Blog Post: S. Fazal Daoud Firdausi
UPSC Civil Services Exam is one of the toughest exams in the world. India and World Geography is an important portion of the preliminary exam. Analysis of the previous year question papers of the preliminary exam reveals that UPSC has been changing the question pattern every 4-5 years. Currently, more map-based questions are being asked in the preliminary exam.
Those who are new to this field may say that it is a ‘new trend’. However, close examination of the PYQs shows that it is merely a ‘trend reversal’. Despite the famous unpredictability of the exam, we may predict that the above mentioned trend may continue this year as well. As a UPSC CSE Coach, it is my duty to remind the aspirants to revise or revisit some of the regions of the world that remained in the news for a longer period of time in 2020-21. I have identified following regions:
Northwestern Neighbours of China
Xinjiang province of China is located in the Northwestern side of China. According to the BBC, this region is inhabited by Uyghurs, mostly Muslims, who speak their own language which is very similar to Turkish. China has been blamed by the international community for huge human rights violations in the region. UPSC aspirants should mark all the countries sharing boundary with Uyghur autonomous region of China.
Israel & West Asia
According to The Guardian, Israel and Palestinian group Hamas attacked each other in the month of July after the tension escalated near Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. It is important for UPSC aspirants to identify major locations in Israel and Palestine. Since this conflict raised emotions in west Asia, therefore it is important to revise all the countries, capitals and major cities of the same.
Central Africa and East African Rift Valley
Western Pacific
Due to the changing geopolitical scenario of the world, countries, marginal seas and the oceans situated in the Western Pacific have become extremely important. In recent years tension in the South China Sea has increased manifold. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims in the South China Sea (BBC). Similarly, China and Japan have a conflict in the east China sea over the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands comprising five uninhabited islands and three rocks totalling seven square kilometres (VIF). The United States is trying to limit Chinese expansionist policy in the Western Pacific through QUAD, or the Quadrilateral Alliance between India, Australia, United States and Japan. Recently, Aukus pact has been signed between Australia, United Kingdom and USA to counter China’s marine dominance in the region.
Azerbaijan & Armenia
Those who are new to this field may say that it is a ‘new trend’. However, close examination of the PYQs shows that it is merely a ‘trend reversal’. Despite the famous unpredictability of the exam, we may predict that the above mentioned trend may continue this year as well. As a UPSC CSE Coach, it is my duty to remind the aspirants to revise or revisit some of the regions of the world that remained in the news for a longer period of time in 2020-21. I have identified following regions:
Northwestern Neighbours of China
Xinjiang province of China is located in the Northwestern side of China. According to the BBC, this region is inhabited by Uyghurs, mostly Muslims, who speak their own language which is very similar to Turkish. China has been blamed by the international community for huge human rights violations in the region. UPSC aspirants should mark all the countries sharing boundary with Uyghur autonomous region of China.
Israel & West Asia
According to The Guardian, Israel and Palestinian group Hamas attacked each other in the month of July after the tension escalated near Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. It is important for UPSC aspirants to identify major locations in Israel and Palestine. Since this conflict raised emotions in west Asia, therefore it is important to revise all the countries, capitals and major cities of the same.
Central Africa and East African Rift Valley
Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted in May, 2021. It is related to east African Rift valley and situated within Virunga National Park. Aspirants should take out the Atlas and check all countries, lakes and major volcanoes situated on the East African Rift valley.
Western Pacific
Due to the changing geopolitical scenario of the world, countries, marginal seas and the oceans situated in the Western Pacific have become extremely important. In recent years tension in the South China Sea has increased manifold. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims in the South China Sea (BBC). Similarly, China and Japan have a conflict in the east China sea over the Senkaku/ Diaoyu Islands comprising five uninhabited islands and three rocks totalling seven square kilometres (VIF). The United States is trying to limit Chinese expansionist policy in the Western Pacific through QUAD, or the Quadrilateral Alliance between India, Australia, United States and Japan. Recently, Aukus pact has been signed between Australia, United Kingdom and USA to counter China’s marine dominance in the region.
Azerbaijan & Armenia
War broke out between Azerbaijan and Armenia to establish control over Nagorno-Karabakh region in September, 2020. Azeri forces captured 40 percent of Nagorno-Karabakh with the help of Turkey (The Hindu). Later, a peace deal was brokered by Russia. Aspirants should locate and practice, major cities of Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as the neighbors of both the countries.
Hope you will not forget to revisit the maps of Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan).
Hope you will not forget to revisit the maps of Wakhan Corridor (Afghanistan).