Geography Optional Test Series and Content Enrichment Program

Test – 1
Characteristics, Configuration & evolution of rocks and landforms (except Applied Geomorphology) All geomorphology WG ; Physiographic Regions IG, Drainage System IG, Watersheds IG, Relief and Structure IG

Test – 2
Map test of Relief Features of India, Mountains, Plateaus, Hills, Passes, Peaks and  Islands
Test – 3
Physical ,Regional Study of Weather/Climate& Oceans (except Applied
Climatology, Urban climate, Marine Resources, Coral Bleaching, Marine Pollution) All Climatology WG, All Oceanography WG; Mechanism of Indian Monsoons IG, Rainfall Pattern IG, Tropical Cyclones IG, Climatic Regions IG, Western Disturbances IG

Test – 4
Map test of Water bodies of India, Plains, Lakes ,Rivers ,Dams, Multipurpose River Valley Projects &Wetlands

Test – 5
Fundamentals of Biosphere Genesis of soil WG, Classification and distribution of soil WG, Soil Profile WG, Factors influencing world distribution of plants & animals WG, Wild life, Gene Pool centres WG; Ecosystems, Principle of Ecology, Biodiversity WG; Human Ecological adaptation WG, Marine resources WG; Natural vegetation, soil types IG, Resources entire IG

Test –6
Map test of Protected Areas of India, Tiger Reserves, ConR, ComR, Elephant Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, Ramsar Sites & Forest Types

Test –7
Environmental Geography (will include All the Important Conventions & Policies of Environment Mitigation & Adaptation in relevance of GS also) Applied Geomorphology WG, Applied Climatology WG, Marine Pollution WG, Problems of soil degradation, deforestation, Ecological imbalances and changesWG, Ecosystem Management & Conservation, Sustainable Development, Environment Policy, Environmental hazards, remedial measures WG; Ecological issues, Environmental hazards, Pollution, Principle of EIA, Soil Erosion, Environmental Degradation, Environmental Policies (Contemporary issues) IG

Test 8
Map test of Agriculture & Resources of India Crop regions ,Areas of agricultural problems Irrigation Sources , Energy ,Mineral& Ocean Resources.

Test – 9
Reproductive Industries World AgricultureWG, Types, agricultural input & productivities, food and nutrition problem, Food security, Agricultural location models WG; All agriculture IG, Food Security IG

Test – 10
Map test of Industries of India Industrial regions ,Location of textile, pharmaceuticals ,iron &steel, automobile ,paper , cement , petro chemical industries

Test – 11
September Manufacturing Geography Energy crisis, World Economic development, Measurement and problems, World industries WG; All Industry IG; Industrial location models WG

Test – 12
September Map test of Transportation Means Roadways ,Railways , Waterways ,Civil Aviation ,Pipeline & Sea Ports.

Test – 1 Characteristics, Configuration & evolution of rocks and landforms

• Factors controlling landform  development (WG)
• Endogenetic  and exogenetic forces (WG)
• Origin and evolution of the earth’s crust (WG)
• Fundamentals of geomagnetism (WG)
• Physical conditions of the earth’s interior (WG)
• Geosynclines (WG)
• Continental drift (WG)
• Isostasy; Plate  tectonics (WG)
• Recent views on mountain building (WG)
• Vulcanicity; Earthquakes and Tsunamis (WG)
• Concepts of geomorphic cycles and Landscape development (WG)
• Denudation chronology (WG)
• Channel morphology (WG)
• Erosion surfaces; Slope development (WG)
• Structure and relief of India (IG)
• Drainage systems and watersheds (IG)
• Physiographic regions of India (IG)

