UGC NET Geography Syllabus: Check Important Topics, Exam Pattern, Career Scopes and Download PDF

The UGC NET Geography syllabus and pattern are designed to test the core concepts and knowledge of aspirants. It includes objective-type questions that test not only the subject-related concepts but also the research and teaching aptitude of a candidate.

One of the primary purposes of the UGC NET Geography exam is to determine whether a candidate can excel in teaching and research-centric professions. Hence, it also focuses on testing the data interpretation, communication, and comprehension capabilities of aspirants. These skills form the foundation of building a career in teaching, research, and other related areas. The resources, patterns, scope, and tips related to this exam are discussed in this blog.

Pattern and Structure of the UGC NET Geography Exam

The UGC NET Geography syllabus is divided into two papers (Paper I and Paper II)  to maintain an organized exam pattern:

UGC NET Geography Syllabus

Syllabus for Paper I of the UGC NET Exam

The first part of the UGC NET Geography paper aims to test a candidate’s problem-solving skills and teaching methodology. 

The syllabus for Paper I includes the following ten units:

• Research Aptitude
• Data Interpretation
• Communication
• Logical Reasoning
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Teaching Aptitude
• Reading Comprehension
• Higher Education System
• Information & Communication Technology
• People, Development and Environment

Also Read: 

• UGC NET 2024 Paper 1 Answer Key (Shift – 1)
• UGC NET 2024 Paper 1 Answer Key (Shift – 2)

UGC NET Geography Syllabus for Paper II (Unit Wise)

The second part of the UGC NET Geography paper covers the subject-related topics and is formatted to put the conceptual understanding and knowledge of a candidate to the test.

The syllabus for Paper II includes the following ten units:

(I) Geomorphology

Continental Drift, Plate Tectonics, Endogenetic and Exogenetic forces. Denudation and Weathering, Geomorphic Cycle (Davis and Penck), Theories and Process of Slope Development, Earth Movements (seismicity, folding, faulting, and vulcanicity), Landform Occurrence and Causes of Geomorphic Hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and avalanches).

(II) Climatology

Composition and Structure of Atmosphere; Insolation, Heat Budget of Earth, Temperature, Pressure and Winds, Atmospheric Circulation (air-masses, fronts and upper air circulation, cyclones and anticyclones (tropical and temperate), Climatic Classification of Koppen & Thornthwaite, ENSO Events (El Nino, La Nina and Southern Oscillations), Meteorological Hazards and Disasters (Cyclones, Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, Hailstorms, Heat and Cold waves Drought and Cloudburst, Glacial Lake Outburst (GLOF), Climate Change: Evidences and Causes of Climatic Change in the past, Human impact on Global Climate.

(III) Oceanology

Relief of Oceans, Composition: Temperature, Density, and Salinity, Circulation: Warm and Cold Currents, Waves, Tides, Sea Level Changes, Hazards: Tsunami and Cyclone.

(IV) Geography of Environment

Components: Ecosystem (Geographic Classification) and Human Ecology, Functions: Trophic Levels, Energy Flows, Cycles (geo-chemical, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen), Food Chain, Food Web and Ecological Pyramid, Human Interaction and Impacts, Environmental Ethics and Deep Ecology, Environmental Hazards and Disasters (Global Warming, Urban Heat Island, Atmospheric Pollution, Water Pollution, Land Degradation), National Programmes and Policies: Legal Framework, Environmental Policy, International Treaties, International Programmes and Polices (Brundtland Commission, Kyoto Protocol, Agenda 21, Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Agreement).

(V) Population and Settlement Geography

(a) Population Geography

Sources of population data (census, sample surveys, vital statistics, data reliability, and errors). World Population Distribution (measures, patterns, and determinants), World Population Growth (prehistoric to modern period). Demographic Transition, Theories of Population Growth (Malthus, Sadler, and Ricardo). Fertility and Mortality Analysis (indices, determinants, and world patterns). Migration (types, causes consequences, and models), Population Composition and Characteristics (age, sex, rural-urban, occupational structure, and educational levels), Population Policies in Developed and Developing Countries.

