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For the prelims, mains, and interview phases of the UPSC exam, geography textbooks for the UPSC cover both Indian and global geography. Best books for geography UPSC are very important for the UPSC exam. If properly studied, this high-scoring optional subject helps in all phases of the examination. Many previous-year toppers have selected geography as their optional. The best books for geography UPSC are recommended in this article for candidates who want to pass all three CSE exams with ease. They should be used in conjunction with an atlas and current events awareness to showcase a thorough comprehension of the ideas.
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Buy Now: Best Books for Geography UPSC
Since geography covers the physical, social, economic, and political elements of the world and its people, it is a very important subject for the UPSC exam. The following is a list of suggested geography books that candidates should read to get ready for the UPSC Exam.
| NCERT Textbooks | Additional Resources |
| NCERT Class VI – The Earth Our Habitat | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class VII – Our Environment | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class VIII – Resource and Development | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class IX – Contemporary India – I | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class X – Contemporary India – II | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class XI – Fundamentals of Physical Geography | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class XI – India – Physical Environment | Buy Now |
| NCERT Class XII – India – People and Economy | Buy Now |
| Go Cheng Leong – Certificate in Physical & Human Geography | Buy Now |
Important Topics to Study in UPSC Geography
There are three sections to the Mains Geography Syllabus: Physical, Human, and Indian Geography. Subtopics can be created from these.Here we have stated some of the most important topics to study in geography for upsc based on the previous year trend analysis :
| Category | Sub-Topics |
| Physical Geography | Geomorphology |
| Climatology | |
| Oceanography | |
| Biogeography | |
| Environmental Geography | |
| Human Geography | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| Economic Geography | |
| Population and Settlement Geography | |
| Regional Planning | |
| Models, theories, and Laws in Human Geography | |
| Indian Geography | Physical Setting |
| Resources | |
| River System | |
| Industry: Evolution of industries | |
| Transport, Communication, and Trade | |
| Cultural Setting: Historical Perspective of Indian Society | |
| Settlements | |
| Regional Development and Planning | |
| Political Aspects | |
| Contemporary Issues | |
| Geography Preparation for UPSC Prelims | Rivers in India |
| States and UTs in India | |
| Political Map of India | |
| Static Topics for Maps: | |
| Rivers and their tributaries | |
| Natural vegetation and Minerals | |
| Mountain ranges and Passes | |
| Islands | |
| Neighbors and border disputes | |
| States and Lines like Tropic of Cancer |
Strategy for Preparing UPSC Geography
Some people find reading about geography boring, even though it’s an interesting subject for the UPSC Exam because there are so many concepts and information to understand. Several considerations must be made when making a geography study plan. In addition to the list of best books for geography UPSC that we provided above in the article, we now list down a tonne of guidance so you can enjoyably learn this subject and become an expert!
- Go over and comprehend the UPSC syllabus in its entirety.
- Make a shortlist of the books that fully address the Geography Syllabus and follow it.
- To gain a sense of the types of questions that are asked on various themes, consult the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers. Then, adjust your preparation accordingly.
- As you read the Geography Books a second time, begin taking brief, concise notes and using mnemonic devices.
- Refer to your brief notes during the third reading; utilise these for any additional adjustments.
- To determine your level of readiness for the preliminary exam, complete practice questions and take IAS mock exams.
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FAQs
The best geography book for UPSC mains is “Certificate Physical and Human Geography” by Goh Cheng Leong.
Study strategy for UPSC Prelims and Mains requires focus on concepts, maps, current affairs, and practice answer writing.
It provides a good base but supplement it with other resources like NCERTs, current affairs, and practice questions for thorough preparation.
This was all about the “Best Books for Geography UPSC”. For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.