Physical ,Regional Study of Weather/Climate and Oceans

• Temperature and pressure belts of the world (WG)
• Heat budget of the earth (WG)
• Atmospheric circulation (WG)
• Atmospheric stability and instability (WG)
• Planetary and local winds (WG)
• Monsoons and jet streams (WG)
• Air masses and frontal genesis (WG)
• Temperate and tropical cyclones (WG)
• Types and distribution of precipitation (WG)
• Weather and Climate (WG)
• Koppen’s, Thornthwaite’s and Trewartha’s classification of world climates (WG)
• Hydrological cycle (WG)
• Mechanism of monsoons and rainfall patterns of India (IG)
• Tropical cyclones and Western Disturbances of India (IG)
• Floods and Droughts of India (IG)
• Climatic Regions of India (IG)
• Bottom topography of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans (WG)
• Temperature and salinity of the oceans (WG)
• Heat and salt budgets (WG)
• Ocean deposits (WG)
• Waves, currents and tides (WG)
• Laws of the sea (WG)

Fundamentals of Biosphere

• Genesis of soils (WG)
• Classification and distribution of soils (WG)
• Soil profile (WG)
• Soil erosion (WG)
• Degradation and conservation (WG)
• Factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals (WG)
• Problems of deforestation and conservation measures (WG)
• Social forestry; agro-forestry (WG)
• Wild life (WG)
• Major gene pool centres (WG)
• Principle of ecology (WG)
• Human ecological adaptations (WG)
• Influence of man on ecology and environment (WG)
• Natural vegetation (IG)
• Soil types and their distributions (IG)
• Land,surface and ground water, energy, minerals, biotic and marine resources (IG)
• Forest and wild life resources and their conservation (IG)
• Energy crisis (IG)

Environmental Geography

• Applied Geomorphology (WG)
• Geo hydrology (WG)
• Economic geology and environment (WG)
• Global climatic change and role and response of man in climatic changes (WG)
• Applied climatology and Urban climate (WG)
• Marine resources: biotic, mineral and energy resources (WG)
• Coral bleaching (WG)
• Sea-level changes (WG)
• Marine pollution (WG)
• Global and regional ecological changes and imbalances (WG)
• Ecosystem their management and conservation (WG)
• Environmental degradation, management and conservation (WG)
• Biodiversity and sustainable development (WG)
• Environmental policy (WG)
• Environmental hazards and remedial measures (WG)
• Environmental education and legislation (WG)
• Ecological issues (IG)
• Environmental hazards (IG)
• Landslides, earthquakes, Tsunamis, floods and droughts, epidemics (IG)
• Issues relating to environmental  pollution (IG)
• Changes in patterns of land use(IG)
• Principles of environmental impact assessment and environmental management (IG)
• Environmental degradation; Deforestation, desertification and soil erosion (IG)

Reproductive Industries

• World agriculture (WG)
• Typology of agricultural regions (WG)
• Agricultural inputs and productivity (WG)
• Food and nutrition problems (WG)
• Food security (WG)
• Famine: causes, effects and remedies (WG)
• Von Thunen’s model of agricultural location (WG)
• Infrastructure:  irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power (IG)
• Institutional factors:  land holdings, land tenure and land reforms (IG)
• Cropping pattern, agricultural  productivity, agricultural intensity (IG)
• Crop combination, land capability (IG)
• Agro and social-forestry (IG)
• Green revolution and its socio-economic and ecological implications (IG)
• Significance of dry farming (IG)
• Livestock resources and white revolution; aqua-culture; sericulture (IG)
• Apiculture and poultry (IG)
• Agricultural regionalisation (IG)
• Agro-climatic zones (IG)
• Agro-ecological regions (IG)
• Population explosion and food security (IG)

Manufacturing Geography

• Tourism including eco –tourism (IG)
• Energy crisis (WG)
• The limits to growth (WG)
• World industries: Location patterns and problems (WG)
• Weber’s model of industrial location (WG)
• Evolution of industries (IG)
• Location factors of cotton, jute, textile, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizer, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical, automobile, cottage and agro-based industries (IG)
• Industrial houses and complexes including public sector undertakings (IG)
• Industrial regionalization (IG)
• New industrial policies (IG)
• Multinationalsand liberalization (IG)
• SpecialEconomic Zones (IG)

