GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL Mock Test

Phani Siddha

@ Super Sixty IAS Academy

 

GEOGRAPHY OPTIONAL 

Mock Test

P 1 Sec A

1.       Explain Mountain building especially w.r.t the Himalayas

2.      Climatology is the most important study in present day unpredictable conditions

3.      Oceanography is quite interesting subject of study. Explain the new continental formation New Zea Landia.

4.      Rate of extinction of species is rapid and uncontrolled inspite of good Samaritans helping out the world in awareness and protection. Where have we reached in biogeographical studies of the species?

5.      Environmental disruptions are causing terrible negative impacts from landslides to earthquakes, fires, floods, tsunami waves etc across the world. Has the world woken up late w.r.t. climate change

P 1 Sec B

1.    Except a few exceptions, the world economy is in doldrums. Comment.

2.    Some nations want to allow a 3 child norm whereas some want to control even 2 child policy. What is a holistic option in population control for the whole world at large?

3.     Do we have enough food for the world? How do we have to conserve and command more production for food safety, charity, exports, most importantly to avoid ending up depending only on cockroaches and grasshoppers for worldwide nutrition

4.      Industrialisation seems to be gradually picking up post covid waves. How does the world sustain economic activity and avoid casualties in covid pandemic?

5.   Are we seeing new theories cropiing up like Lab Leak Theory or Gain of Function Theory into our knowledge domain. Briefly explain them and relate to geographical covid spread

P II Sec A

1.    The Young Fold Mountains need to be more understood for the reasons of security and disaster management as seen in recent years. Elaborate

2.     India is a land of resources and yet the supply chain bottle necks of the world are hurting its growth trajectory. How does self sufficiency and global interdependence mutually sustain each other.

3.     Inflation in agricultural produce is a serious issue to watch for post the crop holidays being announced by some farmer unions. Throw light on the 3 farm laws enacted.

4.     GST collections are being back to normal or above normal. Can we thus deduce that our industrial and services sectors have returned back to pre covid stability or is there a glitch? Examine.

5.    AGR and its ramifications on government and communication sector.

6.    India, A land of cultural unity, is on the cusp of a new revolutionary step to emanicipation of its weaker sections. Explain the unifying concepts of Social Engineering and EWS quota

7.     What is the view of central and state governments on population control, marriages?

8.     Build a road map to balanced regional growth across India avoiding disparities. Keep in mind the diverse socio-econ-pol-admi divergences experienced in every state/region.

9.    Can smart cities be the thrust / force for absorbing the massive 50% urbanisation expected in India?

10.  Do we owe an explanation to Indians of its own balkanization since british advent? If so was India a victim of Heartland or RimLand theories or simply an overzealous colonial unmindful power?

copyright@phanisiddha & supersixtyias@gmail.com #+919866804245

Panama Canal to bar biggest ships because of drought effects

Phani Siddha
@ Super Sixty IAS Academy


Panama canal, a discussion component of world geography is in news..

The Panama Canal Authority said that next month it will temporarily limit the size of ships using the waterway because drought has lowered water levels in Gatun and Alhajuela lakes.

The restriction, which is the first such hold-down because of weather in nearly 20 years, takes effect Sept. 8 and had been expected by shippers. Only a minority of ships now using the canal will be kept out, the authority said.

Rainfall over the watershed feeding the lakes at the midsection of the waterway has fallen sharply as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon, lowering the lake levels. Similar problems occurred in 1997-98.

The authority said ships will be limited to a maximum draft of 39 feet (11.89 metres) beginning Sept. 8. It added that the limit might be further reduced to 38.5 feet (11.73 metres) on Sept. 16.

Only about five or six of the 36 ships now using the canal daily will be affected, 

Monsoon Blues

phanisiddha

super sixty ias academy

Monsoon has been playing a vital role in the economic well being of this country. A large proportion of population depend on it for direct & indirect employment and thus incomes.  failure in the right amount of rain derails the life of a farmer beyond imagination as they invest on a variety of inputs and fail to reap harvest.  the increased number of farm suicides in many states of India is an indicator of the distress in rural areas of our country.  and long term approach to farming, living within ones means and not spending too excessively on social or other occasions, not depending on a single crop or type, focus on multiple incomes have etc been suggested for rural populace. . indian administrators should look into this major cause of concern and help the country and farmers come out of this complex scenario as this is also linked to indian economic growth and stability of society..   

