Both UPSC Geography optional papers from 2025 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 2025 examiner actually weighted, and how that compares with the eleven-year pattern.
Geography Optional 2025 Paper I
Download: Geography Optional 2025 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) | Explain the causes of glacial lake outburst flood. | 10 | Geomorphology |
| 1(b) | What is solifluction? What are its impacts? | 10 | Geomorphology |
| 1(c) | What geological and tectonic processes lead to the formation of nappes in orogenic belts? | 10 | Geomorphology |
| 1(d) | Explain the relationship between air masses and local winds. | 10 | Climatology |
| 1(e) | What are the fundamental differences among ocean wave, ocean current and tide? | 10 | Oceanography |
| 2(a) | How does denudation chronology help in understanding the sequential development of landscapes and landforms? Elucidate. | 20 | Geomorphology |
| 2(b) | What is deep-sea mining? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with it? | 15 | Oceanography |
| 2(c) | Man and wildlife conflicts are ever increasing. Discuss its causes, consequences and remedies. | 15 | Biogeography |
| 3(a) | Examine the formation of atmospheric tricellular circulation system. Describe with example its importance in making the Earth a living planet. | 20 | Climatology |
| 3(b) | What is the ‘UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’? How does it balance ecological goals with emerging socio-economic needs like food security and development? | 15 | Biogeography |
| 3(c) | “The Himalaya is still rising.” Expand this statement and describe the processes involved in it with suitable sketches and examples. | 15 | Political & Cultural Geography |
| 4(a) | What are the ecological consequences of agricultural deforestation in the Amazon and Congo Basins, particularly concerning biodiversity and climate regulation? | 20 | Biogeography |
| 4(b) | Examine the distribution and balance of energy in the Earth’s atmosphere system. | 15 | Climatology |
| 4(c) | Describe the process of formation of barrier islands and explain their significance. | 15 | Geomorphology |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | Why did the Welfare Approach in Human Geography emerge as a significant perspective in 1970s? | 10 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 5(b) | What are the key environmental and economic challenges linked to the extraction and processing of critical minerals? | 10 | Environmental Geography |
| 5(c) | “Pull factors in internal migration are often based on perceptions rather than reality.” Explain. | 10 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 5(d) | “Regional imbalances are the product of in situ and ex situ factors.” Elucidate it with examples. | 10 | Regional Planning |
| 5(e) | Why is systems analysis important in urban planning and what are its limitations? | 10 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 6(a) | How have dichotomy and dualism affected the methodological development of Geography? Describe. | 20 | Perspectives in Human Geography |
| 6(b) | Analyze the role of language and religion in delineating major cultural regions of the world. | 15 | Political & Cultural Geography |
| 6(c) | Analyze the spatial patterns and regional specialization of plantation crops across tropical and subtropical regions. | 15 | Economic Geography |
| 7(a) | Why is oil important for energy security? What is the role of oil in clean energy transition? | 20 | Economic Geography |
| 7(b) | Critically evaluate the role of primate cities in dominating the urban spheres of influence in developing countries. | 15 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 7(c) | “The global demographic landscape is evolving with rapid population growth in some places and rapid ageing in others.” Elucidate with examples. | 15 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 8(a) | Why has F. Perroux’s theory of growth pole as a model of regional growth been criticised? Explain with examples. | 20 | Regional Planning |
| 8(b) | Analyze the role of demographic transition theory in explaining variations in fertility and mortality rates globally. | 15 | Population & Settlement Geography |
| 8(c) | How do regional components make the regional synthesis in spatial arrangement? Explain. | 15 | Regional Planning |
2025 Paper I: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| Geomorphology | 65 | 16.2% |
| Population & Settlement Geography | 65 | 16.2% |
| Biogeography | 50 | 12.5% |
| Climatology | 45 | 11.2% |
| Regional Planning | 45 | 11.2% |
| Economic Geography | 35 | 8.8% |
| Political & Cultural Geography | 30 | 7.5% |
| Perspectives in Human Geography | 30 | 7.5% |
| Oceanography | 25 | 6.2% |
| Environmental Geography | 10 | 2.5% |
Geography Optional 2025 Paper II
Download: Geography Optional 2025 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) Rushikulya River (ii) Datar Hill (iii) Kikruma (iv) Choritand Tillaya (v) Byalalu (vi) Neyyar (vii) Uttarlai (viii) Sri Vijayapuram (ix) Dharwas (x) Gitabitan | 20 | Physical Setting of India |
