CUET PG Geography Syllabus 2026, Part Wise Detailed Syllabus, Marking Scheme

Part A Physical Geography

Section I

Geomorphology

• Solar system and the Earth - Origin of the Earth: important theories

• Earth's interior - Geological time scale

• Earth's Materials and Minerals 

• Rock classification and characteristics

• Earth surface configuration

• Order of landforms - Wegener's theory - Plate tectonics.

• Endogenic processes: Folds, Faults, Domes, and their resultant landforms 

• Earthquakes and Volcanic activities: causes, resultant landforms and world distribution.

• Exogenic processes: Weathering, Mass wasting, and resultant landforms

• Formation of regolith and soil

• Geomorphic agents and processes: Fluvial, Glacial, Coastal, Arid, and Karst landforms

• Geomorphic hazards and their effects

Section II

Climatology

• Elements of weather and climate – Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere 

• Head budget Atmospheric pressure: Vertical and horizontal distribution

• Winds and their causes of circulation – Types of planetary, Periodic, and local winds

• Temperature: factors and distribution - Temperature inversion.

• Atmosphere moisture: Humidity, evaporation, and condensation

• Hydrological cycle - Types, regional and seasonal distribution – Monsoon.

• Air Masses and Fronts

• Atmospheric disturbances: Tropical and Temperate cyclones- Anti-cyclones Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

• Recent climatic variability phenomenon.

• Climatic classification - Basis of Koppen's and Thornthwaite's classification

• Role of climate in Human life - Atmospheric pollution and global warming: general causes and consequences

Section III

Oceanography

• Surface configuration of the ocean floor

• Hypsographic curve: continental shelf, continental slope, abyssal plain, trenches, and deeps

• Relief of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

• Distribution of temperature and salinity of oceans and seas - Circulation of oceanic waters, waves, and currents

• Currents of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans - Tides: causes, types, and theories.

• Marine deposits - Coral reefs: types and their formation

• Coastal environment - The ocean as a storehouse.of resources for the future

Section IV

Biogeography

• Biosphere: Meaning and concept

• Components of the ecosystem and ecology

• Biomes: the world's major biomes and their characteristics

• Functions: Trophic levels, energy flows, cycles (geochemical, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen), food chain, food web, and ecological pyramid

• Human interaction and impacts

• Environmental Ethics - Environmental Hazards and Disasters (Global Warming, Urban Heat Island, Atmospheric Pollution, Water Pollution, Land Degradation). 

• Environmental policies - Environmental impact assessment

Section V

Physical Geography of India

• Land of diversity

• Geological structure - Physical features and divisions

• Drainage pattern - Soil types and distribution - Natural vegetation

• Climate: Seasons - Monsoon (origin, regional and seasonal variations)

• Distribution of temperature and rainfall- Local winds

• Mineral and power resources: Major types and their potential, distribution, and production

• Sources of non-conventional energy

Part B Human Geography

Section VII

Geographic Thought

• Nature and scope of geography 

• A brief historical overview of geography as a discipline

• Branches of geography: general characteristics and inter-relationships.

• Contributions of Greek, Roman, Arab, Chinese, and Indian Scholars

• Contributors for the development of modern geography- Recent Trends in Geography.

• Dualisms in geographic studies (physical vs. human, regional vs. systematic, qualitative vs. quantitative, ideographic vs. nomothetic)

• Paradigm shift - Perspectives in geography (positivism, behaviouralism, humanism, structuralism, feminism, and postmodernism).

Section VI

Population Geography

• Division of mankind

• Racial groups and culture: systems, characteristics, and distribution

• Human Adaptation to the Environment

• Adaptation in modern society 

• Globalization and cultural change: Language, communication and belief.

• Distribution and density of population: Factors, growth and distribution

• Population composition -Population theories - Health and wellbeing

• Migration: Internal and international

• Settlements: rural and urban

• Urbanization process - Patterns and world distribution

• Population policies

• Electoral geography – Frontiers and Boundaries

• Geopolitics and world order 

• Geopolitical conflicts

Section VIII

Geography of Resources

• Nature and components of resources

• Resources and environment interface

• Classification of resources: renewable and non-renewable, biotic and abiotic resources.