Facilitative Industries

• Patterns of world trade (WG)
• Road, railway, waterway (IG)
• Airway and pipeline networks (IG)
• Their complementary roles in regional development (IG)
• Growing importance of ports on national and foreign trade(IG)
• Trade balance (IG)
• Trade Policy (IG)
• Export processing zones(IG)
• Developments in communication and information technology and their impacts on economy and society (IG)
• Indian space programme(IG)

Regional Developments and Planning and Political Aspects

• Concept of a region (WG)
• Types of regions and methods of regionalization (WG)
• Growth centres and growth poles (WG)
• Regional imbalances (WG)
• Regional development strategies (WG)
• Environmental issues in regional planning (WG)
• Planning for sustainable development (WG)
• Perroux and Boudeville Rostov’s model of stages of growth (WG)
• Experience of regional planning in India (IG)
• Five Year Plans; Integrated rural development programmes (IG)
• Panchayati Raj and decentralized planning (IG)
• Command area development (IG)
• Watershed management (IG)
• Planning for backward area, desert drought prone, hill, tribal area development (IG)
• Multi-level planning (IG)
• Regional planning and development of island territories (IG)
• Problems of agrarian and industrial unrest (IG)
• Regional disparities in economic development (IG)
• Concept  of sustainable growth and  development (IG)
• Environmental awareness (IG)
• Linkage of rivers (IG)
• Globalization and Indian economy (IG)
• Heartland and Rimland theories (WG)
• Laws of  international boundaries and frontiers (WG)
• Geographical basis of Indian federalism (IG)
• State re-organization (IG)
• Emergence of new states (IG)
• Regional consciousness and interstate issues (IG)
• international boundary of India and related issues (IG)
• Cross border terrorism (IG)
• India’s role in world affairs (IG)
• Geopolitics of South Asia and Indian Ocean realm (IG)

Perspectives in Human Geography Population and Settlement Geography

• Areal differentiation (WG)
• Regional synthesis  (WG)
• Dichotomy and dualism (WG)
• Environmentalism (WG)
• Quantitative revolution and location analysis (WG)
• Radical, behavioral, human and welfare approaches (WG)
• Languages,religions and secularisation (WG)
• Cultural regions of the world (WG)
• Human development index (WG)
• Systems analysis in Human geography (WG)
• Malthusian, Marxian and demographic transition models (WG)
• Growth and distribution of world population (WG)
• Demographic attributes (WG)
• Causes and consequences of migration (WG)
• Concepts of  over-under-and optimum population (WG)
• Population theories (WG)
• World population problems and policies (WG)
• Social well-being and quality of life (WG)
• Population as social capital (WG)
• Types and patterns of rural settlements (WG)
• Environmental issues in rural settlements (WG)
• Hierarchy of urban settlements (WG)
• Urbanmorphology (WG)
• Concepts of primate city and rank-size rule (WG)
• Functional classification of towns (WG)
• Sphere of urban influence (WG)
• Rural-urban fringe; Satellite towns (WG)
• Problems and remedies of urbanization (WG)
• Sustainable development of cities (WG)

Cultural Setting and Settlements

• Historical Perspective of Indian Society(IG)
• Racial,  linguistic and ethnic diversities (IG)
• Religious  minorities (IG)
• Major tribes, tribal areas and their problems(IG)
• Cultural regions (IG)
• Growth, distribution and density of population (IG)
• Demographic attributes (IG)
• Sex-ratio, age structure, literacy rate (IG)
• Work-force, dependency ratio (IG)
• Longevity (IG)
• Migration (inter-regional, intra- regional and international) and associated problems (IG)
• Population problems and  policies (IG)
• Health indicators (IG)
• Types, patterns and morphology of rural settlements (IG)
• Urban development (IG)
• Morphology of Indian cities (IG)
• Functional classification of Indian cities (IG)
• Conurbations and metropolitan regions (IG)
• Urban sprawl (IG)
• Slums and associated problems (IG)
• Town planning (IG)
• Problemsof urbanization and remedies (IG)

Announcing Free Mapping  classes for GS and Geography. Location study both in static and contemporary perspective is important for UPSC preparations. All the new items appearing in news paper and its relation to mapping has always being area of problem for the aspirants. We will be targeting all these issues in the program.

