UPSC Prelims Geography Syllabus 2026, Download Geography Syllabus PDF

UPSC Prelims Geography Syllabus 2026 PDF Download

• Origin and Development theories of Universe
• Galaxy
• Star and Planet formation
• Solar system (Sun, Planets, Moon)
• Asteroids and Meteors
• Kupier belt
• Comets and Dwarf planets

• Geological History of Earth
• Evolution of Layered Structure of Earth
• Evolution of Lithosphere, Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
• Latitude and Longitude (Parallels and Meridians)
• Motions of the Earth - Rotation, Revolution and their effects
• Inclination of the Earth’s Axis and its effects
• Time Zones, Standard and Local Time and the International Date Line and Calendar
• Solar and Lunar Eclipses
• Earth’s magnetic field and Geological time scale

• Concept of Human Resources
• Factors Affecting the Distribution of Population
• Economic Factors
• Minerals and Its Distribution
• Urbanisation and Industrialisation
• Socio-Cultural Factors
• Population Growth, Growth of Population, Growth Rate of Population, Natural Growth of Population, Positive And Negative Growth of Population
• Components Of Population Change
• Migration – Place of Origin and Place of Destination
• Immigration And Emigration, Push Factors And Pull Factors
• Trends in Population Growth
• Spatial Pattern of Population Change, Impact of Population Change
• Demographic Transition, Demographic Transition Theory
• Demographic Cycle
• Theories of Population Growth
• Malthusian Theory, Marxian Theory
• Optimum Population, Over and Under Population
• Population Control Measures
• World Population Distribution, Density And Growth
• Pattern of Population Density Globally
• Population Composition, Sex Composition And Ratio
• Natural Advantage Vs Social Advantage
• Age Structure And Pyramid
• Expanding, Constant And Declining Populations
• Rural Urban Composition And Religion Based Composition
• Population Problems of Developing and Developed Countries
• Census of India 2011, Terminologies and Important Information

• Growth vs Development
• Four pillars of Development
• Approaches to Human Development
• Measuring Human Development
• International Comparisons of Human Development

• Primary Activities (Nomadic Herding, Commercial livestock. Rearing, etc)
  • Agriculture (Subsistence Agriculture, Primitive Subsistence Agriculture, Intensive Subsistence Agriculture, etc.)
  • Mining (Factors affecting Mining, Methods of Mining, etc.)
• Secondary Activities
  • Manufacturing
  • Mechanisation
  • Transportation and communication Facilities
  • Government Policy
  • Classification of Manufacturing Industries (Small Scale, Large Scale. etc.)
  • Industries based on Raw Materials or inputs
• Tertiary, Quaternary and Quinary Activities
  • Types of Tertiary Activities (Trade and commerce, Wholesale Trading, Transport, etc.)
  • People engaged in tertiary Activities

• Modes of Transport (Land, Water, Air, etc.)
• Modes of Communication (Satellite communication, Cyberspace internet, etc.)

• History of International Trade
• Basis of International Trade
• Important Aspects of International Trade
• Types of International Trade

• Geological Region
• Location
• Physiographic Division of India
• Mountain System
• The Peninsular - Peninsular Plateaus
• Plains - Northern Plains of India

• Drainage system of India
• Himalayan Drainage
• East flowing Rivers
• West flowing Rivers
• Indus river system
• Indus drainage system
• Ganga River System
• Brahmaputra river system
• Peninsular River System, Mains Rivers and their tributaries

• Factors influencing the climate of India
• Monsoon
• Mechanism of the Monsoon
• EL NINO and LA NINA
• Droughts and Floods in India

• Types of Soil Found in India
• Soil Acidity
• Soil textures
• Minerals of Soil
• Soil Erosion
• Soil Conservation

• Vegetation
• Mangroves
• Distribution of Forest Area and problems associated to it

• Size, Growth Rate and Distribution of Population
• India in World Population
• Demographic Transition
• Density of Population
• Literacy
• Literacy in Major States
• Trends on Sex Ratio in India
• Child Sex Ratio
• Old Age People
• Health Indicators

• Land-Use and Capability Classification
• Causes and Impact of Land Degradation
• Steps Taken by Indian Government
• Sustainable Land Management

• Types of Minerals
• Distribution of Minerals Region Wise
• Ferro-Alloys and Non-Ferrous Alloys

• Classification of Energy
• Production of Conventional Energy
• General Trends of Energy Production And Consumption
• Reserves And Sources of Energy
• Coal
• Hydro-Electric Power Generation In India
• Atomic And Nuclear Energy
• Solar Energy
• Wind Energy

• Basic Terminology of Agriculture
• Recent Developments in Agriculture Field
• Productivity of Crops and conditions for growth