(b) Settlement Geography

Rural Settlements (types, patterns, and distribution), Contemporary Problems of Rural Settlements ( rural-urban migration; land use changes; land acquisition and transactions), Theories of Origin of Towns (Gordon Childe, Henri Pirenne, Lewis Mumford), Characteristics and Processes of Urbanization in Developed and Developing Countries (factors of urban growth, trends of urbanization, size, structure and functions of urban areas). Urban Systems (the law of the primate city and rank-size rule) Central Place Theories (Christaller and Losch), Internal Structure of the City, Models of Urban Land Use (Burgess, Harris and Ullman, and Hoyt), Concepts of Megacities, Global Cities and Edge Cities, Changing Urban Forms (peri-urban areas, rural-urban fringe, suburban, ring and satellite towns), Social Segregation in the City, Urban Social Area Analysis, Manifestation of Poverty in the City (slums, informal sector growth, crime and social exclusion).

(VI) Geography of Economic Activities and Regional Development

(a) Economic Geography

Factors affecting the spatial organization of economic activities (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quarternary), Natural Resources (classification, distribution, and associated problems), and Natural Resources Management. World Energy Crises in Developed and Developing Countries.

(b) Agricultural Geography

Land capability classification and Land Use Planning, Cropping Pattern: Methods of delineating crop combination regions (Weaver, Doi, and Rafiullah), Crop diversification, Von Thunen’s Model of Land Use Planning. Measurement and Determinants of Agricultural Productivity, Regional Variations in Agricultural Productivity, Agricultural Systems of the World.

(c) Industrial Geography

Classification of Industries, Factors of Industrial Location; Theories of Industrial Location (A. Weber, E. M. Hoover, August Losch, A. Pred, and D. M. Smith). World Industrial Regions, Impact of Globalisation on the manufacturing sector in Less Developed Countries, Tourism Industry, World distribution and growth of Information And Communication Technology (ICT) and Knowledge Production (Education and R & D) Industries.

(d) Geography of Transport and Trade

Theories and Models of Spatial Interaction (Edward Ullman and M. E. Hurst) Measures and Indices of connectivity and accessibility; Spatial Flow Models: Gravity Model and its variants, World Trade Organisation, Globalisation and Liberalisation and World Trade Patterns. Problems and Prospects of Inter and Intra Regional Cooperation and Trade.

(e) Regional Development

Typology of Regions, Formal and Fictional Regions, World Regional Disparities, Theories of Regional Development (Albert O. Hirschman, Gunnar Myrdal, John Friedman, Dependency theory of Underdevelopment, Global Economic Blocks, Regional Development and Social Movements in India. Cultural, Social and Political Geography.

(VII) Cultural, Social, and Political Geography

Concept of Culture, Cultural Complexes, Areas and Region, Cultural Heritage, Cultural Ecology. Cultural Convergence, Social Structure and Processes, Social Well-being and Quality of Life, Social Exclusion, Spatial distribution of social groups in India (Tribe, Caste, Religion, and Language), Environment and Human Health, Diseases Ecology, Nutritional Status (etiological conditions, classification and spatial and seasonal distributional patterns with special reference to India) Health Care Planning and Policies in India, Medical Tourism in India.

(a) Political Geography

Boundaries and Frontiers (with special reference to India), Heartland and Rimland Theories. Trends and Developments in Political Geography, Geography of Federalism, Electoral Reforms in India, Determinants of Electoral Behaviour, Geopolitics of Climate Change, Geopolitics of World Resources, Geo-politics of India Ocean, Regional Organisations of Cooperation (SAARC, ASEAN, OPEC, EU). Neopolitics of World Natural Resources.

(VIII) Geographic Thought

Contributions of Greek, Roman, Arab, Chinese, and Indian Scholars, Contributions of Geographers (Bernhardus Varenius, Immanuel Kant, Alexander von Humboldt, Carl Ritter, Scheafer & Hartshorne), Impact of Darwinian Theory on Geographical Thought. Contemporary trends in Indian Geography: Cartography, Thematic and Methodological contributions. Major Geographic Traditions (Earth Science, manenvironment relationship, area studies, and spatial analysis), Dualisms in Geographic Studies (physical vs. human, regional vs. systematic, qualitative vs. quantitative, ideographic vs. nomothetic), Paradigm Shift, Perspectives in Geography (Positivism, Behaviouralism, Humanism, Structuralism, Feminism, and Postmodernism).

