OPSC Geography Optional Notes (e-Book)

OPSC Geography Optional Notes

Paper I | Section-A

Physical Geography

i) Geomorphology:

• Origin of the Earth
• Physical conditions of the Earth’s interior
• Continental drift
• Isostasy
• Plate tectonics
• Mountain building
• Volcanism and earthquakes
• Weathering and erosion
• Concepts of geomorphic cycles (Davis and Penck)
• Landforms associated with fluvial, arid, glacial, coastal and karst regions
• Polycyclic landforms

ii) Climatology:

• Temperature and pressure belts of the world
• Heat budget of the Earth
• Atmospheric circulation
• Planetary and local winds
• Monsoons and jet streams
• Air masses and fronts
• Temperate and tropical cyclones
• Types and distribution of precipitation
• Koppen’s and Thornthwaite’s classification of world climate
• Hydrological cycle
• Climatic change

iii) Oceanography:

• Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans
• Temperature and salinity of the oceans
• Ocean deposits
• Ocean currents and tides
• Marine resources (Biotic, Mineral & Energy) and their utilizations
• Coral reefs

iv) Biogeography:

• Genesis of soils
• Classification and distribution of soils
• Soil profile
• Soil erosion and conservation
• Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals
• Problems of deforestation and conservation measures
• Social forestry
• Agroforestry

v) Environmental Geography:

• Concept and types of environment
• Environmental degradation and management
• Ecosystems and their management
• Energy flow and biogeochemical cycles
• Global ecological imbalances: problems of pollution, global warming, reduction in biodiversity and depletion of forests

Section-B

Human Geography

i) Perspectives in Human Geography:

• Areal differentiation
• Regional synthesis
• Dichotomy and dualism
• Environmentalism
• Quantitative revolution and locational analysis
• Radical, behavioural, human and welfare approaches
• Cultural regions of the world
• Human development indicators

ii) Economic Geography:

• World economic development: measurement and problems
• World resources and their distribution
• Energy crisis
• The limits to growth
• World agriculture: typology of agricultural regions
• Von Thunen’s theory of agricultural location
• World industries: locational patterns
• Locational theories of Weber, Hoover, Losch and Smith
• Patterns of world trade

iii) Population Geography:

• Growth and distribution of world population
• Demographic attributes
• Causes and consequences of migration
• Concepts of over, under, and optimum population
• World population problems
• Races of mankind

iv) Settlement Geography:

• Types and patterns of rural settlements
• Hierarchy of urban settlements
• Christaller’s Central Place Theory
• Concept of primate city and rank-size rule
• Functional classification of towns
• Sphere of urban influence
• Rural-urban fringe
• Satellite town
• Problems of urbanisation

v) Regional Planning:

• Concept of region
• Types of regions and methods of regionalisation
• Growth centres and growth poles
• Regional imbalances
• Multi-level planning
• Planning for sustainable development
• Rostow’s Model of Stages of Growth

Paper-II

Geography of India with Special Reference to Odisha

Section-A

i) Physical Aspects:

• Structure and relief
• Drainage system and watersheds
• Physiographic regions
• Mechanism of Indian monsoons
• Tropical cyclones and western disturbances
• Floods and droughts
• Climatic regions
• Natural vegetation, soil types and their distributions

ii) Resources:

• Concept and types of resources (Land, water, energy, minerals, and biotic resources)
• Their distribution, utilisation and conservation
• Energy crisis

iii) Agriculture:

• Infrastructure—irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power
• Types of crops, agricultural productivity, agricultural intensity, crop combination, land capability
• Agro and social forestry
• Green Revolution—its socio-economic and ecological implications
• Significance of dry farming
• Livestock resources and White Revolution
• Blue Revolution
• Agricultural regionalisation
• Agro-climatic zones

iv) Industry:

• History of industrial development
• Locational factors of cotton, jute, iron and steel, fertilizer and paper industries
• Industrial complexes and industrial regionalisation
• New industrial policy
• Role of multinationals, liberalization and globalisation

v) Transport, Communication and Trade:

• Road, railway, waterway, airway and pipeline networks and their complementary roles in regional development
• Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade
• Trade balance
• Free trade and export promotion zones
• Developments in communication technology and its impact on economy and Society