Features:

• We will cover all the Indian and World parts of mapping
• It is for both prelims and main requirement
• It is an absolute complementary program

# please be advised that you must have these two Atlases-

• Oxford Student Atlas for India
• Orient Blackswan School Atlas

Don’t miss the opportunity

Enroll Now! https://feepal.org/index.php?/Online-Payment/coaching/DirectionIAS

In the present pandemic ,coping up with “new normal” ,we announce the commencement of online live classes, for both Optional and General Studies for IAS at most affordable fees.

Keeping in tune to“Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, we provide most comprehensive, coherent, updated, affordable and dedicated syllabus coverage. As the current situation has created financial burden for all, we have not just reduced the fee of the program but also permitted well divided installments.

We are also offering five days of Demo Classes for the aspirants to note the difference

Our speciation is in Geography, with the faculty, Neetu Singh who  is a trained geographer and gold medalist herself.She holds the distinction in the crowd with successful record of training steel pillars of the country for glorious twenty years.

In the current pandemic virtual classes are new normal. Direction IAS proudly announces online classes for Geography Optional, GS Geography and Optional Test Series It is inclusive of live classes, info graphics , one to one doubt clearing.

Geography is a popular Optional ( subject) in the UPSC exam. It’s covered in both IAS Main and GS Prelims papers, Geography for UPSC covers Physical Geography as World geography & Indian Geography  The postal Study material covers all the components of the UPSC syllabus. Focusing on both static and Dynamic parts.

NCERT remains the basic most reference source for UPSC preparation. This includes-

• Fundamentals of Physical Geography
• India Physical Environment
• Fundamentals of Human Geography
• India-People and Economy

However, the demand for this examination goes beyond these elementary texts.

• Certificate physical and human geography  by Goh Cheng Leong

Forms another basic book .As per the requirement of General Studies and foundation development of the subject for Optional, these sources are sufficient.

https://www.directionias.com/resources

Optional Geography involves both static / conventional parts of the subject, along with dynamic/ contemporary parts. To prepare them in integration to each other, we need to GO BEYOND. This is where Direction IAS notes compiled by Neetu Singh makes the difference. The notes stands apart as

• Compiled from all the relevant sources,
• Regularly updated taking note of changing trends of questions,
• Includes dedicated model answers to the questions,
• Sample questions for aspirants to attempt and develop writing skills,
• Direct communication with Neetu Singh in case of problems in understanding and
• Student portal support for regular updates

https://www.directionias.com/correspondence-programme/

COVID-19  Impacts in Geographic perspectives

Geography as we know deals with almost every aspects around us. It is therefore inevitable that the current pandemic of COVID-19 will have a long lasting geographic impact.

These impacts can easily overlap with each other in a complicated cause and effect relation, however defined categories can be created viz.

• Economic
• Demographic
• Environmental

We will discuss the Environmental  and  Demographic impacts of COVID-19.

Environmental Impacts                                         

Possibly the only major positive outcome of Covid-19 is felt on environment. There is a  new lesson  learnt by humans

“Nature can nurture itself as it has strong resilience”.

• Slashed GHGs
• Improved air quality
• Improved water quality in both lakes and river (CPCB referring  Ganga water to be suitable for bathing, fishing)

makes excellent examples .The pollution levels touching lowest levels in decades. This has been due to near complete halting of industrial and transportation activities.

• Biodiversity and ecology also shows such positive imprints

As Humans remains  in lockdown ,wild animal are finding ‘new’ safer adobe to venture. Glimpse of dolphins in Mahim Creek, River Ganges or Olive Ridley turtles laying eggs in Gahirmatha beach during day time is such pleasing examples.

