Both UPSC Geography optional papers from 2018 are reproduced in full below, question by question, with marks and the syllabus unit each question came from. Paper I and Paper II each printed 8 questions worth 400 marks; you attempt 5 for 250. The official UPSC PDFs are linked at the top of each paper.
After each paper you will find its topic split, which is the useful part: it shows what the 2018 examiner actually weighted, and how that compares with the eleven-year pattern.
Geography Optional 2018 Paper I
Download: Geography Optional 2018 Paper I (PDF, searchable), a typeset edition of the paper as published by UPSC. Time allowed three hours, maximum marks 250.
Section A
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(a) | “Landscape is a function of structure, process and stage.” Critique the statement. | 10 | Geomorphology |
| 1(b) | Explain the role of evaporation in the hydrologic cycle. | 10 | Climatology |
| 1(c) | Describe the causes and consequences of sea level changes. | 10 | Oceanography |
| 1(d) | Distinguish between intrazonal and azonal soils. Describe in brief the characteristics and importance of azonal soils. | 10 | Biogeography |
| 1(e) | Explain the natural and anthropogenic causes and mitigation measures of frequent flooding in Mumbai. | 10 | Environmental Geography |
| 2(a) | Evaluate how far Kober’s geosynclinal theory explains the mountain building process. | 20 | Geomorphology |
| 2(b) | Critically examine the basis and scheme of climatic classification proposed by G.T. Trewartha. | 15 | Climatology |
| 2(c) | Discuss the objectives and principles of environmental education. Describe the basic concerns of formal and non-formal environmental education in India. | 15 | Environmental Geography |
| 3(a) | Explain the origin, progress and retreat of the Indian monsoon and discuss its impact on the Indian economy. | 20 | Climatology |
| 3(b) | “Geomorphological changes are largely responsible for environmental hazards in the Himalayan region.” Comment with relevant examples. | 15 | Environmental Geography |
| 3(c) | “Controlling population growth is the sustainable solution to environmental problems.” Express your views with suitable arguments. | 15 | Environmental Geography |
| 4(a) | Describe the potential marine energy resources with reference to their benefits, harvestibility and environmental impacts. | 20 | Economic Geography |
| 4(b) | Explain the ecosystem approach to environmental management and highlight its advantages and disadvantages. | 15 | Biogeography |
| 4(c) | Discuss the causes of degradation of tropical rainforests and suggest remedial measures for their prevention, conservation and development. | 15 | Environmental Geography |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | “Geography is a contested and multiparadigmatic discipline with a strong eurocentricity that has only recently been challenged.” Comment. | 10 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 5(b) | Discuss the degree of importance of transportation costs as a factor of industrial location with respect to “footloose industries”. | 10 | Economic Geography |
| 5(c) | Explain the concepts of “megalopolis” and “exopolis” with regard to the growth of cities indicating whether the two can and do overlap. | 10 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 5(d) | Write a note on “forward and backward linkages” in Perroux’s thesis of economic growth and regional development. | 10 | Regional Planning |
| 5(e) | Outline briefly the “age of mass consumption” as described by Rostow in his ‘multi-stage theory of growth’. | 10 | Regional Planning |
| 6(a) | “Areal differentiation has provided the theoretical justification for studying ‘regions’ and ‘regional geography’.” Comment. | 20 | Regional Planning |
| 6(b) | Citing examples from Asia and Europe, comment upon the contexts within which pronatalist population policies are advanced. What could be the implications of these policies on women’s workforce participation? | 15 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 6(c) | Comment upon the contributions of D.M. Smith in outlining ‘welfare’ as a key focus in the geographies of social well-being. | 15 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 7(a) | “Famine is a social phenomena rooted in institutional and political economic arrangements, which determine access to food by different classes and strata.” Comment. | 20 | Economic Geography |
| 7(b) | Provide a brief outline of ideas related to “sense of place” as propounded by Yi-Fu Tuan and Relph in the humanistic geography that emerged in the 1970’s. | 15 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 7(c) | Elaborate upon the influence of Marxist philosophy on geographical research, outlining key themes addressed by Marxist geographers since the 1970’s. | 15 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 8(a) | “Welfare geography emphasizes spatial inequality and territorial justice.” Comment with reference to the main ideas and scope of the subfield. | 20 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 8(b) | Discuss critically the manner in which quantitative revolution provided the methodological foundation for models and modelling in geography. | 15 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 8(c) | Discuss in brief the main thesis in “Limits to Growth” (1972) and also provide a critique of the same. | 15 | Environmental Geography |
2018 Paper I: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| Perspectives in Human Geography | 90 | 22.5% |
| Environmental Geography | 85 | 21.2% |
| Economic Geography | 50 | 12.5% |
| Climatology | 45 | 11.2% |
| Regional Planning | 40 | 10.0% |
| Geomorphology | 30 | 7.5% |
| Biogeography | 25 | 6.2% |
| Population & Settlement Geography | 25 | 6.2% |
| Oceanography | 10 | 2.5% |
Geography Optional 2018 Paper II
Download: Geography Optional 2018 Paper II (PDF, searchable), a typeset edition of the paper as published by UPSC. Time allowed three hours, maximum marks 250.