** 

Read Agriculture from Economy & Geography Text books,  

read about Agrarian crisis from Society Text book for its implications on indian society.

read articles from newspapers/magazines like the one given below

Deficit rainfall gives country monsoon blues

Neha Madaan,TNN | 

Northwest India currently has a surplus of 12%, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows. (Representative image)

RELATED

• Colours you should pick in monsoon
• Madkal in Kalaburagi district receives highest rainfall of 61mm

PUNE: The current weak phase of the monsoon has adversely affected the country's rainfall quota from June 1 to July 7. Poor or no rainfall activity in parts of the country has shrunk the additional rainfall quota recorded in June. The country recorded a -2% deficiency in rainfall.

Central India is the worst affected with a deficit of -5%. Rainfall here in the second half of June was so good that the region had recorded the highest surplus in comparison to other regions.

READ ALSO: 28% deficit rainfall in Bihar till June 30

Other regions like east and northeast India and south peninsula have a -4% deficit. Northwest India currently has a surplus of 12%, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows.

In central India, all subdivisions have a deficit except Saurashtra and Kutch, Vidarbha and Chattisgarh. The maximum deficit of -32% has been recorded in Marathwada and Gujarat region.

READ ALSO: Seasonal rainfall deficit rises to 22%

A met department official told TOI that some rain can be expected in central India in the next few days, especially in parts of east central India like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, east Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. However, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada can only expect isolated rainfall in the next few days. "The offshore trough is not well manifested causing weak rainfall activity. This part of the monsoon generally has a well-established offshore trough along with other systems, which seems to be missing this time," the official said.

G P Sharma, vice-president, meteorology, at Skymet Weather Services, told TOI that though conditions may improve for other parts of the country in terms of rainfall activity over the next one week, south peninsula, Maharashtra and Gujarat may not see much rainfall at least during the first half of July.

READ ALSO: 1 monsoon month gone, 8 districts stare at 50% deficit

"The southwest monsoon is going through a weak phase since the beginning of July, because of the typhoons in the western Pacific. They have a great bearing over the flow of the monsoon current over the Indian seas," he added. From July 8 to 14 however, monsoon will gain strength over coastal Maharashtra including Mumbai, Sharma said.

A met office forecast on Wednesday said the southwest monsoon has been active over Jharkhand and Bihar but subdued over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, west Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rayalaseema and interior Karnataka. A recent Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) extended range forecast said the forecast during July indicates that there will be absence of large scale monsoon system resulting in below normal rainfall.

READ ALSO: Despite deficit rainfall, kharif sowing picks up smartly

Meanwhile, Pune received 1.1mm rainfall from 8.30am to 5.30pm on Wednesday, with IMD forecasting light rain or one or two spells of rain from Thursday till July 12.

query on westerly winds

Hi Sir, 

I have encountered a statement like this

The velocity of westerlies increases southwards and they become stormy.

Why is that Sir?

Will it happen in both the hemispheres?

-sriram chakri-

plz refer ur climate topic and special names of westerlies in southern hemi..

southern.hemisphere has less land and so less obstruction to westerly winds and hence more stormy.. 

best wishes from

Phani Kumar Siddhavaram
           Director,
Super Sixty IAS Academy,
         Hyderabad.

Two new volcanic islands emerge in Red Sea

phani siddha
@ super sixty ias academy

This satellite image shows the first volcanic island that formed in December 2011 in the Red Sea near Yemen. NASA IMAGE BY ROBERT SIMMON, USING ALI DATA FROM THE EO-1 TEam 

Two volcanic islands have emerged in the Red Sea, forming from undersea eruptions that sent towering plumes of gases and ash into the air.

The islands named Sholan and Jadid formed in what is known as the Zubair archipelago near Yemen in the southern Red Sea. They formed in 2001 and 2013. They grew quite quickly after forming but have since shrunk over time due to erosion, according to a study published in Nature Communications that used high-resolution satellite imagery to study their changing size over time.