It is however that though entire natural  system seems to be healing during COVID-19 pandemic ,the impact of waste remains a concern.

As analyzed by UNCTAD, volumes of unrecyclable waste have tremendously increased which includes

• Organic waste from agriculture sector
• Local waste problem due to non functioning waste management by municipalities
• Resumption of plastic bags citing health concerns ,and above all
• Medical and waste as used masks gloves

Demographic Impacts

All the demographic variables viz. Functional (fertility, mortality, migration) and Structural (population size, distribution and composition) are influenced by to COVID- 19.

212 Countries and Territories around the world have reported a total of 4,181,218 confirmed cases of the COVID-19 that originated from Wuhan, China, and a death toll of 283,877 deaths.(as on 11 May2020).

It is posing enormous health, demographic and social challenges to entire human population.

Thought the world is better equipped to fight pandemic today than it was in 1918 (influenza), it is mobility (migration due to more efficient transportation links)  that makes population more vulnerable to the virus.

For many countries the initial cases development were essentially by travelers  from China (as in Italy, South Korea, Japan)

Same is the case with –

• New York city the pandemic epicenter and mega city of US, here the population density further adds to the transmission rates and
• Mumbai ,the mega city of India  having Asia’s largest slum Dharavi

Migration will be impacted by COVID-19  as well

• The engine of globalised economy migrant labor will stop moving,
• Forced migrants unable to move will increase their vulnerability,
• The existing Vulnerably of refugees and internally displace people will increase.

However the mobility factors has different dimensions in India

• It both mobility and density is considered in case of India Maharashtra with pandemic epicenter and Delhi .
• For the migrant workers including daily wage earners lock down is a grave scenario and social distancing a privilege
• They are forced to migrate back to their respective native places on foot making  them more vulnerable.
• This apart from the risk of spreading virus to their native places

The age factor of demography is also significant with less 65 year of aged people having highest risks from the virus. In most of the worst affected European countries mortality levels have been due to the age factor.

The problem

Single-use plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled. These items are things like plastic bags, straws, coffee stirrers, soda and water bottles and most food packaging.

We produce roughly 300 million tons of plastic each year and half of it is disposable! World-wide only 10-13% of plastic items are recycled. The nature of petroleum based disposable plastic makes it difficult to recycle and they have to add new virgin materials and chemicals to it to do so. Additionally there are a limited number of items that recycled plastic can be used.

Petroleum based plastic is not biodegradable and usually goes into a landfill where it is buried or it gets into the water and finds its way into the ocean. Although plastic will not biodegrade (decompose into natural substance like soil,) it will degrade (break down) into tiny particles after many years. In the process of breaking down, it releases toxic chemicals (additives that were used to shape and harden the plastic) which make their way into our food and water supply.

These toxic chemicals are now being found in our bloodstream and the latest research has found them to disrupt the Endocrine system  which can cause cancer, infertility, birth defects, impaired immunity and many other ailments.

We produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, most of which cannot be recycled. It’s obvious that we need to use less plastic, move towards environmentally sustainable products and services and come up with technology that recycles plastic more efficiently.

Indian case

There are few materials as versatile as plastic, most of which is made from oil, natural gas and coal. It makes packaged foods last longer on store shelves and withstand extreme temperatures while being transported. Packaging accounts for a third of India’s plastic consumption. And 70 per cent of plastic packaging is turned into waste in a short span, as per a report by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

India generated 26,000 tonnes per day (TPD) of plastic waste in 2017-18, the latest year for which data is available, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Of that, 15,600 TPD, or 60 per cent , was recycled. The rest ended up as litter on roads, in landfills or in streams. Uncollected plastic waste poses a huge threat to species on land and in water.

Around eight million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean every year. The river Ganga alone took 1.15 lakh tonnes of plastic into the ocean in 2015, second only to China’s Yangtze, according to a research paper published in Nature Communications magazine.

