ISC Class 11th Geography Syllabus 2024-25: Download Revised PDF for ISC Class 11 Geography

Paper I: Theory (3 hours)

70 Marks

Paper II: Project Work 

30 Marks

GEOGRAPHY AS A DISCIPLINE

1. Geography - its interdisciplinary approach and future prospects (not to be tested).

Geography as an integrating discipline. Physical Geography and Natural Sciences; Geography and Social Sciences.

Branches of Geography: 

(i) Systematic approach: Physical Geography (Geomorphology, Climatology, Hydrology); Human Geography (Historical, Social, Population and Settlement, Economic, Political).

 – The conceptual and intellectual ideas of a number of new approaches to contemporary human geography should be examined to understand the strengths and limitations of each approach within the context of Human Geography and Social Sciences. 

(ii) Regional approach: Regional/ Area Studies, Regional Planning, Regional Development. 

Future prospects of Geography to be discussed: 

• In the area of GPS, GIS, Remote Sensing for resource identification. 

• Applied geography in town and country planning, environment management and law, cartography and mapping, geography education, map analysis, travel and tourism (to be taught only for the sake of awareness, not for testing).

PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

2. Formation of the Earth 

Theories of formation; Methods of measuring age of the earth; Structure and Composition; Rocks. 

(i) Theories of formation of the earth: the Big Bang theory; Planetesimal and Nebular hypothesis. 

(ii) Methods of measuring age of the earth: Radioactivity – a brief understanding. 

(iii) Structure and composition of the earth’s interior: crust, mantle, core; their properties - temperature, pressure, thickness. Sources of information – direct and indirect; seismic waves, their behaviour and inferences, the causes of earthquakes and distribution: effects; isoseismal and homoseismal lines, measuring earthquakes and their intensity. Case study of earthquakes on a country like Nepal. Vulcanicity-materials and processes; major volcanic forms. Explanation of how volcanoes are formed; identification of the type of volcano; recognition of the properties of volcanic materials; explanation of why volcanoes are more in the areas of converging plates. 

(iv) Rocks: The mineral groups responsible for different rocks formed on the earth: silicates, carbonates, sulphides, metals. Classification of rocks by origin: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks – their distribution in India; characteristics, types, economic importance. The rock cycle. 

3. Changing Face of the Earth 

Landforms and Processes of Gradation 

(i) Endogenous processes: theory of plate tectonics and the process of drifting continents, theory of Isostasy by Pratt and A. Holmes.

(ii) Landforms – mountains, plateaus and plains and their types. 

(iii)Exogenetic process and associated landforms.

(iv)Fluvial processes and associated landforms.

(v) Aeolian processes and associated landforms. 

(vi) Glacial processes and associated landforms

(vii) Work of ground water and associated landforms.  

(viii) Marine processes and associated landforms. 

4. Atmosphere 

(i) Composition and structure of atmosphere. 

(ii) Atmospheric temperature. 

(iii)Atmospheric Pressure. 

(iv) Atmospheric Moisture. 

(v) Climate change- causes/factors of climatic changes in the recent past.

5. The Realms of Water 

(i) Submarine relief of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.

(ii) Ocean water - salinity, temperature, density.

(iii)Ocean water movements. 

6. Biosphere – Life on the Earth 

(i) Nature of Biosphere, concept of ecosystems, components of ecosystem.

(ii) Biodiversity for sustenance of mankind.

(iii) India as a mega diversity nation

(iv) Strategies for conservation of biodiversity – in-situ and ex-situ.

7. Map Work 

A question on map work will be set to identify, label and locate any of the following items studied in topics from Principles of Physical Geography.

1. Practical Work 

Any two of the following four topics to be undertaken.

(a) Surveying - elementary principles; preparing plans of the school compound or a small area with the help of chain and tape. 

(b) Statistical diagrams - line graphs (simple and multiple), composite bars, pie diagram, flow and star diagram, (the data used will be that used in Paper I ). 

(c) Map projections – uses, construction and properties of the following: 

(i) Cylindrical equal area. 

(ii) Simple conical with one standard parallel. 

(iii)Zenithal equidistant. 

(d) Aerial photographs – Introduction; definition; difference between map and an aerial photographs; uses of aerial photographs, advantages of aerial photography. Types of Aerial Photographs: 

(i) Based on the position of the cameral axis – vertical photographs, low oblique, high oblique (only definition and explanation). 

(ii) Based on Scale – (a) Large scale photographs (b) Small scale photographs. 

Scale of Aerial Photograph – (a) by establishing of relationship between photo distance and ground distance; (b) by establishing relationship between photo distance and map distance. 

2. Project Work 

(Assignment) One topic as an assignment. Sketches and drawings will be given credit).

(i) Take any physical feature in your immediate locality: 

(a) draw sketches or take photograhs to highlight physical features. 

(b) survey how these features have been used and prepare a report. 

(c) suggest ways by which the area of study could be better used keeping in view the needs of the people of the region. 

(ii) Choose any island area of the world or India and: 

(a) trace the map of the area and show physical features, towns and port cities. 

(b) prepare a project report using photographs and pictures from brochures and magazines to show: - its origin and formation. - soil types, vegetation. - human occupations. 

(iii) Any natural hazard like drought, flood, erosion, landslides, etc. in a local area. Choose a natural hazard in the local area. Describe the nature of damage by consulting newspaper reports, studies, interviews with local people. Identify the nature of damage before and after – land, building, public property, soil, vegetation, animals, etc. What are the chances of it occuring again and what precautions are being taken? 

(iv) World Climatic types 

Low latitude/tropical climates: 

(a) Equatorial 

(b) Monsoon and trade wind littoral 

(c) Dry tropical (desert). 

Mid latitude/temperature climates: 

(a) Medditerranean 

(b) Marine west coast 

(c) Dry sub-tropical 

(d) Dry mid latitude (cold deserts). 

High latitude/polar climates – 

(a) Borreal 

(b) Tundra For each of the above climatic types, the following is to be studied: 

• Location, climatic conditions and areas; 

• Description of major human activities (both farming and forestry).