Drishti IAS Indian Geography | Geography Optional Course for Civil Services Examination

• Comprehensive coverage of Indian Geography for Geography Optional preparation
• Detailed section on Agriculture, including inputs, cropping patterns, productivity, regionalisation and agro-climatic zones
• Covers Green Revolution, Dry Farming, Livestock, White Revolution, Aquaculture, Sericulture, Apiculture and Poultry
• Extensive coverage of Indian Industry, including textile, iron & steel, aluminium, fertilizer, pharmaceutical, automobile, sugar and paper industries
• Includes Industrial Regionalisation, New Industrial Policy, Liberalisation, Multinationals and Special Economic Zones
• Covers Transport, Communication and Trade through roads, railways, pipelines, airways, waterways, ports and trade policy
• Includes Information & Communication Technology and Indian Space Programme
• Covers the Geographical Basis of Indian Federalism, State Reorganisation and Regional Issues
• Includes International Boundaries, Cross-Border Terrorism, India’s Role in World Affairs and Geopolitics of South Asia & Indian Ocean
• Covers Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management, Globalisation and Contemporary Issues
• Designed as an Optional Course for Civil Services Examination

The book is titled Indian Geography and is structured specifically for Geography Optional preparation.

About this Book

Drishti IAS Indian Geography is a focused Geography Optional study resource designed for aspirants preparing for the Civil Services Examination.

The book is organised around five major areas — Agriculture, Industry, Transport-Communication-Trade, Political Aspects and Contemporary Issues. This structure brings together economic, political and environmental dimensions of Indian Geography in one course book.

The Agriculture section covers agricultural infrastructure, inputs, cropping patterns, productivity, Green Revolution, livestock resources and regionalisation. The Industry section then moves through the evolution, location and development of major industries and industrial policy.

The later sections cover India’s transport network, communication systems, trade, federal structure, regional issues, geopolitical concerns and contemporary environmental-economic challenges.

Key Areas Covered

• Agriculture Infrastructure & Inputs
• Irrigation & Agricultural Resources
• Cropping Pattern, Productivity & Cropping Intensity
• Crop Combination & Land Capability
• Green Revolution & its Socio-Economic and Ecological Implications
• Dry Farming
• Livestock Resources & White Revolution
• Aquaculture
• Sericulture
• Apiculture
• Poultry
• Agricultural Regionalisation
• Agro-Climatic Zones & Agro-Ecological Regions
• Evolution and Distribution of Industries
• Cotton & Jute Textile Industries
• Iron & Steel, Aluminium and Fertilizer Industries
• Pharmaceutical & Automobile Industries
• Sugar Industry
• Industrial Houses, Complexes & Industrial Regionalisation
• New Industrial Policy, Multinationals & Liberalisation
• Special Economic Zones
• Tourism & Ecotourism
• Roads, Railways, Pipelines & Airways
• Waterways & Ports
• Trade, Trade Balance & Trade Policy
• Information & Communication Technology
• Indian Space Programme
• Indian Federalism & State Reorganisation
• Regional Consciousness & Inter-State Issues
• International Boundaries & Cross-Border Terrorism
• India’s Role in World Affairs
• Geopolitics of South Asia & Indian Ocean Realm
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Globalisation & Indian Economy
• Epidemics
• Agrarian & Industrial Unrest

Table of Contents

1. Agriculture

Agriculture Infrastructure • Agricultural Inputs • Institutional Factors • Cropping Pattern • Agricultural Productivity • Cropping Intensity • Crop Combination • Land Capability • Green Revolution and its Socio-Economic & Ecological Implications • Dry Farming • Livestock Resources • White Revolution • Aquaculture • Sericulture • Apiculture • Poultry • Agricultural Regionalisation • Agro-Climatic Zones • Agro-Ecological Regions

The chapter explains agriculture as a major economic activity and discusses the importance of irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, electricity, roads and crop insurance as agricultural inputs.

It also covers irrigation sources and methods such as wells, tube wells, canals, tanks, traditional water harvesting, drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation.

2. Industry

Evolution of Industries • Cotton Textile • Jute Textile • Iron & Steel • Aluminium • Fertilizer • Paper • Pharmaceutical • Automobile • Sugar Industry • Industrial Houses and Complexes • Industrial Regionalisation • New Industrial Policy • Multinationals • Liberalisation • Special Economic Zones • Tourism including Ecotourism

The section traces the evolution of industrialisation in India from traditional cottage industries to modern organised industries and subsequent policy-led industrial development.

It also classifies the phases of industrialisation in India, including the Abortive, Incipient and Premature phases, with examples of early textile, iron and steel and other industrial establishments.

3. Transport, Communication and Trade

Roads • Railways • Pipelines • Airways • Waterways and Ports • Trade and Trade Balance • Trade Policy • Export Processing Zone • Developments in Information and Communication Technology • Indian Space Programme

The chapter classifies transportation into land, water and air transport, with further coverage of roads, railways, pipelines, inland waterways and ocean routes.

Road transport is further divided into National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, Rural Roads and Border Roads, along with their functions and administrative framework.

4. Political Aspects

Geographical Basis of Indian Federalism • States Reorganisation and Emergence of New States • Regional Consciousness and Inter-State Issues • International Boundary of India and Related Issues • Cross-Border Terrorism • India’s Role in World Affairs • Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean Realm

The section explains the geographical basis of Indian federalism through centripetal and centrifugal forces, unity in diversity, physiographic conditions, linguistic-cultural elements and regional interests.

It further discusses factors such as monsoon rhythm, linguistic unity, cultural identity, physiographic diversity and regional variation in shaping Indian federalism.

5. Contemporary Issues

Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management • Globalisation and Indian Economy • Epidemics • Problems of Agrarian and Industrial Unrest

The EIA section explains Environmental Impact Assessment as a process for identifying and evaluating the likely environmental, social, economic, cultural and human-health impacts of development projects.

It also covers the EIA process through screening, scoping, baseline data collection, impact prediction, mitigation measures, public hearing, decision-making, monitoring and risk assessment.

Suitable For

Geography Optional • UPSC Geography Optional • Civil Services Examination • Indian Geography • Economic Geography • Political Geography • Agriculture Geography • Industrial Geography