UPSC Mains GEOGRAPHY-PAPER-I 2025

28 Questions • 400 Marks • With Detailed Model Answers

1
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(a) Explain the causes of glacial lake outburst flood.

Physical GeographyEnvironmental Science
2
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(b) What is solifluction? What are its impacts?

Physical GeographyGeomorphology
3
10 Marks150 Wordshard

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(c) What geological and tectonic processes lead to the formation of nappes in orogenic belts?

GeologyTectonics
4
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(d) Explain the relationship between air masses and local winds.

MeteorologyClimatology
5
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(e) What are the fundamental differences among ocean wave, ocean current and tide?

OceanographyPhysical Geography
6
20 Markshard

How does denudation chronology help in understanding the sequential development of landscapes and landforms? Elucidate.

GeomorphologyPhysical Geography
7
15 Marksmedium

What is deep-sea mining? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with it?

Resource ManagementEnvironmental ScienceEconomics
8
15 Marksmedium

Man and wildlife conflicts are ever increasing. Discuss its causes, consequences and remedies.

Environmental ScienceSociologyConservation
9
20 Markshard

Examine the formation of atmospheric tricellular circulation system. Describe with example its importance in making the Earth a living planet.

MeteorologyClimatologyEcology
10
15 Marksmedium

What is the 'UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration'? How does it balance ecological goals with emerging socio-economic needs like food security and development?

Environmental PolicySustainabilityEcology
11
15 Markshard

"The Himalaya is still rising." Expand this statement and describe the processes involved in it with suitable sketches and examples.

GeologyTectonicsPhysical Geography
12
20 Markshard

What are the ecological consequences of agricultural deforestation in the Amazon and Congo Basins, particularly concerning biodiversity and climate regulation?

Environmental ScienceEcologyGeography
13
15 Markshard

Examine the distribution and balance of energy in the Earth's atmosphere system.

MeteorologyClimatologyPhysics
14
15 Marksmedium

Describe the process of formation of barrier islands and explain their significance.

GeomorphologyCoastal GeographyOceanography
15
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(a) Why did the Welfare Approach in Human Geography emerge as a significant perspective in 1970s?

Human GeographyGeographical Thought
16
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(b) What are the key environmental and economic challenges linked to the extraction and processing of critical minerals?

Resource ManagementEconomicsEnvironmental Science
17
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(c) "Pull factors in internal migration are often based on perceptions rather than reality." Explain.

Human GeographySociologyDemography
18
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(d) "Regional imbalances are the product of in situ and ex situ factors.” Elucidate it with examples.

Economic GeographyRegional ScienceDevelopment Studies
19
10 Marks150 Wordsmedium

Answer the following in about 150 words each:

(e) Why is systems analysis important in urban planning and what are its limitations?

Urban GeographyUrban PlanningSystems Theory
20
20 Markshard

How have dichotomy and dualism affected the methodological development of Geography? Describe.

Geographical ThoughtMethodology
21
15 Marksmedium

Analyze the role of language and religion in delineating major cultural regions of the world.

Cultural GeographyHuman Geography
22
15 Marksmedium

Analyze the spatial patterns and regional specialization of plantation crops across tropical and subtropical regions.

Agricultural GeographyEconomic Geography
23
20 Marksmedium

Why is oil important for energy security? What is the role of oil in clean energy transition?

Energy ResourcesEconomicsEnvironmental Policy
24
15 Markshard

Critically evaluate the role of primate cities in dominating the urban spheres of influence in developing countries.

Urban GeographyDevelopment Studies
25
15 Marksmedium

"The global demographic landscape is evolving with rapid population growth in some places and rapid ageing in others." Elucidate with examples.

DemographyPopulation Geography
26
20 Markshard

Why has F. Perroux's theory of growth pole as a model of regional growth been criticised? Explain with examples.

Economic GeographyRegional Science
27
15 Marksmedium

Analyze the role of demographic transition theory in explaining variations in fertility and mortality rates globally.

DemographyPopulation Geography
28
15 Marksmedium

How do regional components make the regional synthesis in spatial arrangement? Explain.

Regional GeographySpatial Analysis