Sholan Island - located between Haycock and Rugged islands - grew out of an eruption that lasted 25 days starting in December 2011. It reached a size of .52 kilometers wide and 0.77 kilometers long before shrinking 30 percent over the past two years. Wind and ocean currents also played a role in its size, according to the study, with the island growing the north in the winter and spring while deposits move back from the northern shore to the southern part of the island during the summer.

Jadid Island formed two years later between Saba and Saddle islands. The eruption lasted 54 days, forming a circular island about 0.9 kilometers in size. It, too, shrunk over time due to erosion, with the island reduced to 0.67 kilometers by February 2014.

It isn't a surprise that earthquake activity was found, since the Red Sea has been known to be seismically active for decades. But the emergence of the two islands, according to the study, would suggest the presence of a magmatically active zone that "had previously escaped notice."

The researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia said these types of underwater eruptions are poorly understood. Few have been witnessed since Surtsey Island emerged south of Iceland in the 1960s.

A satellite photo of the 2011-12 eruption that created Sholan Island. It was taken by the worldview-2 satellite on 23 December 2011.

 JÓNSSON ET AL., NATURE COMMUNICATIONS

But based on the persistence of Surtsey, the researchers said they expect these two islands will not disappear anytime soon.

"Similar to Surtsey Island, many of the older and smaller Zubair islands consist of tuff that has not easily eroded away," the researchers wrote. "This is likely also going to be the fate of the new Jadid and Sholan islands, that is, they are going to remain above the surface despite the fast erosion observed immediately after the eruptions."

© 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

geo optional

March 21st 2015

Happy ugadi sir, this is a reminder for my optional as Geography. sir can you mail it's details. - Deevya

Phani Siddha

Super Sixty IAS Academy

hello divya, its a 20 chapter wonderful subject.. i teach in an interactive manner with

detailed discussions..  actually started one day back..  another batch in June/July.. till december..

Usually new batches start June and  November every year.. admissions from April for June Batch Optional and Prelims Cum Mains Foundation Courses and from September for November Batch.. 

scoring as it is a mix of many general studies subjects in the new syllabus.. assured score

if you follow discussion with self study a bit at home..  

students should have a bit of interest in geo to study it.. i think u said so... 

reply to parthu

Dear Parthu

we can add this to your mail and CIRCULATE this to all,


1.  classes where faculty involves discussions incl current affairs

2. creates an atmosphere of learning, curiosity and teaches basics....
thats where all learning and our life starts..

3. forget not that doing Ph,D doesnt mean those who taught PG were wrong...
its only a change of level of thinking.. we need to be courteous
to all of our good teachers ever ..as they create TRAITS, HABITS in us which
make us succeed.. its not just books..

4. stay on ground.. learn for 1 yr 3 months ... with sincerety.. not with ego..

5.  all books may not suit all students.. so be cautious as what u send
to students....

6.. freshers should study simpler versions to assimilate knowledge..
strahler or savinder singh or some academy material doesnt do justice
to starters..

7.. a good intention on ur part may boomerang..
. XXX of Delhi gave 1200 - 1500 points for mapping for 60 marks.. which may
look absurd for some to whom u may send mail..

8. .suggest standard text books for students.. prefer simple ones for
freshers..

9.. finally..  SUCCESS IS  A LONG HAUL.. it is not the name of a date Nov 10th..


all the best..   ; ))





most surprising of all is that
u being an honest and sincere student,

u are spending time on useless stuff right in front of ur mains exam!!!!!
u could hv done it on last day after mains writing & circulating mails 



Phani Kumar Siddhavaram
           Director,
Super Sixty IAS Academy,
         Hyderabad.

Geography Optional Test 1

Phani Siddha
Super Sixty IAS Academy
Hyderabad


Geomorphology, Climatology, Oceanography + Physical Setting

       1.       What is a Geosyncline? Explain its Phases.                             10M

       2.       Can we still consider Himalayas as a defense barrier and a protective wall? Also discuss the wall in the present context of developments of S&T and modern warfare.                                                     15M

       3.       Connect the relation between Ganga plain, Our National Food Security Act and Anthropogenic Global Warming.                                  15M

      4.       Define Rejuvenation. What features do you find after rejuvenation? 5M

      5.       Explain any one climatic classification either Koppen, Trewartha or Thornthwaite.                                                                                      12M

     6.       What is El Nino and how is it influencing the world inlcluding India?15M

     7.       With  a neat diagram, discuss ocean bottom topography of either Pacific Atlantic or Indian Ocean.                                                           12M

