Comparative Analysis of Civil Services Prelim Paper - I (GS - Geography and Environment)

Analysing Civil Services Prelims Exam
UPSC In-depth Question Analysis - General Studies (Pre)


Subject Year - 2011 Year - 2012 Year - 1013
Questions from Science & Technology 22 11 19
Questions from Geography + Environmental 24 24 26
Questions from Economics 18 13 19
Questions from Polity 11 16 16
Questions from History + Art and Culture 13 21 16
Questions from Miscellaneous 7 8 4
Questions from International Relation 5 1 0

Geography and Environment

That is the most important area and this is where you should focus with right approach as far as Geography & Environment is concern. Because 25% (almost 1/4th) of the questions are coming and even more than that approx 30% of the questions you can expect from this section.

The questions are not bookish knowledge based or not from any botany or biology environment book and they ask what is ecosystem and all such type of questions. They are asking based on information which generally appear in the newspaper. For example Algae Boom, Cold wave in US and these kind of news which interest you and which can be asked. So prepare such questions and all clues while you read the newspaper.

Indian Geography which is very important and we must read Indian portion very carefully from NCERT and other resources. This section will have around 10 to 12 questions. General Geography is also very important that is Geomorphology portion, Climatology portion, Natural vegetation and related to Biodiversity.

And some questions from the World Geography also and we would take it as a least important. But maximum focus should be on Indian geography and all other parts of the general geography that will make a lot of difference. Because 25 to 30 questions in Preliminary, That is Not a Joke.

CSAT Comparative Analysis Pie Chart

Geography and Environment - 2013 (Area Covered)


  • Atlas Mountain
  • Variation Day-Night (Earth's Movement)
  • Narmada River Flow
  • Fresh Water on Earth
  • Dynamic Changes on Earth
  • Grass Land (Growth Conditions)
  • Productivity Earth Region
  • Contour Modification
  • Fishing Ground World
  • Equatorial Forest
  • Difference Annual Range Temperature (Interiors)
  • Laterite Soil
  • Mineral Resource India
  • Kharif Crop
  • African Savannah
  • Tribes India
  • Acid Rain
  • National Park
  • Biodiversity Lion Tailed Macaque
  • Ecological Niche
  • Photochemical Smog
  • Pollutants (Drinking Water)
    Sea Dwelling Mammals
  • Biosphere Reserves
  • Endangered Species
  • Decomposers

Geography and Environment - 2012 (Area Covered)


  • Mixed farming (Agriculture)
  • State Latitudinal characteristics
  • Ocean currents
  • Pulse Fodder Green Manure
  • Rain fed crops
  • Characteristics Himalayas
  • Origins life on Earth
  • Monsoon
  • Tropical Savanna Region
  • Contour Bundling
  • Continuous Expansion Universe
  • Ocean Acidification
  • Protected Areas (Two Questions)
  • Endangered Species
  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
  • Oryx Chiru
  • Biodiversity - Global Warming
  • Phytoplankton Loss (Ocean)
  • Vulture Death (Diclofenac)
  • National Biodiversity Authority
  • National Green Tribual

Geography and Environment - 2011 (Area Covered)

  • Cropping Pattern (Agriculture)
  • World Desert
  • Jet aircraft Movement & Atmospheric Layers
  • Brahmaputra Syntaxial bend
  • Tsunami, Salinization, Westerlies
  • Orchid Production (India)
  • La-nina
  • Micro irrigation
  • Marine up welling
  • Tropical Rainforest
  • Ionosphere
  • Red Data Book
  • Biodiversity (Two questions)
  • Coal Combination & Polution
  • Himalayan range diversity
  • Bhitar Kanika

List of other topic-wise analysis

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