(IX) Geographical Techniques

Sources of Geographic Information and Data (spatial and non-spatial), Types of Maps, Techniques of Map Making (Choropleth, Isarithmic, Dasymetric, Chorochromatic, Flow Maps) Data Representation on Maps (Pie diagrams, Bar diagrams and Line Graph, GIS Database (raster and vector data formats and attribute data formats). Functions of GIS (conversion, editing and analysis), Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Georeferencing (coordinate system and map projections and Datum), GIS Applications ( thematic cartography, spatial decision support system), Basics of Remote Sensing (Electromagnetic Spectrum, Sensors and Platforms, Resolution and Types, Elements of Air Photo and Satellite Image Interpretation and Photogrammetry), Types of Aerial Photographs, Digital Image Processing: Developments in Remote Sensing Technology and Big Data Sharing and its applications in Natural Resources Management in India, GPS Components (space, ground control and receiver segments) and Applications, Applications of Measures of Central Tendency, Dispersion and Inequalities, Sampling, Sampling Procedure and Hypothesis Testing (chi square test, t test, ANOVA), Time Series Analysis, Correlation and Regression Analysis, Measurement of Indices, Making Indicators Scale Free, Computation of Composite Index, Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis, Morphometric Analysis: Ordering of Streams, Bifurcation Ratio, Drainage Density and Drainage Frequency, Basin Circularity Ratio and Form Factor, Profiles, Slope Analysis, Clinographic Curve, Hypsographic Curve and Altimetric Frequency Graph.

(X) Geography of India

Major Physiographic Regions and their Characteristics; Drainage System (Himalayan and Peninsular), Climate: Seasonal Weather Characteristics, Climatic Divisions, Indian Monsoon (mechanism and characteristics), Jet Streams and Himalayan Cryosphere, Types and Distribution of Natural Resources: Soil, Vegetation, Water, Mineral and Marine Resources. Population Characteristics (spatial patterns of distribution), Growth and Composition (rural-urban, age, sex, occupational, educational, ethnic and religious), Determinants of Population, Population Policies in India, Agriculture ( Production, Productivity and Yield of Major Food Crops), Major Crop Regions, Regional Variations in Agricultural Development, Environmental, Technological and Institutional Factors affecting Indian Agriculture; Agro-Climatic Zones, Green Revolution, Food Security and Right to Food. Industrial Development since Independence, Industrial Regions, and their Characteristics, Industrial Policies in India. Development and Patterns of Transport Networks (railways, roadways, waterways, airways, and pipelines), Internal and External Trade (trend, composition, and directions), Regional Development Planning in India, Globalisation and its impact on the Indian Economy, Natural Disasters in India (Earthquake, Drought, Flood, Cyclone, Tsunami, Himalayan Highland Hazards, and Disasters).

The syllabus for both papers is quite different, yet it can be covered by consistent effort and approach.

UGC NET Geography Syllabus PDF Download (Paper I and Paper II)

Candidates can download the UGC NET Geography syllabus Paper II PDF and Paper I syllabus from the links provided below. Simply click on the relevant link that you need, and the syllabus will appear on the screen. Candidates can download the geography syllabus PDF and use it for preparation.

UGC NET Geography – Syllabus Download

UGC NET Paper I – Syllabus Download

Tips to Cover UGC Net Geography Syllabus

The UGC NET Geography Syllabus can be overwhelming owing to its vastness. Here are some efficient ways to cover the elaborate syllabus with the right approach:

1. It is advisable to get an overview of the syllabus, and subsequently prepare topic-wise notes or flashcards for the important topics.
2. Plan and allow adequate time for both Physical and Human Geography topics as both are relevant. Keep some time for revision in hand instead of relying upon last-minute preparation.
3. Refer to NCERT textbooks besides other reliable reference books that provide a comprehensible and in-depth understanding of important topics.
4. To pinpoint and work on your weak areas, practice the previous year’s question papers.
5. Create visual and mind maps to learn and link topics at a fast pace.
6. Try to take mock tests consistently and discuss your doubts with other aspirants.
7. Stay aware of current affairs topics ranging across policies and other developments. 