     8.     Explain the Glacial or Subsidence theories of Coral Reef Formation. 10M

     9.     Elaborate on all types of Ocean Water Movements.           20M

    10.                         Can we say Peninsular Plateau as a backbone of Indian Mineral Needs. Explain the adv and dis-adv of peninsular plateau of india.        12M

   

-RESTRICTED CIRCULATION FOR STUDENTS OF PHANI SIDDHA ONLY-

Migration - Population Geography Optional

              Phani Siddha

@ Super Sixty IAS Academy

 Canara Bank Lane,      Hyd 

Geography Optional

Question: Discuss International Streams of Migration, Its Causes and Consequences. How it may be reduced with International Intervention.

700 migrants feared drowned off Libyan coast

DPA

TOPICS

World

Libya

transport accident

maritime accident

Nearly 700 migrants may have died in two recent shipwrecks off the coast of Libya, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said Monday.

Quoting two survivors, the IOM’s Italy office said human traffickers deliberately sank a boat with about 500 Syrian, Palestinian, Egyptian and Sudanese migrants, after they refused an at—sea transfer onto a more rickety vessel.

“If this story — which is being investigated by police — is confirmed, it would be the biggest shipwreck of recent years. It would be particulary serious as it would not be an incident, but an episode of mass killing,” the IOM said in a statement.

The IOM said the migrants left the Egyptian port of Damietta on September 6, and that the two Palestinian survivors it interviewed were rescued by a passing cargo ship after spending 36 hours at sea, and taken to Pozzallo, Sicily, on Saturday.

The IOM said it was also checking reports that some 200 people are missing following on a wreck on Sunday off Libya.

“The death toll in the Mediterranean in these hours is extremely grave ... 700 people may have died at sea over the past few days,” the statement said.

Al-Wasat news site, quoting a naval commander, reported that 160 migrants were feared to have drowned in the sinking on Sunday.

Some 36 people had been rescued, including a pregnant woman, and had been taken to hospital, navy spokesman Captain Ayyub Qasim told Al-Wasat.

Naval forces had headed to a location 10 miles out from the western coastal town of Tajoura after fishermen reported seeing large numbers of bodies in the water, Qasim said.

Migrant flows across the Mediterranean have sharply increased this year. The IOM has calculated that about 108,000 prospective asylum-seekers had arrived by sea in Italy up to late August, compared to less than 43,000 in 2013.

The Italian navy, which is coordinating the maritime search-and-rescue Mare Nostrum mission, said 2,879 people were rescued at sea over the weekend. It said that one of its patrols also picked up a corpse.

In August the UN refugees agency (UNHCR) calculated that nearly 1,900 migrants had drowned since January in attempts to reach Europe by sea.

“These tragic events show, on one side, how it is necessary for the high—sea rescue operations to continue [...], and on other, what level of aberration has been reached by human traffickers, as they are placing migrants on ever more rickety and overcrowded boats, directly or indirectly causing the death of thousands,” IOM said

Many Doubts on ports, waves, spring tides, rlys etc

Hello Sir, hope you are doing well. I hav a few doubts...can you please clarify them...

1. Major ports - 12 or 13

2. Upward and downward movement
     of ocean water is :
             a. Waves
             b. Tides
             c. Current

3. Is world geo necessary for
    prelims???

4. Spring tides are caused due to sun
     and moon's gravitational pull in
     opposite directions..is this correct
     sir??

5. Railways has 16 or 17 zones??
    Because India Year Book says 17
    but the internet says 16...even
    NCERT says 16

Regards,
Vrushank Reddy

Dear Vrushank,

1. Government continues to give approval to new ports so their

number is not a concern.. before 2003 12, then became 13, 

in 2013 government gave approval to 2 new ports sagar in wb and

durgarajupalem in ap so that will become 15 + 200 non major ports

Maritime Development Program, Sagarmala project

2. waves move forward but particles move up, down and circular

3. World geo is necessarily to be studied as it is in prelims and also mains

4. Spring tides occur wen S M E or S E M are in straight line called syzygy

5. go by India year book as it is revised every year 

Best Wishes

Warping and Pacific Ocean Heating

on warping & elnino

Shravan P

hello sir,

  iam ur student

1) what is exactly a warping which lead to separation of 

shillong plateau from peninsular plateau by chotanagpur plateau?