India’s plastic recycling rate is 60 per cent , three times higher than the global average of 20 per cent , and India’s per capita plastic consumption — at 11 kg in 2014-15 — is less than half the global average of 28 kg. In 2016, India said it wanted to increase the per capita plastic use to 20 kg by 2022. Since half the plastic now produced is meant to be used only once, India has to figure out what plastic it wants to use and ban — and how it will recycle all that trash.

Economic dimension

India’s plastic-processing industry has over 30,000 units and an annual turnover of Rs 2.25 lakh crore, according to the All India Plastic Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA). The industry also employs over 4 million people. The government will have to carefully weigh the impact of a ban, in terms of plant closures and job losses, at a time of economic downturn.

Even if the government chooses to ban certain plastics, there is a big question mark on how effective it will be. Plastic is cheap and convenient, and as long as there is demand for it, people are going to manufacture it.

A ban would most likely target plastic cutlery, straws, cups and glasses, which, are mostly made by the unorganized segment. Union food and consumer affairs ministry , recently announced  that plastic bottles for water will stay till an affordable alternative is found. But there have been reports that the government could put an end to 200 ml water bottles.

Way forward

Faced with increasing amounts of waste, government, have reviewed available policy options and concluded that placing the responsibility for the post-consumer phase of certain goods on producers could be an option. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and/or physical – for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products. Assigning such responsibility could in principle provide incentives to prevent wastes at the source, promote product design for the environment and support the achievement of public recycling and materials management goals.

Nothing succeeds like success, but it asks for changes, encountering uncharted, unknown which is always a challenge. To succeed in life and achieve results you must understand and master three mighty forces of DESIRE, BELIEF AND EXPECTATIONS. A within powerful influential and sufficiently independent person can only become successful. This is also the only path to individual satisfaction in life. The loftiest problem faced by us today is lack of vision, lack of direction. Problems are part of life and troubles the essence of success. In his own time, in his own place, in what he really is and in the stage he has reached good or bad, every human being is specific element within the whole of the manifest divine being. So instead of being afraid of difficulties, try to understand the relevance of your suffering. Adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.

Between the conception
And the creation
Between the emotion
And the response
Falls the shadow.

The requirement of personal freedom incorporates the prerequisite of firstly building own educational skills, knowledge is a tangible asset and most important tool for the work to be done. More updated knowledge you possess more free you become. Secondly developing passion for personal responsibility for the task. Be active! Take responsibilities! Work for the things you believe in. If you do not, you are surrendering your fate to others.

When the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility,
Athens ceased to be free and was never free again” (Historical Edith Hamilton on ancient Greece)

The fact is that there is a great deal that most of us can to increase our freedom. We can combat the force that threatens to oppress us. We can fortify ourselves with the qualities and conditions that promote individual freedom and in doing so we create stronger environment for ourselves enhancing the capabilities of achieving unprecedented goals. Success lies in the philosophy of sustaining what needs to be done and abstain what is detrimental. ‘If you really want to leave your footprints on the sand of time, don’t drag your feet’.

Most of us suffer unnecessary misery all our lives because we do not know how to manage our emotions. We are paralysed by some sort of a psychological inertia. Phrases like, ‘the next best alternative’, ‘the only feasible option’ are the common places holders. These are self defeatists thought pattern and negative behaviour. As you sow so shall you reap. An input always equals output. Strive yourselves for the best – success. Failure is never final, it is a stepping stone towards the glorious achievement.

