CBSE 11th Class Geography Syllabus

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Course Structure

Parts/Units	Topics	Marks
Part A	Fundamentals of Physical Geography	30
Unit – 1	Geography as a Discipline
Unit – 2	The Earth
Unit – 3	Landforms
Unit – 4	Climate
Unit – 5	Water (Oceans)
Unit – 6	Life on the Earth
Unit – 7	Map and Diagram	5
Part B	India – Physical Environment	30
Unit – 8	Introduction
Unit – 9	Physiography
Unit – 10	Climate, Vegetation, & Soil
Unit – 11	Natural Hazards & Disasters
Unit – 12	Map and Diagram	5
Part C	Practical Work	30
Unit – 1	Fundamentals of Maps
Unit – 2	Topographic and Weather Maps
Unit – 3	Practical Record Book and Viva
Total		100

Course Syllabus

Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography

Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline

• Geography as −
  • An integrating discipline
  • A science of spatial attributes
• Branches of Geography −
  • Physical Geography
  • 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
  • Effects

Unit-3: Landforms

• Rocks −
  • Types
  • Characteristics
• Landforms and their evolution
• Geomorphic processes −
  • Weathering
  • Mass wasting
  • Erosion
  • 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
  • Cloud
  • Rainfall – types and world distribution
• World climates −
  • Classification (Koeppen and Thornthwaite)
  • Global warming
  • Climatic changes
• Climate and Global Concerns

Unit 5: Hydrosphere

• Basics of Oceanography
• Oceans −
  • Distribution of temperature
  • Distribution of salinity
• Movements of −
  • Ocean water-waves
  • Tides
  • Currents
• Submarine reliefs
• Ocean resources and pollution

Unit 6: Biosphere

• Biosphere −
  • Importance of plants and other organisms
  • Biodiversity and conservation
  • Ecosystem
  • Ecological balance

Unit 7: Map work

• Identification of features based on 1 to 6 units on the outline/Physical/Political map of the world.

Part – B: India – Physical Environment

Unit – 8: Introduction

• Location
• Space relations
• India’s place in the world

Unit – 9: Physiography

• Structure and Relief
  • Physiographic Divisions
• Drainage systems
  • Concept of river basins
  • Watershed
  • The Himalayan rivers
  • The Peninsular rivers

Unit – 10: Climate, Vegetation and Soil

• Weather and climate −
• Spatial and temporal distribution of −
  • Temperature
  • Pressure
  • Winds
  • Rainfall
• Indian monsoon −
  • Mechanism
  • Onset and withdrawal
  • Variability of rainfalls – spatial and temporal
  • Use of weather charts
  • Climatic types (Koeppen)
• Natural vegetation −
  • Types
  • Distribution
  • Wild life
  • Conservation
  • Biosphere reserves
• Soils −
  • Major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution
  • Soil degradation
  • Soil conservation

Unit-11: Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and Management

• Floods −
  • Cloudbursts
• Droughts −
  • Types
  • Impact
• Earthquakes and Tsunami
• Cyclones −
  • Features
  • Impact
• Landslides

Unit – 12: Map Work

• 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 Geographical data matrix
  • Point data
  • Line data
  • Area data
• Maps −
  • Types
  • Scales-types
  • Construction of simple linear scale
  • Measuring distance
  • Finding direction and use of symbols
• Map projection −
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • 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
• 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