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Geography Books for UPSC – Check Best UPSC Geography Optional Books

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: November 14th, 2023

The Geography Books for UPSC are broadly divided into Indian and world geography for prelims, mains, and optional levels.  Geography Optional Books assume great significance in the UPSC Mains examination. Geography is the most scoring optional subject, which also aids in GS papers if the subject is approached properly. Several candidates have succeeded in the exam by selecting geography as their optional subject.

By referring to the Geography Books for UPSC, candidates can clear all three stages of the CSE efficiently. Every Geography Optional Booklist must be supplemented with the atlas and current events to present your understanding of a concept.

Geography Book for UPSC

The subject of Geography is very important in both, UPSC Prelims and Mains examination. Geography is the most scoring optional subject in UPSC Mains. Studying the subject also aids in general studies papers if it is approached properly. To ensure clarity and ease of preparation, we have divided the Geography Books for UPSC per stages and parts.

Below mentioned are the sections where UPSC Geography Books will be used. You must also go through the Geography Syllabus for UPSC to be able to curate the best books that suit your preparation.

UPSC Geography Optional Books

Those who have chosen geography as their optional subject need to cover all the Geography Books for UPSC mentioned in the article. There are two papers on Geography Optional, Paper 1 and Paper 2, each with 250 marks. The geography optional holds a total of 500 marks.

Geography Optional Books – Paper 1

  • Human Geography by Majid Husain
  • A Geography by Population by R.C. Chandna
  • Goh Cheng Leong
  • Oceanography by Sharma & Vatal
  • Physical Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
  • Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
  • Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple by Rupa Publisher
  • Environmental Geography by Savindra Singh
  • Environmental Geography by Saxena
  • Environmental Awareness by R.C.Chandna
  • Agricultural Geography by Masjid Husain
  • Political Geography by R.D.Dixit
  • General Climatology by Critchfield
  • Physical Geography in Diagrams by Bunnett
  • Economic Geography by Hertshorn& Alexander
  • Principles of Geomorphology by W.D. Thornbury
  • Geomorphology by Savindra Singh
  • Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publishers
  • Urbanization & Urban Systems in India by Ramachandran
  • Perspectives in Human Geography: Evolution of Geographic Thought by Majid Husain
  • Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
  • Regional Planning: Regional Planning – by Chand &Puri
  • Settlement Geography by K Siddhartha
  • Climatology by D.S.Lal
  • Physical Geography by Strahler & Strahler

UPSC Geography Books for Paper 2

Below are some of the best Geography Books for optional paper 2. Paper 2 of Geography optional requires regular reference to current affairs topics and the atlas.

  • Economic and Commercial Geography of India by Sharma & Coutinho
  • Economic and Commercial Geography of India by C.B. Mamoria
  • Geography of India – Majid Husain
  • Transport, Communication, and Trade
  • Regional Development and Planning
  • Agriculture Geography by Majid Husain
  • Urbanization and Urban Systems in India by Ramachandran
  • Human Geography by Majid Husain
  • Economical and Commercial Geography of India by Sharma & Coutinho
  • Economic and Commercial Geography of India by C.B. Mamoria
  • India Year Book published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography – Goh Cheng Leong
  • Economical and Commercial Geography by Sharma & Coutinho
  • Political Aspects: Modern Political Geography of India by B.L. Sukhwal.
  • Geography of Population by R.C.Chandna
  • A Geography of India by Gopal Singh
  • Regional Planning and Development by Chand and Puri
  • Indian Geography by D R Khullar

Best Geography Book for UPSC

Geography is an essential part of the civil services examination and is covered in all three stages. Covering the geography books, along with the optional booklist becomes all the way more relevant due to this very reason. Some of the best geography books for UPSC that one must always refer to are:

  • Geography of India By Majid Husain
  • Oxford School Atlas – Oxford
  • Go Cheng Leong – Certificate Physical & Human Geography
  • NCERT Geography Books from classes 11 and 12

Geography Books for UPSC Prelims

If you are looking for the best Geography books for UPSC Prelims preparation, then we have prepared a booklist below. Along with these books, you must read the newspaper daily and correlate Current Affairs with the atlas. The NCERT Books should be your best friend when preparing for UPSC prelims, as they provide a strong foundation and conceptual clarity.

NCERT Geography Books

  • Class 6 – The Earth Our Habitat
  • Class 7 – Our Environment
  • Class 8 – Resource and Development
  • Class 9 – Contemporary India – I
  • Class 10 – Contemporary India – II
  • Class 11 – Fundamentals of Physical Geography
  • Class 11 – India – Physical Environment
  • Class 12 – Fundamentals of Human Geography
  • Class 12 – India – People and Economy

Apart from the NCERTs, you must go through the below-mentioned UPSC Books for geography also.

  • Go Cheng Leong – Certificate Physical & Human Geography.
  • School Atlas – Orient Black Swan.
  • Oxford Student Atlas.

Geography Optional Books for UPSC Mains

Choosing the ideal geography book for UPSC Mains is essential for the aspirants as geography is a major part of the UPSC GS Paper 1 Syllabus. For the Mains round, candidates must complete the UPSC Prelims Geography Books and some new additions mentioned below.

  • Geography of India by Surender Singh (alternative to Majid Husain).
  • India: A Comprehensive Geography by D.R Khuller (alternative to Majid Husain)
  • Physical Geography by Savindra Singh. (alternative to Goh Ching Leong)

It is very important to utilize the atlas fully, and the geography books as topics such as the distribution of key natural resources in India and the world hold weightage. They can be easily prepared with the mentioned books.

World Geography Books for UPSC

The world geography books contain topics on population, urbanization, agriculture, culture, economics, and political systems around different regions of the world. The books below will surely help the aspirants build a strong foundation in world geography.

  • Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple – R.Knowles & J.Wareing
  • Evolution of Geographic Thought-Majid Husain
  • Physical Geography – Made Simple – Richard H Bryant
  • Oxford School Atlas – Oxford

Indian Geography Books for UPSC

The Indian geography book is an essential resource for an in-depth understanding of India’s physical, economic, and social geography. Several questions about Indian geography are asked in the UPSC Exam, so candidates are required to strengthen their preparation.

The majority of the Indian geography syllabus can be covered using NCERT Books from Class 6 to Class 12 with the help of Atlas. Apart from the NCERTs, you can cover the remaining topics from the following UPSC Books.

  • Physical Geography by Savindra Singh
  • Geomorphology by Savindra Singh
  • Physical Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publisher
  • Geography of India By Majid Husain
  • Human Geography by Majid Husain
  • Economic and Social Geography – Made Simple, Rupa Publishers
  • A Geography by Population by R.C. Chandna
  • Agriculture Geography by Majid Husain
  • India Year Book, published by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
UPSC Topics
Geography Syllabus in Hindi Agriculture Books for UPSC
Art and Culture Book for UPSC UPSC Commerce and Accountancy Books
UPSC Maths Optional Books Difference Between Physical and World Geography
Anthropology Books for UPSC Law Optional Books for UPSC Mains
Geography NCERT Book – Class 11 Natural Vegetation in India
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