On August 31, 2025, the UPSC held the UPSC CSE Mains exam which included the Optional Geography paper. With this exam, students were tested on a wide range of topics which included theoretical as well as applied geography and were tested on core concepts, analysis, and contemporary geography issues. Future students need to deeply analyse this year’s questions as they highlight the critical examination of the concepts and their application to present events on fundamental principles.
| Exam Name | UPSC Civil Services Mains Exam 2025 |
| Total Optional Subjects in the UPSC CSE Exam | 48 subjects |
| UPSC Geography Optional Exam Date | 31st August 2025 |
| UPSC Geography Optional Paper Duration | Geography Optional Paper-I (Morning Session – 9 AM to 12 PM) Geography Optional Paper-II (Afternoon Session – 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM) |
| Total Marks (Geography Optional) | 500 Marks (250 Marks Each) |
UPSC Mains 2025 Geography Optional Paper-I
SECTION A
Q.1. Answer the following in about 150 words each: (10×5=50)
(a) Explain the causes of glacial lake outburst flood.
(b) What is solifluction? What are its impacts?
(c) Why geological and tectonic processes lead to the formation of nappes in orogenic belts?
(d) Explain the relationship between air masses and local winds.
(e) What are the fundamental differences among ocean wave, ocean current and tide?
2. (a) How does denudation chronology help in understanding the sequential development of landscapes and landforms? Elucidate. 20 Marks
(b) What is deep-sea mining? What are the potential benefits and risks associated with it? 15 Marks
(c) Man and wildlife conflicts are ever increasing. Discuss its causes, implications and remedies. 15 Marks
3. (a) Examine the formation of atmospheric tricellular circulation system. Describe with example its importance in making the Earth a living planet. 20 Marks
(b) What is the ‘UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’? How does it balance ecological goals with emerging socio-economic needs like food security and development? 15 Marks
(c) “The Himalaya is still rising.” Expand this statement and describe the processes involved in it with suitable sketches and examples. 15 Marks
4. (a) What are the ecological consequences of agricultural deforestation in the Amazon and Congo Basins, particularly concerning biodiversity and climate regulation? 20 Marks
(b) Examine the distribution and balance of energy in the Earth’s atmosphere system. 15 Marks
(c) Describe the process of formation of barrier islands and explain their significance. 15 Marks
SECTION B
5. Answer the following in about 150 words each: 10×5=50
(a) Why did the Welfare Approach in Human Geography emerge as a significant perspective in 1970s?
(b) What are the key environmental and economic challenges linked to the extraction and processing of critical minerals?
(c) “Pull factors in internal migration are often based on perceptions rather than reality.” Explain.
(d) “Regional imbalances are the product of in situ and ex situ factors.” Elucidate it with examples.
(e) Why is systems analysis important in urban planning and what are its limitations?
6. (a) How have dichotomy and dualism affected the methodological development of Geography? Describe. 20 Marks
(b) Analyze the role of language and religion in delineating major cultural regions of the world. 15 Marks
(c) Analyze the spatial patterns and regional specialization of plantation crops across tropical and subtropical regions. 15 Marks
7. (a) Why is oil important for energy security? What is the role of oil in clean energy transition? 20 Marks
(b) Critically evaluate the role of primate cities in dominating the urban spheres of influence in developing countries. 15 Marks
(c) “The global demographic landscape is evolving with rapid population growth in some places and rapid ageing in others.” Elucidate with examples. 15 Marks
8. (a) Why has E. Perroux’s theory of growth pole as a model of regional growth been criticised? Explain with examples. 20 Marks
(b) Analyze the role of demographic transition theory in explaining variations in fertility and mortality rates globally. 15 Marks
(c) How do regional components make the regional synthesis in spatial arrangement? Explain. 15 Marks
UPSC Mains 2025 Geography Optional Paper-II
SECTION A
1.(a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of the following. Write in your QCA booklet the significance of these locations, whether physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry. (2×10=20)
(i) Rushikulya River
(ii) Datar Hill
(iii) Kikruma
(iv) Choritand Tillaya
(v) Byalalu
(vi) Neyyar
(vii) Uttarlai
(viii) Sri Vijayapuram
(ix) Dharwas
(x) Gitabitan
(b) Referring to the location and physical formation of karewas, highlight their economic significance. 10 Marks
(c) How does Himalayan ecosystem regulate the cropping pattern and agricultural activities in Himalayan region of India? Discuss. 10 Marks
(d) Write a critically argued essay on nautical tourism and its infrastructure in India. 10 Marks
2. (a) Explain the factors which contribute to the growth of India’s pharmaceutical industry with specific reference to its concentration in western region of India. 20 Marks