The mandate of the Forest Conservation Division is to regulate the diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes through effective implementation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Forest Policy Forest Policy Division of Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) deals with the National Forest Policy, 1988, Indian Forest Act, 1927 and its amendments including policy matters and legislative matters of other Ministries and State Governments related to forests.
Forest Policy Division deals with forest related Climate Change, Biodiversity, REDD+, etc. in Forestry Wing of MoEF and acts as a National Focal Division for the Forestry International Cooperation on United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), Asia Pacific Forestry Commission (APFC), and Committee on Forestry of FAO and Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR).

e-Green Watch

Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) is the National Advisory Council for monitoring, technical assistance and evaluation of compensatory afforestation and other forestry activities funded by CAMPA fund.
Work based Web-GIS application has been designed and developed to enable automating of various functions and activities related to monitoring and transparency in the use of CAMPA funds and various works sanctioned in the Annual Plan of Operations (State CAMPA) approved by the State Authorities.
Forest Protection Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS)
The Centrally Sponsored ‘Intensification of Forest Management Scheme’ (IFMS) aims at strengthening forest protection machinery of the State/UT Governments and providing support for area-specific forest management interventions.
The financial assistance is provided on cost share basis – All the North Eastern States including Sikkim and special categories States, namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand share 10% of the cost while the rest of the States/UTs share 25% of the cost of the annual plans of operations.
The major component of the scheme include
Forest fire control and management.
Strengthening of infrastructure.
Survey, demarcation and Working Plan preparation.
Protection and conservation of Sacred Groves.
Conservation and restoration of Unique Vegetation & Ecosystems.
Control and Eradication of Forest Invasive Species.
Preparedness for Meeting Challenges of Bamboo Flowering and Improving Management of Bamboo Forest.

Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral reefs
The Government has identified 38 mangroves and 4 coral reef sites throughout the country for intensive conservation and management of mangroves and coral reefs.

Mangroves and Coral Reefs
Mangroves are plants that survive high salinity, tidal regimes, strong wind velocity, high temperature and muddy anaerobic soil – a combination of conditions hostile for other plants.
The mangrove ecosystems constitute a symbiotic link or bridge between terrestrial and marine ecosystems and are found in the inter-tidal zones of sheltered shores, estuaries, creeks, backwaters, lagoons, marshes and mud-flats.
West Bengal has the maximum mangrove cover in the country, followed by Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Not all coastal areas are suitable for mangrove plantation as mangroves require an appropriate mix of saline and freshwater, soft substrate like mudflats to enable it to grow and perpetuate.
The four major coral reefs areas identified for intensive conservation and management in India are
(i) Gulf of Mannar, (ii) Gulf of Kachchh, (iii) Lakshadweep and (iv) Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The Ministry provides financial assistance to the State Forest Departments for all the four identified coral reef areas for conservation and management of coral and associates.

Objectives
Conservation and management of mangroves and coral reefs Eco-restoration and afforestation in potential and also in degraded coastal areas; Maintenance of genetic diversity especially of threatened and endemic species Creation of awareness on importance of these ecosystems leading to their conservation; and Sanctioning of approved annual MAPs of identified Mangrove and Coral Reef sites.

