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Q4. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

1. Explain weathering and mass wasting, and describe their geomorphic significance.
2. Define zoogeographic region.Also describe he basic faunal makeup of the Neo-Arctic zoogeographic region.
3. Give an account of recent observation on coral bleaching with reference to Clive Wilkinson’s Report.

Geography Optional Paper 1: SECTION B

Q5. Answer the following: 150 words each. 10 x 5 = 50 marks

1. Elaborate the concept of mental map.
2. Give an account of food security issues in developing countries.
3. Discuss the factors responsible for counter-urbanisation.
4. Explain the relevance of bottom-up and top-down approaches in the development of agrarian economy.
5. Critically analyse application of models in geography.

Q6. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

1. Explain the necessary conditions of takeoff and subsequent stages of development of a nation as propounded by Rostow.
2. Discuss environmental and economic problems associated with coal production.
3. Discuss the contribution of geographers in the development of radical geography.

Q7. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Q8. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Geography Optional: Paper 2: SECTION A

Q1. Answer following. 5 x 10 = 50 marks.

1. 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 the locations, whether physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural in not more than 30 words for each entry: (2 x 5 =10 marks)
   1. Guru Shikhar
   2. Bhor Ghat
   3. Shravanabelagola
   4. Kalibangan
   5. Ganga Sagar
2. Explain how eco-tourism, activities could be important livelihood options in the Himalayan and North-Eastern regions of the country.
3. How is drainage pattern determined by the water divide?
4. Location of thermal power plants and coal fields in India are mot mutually conducive. Analyse.
5. Why has agro and social forestry has failed to achieve its objectives?

Q2. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Q3. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Q4. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

1. Describe the salient climatological characteristics of Rayalseema region.
2. ‘In spite of various negative impacts of Green Revolution, there is a demand for New Green Revolution.’ Elaborate.
3. What are the desired possible changes in our trade policy to promote the development of cottage industry?

Geography Optional Paper 2: SECTION B

Q5. Answer following: 5 x 10 = 50 marks.

1. 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/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural in not more than 30 words for each entry: (2 x 5 = 10 marks)
   1. Mundra Port
   2. Chandipur
   3. Mahendragiri
   4. Hazira
   5. Vembanad Lake
2. Highlight the implications of declining child sex ratio in India.
3. Analyse the feasibility of “Smart Towns’ Development in India.
4. Comment on the criteria of identifying Drought Prone Areas in India.
5. Bring out the role of terrain in determining India’s political influence over neighbouring countries.

Q6. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

1. Discuss the trends in emigration focusing on its major thrust.
2. Account for the multiple problems of urban agglomerations.
3. Evaluate the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme.

Q7. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Q8. Answer following (20 + 15 + 15 marks)

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

Original Scan for Hindi medium

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