- Land degradation means temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of land due to factors like soil erosion, waterlogging, salinity and alkalinity.
- Continuous use of land without maintaining fertility reduces soil quality and productivity, and may convert it into wasteland.
- Land degradation is caused by both natural factors (like ravines, desert sands, rocky and glacial areas) and human activities (like deforestation, overgrazing, mining and shifting cultivation).
- Studies show that man-made causes are more responsible for wasteland formation than natural causes.
- Watershed management programmes, like in Jhabua district (Madhya Pradesh), help prevent land degradation through community participation, afforestation, pasture development and proper land management.
Topics
Human Geography - Nature and Scope
- Introduction to Human Geography Nature and Scopes
- Nature of Human Geography
- Scopes of Human Geography
- Overview of Human Geography - Nature and Scope
Population : Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
- Distribution of Population in India
- Density of Population
- Regional Variation in Population Growth
- Population Composition
- Promoting Gender Sensitivity
- Overview of Population : Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
Fundamentals of Human Geography
Data – Its Source and Compilation
- What is Data?
- Need of Data
- Presentation of Data
- Sources of Data
- Sources of Data - Primary
- Sources of Data - Secondary
- Tabulation and Classification of Data
- Data Compilation and Presentation
- Processing of Data
- Grouping of Data
- Process of Classification
- Overview of Data – Its Source and Compilation
Human Settlements
- Human Settlements
- Concept of Rural Settlements
- Types of Rural Settlements
- Concept of Urban Settlements
- Urbanisation in India
- Overview of Human Settlements
India - People and Economy
The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth
- The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth
- Patterns of Population Distribution in the World
- Density of Population
- Factors Influencing the Distribution of the Population
- Doubling Time of World Population
- Spatial Pattern of Population Change
- Impact of Population Change
- Theories of Population Growth
- Population Control Measures
- Overview of The World Population - Distribution, Density and Growth
Data Processing
- Mode
- Comparison of Mean, Median and Mode
- Methods of Measuring Dispersion
- Rank Correlation
- Direction of Correlation
- Method of Calculating Correlation
- Degree of Correlation
- Overview of Data Processing
Graphical Representation of Data
- General Rules for Drawing Graphs, Diagram and Maps
- Construction of Diagrams
- Classification of Thematic Maps Based on Method of Construction
- Overview of Graphical Representation of Data
Human Development
- Concept of Human Development
- Growth and Development
- Four Pillars of Human Development
- Approaches of Human Development
- Measuring Human Development
- International Comparisons
- Overview of Human Development
Geography Practical II
Land Resources and Agriculture
- Land Resources and Agriculture
- Land Uses Categories
- Land Use Changes in India
- Common Property Resources
- Agriculture Land Use in India
- Agricultural Development in India
- Problems of Indian Agriculture
- Overview of Land Resources and Agriculture
Spatial Information Technology
- Spatial Information Technology
- Geographical Information System (GIS)
- Advantage of GIS Over Manual Methods
- Components of GIS
- Spatial Data Formats
- Sequences of GIS Activities
- Overview of Spatial Information Technology
Water Resources
- Concept of Water Resources
- Water Resources of India
- Deterioration of Water Quality
- Water Conservation Practices > Watershed Management
- Overview of Water Resources
Primary Activities
- Introduction to Primary Activities
- Hunting and Gathering
- Pastoralism
- Agriculture
- Mining
- Overview of Primary Activities
Mineral and Energy Resources
- Mineral and Energy Resources
- Types of Minerals in India
- Distribution of Minerals in India
- Conservation of Minerals
- Overview of Mineral and Energy Resources
Secondary Activities
- Introduction to Secondary Activities
- Manufacturing
- Household Industries Or Cottage Manufacturing
- Industries Based on Ownership
- Overview of Secondary Activities
Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context
Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
- Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
- Types of Tertiary Activities
- People Engaged in Tertiary Activities
- Some Selected Examples
- Quaternary Activities
- Quinary Activities
- The Digital Divide
- Overview of Tertiary and Quaternary Activities
Transport and Communication
- Communication
- Land Transport
- Oil and Gases Pipelines
- Communication Networks
- Overview of Transport and Communication
Transport and Communication
- Communication
- Transport
- Mode of Transport
- Water Transport
- Air Transport
- Pipelines
- Overview of Transport and Communication
International Trade
- Concept of Trade
- Changing Pattern of the Composition of India's Exports
- Changing Patterns of the Composition of India's Import
- Sea Ports as Gateways of International Trade
- Air Routes of International Trade
- Overview of International Trade
International Trade
- Concept of Trade
- History of International Trade
- Gateway of International Trade
- Overview of International Trade
Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
- Urban Waste Disposal
- Rural-urban Migration
- Problems of Slums
- Land Degradation
- Overview of Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems
Estimated time: 15 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Environmental Pollution
- Environmental pollution is caused by release of harmful substances and energy from human activities. It is classified into air, water, land and noise pollution.
