Let us Discuss GEOGRAPHY optional paper 2020
Share your views on Nature of Questions and how you tackled it.
Geography optional PAPER 1.pdf
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How was the paper guys. Especially the Indian Geography part. Why entire paper needs to be so application oriented. I think Upsc has said good bye to physical settings part..
I didn't study the geomorphology part. I was relieved that less importance was given to Physical Geography portion. Wrote many general answers, so not expecting much
8)
8.a. I mentioned pivot(1904), heartland(1917) and midland (1943) and divided into these 3 parts
- I explained each stage and why it was modified into later one.
- For instance, For a successful Pivot - two options - Alliance with Germany or China/Japan attacks USSR(not a possible option as per Mackinder).
- Hence needed one buffer state between USSR an Germany to reduce their influence.
- After/During WW1 - extension of Pivot to Heartland
- during WW2 - included N.America and called it Midland(First time maritime zone also included(Atlantic ocean))(Same religion, race and trade)
- I drew two diagrams - one for pivot and heartland shown inner and outer crescent
second one - Azimuthal representation of Map and showed midland, lena land, deserts
- In the evaluation part - I mentioned geospatial entity is given geo political significance.
- State/Nation is no more an organic entity (lebensraum-Ratzel)
- Conclusion - pioneer theory, first time geospatial and geopolitical link
Concluded with Spykman-rimland and its maritime significance in two lines
8.b. I talked about 5 stages of DTT - Thompson and Notestein
I talked about how BR and DR has changed in successive stages and its impact on socio-economic development.
I mentionted developed and developing countries cases studies in between
I drew DTT diagram and mentioned its stages and names(traditional, early expanding, late expanding..)
in the conclusion i also talked little bit about - local government policies - China one child policy and its impact on sexratio and applicability of DTT
8.c. I could think about only one diagram here ( atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrospere and biosphere map)
I mentioned about determinism concept man- env interrelationship
I introduced human ecology study of - 'WS Dasmann'
- I metioned about human explaitation - "Keeble and Bolkin's Theory in two lines"
- "Earth's ability to handle the detritus of human activity is limited" - here I talked about man's ecological impact
- way forward - I spoke about - T.O.Riordan's Envronmental management approach.
(also mentioned Alkali Act, Silent Spring- Rachel carlson and Chipko movement in two lines)
6)
6.a Malthusian concept(arithemetic - resources, geometric - population)
showed Resource crisis graph
preventive and positive checks
Deterministic concept, capitalistic - haves and have nots
Talked about Neo malthusian("Meadows"), "Limits to Gowth"
and resultant development of Sustainable Development concept.
Comparision between two threories - Determinism and environmenta determinism, less focus on man' influence in changing landscape.
Contrast: Malthus - couldnt mentioned technology and its impact (birth control measures,postponement of marriage)
Neo - malthus - more focus on env degradation by man's development measures
6.b Land degradation - in India
I splitted the answer Land degradation based on process(to give a geographical touch)
i) Leaching (Elluviation, illuviaition), Laterisation - forest areas, hilly areas, more raifall - NE , western Ghats
ii) Salinisation - capillary action - evaporation >precipitation, poor productivity - Rajastan
iii) alkalization - water logging - punjab, Haryana.
iv) others - Deforestation - splash ->split erosion ->Sheet ->gully->Ravine(Bundhelkhand)
v) Agri cropping paterns - NPK and soil degradation and loss of productivity
Way forward: Agro ecological regions and cropping patterns, shelter belts, afforestation, Watershed management, Contour bunding, terrace farming
6.c Frontiers - transition zones(Rivers, Mountains, Deserts), Boundaries - clear demarcation - latititudes and logitudes (49th parallel North, 38th parallel)
Reasons- 1) Nationalism,
2) Colonial past - Africa - on basis of convinience not on the basis of culture or language etc. Result: still fights in this resion
3) Richard Hartshorne's Genetic boundaries - Anecedent, Consequent, relic and reasons
4) Religion
5) inequalities , regional aspirations - USSR split
6) Economic significance of transition zones.
Impact: tariffs, protectionism
Conclusion: globalization - less significance to boundaries
Pandemic - more significance to boundaries - closing of boundaries
3)
3.a Indian monsoon and its significance on India's agri patterns and water availability
Factors: i)Northward shiff of ITCZ,
ii) LP on Tibet and HP upper air anti cyclone(reason for Tropical easterly jet)
iii) descipation of southward extention of equatorial jetstream
1v) Low pressure cells on indian sucontinent
1) summer monsoon:
Darwin high - NE suface winds blown on indian ocean towards Mozambique
NE tropical jet from Tibet subsides in Indian ocean
Both combine and deflects to SW direction and develops SW monsoon
Showed its three branches and Rainfall graph, and its impact in two lines - southern rivers, paddy ec
2) Retreating monsoon - southward shift,
Rainfall on coromandal coast(winter rainfall)
concluded with socio- cultural and economic significance
Changes due to ElNino, negative indian ocean dipole and Global warming
Need of the hour : Forecasting
(I actually missed few things like - dry period in between monsoon seasons, October heat)
3.b Deforestation meaning
Causes: Development, commercial aggri, susistence agri - Jhuming in NE
Colonial past - reduced our forest cover drastically for Timber
Impact: i) Lang degratdation - sheet, gully, Ravines
ii) loss of biodiversity
iii) desertification and resultant loss of agri productivity
its impact on pattern of agriculture:
Paddy and wheat to more semi arid crops like Jowar, bajra
Productivity loss by winds (from deserts)
Measures: Shelter belts(bulwarks against desertification)
Agro forestry, social forestry, National forest policy(33%)
NAPCC missions and INDCs
(Should have concluded with Stop and Go determinism however I didnt mentioned this)
3.c Frontogenisis and frontlosis
talked about cold, warm and stationary fronts
and fronto genesis and frontolysis with 4 steps
Occluded front and localized cyclonic storms (squall line, though I showed on North America map I forgot this word)
I drew 5- 6 digrams to show all the different phenomenon.
Impact: frontal rains, mist etc
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