Section A
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(a) | On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in your QCA Booklet the significance of these locations, whether physical / commercial / economic / ecological / environmental / cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry: (i) Shyok River (ii) Mawlynnong (iii) Shravasti (iv) Kori Creek (v) Amarkantak (vi) Ghatshila (vii) Tawang (viii) Neyyar (ix) Dandeli (x) Mulshi Lake | 20 | Physical Setting of India |
| 1(b) | Explain the unusual intensity of dust storms and thunder storms across India in the pre-monsoon period of year 2018. | 10 | Physical Setting of India |
| 1(c) | Why setting up of Water Management Boards is a controversial issue in India? | 10 | Resources |
| 1(d) | Keeping the recent developments in view, how can the energy crisis of India be circumvented by harnessing non-conventional energy resources? | 10 | Resources |
| 2(a) | Distinguish the geographical aspects of North-Western lava plateau and Chotanagpur plateau of peninsular India. | 20 | Physical Setting of India |
| 2(b) | Explain the contemporary agricultural scenario in the context of rapid urbanization in India. | 15 | Agriculture |
| 2(c) | Assess the suitability of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) for the sustainable economic development in India. | 15 | Industry |
| 3(a) | Examine the ongoing process of agricultural diversification and its implications for food security in India. | 20 | Agriculture |
| 3(b) | Account for the persisting negative trade balance of India. | 15 | Transport, Communication & Trade |
| 3(c) | Critically assess the vanishing ethnic linguistic plurality of India. | 15 | Cultural Setting |
| 4(a) | Examine the driving forces of changing urban morphology of million-plus cities of India with suitable examples. | 20 | Settlement |
| 4(b) | Discuss the emerging geo-political scenario of Indian Ocean realm. | 15 | Political Aspects |
| 4(c) | Give a critical account of region specific constraints of sustainable tourism in India. | 15 | Contemporary Issues |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | Discuss the socio-economic problems associated with the left behind families of international migrants from India. | 10 | Cultural Setting |
| 5(b) | Explain the changing river courses and their impacts on the riparian population in India with suitable examples. | 10 | Physical Setting of India |
| 5(c) | Make a critical appraisal of the factors affecting river water quality in India. | 10 | Physical Setting of India |
| 5(d) | Examine the role of people’s participation in successful decentralised planning in India. | 10 | Regional Development & Planning |
| 5(e) | Describe the socio-spatial consequences of the recent Nipah viral encephalitis in India. | 10 | Contemporary Issues |
| 6(a) | Illustrate with suitable examples the endeavours undertaken in augmenting conservation of water and vegetation in India. | 20 | Physical Setting of India |
| 6(b) | Discuss the strategies of integrated development of island territories in India. | 15 | Physical Setting of India |
| 6(c) | Cross border terrorism has implications on border area development in India. Examine it with suitable examples. | 15 | Political Aspects |
| 7(a) | Explain the pipeline network across India and its impact on regional development. | 20 | Transport, Communication & Trade |
| 7(b) | Discuss the changing composition of international trade through major seaports of India. | 15 | Transport, Communication & Trade |
| 7(c) | Peri-urbanization has created enormous environmental problems. Discuss their causes and consequences with reference to the National Capital Region (N.C.R.) of India. | 15 | Settlement |
| 8(a) | Describe the changing regional morphology of rural settlements in India. | 20 | Settlement |
| 8(b) | Startups may play important role in giving fillip to economic growth in India. Illustrate with examples. | 15 | Industry |
| 8(c) | Is the land boundary of India with its neighbouring countries a cultural divide or divided culture? Explain with suitable examples. | 15 | Cultural Setting |
2018 Paper II: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Setting of India | 105 | 26.2% |
| Settlement | 55 | 13.8% |
| Transport, Communication & Trade | 50 | 12.5% |
| Cultural Setting | 40 | 10.0% |
| Agriculture | 35 | 8.8% |
| Industry | 30 | 7.5% |
| Political Aspects | 30 | 7.5% |
| Contemporary Issues | 25 | 6.2% |
| Resources | 20 | 5.0% |
| Regional Development & Planning | 10 | 2.5% |
How 2018 Compares With the Eleven-Year Pattern
The 2018 split above is one year of evidence. For the full 2016 to 2026 weightage across all 605 printed questions, and every other paper in the archive, use the UPSC Geography optional question paper hub.
If you are still deciding whether to take the subject, start with Geography optional for UPSC instead; it covers the syllabus, the booklist and the scoring pattern.
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