• Water, forests, and soil resources: Types, distribution, economic and environmental significance

• Problems of deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.

• Exploitation of natural resources

• Impact of Human activities: deforestation, mining, agricultur,e and

• industrialization on the environment

• Population pressure and resource utilization

• Population explosion and food security. Environmental hazards: pollution and its related problems

• Emerging environmental problems

• Global warming

• Environmental conservation, preservation, and sustainable resource use.

Section IX

Economic Geography

• Sectors of economic activity: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

• Favourable geographical conditions for different economic activities.

• Agriculture: Primary crops (wheat, rice, and maize), commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee, rubber),

• Distribution and production

• Livestock and Fisheries- Important fishing grounds.

• Mining economy: Factors governing the exploitation of minerals

• World reserves and production of Iron ore, Manganese, Bauxite, and Copper.

• Fuel and power resources of the world - Distribution and production of coal, petroleum, Hydroelectric power, atomic energy, and non-conventional sources of energy.

• Manufacturing industries

• Factors affecting location: growth and distribution of major industries

• World production and distribution.

• Nature and trends in the International trade - World trade of wheat, cotton, tea, coffee, petroleum, gold, silver, gems, and jewelry.

• Transport: Relative significance of different means of transport

• Factors affecting land, water, and air

• World oceanic routes - Important inland waterways and important canals

• Impact of globalization on the world economy

Section X

Human Geography of India

• Cultural landscape: Population growth, distribution, and density

• Population composition - Settlements and Urbanization

• Agriculture: Major crops, impact of the  green revolution, Regionalization of Indian agriculture

• Industrial development - Location and distribution of iron and steel, cement, cotton textile, and sugar industry 

• Industrial Regions and their characteristics - Industrial Policies in India

• Transport Networks (railways, roadways, waterways, airways, and pipelines)

• International Internal and External Trade (trend, composition, and directions)

• Regional development planning in India

• Globalisation and its impact on the Indian Economy

• Changing nature of the  Indian economy

• Socio-economic development

• Impact of development on the environment and natural resources

Part C: Geographical Techniques

Section XI

Cartography

• Elements of Map Science

• Concepts of scale and map - Types of maps and scales

• Construction of graphic/linear scales

• Enlargement and reduction of maps: methods and procedures

• Map compilation and generalization.

• General principles and classification of projections: construction, properties, limitations, and uses of Zenithal, Conical, and Cylindrical projections.

• Methods of showing relief- (hachure, shading, and contours)

• Contour interpolation

• Profiles: drawing of profiles and their relevance in landform mapping and analysis

• Identification of different rocks- SOI Toposheets

• Interpretation of physical and cultural topographic sheets.

• Methods and instruments for the collection of weather data

• Construction of climograph and hythergraph, isotherm, isobars, and isohyets

• Preparation of weather maps- Symbols used in weather maps 

• Interpretation of Indian daily weather maps.

• Mapping techniques of population, social, economic, and cultural data - dot, isopleth, and choropleth methods.

Section XII

Surveying Techniques

• Basic principles of surveying

• Types of surveying

• Surveying instruments - Basic principles of field work

• Techniques in physical and socio-economic field surveys

• Data collection methods.

• Chain and tape survey - Prismatic compass survey - Plane Table survey- Levelling techniques - Electronic

• Surveying instruments (Theodolite and electronic devices)

Section XIII

Statistical Techniques

• Statistical Methods: Frequency distribution and histograms

• Measures of central tendency and dispersion

• Diagrammatic representation of geographical and statistical data.

• Sampling Techniques - Tests of significance

• Probability distributions: normal, binominal and Poissonparametric and non-parametric test

• Correlation and regression.

Section XIV

Remote Sensing and GIS

• Remote sensing principles - Types of remote sensing 

• Aerial photography- Satellite images

• Application of Remote Sensing Techniques.

• Components and function of GIS - Spatial and non-spatial data

• Vector and raster format

• GIS analysis - Application of GIS.

• Basic principles of Global Navigation Satellite System- Segments and applications.