Geography Optional Books for UPSC

Which books to refer to for Geography Optional ?

There are actually 8 books that cover almost 80-85% of the syllabus.

It is updation, enrichment and deeper conceptual clarity that requires more books and coverage of current affairs based questions. Sincerely managing GS goes a long way in helping geography too.

1. NCERT-XI & XII

2. Made Simple Series by Rupa Publication-Vol-I & II

3. A certificate course in geography by Goh Cheng Leong

Reference Books

1. Physical Geography- By Savindra Singh (If one wants to avoid specialised books for Physical Geography syllabus. There are 5 specialised books by Savindra Singh have certain specific chapters which are not covered through the above book. Coverage of above Physical Geography text book covers almost 80% of the physical geography syllabus). For the other topics of the Physical geography syllabus, one has to refer to about 2-3 chapters from each of the below books: One can take photocopies of the select chapters from libraries and study rather than buying these books

   1. Geomorphology-By Savindra Singh

   2. Oceanography- By Savindra Singh

   3. Climatology- By Savindra Singh

   4. Environment Geography-By Savindra Singh

   5. Biogeography- By Savindra Singh

2. Indian Geography by D R Khullar

3. Human Geography by Majid Hussain

4. Models and theories by Majid Hussain

5. Geographical thought by Dixit

6. Geographical thought by Sudipta Adhikary ( A good supplement for Thought topics)

7. NCERT class X text book, (Old Edition) is good for Economic Geography Coverage. It will also help GS geography topics like- World Industries, World Resources distribution and trade.

8. Settlement Geography by K Siddhartha

Other References:

Like in all other subjects, and in GS, students must read up various magazines and current affairs based enrichment. Some of the sources one can be regular with are:

1. Yojna

2. Kurushektra

3. Greagraphy and You

4. NITI Aayog reports (particularly, those on Agriculture, Infra, Regional development, Rural development etc)

5. Select UN docs on Population, development & Env. (UNDP is most helpful)