Geography Books for UPSC

For the UPSC Mains examination, geography plays an important role of various papers, including General Studies (GS) papers and optional subjects.

Here is a list of recommended geography books to help in your UPSC Mains preparation:

1. Geography of India by Majid Husain: This book provides detailed insights into Indian geography, It covers topics ranging from resources and agriculture to transport and urbanization, providing a holistic understanding of India’s geographical landscape.
2. World Geography by Majid Husain: Geographical regions worldwide, providing in-depth knowledge about different countries, their physical features, climates, and socio-economic characteristics.
3. Oxford School Atlas: An essential resource for mapping exercises, this atlas provide a wide range of maps, including thematic maps of India, which are crucial for understanding geographical patterns and trends.
4. Certificate Physical and Human Geography by Goh Cheng Leong: Covering both physical and human geography, this book provides detailed explanations supplemented with illustrations, photographs, and maps, making complex concepts easier to understand.
5. Physical, Human and Economic Geography for Civil Services Examination by D R Khuller: Divided into two parts, this book covers physical geography in the first part and human and economic geography in the second part, providing a comprehensive overview of geographical concepts with emphasis on both theoretical and practical aspects.

By referring to these geography books, candidates can strengthen their understanding of geographical concepts, which is important for scoring well in the UPSC Mains examination.

Geography: Optional Books

For candidates opting for Geography as their optional subject in the UPSC exam, thorough preparation is essential, especially considering the detailed syllabus and the scoring potential of this subject.

Here is a breakdown of recommended books for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Geography Option:

Geography Optional Books, Paper 1:

1. Human Geography by Majid Husain: Provide comprehensive coverage of human geography concepts.
2. A Geography by Population by R.C. Chandna: Focuses on population geography, a crucial aspect of human geography.
3. Goh Cheng Leong provides detailed insights into various physical geography topics.
4. Oceanography by Sharma & Vatal covers oceanography, an important sub-topic of physical geography.
5. Physical Geography: Made Simple, Rupa Publisher: Presents physical geography concepts in a simplified manner for better understanding.
6. Economic and Social Geography: Made Simple by Rupa Publisher: Offers simplified explanations of economic and social geography concepts.
7. Environmental Geography by Savindra Singh provides insights into environmental geography, a significant aspect of contemporary geography.
8. Principles of Geomorphology by W.D. Thornbury: Focuses on the principles and theories of geomorphology, an essential sub-discipline of physical geography.

Geography Optional Books, Paper 2:

1. Geography of India, Majid Husain: Provides detailed coverage of various aspects of Indian geography, including physical, economic, and cultural aspects.
2. Transport, Communication, and Trade: Covers the transportation and communication systems of India and their impact on trade and commerce.
3. Regional Development and Planning: Focuses on regional development policies and planning strategies in India.
4. Agriculture Geography by Majid Husain covers agricultural geography, including cropping patterns, agricultural practices, and food security issues in India.
5. Urbanization and Urban Systems in India by Ramachandran: Provide insights into urban geography, focusing on urbanization trends and urban systems in India.
6. India Year Book: Published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, it provides updated information on various aspects of India, useful for both papers.
7. Certificate in Physical and Human Geography, Goh Cheng Leong: Provide insights into physical and human geography concepts relevant to India.

By referring to these recommended books, candidates can enhance their understanding of geographical concepts and effectively prepare for the geography optional papers in the UPSC exam.