Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography (Periods 75)

Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline (Periods 3)

Geography as an integrating discipline, as a science of spatial attributes;
Branches of geography; importance of physical geography

Unit-2: The Earth (Periods 10)

Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth; Wegener’s continental drift theory and plate tectonics; earthquakes and volcanoes.

Unit-3: Landforms (Periods 18)

Rocks: major types of rocks and their characteristics;
Landforms and their evolution
Geomorphic processes-weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition; soil-formation

Unit 4: Climate (Periods 30)

Atmosphere- composition and structure; elements of weather and climate;

Insolation-angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget of the earth-heating and cooling of atmosphere (conduction, convection, terrestrial radiation and advection); temperaturefactors controlling temperature; distribution of temperature-horizontal and vertical; inversion of temperature;

Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary, seasonal and local, air masses and fronts, tropical and extratropical cyclones.

Precipation-evaporation; condensation-dew, frost, fog, mist and cloud; rainfall-types and world distribution;

World climates-classification (Koeppen), greenhouse effect, global warming and climatic changes.

Unit 5: Water (Oceans) (Periods 8)

Hydrological Cycle;
Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity; movements of ocean water-waves, tides and currents; submarine reliefs.

Unit 6: Life on the Earth (Periods 6)

Biosphere - importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation; ecosystems and ecological balance.

Unit 7: Map work on identification of features based on the above units on the outline political map of the world.

Part B. India - Physical Environment 65 Periods

Unit 8: Introduction (Periods 3)

Location-space relations and India’s place in the world. (Periods 3)

Unit 9: Physiography (Periods 24)

Structure and Relief;
Drainage systems: concept of watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular;
Physiographic divisions.

Unit 10: Climate, Vegetation and Soil (24 Periods)

Weather and climate — spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds and rainfall, Indian monsoon: mechanism, onset and withdrawal, variability of rainfalls : spatial and temporal; Climatic types (koeppen)

Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution; wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves;


Soils - major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution, soil degradation and conservation.

Unit 11: Natural Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and Management (One case study to be introduced for each topic) (Periods 16)

Floods and droughts
Earthquakes and Tsunami
Cyclones
Landslides

Unit 12: Map Work of features based on above units on the Outline Political map of India, locating and labelling

C. Practical Work (40 Periods)

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Maps (12 Periods)

Maps -types; scales-types; construction of simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding direction and use of symbols.
Latitude, longitude and time;
Map projection- typology, construction and properties of projections : Conical with one standard parallel and Mercator’s projection.

Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps (28 Periods)

Study of topographic maps (1 : 50,000 or 1 : 25,000 Survey of India maps); contour cross section and identification of landforms-slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution of settlements;
Aerial Photographs: Types & Geometry-vertical aerial photographs; difference between maps & aerial photographs; photo scale determination;
Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform & sensors and data products, (photographic & digital).
Identification of physical & cultural features from aerial photographs & satellite imageries.
Use of weather instruments: thermometer, wet and dry-bulb thermometer, barometer, wind vane, raingauge:
Use of weather charts: describing pressure, wind and rainfall distribution.

Unit 3: Practical Record Book and Vivavoce'.