UPSC CSE Geography Paper I of 2026 Mains Examination

SECTION ‘A’

(a) What is ‘Helical’ flow How Helical flow accounts for meander modifications? (10 Marks)
(b) Define ‘pseudo monsoon’ and explain its spatial distribution (10 Marks)
(c) How are seamounts and Guyots the same and different? Comment. (10 Marks)
(d) How a ‘Solum’ as a concept different from ‘Pedon’? Describe. (10 Marks)
(e) With suitable examples describe the hazards of flood plain settlement. (10 Marks)

(a) “Environmental geomorphology deals with the impact of natural landforms and processes.” Elucidate with suitable examples. (20 Marks)
(b) Discuss the potential consequences of the collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) for the world. (15 Marks)
(c) “Overgrazing has become an alarming situation of bioloss in many bio-geographical regions of the world.” Illustrate with examples. (15 Marks)

(a) Describe the general characteristics and structure of a thunderstorm and suggest suitable classification of thunderstorm. (20 Marks)
(b) Anthropogenic impacts have caused major global and regional changes and imbalances in ecosystem. Elucidate with examples. (15 Marks)
(c) What is scarification? List out various impacts and examples of scarification on land. (15 Marks)

(a) How does the annual variations in temperature and precipitation influence plants growth, development and distribution? How do animals cope up with variations in climate? (20 Marks)
(b) Examine the importance of axis of dilation of airmasses in frontogenesis and the origin of Temperate cyclones. (15 Marks)
(c) Construction of large dams poses serious challenges. Describe the threats and solutions associated with it. (15 Marks)

(a) “Systematic Geography is essentially analytical and makes generic concepts and Universal Laws.” Elucidate with examples. (10 Marks)
(b) Critically examine the significance of five functioning forms with regard to agricultural regions of the world proposed by D. Whittlesey. (10 Marks)
(c) “The majority of migrants go only a short distance.” Explain with examples. (10 Marks)
(d) “Sustainable development requires Intergenerational and Intragenerational equity.” Comment with examples. (10 Marks)
(e) “Under what situations Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location is still rational.” Justify with examples. (10 Marks)

(a) Discuss the Geometry of Land Values in Urban Community and delimiting the Central Business District (CBD) in detail. (20 Marks)
(b) Analyse the measuring patterns of settlement in relation to the nearest Neighbour Index and Rank-Size-Rule in detail. (15 Marks)
(c) Write an essay on disease and global warming according to the report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (15 Marks)

(a) What are the main concerns of radical geography? Describe the salient features and objectives of radicalism in geography. (20 Marks)
(b) Discuss agricultural productivity and techniques adopted for computing efficiency in the levels of agricultural productivity. (15 Marks)
(c) Elaborate partition of Indian subcontinent and international migration in detail. (15 Marks)

(a) What are the principles of urban planning? Critically analyse town planning in India in the post independence period. (20 Marks)
(b) What are the approaches of human development? Describe in detail the measures for computing human development index. (15 Marks)
(c) Explain the Rimland Theory with reference to ongoing geopolitical scenario in the world. (15 Marks)