(b) Why are coral reefs in India most important with respect to its dynamic ecosystem? Explore. 15 Marks
(c) How does the agricultural sector of India confront with the contemporary physical and politico-economic changes in the different regions of the country? Elucidate. 15 Marks
3. (a) Why is the pattern of population distribution of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes different in India? Compare their socio-economic problems with examples. 20 Marks
(b) Highlight the characteristics of land utilisation in Eastern Ghats region of India. What are the recent threats to land utilisation method in the region? 15 Marks
(c) What are the challenges of dairy sector in India? Describe the contribution of bovine population. 15 Marks
4. (a) “Socio-political landscape in India is a result of regional consciousness creating inter-state disputes.” Discuss with region specific examples. 20 Marks
(b) Why cottage industries in India are an integral part of Indian socio-economic structure? Assess this with reference to different types of cottage industries in rural India. 15 Marks
(c) “The rural settlements in India are highly diversified due to both physical and cultural factors.” Justify the statement with examples. 15 Marks
SECTION B
5. (a) How can rural-urban fringe be delineated? Explain with suitable examples from India. 10 Marks
(b) “Spatial distribution of religious groups in India does not show any specific pattern.” Illustrate with arguments. 10 Marks
(c) “Watershed is the most appropriate spatial unit for planning.” Comment. 10 Marks
(d) Is North East India a geo-political or geo-cultural region? Justify your answer. 10 Marks
(e) Discuss the necessary conditions for the cultivation of fox nuts and describe the areas of its production in India. 10 Marks
6. (a) Describe the causes of the phenomenon of “urban heat island”. What are the effective measures to deal with this phenomenon in India? 20 Marks
(b) With reference to the transport and communication network of India, critically discuss the Sagarmala project. 15 Marks
(c) What are the key features of sex-ratio of population in India? Evaluate the impacts of child sex-ratio on general sex-ratio in the country. 15 Marks
7. (a) Explain the factors that contribute to droughts in India with specific reference to food production, distribution and availability. Can Indian agricultural policies resolve the issue? 20 Marks
(b) What are the causes and consequences of land degradation due to desertification in India? Examine with reference to various regional issues. 15 Marks
(c) Examine the validity of Blue Economy initiatives of India. Elaborate the impacts of this economy on country’s development. 15 Marks
8. (a) While defining the green architecture, discuss its principles and challenges in response to climate change in India. 20 Marks
(b) With reference to typical examples, assess why regional planning in India is important for island territories for their sustainable development. 15 Marks
(c) With reference to international boundaries of India, discuss the related issues, giving suitable examples.
15 marks
UPSC Mains 2025 Geography Optional Papers PDF
The Geography Optional Paper for Mains 2025 of UPSC CSE was conducted on August 31, 2025, and the question paper was published. The question paper is notable not only for the questions asked but also for the message the question paper conveys regarding the demands of the optional subject. The students preparing for the optional can go over the question papers to get an idea of the important themes, the level of questions, and the approach required for the examination. The question paper of UPSC Mains 2025 Geography Optional paper is available in PDF form, and the link for downloading is provided below.
How to Download the UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 Geography Optional Papers?
To download the UPSC Civil Services Mains 2025 Geography Optional Papers, follow these steps:
- Visit the Official UPSC Website: Go to the official website of the Union Public Service Commission at upsc.gov.in.
- Navigate to the Examination Section: Look for the ‘Examinations’ tab in the main menu and click on it.
- Select ‘Previous Year Papers’: Within the Examinations section, find the link for ‘Previous Year Papers’ papers.
- Locate the 2025 Mains Examination Papers: Look for the section dedicated to the 2025 Civil Services Mains Examination.
- Find the Geography Optional Paper: Scroll through the list of available papers to locate the Geography Optional Paper.
- Download the PDF: Click on the link for the Geography Optional Paper to open it. Then, you can download the PDF file by clicking the download icon or using the ‘Save As’ option from your browser.
- Save for Reference: Once downloaded, save the document in a folder for easy access and future reference.
The optional question paper of Geography in the UPSC Mains 2025, serves as a guideline to understand the conditions and look of the exam for the next years. Keep in touch with other updates and insights on the UPSC Mains optional exams and click on the link to download the optional question paper of Geography.
