GEOGRAPHY IAS MAINS: QUESTIONS TREND ANALYSIS

GEOGRAPHY  IAS  MAINS: QUESTIONS  TREND  ANALYSIS

PAPER-I: TOPICS (1 TO 8) 2009 – 1995

1: GEOMORPHOLOGY

1. Discuss views on slope development provided by L.C. king. (09/20)

2. Give a brief account of the principal land biomes and their latitudinal distribution. (09/20)

3. Highlight the geomorphic features essentially found in topographies under the Second Cycle of Erosion. (09/20)

4. Write short note on Seafloor spreading theory. (08/20)

5. Critically examine the concept of geomorphic cycle and discuss the views of W.M. Davis and W. Penck. (08/60)

6. Define the concept of isostasy and discuss the postulations of Airy and Pratt. (07/60)

7. Critically evaluate the continental drift hypothesis of A. Wegener. (06/60)

8. Write short note: Role of seismic waves in the study of earth’s interior. (05/20)

9. “Structure is a dominant control factor in the evolution of landforms.” Discuss with suitable

examples. (05/60)

10. Write short note: Peneplain. (04/20)

11. Describe the landforms which are products of endogenetic forces. (04/60)

12. Explain the sequential development of landforms associated with the coastal areas. (03/60)

13. Write short note: Geosyncline. (02/20)

14. Provide a critique of the ‘geographical cycle’ model, propounded by Davis. (02/60)

15. Present a critical analysis of the theory of Isostasy. (01/60)

16. With reference to the theory of Plate Tectonics, explain the origin and growth of the Young Fold Mountain Systems of the world. (00/60)

17. Bring out the distinctions between the ‘continental drift’ theory and the ‘plate tectonics’ theory. (99/60)

18. Discuss the concept of volcanicity and show how the theory of Plate Tectonics explains the

mechanism of volcanism and volcanic eruptions. (98/60)

19. Write short note: Geomorphic processes. (98/20)

20. Discuss the concept of polycyclic landforms and present an analytical study of the polycyclic

landforms of a selected region. (97/60)

21. Write short note: Weathering and soil formation. (97/20)

22. Discuss the processes of mechanical and chemical weathering and show their relationship with soil formation. (96/60)

23. Discuss the limitations of the theory of Continental Drift and show how the theory of Plate

Tectonics is an improvement over it. (95/60)

2: CLIMATOLOGY

1. Write short note on tropical atmospheric instability. (09/20)

2. How does Climate Change affect urban areas? (09/20)

3. Discuss the consequences of Climate Change on agriculture and food security, and on the Coastal Zones of the world. (09/20)

4. Explain factors contributing to the Global Climate Change. (09/20)

5. Discuss the mechanism and origin of Monsoon winds and explain the role of EI Nino on

Monsoon circulation. (08/60)

6. Discuss the development of local winds, and their influence on local weather, giving three

examples of the well-known local winds in the world. (07/60)

7. Compare the structure and associated weather conditions of tropical cyclone with that of

temperate cyclone. (06/60)

8. Discuss the main feature of the climatic classification system evolved by Koppen. Also point out its anomalies. (05/60)

9. Write short note: Potential evapotranspiration. (04/20)

10. How would the impact of global warming differ from one part of the earth to another? Give a

reasoned account. (04/60)

11. Discuss the mechanism and significance of tricellular meridional circulation of atmosphere.

(03/60)

12. Discuss the criteria which Thornthwaite adopted for his 1948 classification of world climates.(02/60)

13. Discuss the concept of air-masses and present their classification. (01/60)

14. Give an account of the types and distribution of precipitation on the surface of the earth. (00/60)

15. Make a comparative study of the tropical and temperate cyclones. (99/60)

16. Write short note: Cs type of climate, as per Koppen’s classification? (99/20)

17. Discuss the nature and composition of earth’s atmosphere. (98/60)

18. Define air masses. How do they originate? Classify them and state the characteristics of any one type. (97/60)

19. Examine critically the drawbacks of Koppen’s Classification of climates. Explain how

Thornthwaite attempted to overcome Koppen’s limitations. (96/60)

20. Explain and illustrate the life-cycle of a temperate cyclone and also describe the weather

associated with it. (95/60)

21. Write short note: Inversion of temperature. (95/20)

3: OCEANOGRAPHY

1. Comment on marine heat budget and the oceanic circulation system. (09/20)

2. Examine economic significance of the resources of the Continental shelf of the Indian Ocean.

(09/30)

3. Describe the Ideal conditions for coral reef formation and discuss the glacial control theory of

coral reef formation. (08/60)

4. Write short note: Eustatic changes of Sea-level. (07/20)

5. Discuss the different bases for classifying the ocean deposits and give a detailed account of

pelagic deposits of the oceans. (07/30)

6. Write short note: Ocean currents of Northern Atlantic. (06/20)

7. Write short note: Pelagic deposits. (04/20)

8. Discuss the mid-Atlantic Ridge in terms of its origin, extent and relief. (04/60)

9. Present a concise account of bottom relief of the Indian Ocean. (03/60)

10. Write short note: Formation of coral reefs. (01/20)

11. Write short note: T-S diagram. (00/20)

12. Write short note: Submarine canyons. (99/20)

13. Explain and illustrate the submarine relief of the Atlantic Ocean. (98/60)

14. Examine critically the theories of the formation of coral reefs and atolls. (97/60)

15. Write short note: Marine resources, biotic, mineral and energy resources. (97/20)

16. Explain and illustrate the ocean floor topography and give a detailed account of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (96/60)