| 1(b) | Referring to the location and physical formation of karewas, highlight their economic significance. | 10 | Physical Setting of India |
| 1(c) | How does Himalayan ecosystem regulate the cropping pattern and agricultural activities in Himalayan region of India? Discuss. | 10 | Physical Setting of India |
| 1(d) | Write a critically argued essay on nautical tourism and its infrastructure in India. | 10 | Contemporary Issues |
| 2(a) | Explain the factors which contribute to the growth of India’s pharmaceutical industry with specific reference to its concentration in western region of India. | 20 | Industry |
| 2(b) | Why are coral reefs in India most important with respect to its dynamic ecosystem? Explore. | 15 | Transport, Communication & Trade |
| 2(c) | How does the agricultural sector of India confront with the contemporary physical and politico-economic changes in the different regions of the country? Elucidate. | 15 | Agriculture |
| 3(a) | Why is the pattern of population distribution of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes different in India? Compare their socio-economic problems with examples. | 20 | Cultural Setting |
| 3(b) | Highlight the characteristics of land utilisation in Eastern Ghats region of India. What are the recent threats to land utilisation method in the region? | 15 | Physical Setting of India |
| 3(c) | What are the challenges of dairy sector in India? Describe the contribution of bovine population. | 15 | Agriculture |
| 4(a) | “Socio-political landscape in India is a result of regional consciousness creating inter-state disputes.” Discuss with region specific examples. | 20 | Political Aspects |
| 4(b) | Why cottage industries in India are an integral part of Indian socio-economic structure? Assess this with reference to different types of cottage industries in rural India. | 15 | Agriculture |
| 4(c) | “The rural settlements in India are highly diversified due to both physical and cultural factors.” Justify the statement with examples. | 15 | Settlement |
Section B
| Q. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5(a) | How can rural-urban fringe be delineated? Explain with suitable examples from India. | 10 | Settlement |
| 5(b) | “Spatial distribution of religious groups in India does not show any specific pattern.” Illustrate with arguments. | 10 | Cultural Setting |
| 5(c) | “Watershed is the most appropriate spatial unit for planning.” Comment. | 10 | Regional Development & Planning |
| 5(d) | Is North East India a geo-political or geo-cultural region? Justify your answer. | 10 | Cultural Setting |
| 5(e) | Discuss the necessary conditions for the cultivation of fox nuts and describe the areas of its production in India. | 10 | Agriculture |
| 6(a) | Describe the causes of the phenomenon of ‘urban heat island’. What are the effective measures to deal with this phenomenon in India? | 20 | Physical Setting of India |
| 6(b) | With reference to the transport and communication network of India, critically discuss the Sagarmala project. | 15 | Transport, Communication & Trade |
| 6(c) | What are the key features of sex-ratio of population in India? Evaluate the impacts of child sex-ratio on general sex-ratio in the country. | 15 | Cultural Setting |
| 7(a) | Explain the factors that contribute to droughts in India with specific reference to food production, distribution and availability. Can Indian agricultural policies resolve the issue? | 20 | Agriculture |
| 7(b) | What are the causes and consequences of land degradation due to desertification in India? Examine with reference to various regional issues. | 15 | Physical Setting of India |
| 7(c) | Examine the validity of Blue Economy initiatives of India. Elaborate the impacts of this economy on country’s development. | 15 | Resources |
| 8(a) | While defining the green architecture, discuss its principles and challenges in response to climate change in India. | 20 | Contemporary Issues |
| 8(b) | With reference to typical examples, assess why regional planning in India is important for island territories for their sustainable development. | 15 | Regional Development & Planning |
| 8(c) | With reference to international boundaries of India, discuss the related issues, giving suitable examples. | 15 | Political Aspects |
2025 Paper II: where the marks sat
| Unit | Marks | Share of paper |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Setting of India | 90 | 22.5% |
| Agriculture | 75 | 18.8% |
| Cultural Setting | 55 | 13.8% |
| Political Aspects | 35 | 8.8% |
| Contemporary Issues | 30 | 7.5% |
| Transport, Communication & Trade | 30 | 7.5% |
| Settlement | 25 | 6.2% |
| Regional Development & Planning | 25 | 6.2% |
| Industry | 20 | 5.0% |
| Resources | 15 | 3.8% |
How 2025 Compares With the Eleven-Year Pattern
The 2025 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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