DIRECTION IAS
Expected Questions Up -Coming UPSC Main Examination 2019
Que. Avail the details of biotic structure in reference to feeding and non-feeding relations.
Que. What is meant by mechanism of population balance in ecosystem?
Que. Examine the requirement of coral reef protection.
Que. Write note on Green growth strategies.
Que. ‘Ocean is a major climatic regulator’. Discuss.
Que. Explain the major types of coasts.
Que. Examine the effects of global warming.
Que. Explain the soil forming processes.
Que. What is meant by Ecological succession? Write the details of aquatic succession.
Que. Write note on ecosystem adaptation to change.
Que. Explain the flow of energy in ecosystem.
Que.Discuss movement of ocean water.
Que. Examine commercial and ecological ocean –energy potentials.
Que. Explain Allen-Bergmann rules on adaptability of organisms.
Que. Write note on regional and spatial analysis strategies followed by geographers.
Que. Examine systems as a concept and outline its applicability in geography.
Que. Examine the geographical validity of facilitation of trade in global perspective.
Que. ‘Agriculture sector is facing challenges’. Discuss from both production and consumption perspectives.
Que.’Describe non-extractable marine resource and its spatial characteristics.
Que. ‘Vulnerability and human development are inter-related’. Discuss.
Que. ‘Hydro electricity as a prominent renewable energy source, is restricted by ecological and economic cost involved’. Comment.
Que. Explain regional synthesis as a concept in geographic studies.
Que. In global perspective, examine the ways of resilience building for equitable development.
Que. Evaluate locational models of economic geography.
Que. Explain major agricultural types of world.
Que.Outline the correlation between conflict and hunger.
Que. ‘Demographic behaviour and population dynamics are core to development.Discuss.
Que. Explain the Growth nodes concept and its validity in present context.
Que. (a) Write note on Central Place Theory.
Que. Elaborate how famine is more anthropocentric disaster.
Que. Explain Zipf’s Rank Size Rule.
Que. Examine Growth Pole concept of Rostow.
Que. Discuss the aspects of behavior studies in human geography.
Que. Which are the factors that regulates manufacturing locational decisions.
Que. Give an account of principles and methods of maritime zonation.
Que. What are laws of international boundaries?
Que. Elaborate on interrelation between environmentalism and geopolitical ideas.
Que. In reference of crude oil, natural gas and methane gas, write note on environmental cost involved.
Que. Write an account of rural development and gender empowerment interrelation.
Que.Suggest the ways to improve urban environment.
Que. ‘Social protection provides key to sustainable economic development’. Comment.
Que.‘Environment, demography and development have strong interrelation’. Discuss.
Que. Write note on how climate change mitigation strategies are important for economic planning.
Que. Explain the role of CIT in ensuring equitable development.
Que. Write note on mechanism of summer monsoons in India.
Que. Avail a geomorphic account of northern plains of India.
Que. What are the major soil types in India? Briefly describe their characteristics.
Que. In references to Geological Survey of India, outline major peninsular and extra-peninsular geothermal provinces.
Que. What are the major structural and physiographic characteristics of Kutch peninsula.
Que. Examine the major trends and patterns of internal migration in India.
Que. Elaborate on the dualistic characteristic of Indian urbanisation.
Que. Avail regional account of northern mountain wall in specific reference to Purvanchal and Sikkim Himalayas.
Que. Write an account of Oceanic islands of the country.
Que. Give an account of Himalayan structure with specific reference to reverse faults.
Que. ‘Deltaic plains of Hooghly is a complex geomorphic and biotic region’. Explain.
Que. In Indian context, avail analysis of interrelation between climate change, population and food security.
Que. Discuss the zoo geographical characteristics of India.
Que. Discuss the characteristics of high and low sun seasons. Also, outline rainfall variability in country.
Que. What are the salient characteristics of Indian drainage system.
Que. Explain the geological structure of peninsular plateau.
Que. Analyze the significance of language in cultural regionalisation in country.
Que. Analyze growth of steel sector from New Industrial Policy perspective.
Que. Write note on stresses of Indian trade and ways to respond.
Que. Explain the status of major infrastructural inputs of Indian agriculture.
Que. Outline the bottlenecks in bringing renewable energy sources from margins to core. Also, suggest the ways to overcome it.
Que. In light of Vanya silk, outline the prospects and challenges of silk textile in India.
Que. Give an account of economic and social significance of mainstreaming of livestock’s.
Que. What are the categories of agro ecological regions in India?
Que. Avail an account of new mineral and oil-gas exploration policies.
Que. Explain the nature of horticulture development in India.
Que. Outline the significance of National Dairy Development and Bovine Breeding programme.
Que. Explain land capability categories of India.
Que. Avail a detailed account of aluminium industry in India.
Que. Attempt an analysis of tree-based farming in India.
Que. What are the interrelation between cereal production and consumption in India?
Que. ‘Civil aviation industry is experiencing an era of expansion’. Comment.
Que. Write an account of shipbuilding development and potentials in India and import constituents.
Que. Discuss the export and import constituents of India and major export promotion measures.