Important Topics Frequently Asked in the UGC NET Geography Exam

Some of the topics that form an integral part of the Geography UGC NET syllabus and are frequently asked by examiners include:

Physical Geography

This segment covers topics including climatology, geomorphology, environmental geography, biogeography, and oceanography. These topics form the base of several key concepts of the subject and hence, demand a strong understanding.

Human Geography

Human geography includes topics such as cultural geography, population dynamics, economic geography, etc., which are quite different from Physical Geography.

Economic Geography

This section primarily focuses on areas linked with geography such as economic development, economic integration, and transport and communication networks.

Regional Planning

This part of the exam will test your knowledge of planning principles and methods along with their application in real-world scenarios.

These relevant topics include both theoretical and practical understanding of some of the key concepts of Geography.

Best Books to Prepare for the UGC NET Geography Exam

Here is a list of some of the best books that can help you cover the UGC NET Geography syllabus with ease: 

I) Principles of Geomorphology by W D Thornbury

This book covers some of the important conceptual topics that are often tested during the exam. The fundamentals of geomorphology, paleogeomorphology. various landforms, geomorphic processes, and applied geomorphology are thoroughly covered in this book. 

II) Fundamentals of Geomorphology by R J Huggett

This UGC NET Geography book comprehensively introduces Geomorphology while covering the basics of Earth’s surface forms. 

III) Essentials of Oceanography by Tom Garrison and Robert Ellis

To develop an in-depth understanding of the uncertainties and complexities involved in the ocean, you must refer to this book. It elaborates upon the relevance of the ocean in nurturing and sustaining life interestingly and compellingly. 

IV) Introduction to Settlement Geography by S Ghosh

It is a well-known UGC NET Geography book on Settlement Geography which explains the morphology of settlement, distribution, and social settlement. Additionally, it elaborates upon the key concepts of urban and rural settlements in India. 

V) Human Geography by Majid Husain

Human Geography often differs vastly from topics related to physical geography. This book adopts the right approach to explain the fundamentals and in-depth concepts related to human geography in a comprehensible manner. 

Top Six Career Prospects for UGC NET Geography Aspirants

If you clear the UGC NET Geography paper, there are various opportunities that you can avail:

Assistant Professor/ Profesor Roles

If you have a knack for teaching, you can apply to various Universities for the job of an assistant professor or Professor in Geography. It will enable you to interact with young minds and disseminate knowledge. 

Junior Research Fellowship

The role of a Junior Research Fellow requires intense research and analytical work. For this role, candidates are also paid a stipend during their fellowship. 

Job Roles in PSUs (Public Sector Undertakings)

PSUs provide various options for UGC NET-qualified candidates for multiple roles with lucrative compensation. You can apply for the roles of management, communication, human resources, etc. in PSUs after clearing the UGC NET Geography exam.

Analyst

Several Public and Private think tanks hire analysts to analyze various geographical factors in urban and rural regions. 

Author and Columnist 

If you have a way with words, you may take writing roles for educational blogs or magazines that require a command over Geography.

Roles in NGOs (Non-Government Organizations)

For social service enthusiasts, various NGOs offer different positions to candidates who clear UGC NET.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is the UGC NET Geography Syllabus and Pattern revised every year by the National Testing Agency?

Ans. No, the syllabus and pattern for this exam do not change every year. However, any changes in the same are notified well in advance for the best interest of aspirants.

Q. How can I get access to mock tests and past year question papers for the UGC NET Geography exam?

Ans. You can get a reliable UGC NET Geography book with practice tests and past year question papers for preparation. Further, you can enroll yourself in an online test series offered by various institutes.

Q. Is it possible for a working professional to clear the UGC NET Geography exam?

Ans. Yes, if you plan a routine to manage work and preparation for clearing this exam, then it can be cleared. However, the nature and working hours may impact the preparation depending upon the nature of your work.

Q. How long does it take for college students to prepare for the UGC NET Geography exam?

Ans. If you are a college student, you can prepare for the exam in approximately one to two years, depending upon the nature of your college curriculum.