17. Write short note: Food from the sea. (95/20)

4: BIOGEOGRAPHY

1. Short note: Zonal and Azonal soils. (09/20)

2. Short note: Distribution of soils. (06/20)

3. Short note: Soil erosion and conservation. (05/20)

4. Short note: Genesis of soils. (03/20)

5. Short note: Agro-forestry. (01/20)

6. Short note: Soil Profile. (00/20)

7. Short note: Soil genesis. (98/20)

8. Write short note: Man and the Amazon rainforest (96/20)

5: ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY

1. Write short note on Desertification as an environmental hazard. (08/20)

2. Write short note: Social Forestry and Environmental Conservation. (07/20)

3. Write short note: Sustainable development. (06/20)

4. Discuss the global ecological imbalances and their management. (06/60)

5. Bring out the major problems of environmental pollution at global-scale and suggest

measures to check it. (05/60)

6. Write short note: Environmental Pollution. (03/20)

7. Write in detail on the concept of biosphere as an ecosystem. (02/60)

8. Discuss the concept, components and functioning of an ecosystem. (01/60)

9. Discuss the causes and consequences of environmental degradation and highlight the related

conservation measures. (00/60)

10. Discuss the relevance of ‘watershed’, as an ecosystem for the purpose of sustainable

development. (99/60)

11. Examine the impact of advanced agricultural technology on environment. Support your answer with examples. (98/60)

12. Write the short note: Desertification and its preventive measures. (96/20)

13. ‘Man must realize the importance of maximizing agricultural production without destroying the ecological basis on which our entire food production systems rests.’ Explain with examples.

(95/60)

14. Write short note: Natural Hazards. (95/20)

6: PERSPECTIVES IN HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

1. Provide a broad classification of world cultural regions. (09/30)

2. ‘Quantitative Revolution and model building provided an empirical basis for geographical

research’ – Elaborate. (09/30)

3. Write short note on Behavioural Geography. (08/20)

4. Write short note: Dualism in Geography. (08/20)

5. Write short note: Cultural regions of the world. (06/20)

6. Distinguish between radical and welfare approaches in geographic studies. (04/60)

7. Present a critical analysis of human and welfare approaches in Human Geography. (03/60)

8. Write short note: Neo-environmentalism. (02/20)

9. Describe the sequence of major paradigm shifts in geographic thought during the twentieth

century. (99/60)

10. What is understood by quantification in Geography? Discuss the significance of quantification in modern geographical studies with examples. (98/60)

11. Critically examine the concept of dualism with special reference to physical versus human

geography. (97/60)

12. “The emergence of Behavioural Geography was due to the disillusionment with axioms on which models were based and the axioms were far removed from reality.” Comment. (96/60)

13. Discuss the contributions of Al Beruni towards the development of geographical knowledge.

(95/60)

7: ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY

1. Provide a geographical account of global production and distribution of food. (09/30)

2. Write short note on ‘Limits to Growth’ model. (09/20)

3. Write down main agricultural types and their associated features with special reference to

Whittlesey. Show these regions on the World map provided to you. (06/60)

4. Write short note: Concept of limits to growth. (03/20)

5. To what extent do the regional patterns of economic development and human development in the world correspond with each other? Highlight situations of departure, in particular. (02/60)

6. Write short note: The limits to growth. (00/20)

7. How far do the patterns of economic development and those of human development correspond with each other in the world? Illustrate your answer with examples. (99/60)

8. Explain the term resource management. Discuss its relevance in the context of global resource scarcity and the future of mankind. (98/60)

9. Write short note: Types of Farming. (98/20)

10. Examine the bases of classification of agricultural regions as proposed by Whittlesey and explain the cause for the essential difference between intensive subsistence tillage with rice dominant and without rice in the crop association. (96/60)

11. Write short note: Globalization of trade and industry. (96/20)

12. Write short note: Dryland farming. (95/20)

8: POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT GEOGRAPHY

1. Elaborate the concept of Megalopolis and discuss the characteristics and problems related to two such regions selecting one each from North America and Europe. (09/60)

2. Discuss the social and economic theories of population growth. (08/60)

3. Write short note on Primate cities. (08/20)

4. Write a note on the parameters used to describe the demographic transitions in the

developing countries like India. (07/60)

5. Give an account of the functional bases of central place hierarchy. (07/60)

6. Write short note: Delineation of Urban Fringe. (07/20)

7. In urban geography, what are the concepts of primate city and Rank Size Rule? Discuss in detail.(06/60)

8. Examine the concept of sphere of urban influence and discuss the qualitative and quantitative

methods used in its delimitation. (03/60)

9. Discuss the causes and consequences of population migration in the world. (00/60)

10. Bring out the contrast between the internal structure of the pre-industrial and industrial cities.(99/60)

11. Write short note: Primate city. (99/20)

12. “Water is a scarce resource in plenty.” Comment and discuss its importance in the balanced

habitat development. Support your answer with examples from Asia. (97/60)

13. Write short note: Rural-urban fringe. (97/20)

14. Write short note: Growth of population and food resources of the world. (96/20)

15. Examine the theories about population control and explain the relative merits of these theories in limiting population growth. (95/60)