• Industrial Development
• Iron and Steel Industry
• Global Steel production
• Textile Industry
  • Cotton Textile Industry
  • Woollen textile industry
  • Silk textile industry
  • Synthetic silk industry
• Fertiliser Industry
• Petroleum Refining Industry
• Synthetic Rubber Industry
• Pulp and Paper Industry
• Petroleum Refining Industry

• Modes of Transport
• Transport Costs
• Operating Costs of Transport in India
• Railways, Roads, Pipeline, Oceans, Air transport
• Profits and Freight Rates
• Government’s Transport policy
• Ocean Transport Routes
• Inland Waterways
• Main Regions of Inland Waterways
• Railways
• Air transport

• Crust
• Mantle
• Core

• Minerals
• Major Elements of the Earth’s Crust
• Types of Rocks, Properties of Rocks

• Surface of the Earth
• Endogenic and Exogenic Forces

• Earthquakes
  • Types of Earthquakes
  • Effects
  • Frequency and Epicentre
• Volcanoes
  • Types
  • Landforms

• Continental Drift Theory
  • Evidence in support of Continental Drift Theory
• Sea Floor Spreading
• Forces of Drifting
  • Post Drift Studies
• Convectional Current Theory
• Mapping of the Ocean Floor
• Plate Tectonics, Major Plates, and Minor Plates.
  • Indian Plate
• Plate Boundaries

• Causes
• Geomorphic Agent
• Agents and their Impacts
• Winds
• Depositional Landforms
• Running Water and Erosional Landforms
• Depositional Landforms
• Ground Water
• Other Erosional Landforms
• Glaciers
• Waves and Currents
• Weathering
  • Biological Weathering
  • Effects of Weathering
  • Significance of Weathering

• Surface Water on Earth
• Hydrological Cycle

• Oceans
• Relief of the Ocean floor
• Divisions of the ocean floor

• Mid oceanic ridges
• Seamount
• Submarine canyons
• Volcanic Islands
• Fracture Zones
• Hotspots

• Temperature of the Ocean Water
• Salinity of the Ocean Water
• Density of Ocean Waters

• Factors Influencing Movement
• Motion – Horizontal and Vertical Currents
• Waves
• Tides
• Ocean Currents
  • Major Ocean Currents of the World
  • Effects of Ocean Currents

• Underground Water Resource
• Surface Water Resources
• Inland Water Resources
• Oceanic Water Resources
• Utilisation of Oceans by Man
• Water Consumption Patterns
• Conservation of Water Resources

• Terrigenous Deposits
• Volcanic Deposits
• Biotic Deposits
• Abiotic Deposits
• Coral Reefs
• Great Barrier Reef

• Composition
• Structure
• Exosphere
• Thermosphere
• Mesosphere
• Stratosphere
• Troposphere
• Altitude and Temperature Relation

• Temperature
• Factors Controlling Temp distribution
• Distribution of Temperature

• Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
• Atmospheric Pressure
• Vertical Variation of Pressure
• Horizontal Distribution of Pressure
• World Distribution of Sea Level Pressure
• Factors Affecting the Velocity and Direction of the Wind
• Pressure and Wind
• Latitudinal Variation of Atmospheric Heating
• Distribution of Continents & Oceans
• Rotation of the Earth
• Circulation of Winds

• Air Mass
• Fronts
• Cyclones
• Thunderstorms
• Tornadoes
• Monsoons

• Water in the Atmosphere
• Precipitation
• Humidity and Saturation
• Evaporation and Condensation
• Dew, Frost, Fog & Mist and Clouds
• Rainfall, Snowfall, Sleet Hail, Hailstones

• Koppene’s Classification of Climatic Zones
• World Climate
• Tropical Monsoon and Tropical Marine Climates
• Savanna or Sudan Climate
• Hot Desert and Mid-Latitude Desert Climates
• Arctic or Polar Climate

• Factors Responsible for Soil Formation
• Stages of Soil Formation
• Soil Forming Processes
• Soil Profiles and Horizons
• Soil Classification
• Soil Erosion and Conservation

• Forests
  • Significance of Forests
  • Economic Significance, Ecological Significance
  • Cultural Significance
• Grasslands
• Desert Vegetation
• Tundra Vegetation
• Underlying Causes of Deforestation
• Conservation of Forests
• Forest Conservation Strategies
• Reforestation
• Afforestation
• Types of forestry

• Continents and Important Cities of the World
• Important Cities Situated on the Banks of Rivers
• Changed Names of Some Cities, States, and Countries
• Regional Grouping of Countries of the World
• Economic Classification of Countries of the World

• West Asia, Israel and Palestine
• Central Asia, Russia and Ukraine
• China
• All the regions in News recently