Geography Class 11 Syllabus 2025
The syllabus is divided into two parts: (A) Fundamentals of Physical Geography (B) India - Physical Environment.
Exam Structure
| # | Topic or Chapter | Marks |
| Part A | Fundamentals of Physical Geography | |
| 1 | Geography as a discipline | 3 |
| 2 | The Earth | 9 |
| 3 | Landforms | 6 |
| 4 | Climate | 8 |
| 5 | Water (Oceans) | 4 |
| 6 | Life on the Earth | - |
| Map Work | 5 | |
| Part B | India - Physical Environment | |
| 1 | Introduction | 5 |
| 2 | Physiography | 13 |
| 3 | Climate Vegetation and Soil | 12 |
| 4 | Natural Hazards and Disasters | - |
| Map and Diagram | 5 | |
| Total | 70 |
Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography
Unit 1: Geography as a Discipline
- Explain the meaning geography as an integrating discipline.
- State the fields of geography and its relation with other disciplines.
- Explain the approaches to study geography.
Unit 2: The Origin and Evolution of the Earth
- Describe the Big Bang, Planetesimal theory, Nebular Hypothesis related to the origin of the universe.
Unit 3: Interior of the Earth
- Describe direct and indirect sources of information about the interior of the earth.
- Discuss Earthquakes - its causes and effects, define: Epicentre, Hypocentre, Earthquake waves and its propagation, Shadow zones, Measuring the intensity of Earthquakes.
- Explain the interior structure of the earth.
- Explain Volcanoes, its types and volcanic landforms.
Unit 4: Distribution of seas and oceans
- Provide evidences in support of continental drift and force for drifting.
- Explain Post drift studies, Convectional current theory, Mapping of the ocean floor, Ocean floor configuration, Concept of sea-floor spreading
- Describe theory of plate tectonics and different types of plate boundaries.
- Trace the movements of Indian Plate.
Unit 5: Geomorphic Processes
- Differentiate between geomorphic processes and geomorphic agents.
- Describe factors that affect soil formation.
- Define the following terms: Exfoliation, Denudation, Weathering etc.
Unit 6: Landforms and their Evolution
- Describe and draw various erosional and depositional landforms created by different agents.
- Students will be able to compare and analyse various landforms.
- Locate different landforms (mountains, plateaus, plains) on the outline map of the world.
Unit 7: Composition and Structure of Atmosphere
- Describe the composition and characteristics of different layers of atmosphere.
- Correlate climate change with Sustainable Development Goals: Climate Action.
Unit 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature
- Differentiate between solar radiation and terrestrial radiation.
- Give reasons for variability of insolation at the surface of the earth.
- Explain the heat budget of the planet earth.
- Describe factors controlling temperature distribution.
- Explain inversion of temperature.
Unit 9: Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems
- Describe the permanent pressure belts and the prevailing winds.
- Explain different types of winds.
- Differentiate between tropical and extra tropical cyclones.
- Realize how global warming is result of atmospheric pollution and how it can be minimised if not prevented.
Unit 10: Water in the Atmosphere
- Explain the process of precipitation and its different forms.
- Analyse the variation in the distribution of rainfall in the world.
Unit 11: World Climate and Climate Change
To be tested through internal assessments in the form of project and presentation
Unit 12: Water (Oceans)
- Describe the basic processes involved in hydrological cycle with the help of a well labelled diagram.
- Describe the relief features of the ocean floor.
- Explain the process of heating and cooling of oceanic water and factors that affect temperature
- distribution in the ocean
- Describe the salinity of ocean waters.
Unit 13: Movements of Ocean Water
- Explain tides, currents and waves.
- Analyse the economic significance of tides.
- Describe ocean currents and the forces that influence them.
- Distinguish between cold and warm ocean currents.
Unit 14: Biodiversity and Conservation
- Describe the characteristic features of the biosphere.
- Define ecology and related terms and explain the need for ecological balance.
- Recognize the abiotic and biotic factors of the ecosystem.
- To compare and contrast the features of five major biomes of the world - forest, grassland, desert, aquatic, and altitudinal.
Part B: India - Physical Environment
Unit 1: India - Location
- Describe the location of India mentioning the surrounding water bodies.
- Analyse the implications of living in a country with vast longitudinal and latitudinal extent and its impact on the standard time of India.
- Explain the vastness of India and the diversity that comes along with it.
Unit 2: Structure and Physiography
- Explain the evolution of various geological structures in different parts of the country.
- Describe major physiographic divisions and the processes of their formation.
- Locate the major physical features on the map of India.
Unit 3: Drainage System
- Understand the major drainage systems of India.
- Analyse the causes of river water pollution.
- Differentiate between Himalayan and Peninsular rivers.
Unit 4: Climate
- Discuss the factors affecting climate of the country and its effect on country’s economic life.
- Understand the annual cycle of four main seasons in India.
- Able to realise the causes and problems of climate changes.
- Able to understand the concept of Global Warming.
Unit 5: Natural Vegetation
- The students will be able to recognise the importance of forest cover in the country and its spatial distribution.
- They will learn about number of species of plants and animals in India.
- They will appreciate the efforts in conservation of forests and wild life.
Unit 6: Natural Hazards and Disasters
To be tested through internal assessment in the form of Projects and presentation