2) in hindu paper (03.07.2014, science and technology) it was given that in recent times 

the entire pacific basin is getting heated.if so then where is chance of having

 a high pressure and low pressure region which is required for a drought condition in s.e.asia

 and floods in america.

 will be helpful if u clarify

thank you.

nice photo shravan  : ))

warping is a fold of the rock which can upwarp or downwarp

pacific basin heating is at the ocean bottom and the el nino phenomena 

is associated with the sea surface water temp so dont mix the two aspects

Best Wishes

query related to waves mountains

         Phani Siddha

@ Super Sixty IAS Academy

                   Hyd 

When Water WAVES hit to a mountain the rock breaks is there any effect
in orographic rain to that areas?
can we generate power through waves
and high tides?                             
mars planet have 2moons
is there same pull factor by moon ?
Thank You Sir
Naga Anand 



Dear Nag Anand

the erosion of the land happens in many thousands of years.. and 

mountains are in many ridge/line sequences so orography will not get affected that much

wave, tidal energy is being generated in the world and in India too 

mars, its moons have no effect on tidal effect on eartth, 

best wishes

Regarding World Geo

              Phani Siddha

@ Super Sixty IAS Academy

                   Hyd

Sir

Regarding the reference books on World Geography,

1) World Regional Geography (Tikka, Bali & Sekhon)

2) Majid Hussain

Could you please suggest which is a  better purchase. Also, the reference books for Environment and Disaster Management. 

Thank you,

Prathyusha

.

Ans: study majid hussain or tikkha     first the summaries only.. 

then important countries in that continent

then current affairs linked countries

it will suffice.. 

with best wishes

How to prepare Optional Geography

              Phani Siddha

@ Super Sixty IAS Academy

                   Hyd

Sir,

I was your student in 2011. Originally,I am from Kolkata and has again shifted to my city. I am preparing for civil service mains with geography optional.

I am studying following books :

1. Savindra Singh    -Physical geography

2. Majid Hussian      - Human Geogrpahy

3. India Geography   - D.R. Khullar

4. Rupa series books- Physical geography and Economic Geography.

Would you please give your opinion whether these books are sufficient to get a good marks in optional Geography?

If not can you please recommend some good books or source of study material?

I have two specific questions,which are :-

1. Is Strahler and Strahler is required for Physical gepgraphy instead of Savindra Singh?

2. Is Majid Hussain's book sufficient for Human Geography or Should I read some other      books?

Please help me regarding this as I am unable to find some good guidance for geography optional  in Kolkata and lacking in confidence 

I would be highly obliged if you share your valuable remarks.

Thanks & Regards,

Uddipan


Congratulations for being in the City of Wonderful Culture..

I am sorry for delays as i wasnt in contact with anyone since june last year..\

any one book is sufficient for Physical, Strahler or Majid or Savinder..

for Human Geo LR SINGH OR MAJID HUSSAIN     ANY ONE

add Journals to ur learning like Geography and you, Watch Channels which give

you an edge in Geo like Animal Planet/Discovery etc.. go thru government Websites, 

Keep up ur motivation and attempt the exams.. 

Best Wishes

Phani Siddha

Super Sixty IAS Academy

sir,

    i'm srawan kumar  i have opted geography as my optional for mains.so i wanted to know what all the books i have to buy for the preperation.currently i have go cheng leong.now is it that i have to follow different books for different areas...like climate,atmosphere etc; separately.

       TIME OF PREPARATION IS NOT AN ISSUE sir....as my office timings are 8-6pm (weekdays holidays) little work pressure...so if u prescribe me more books for the betterment also i can go for it.

requested:

books and magazines to be followed.

thanking you sir,

srawan

Follow 3 Steps

Buy 3 text books for Optional Geography..
Paper I Section A: \PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY by Majid Hussain OR Savinder Singh
Paper I Section B: Human Geography by L R Singh OR Majid Hussain
Paper II Indian Geography by Ramchandra Tiwari or D R khullar
follow magazines like kurukshetra, yojana, geography and u

Attend classes for Understanding the Subject

Write Test Series for assessing ur answers..

With Best Wishes