Geography Class XI Syllabus

Exam Structure

Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline

• Geography as an integrating discipline, as a science of spatial attributes.
• Branches of Geography; PhysicalGeography and Human Geography.
• Scope and Career Options

Unit-2: The Earth

• Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth.
• Wegener’s continental drift theory and plate tectonics.
• Earthquakes and volcanoes: causes, types and effects.

Unit-3: Landforms

• Rocks: major types of rocks and their characteristics.
• Landforms and their evolution.
• Geomorphic processes: weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition; soil-formation.

Unit 4: Climate

• Atmosphere- composition and structure;elements of weather and climate.
• Insolation-angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget of the earth-heating and cooling of atmosphere (conduction, convection, terrestrial radiation and advection); temperature- factors controlling temperature; distribution of temperature-horizontal and vertical; inversion of temperature.
• Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary, seasonal and local; air masses and fronts; tropical and extratropical cyclones.
• Precipitation-evaporation; condensation-dew, frost,fog, mist and cloud; rainfall-types and world distribution.
• World climates-classification (Koeppen and Thornthwaite), Global warming and climatic changes.
• Climate and Global Concerns.

Unit 5: Hydrosphere

• Basics of Oceanography
• Oceans – distribution of temperature and salinity.
• Movements of ocean water-waves, tides and currents; submarine reliefs.
• Ocean resources and pollution.

Unit 6: Biosphere

• Biosphere – importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation; ecosystem and ecological balance.

Map work on identification of features based on 1 to 6 units on the outline/Physical/Political map of the world.

Part – B: India – Physical Environment

Unit-7: Introduction

• Location, space relations, India’s place in the world.

Unit-8: Physiography 

• Structure and Relief; Physiographic Divisions.
• Drainage systems: Concept of river basins, Watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular rivers.

Unit-9: Climate, Vegetation and Soil

• Weather and climate – spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds and rainfall, Indian monsoon: mechanism, onset and withdrawal, variability of rainfalls: spatial and temporal; use of weather charts; Climatic types (Koeppen).
• Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution; wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves.
• Soils – major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution, soil degradation and conservation.

Unit-10: Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and Management

• Floods, Cloudbursts
• Droughts: types and impact
• Earthquakes and Tsunami
• Cyclones: features and impact
• Landslides

Map Work of features based on above units for locating and labelling on the Outline/Political/Physical map of India.

Part – C: Practical Work

Unit-1: Fundamentals of Maps

• Geo spatial data, Concept of Geographicaldata matrix; Point, line, area data.
• Maps – types; scales-types; construction of simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding direction and use of symbols.
• Map projection – Latitude, longitude and time, typology, construction and properties of projection: Conical with one standard parallel and Mercator’s projection. (only two projections)

Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps

• Study of topographic maps (1:50,000 or 1:25,000 Survey of India maps); contour cross section and identification of landforms-slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution of settlements.
• Aerial Photographs: Types and Geometry-vertical aerial photographs; difference between maps and aerial photographs; photo scale determination. Identification of physical and cultural features.
• Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform and sensors and data products, (photographic and digital).
• Use of weather instruments: thermometer, wet and dry-bulb thermometer, barometer, wind vane, rain gauge.