- Water pollution occurs due to industrial waste, sewage, agricultural chemicals and religious activities. It causes diseases like diarrhoea, hepatitis and intestinal infections.
- Major polluted rivers in India include Ganga and Yamuna, mainly due to industrial waste, domestic sewage and agricultural run-off.
- Air pollution is caused by burning of fossil fuels, industries and vehicles. It releases harmful gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
- Air pollution leads to respiratory and heart diseases, urban smog and acid rain.
- Noise pollution is caused by traffic, industries, aircraft and loudspeakers. It is measured in decibels (dB) and affects human health.
- To reduce pollution, programmes like Namami Gange have been launched to clean rivers, control industrial waste and create public awareness.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Urban Waste Disposal
- Urban areas face waste disposal problems due to overcrowding, poor sanitation and rapid population growth, causing foul air and pollution.
- Solid waste includes metals, glass, plastic, polythene bags, ash, CDs, debris, etc. It comes mainly from households and industrial/commercial units.
- Household waste is often dumped on public land or private sites, while industrial waste is disposed through municipal landfill areas.
- Solid waste creates health hazards by producing bad smell and breeding flies and rodents, spreading diseases like cholera, malaria, typhoid, diarrhoea and diphtheria.
- Waste disposal is a serious issue in India; big cities collect about 90% waste, but smaller towns struggle. Waste should be treated as a resource for making compost and energy, because untreated waste releases harmful gases like methane.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Rural–Urban Migration
- Rural–urban migration occurs due to lack of job opportunities in rural areas, high demand for labour in cities, and uneven development between rural and urban regions.
- Urban population grows because of natural increase, in-migration, and reclassification of rural areas. In India, a large part of urban growth is due to migration from villages.
- Poor and semi-skilled migrants usually work in the informal sector in cities at low wages and often do temporary or contract jobs.
- Migrants send remittances to their families in villages, which help improve living standards, support education, healthcare and agriculture.
- Rural–urban migration is mostly male-dominated, as men move to cities for work while families remain in villages due to job insecurity and low income.
CBSE: Class 12
Key points: Problems of Slums
- Urban centres are settlements different from rural areas in terms of functions, economy, culture and development level.
- India has a majority rural population (about 69% in 2011), and many villages depend on nearby urban centres as their hinterland.
- Urban and rural areas show a clear social, economic and technological divide, but they also complement each other.
- Urban areas are highly differentiated — some parts have modern infrastructure (wide roads, sanitation, parks, security), while others lack basic facilities.
- Slums are overcrowded settlements with poor housing, lack of clean water, sanitation and proper drainage, leading to serious health problems.
- Many slum dwellers are rural migrants who move to cities for work but cannot afford proper housing due to high land and rent costs.
- Poor living conditions in slums often lead to poverty, social problems, crime, poor education and social exclusion.
CBSE: Class 12
