Geography Class 10 ICSE CISCE Topics and Syllabus

• Concept of Interpretation of Topographical Maps 
  • A topographic sheet is usually interpreted under the following heads:

  1. Marginal Information
  2. Relief of the Area and Drainage of the Area
  3. Land Use
  4. Means of Transport and Communication
  5. Human Settlement and Occupation
• Locating Features 
  • Locating features with the help of a four figure or a six figure grid reference
• Contour 
  • Definition of contour and contour interval. Identification of landforms marked by contours (steep slope, gentle slope, hill, valley, ridge / water divide, escarpment), triangulated height, spot height, bench mark, relative height/ depth.
  • Some basic features of contour lines
  • Drawing of Contours and Their Cross Sections
• Topographical Survey 
  • Interpretation of colour tints and conventional symbols used on a topographical survey of India map.
• Types of Scale 
  • Identification and definition of types of scale given on the map.
  • Measuring distances and calculating area using the scale given therein.
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• Eight Cardinal Points 
  • Marking directions between different locations, using eight cardinal points
• Identification of Drainage 
  • Identification of drainage (direction of flow and pattern) and settlement patterns
• Identification of Natural and Man-made Features 

• Locating features with the help of a four figure or a six figure grid reference
• Definition of contour and contour interval. Identification of landforms marked by contours (steep slope, gentle slope, hill, valley, ridge / water divide, escarpment), triangulated height, spot height, bench mark, relative height/ depth.
• Interpretation of colour tints and conventional symbols used on a topographical survey of India map.
• Identification and definition of types of scale given on the map.
• Measuring distances and calculating area using the scale given therein.
• Marking directions between different locations, using eight cardinal points
• Identify: Site of prominent villages and/or towns, types of land use / land cover and means of communication with the help of the index given at the bottom of the sheet.
• Identification of drainage (direction of flow and pattern) and settlement patterns
• Identification of natural and man-made features.

• Concept of Outline Map of India 
• Mountains, Peaks and Plateaus 

  Himalayas, Karakoram, Aravali, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mount Godwin Austin (K2), Mount Kanchenjunga. Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau.

• Plains 

  Gangetic Plains and Coastal plains – (Konkan, Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Circars).

• Concept on Deserts 

  Thar (The Great Indian Desert)

• Rivers 

  Indus, Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gomti, Gandak, Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Son, Damodar, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauveri, Tungabhadra.

• Water Bodies 

  Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait, Andaman Sea, Chilka Lake, Wular Lake.

• Passes 

  Karakoram, Nathu-La Passes.

• Latitude and Longitudes 

  Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian (82° 30’E).

• Direction of Winds 

  South West Monsoons (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal Branches), North East Monsoons and Western Disturbances.

• Distribution of Minerals and Ores 
• Soil Distribution 

  Alluvial, Laterite, Black and Red Soil.

• Cities 

  Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad.

• Population 
  • Population
  • What is Demography?
  • Census

On an outline map of India, candidates will be required to locate, mark and name the following:

Mountains, Peaks and Plateaus: Himalayas, Karakoram, Aravali, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia, Mount Godwin Austin (K2), Mount Kanchenjunga. Deccan Plateau, Chota Nagpur Plateau.

Plains: Gangetic Plains and Coastal plains – (Konkan, Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Circars).

Desert: Thar (The Great Indian Desert)

Rivers: Indus, Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Ganga, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gomti, Gandak, Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Son, Damodar, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauveri, Tungabhadra.

Water Bodies: Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait, Andaman Sea, Chilka Lake, Wular Lake.

Passes: Karakoram, Nathu-La Passes.

Latitude and Longitudes: Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian (82° 30’E).

Direction of Winds: South West Monsoons (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal Branches), North East Monsoons and Western Disturbances.

Distribution of Minerals: Oil - Mumbai High (Offshore Oil Field) and Digboi. Iron – Singhbhum, Coal – Jharia.

Soil Distribution – Alluvial, Laterite, Black and Red Soil.

Cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Vishakhapatnam, Allahabad.

Population - Distribution of Population (Dense and sparse).

• Position and Extent of India (Map) 
• Physical Features of India - Mountains, Plateaus, Plains and Rivers (Map) 

Position and Extent of India. (through Map only)

The physical features of India – mountains, plateaus, plains and rivers (through Map only)

• Rainfall and Distribution of Temperature 
• Winds in Summer and Winter 
• Factors Influencing/Affecting the Climate 
• Seasons –March to May – Summer 
• Seasons - June to September - Monsoon 
• Seasons - October to November - Retreating Monsoon 
• Season - December to February - Winter 

Distribution of Temperature, Rainfall, winds in Summer and Winter and factors affecting the climate of the area. Monsoon and its mechanism. Seasons –March to May – Summer; June to September – Monsoon; October to November - Retreating Monsoon. December to February – Winter.

• Different Types of Soil 
• Distribution, Composition and Characteristics of Soil (Clour, Texture, Minerals,Crops Associated) 
• Soil Erosion – Causes, Prevention and Conservation 

Types of soils (alluvial, black, red and laterite), composition and characteristics such as colour, texture, minerals, crops associated.

soil erosion – causes, prevention and need for conservation.

• Importance of Forest 
• Vegetation Distribution and Correlation with Their Environment. 
• Concept for Forest Conservation 
• Types of Vegetation 
  • Tropical Evergreen Forests
  • Tropical Deciduous Forests
  • The Thorn Forests and Scrubs
  • Montane Forests
  • Mangrove Forests

• Importance of forests.
• Types of vegetation (tropical evergreen, tropical deciduous, tropical desert, littoral and mountain), distribution and correlation with their environment.
• Forest conservation.

• Sources of Water Resources - (Surface Water and Ground Water) 
• Need for Conservation and Management of Water 
• Water Management (Conservation of Water) 
  • Fresh Water Management 
• Importance and Methods Irrigation 

• Sources (Surface water and ground water).
• Need for conservation and conservation practices (Rain water harvesting and its importance).
• Irrigation: Importance and methods.

• Uses and Distribution of Iron Ore, Manganese, Copper, Bauxite 
• Classification of Minerals 
• Distribution of Minerals and Energy Resources 
• Types of Power Resources -conventional 
  • Conventional Sources

  1. Firewood
  2. Coal
  3. Petroleum
  4. Natural Gas
  5. Hydel Power
• Concept of Hydel Power (Bhakra Nangal Dam and Hirakud). 
• Types of Power Resources - Non-conventional Sources 
  • Non-conventional Sources of Energy

  1. Solar energy
  2. Wind Energy
  3. Nuclear Power
  4. Geothermal Energy
  5. Tidal Energy
  6. Biogas

• Iron ore, Manganese, Copper, Bauxite – uses and their distribution
• Conventional Sources: Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas (distribution, advantages and disadvantages)
• Hydel power (Bhakra Nangal Dam and Hirakud).
• Non-conventional Sources: Solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, nuclear and bio-gas (generation and advantages).

• Concept of Indian Agriculture ( Importance, Problems and Reforms.) 
• Types of Farming 
  • Subsistence farming
  • Commercial farming
  • Plantation farming
  • Mixed farming
• Concept of Agricultural Seasons (Rabi, Kharif, Zayad). 
• Climatic Conditions of Crops 
  • rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
  • sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soyabean).
  • cotton, jute, tea and coffee.
• Concept of Soil Requirements 
  • rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
  • sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soyabean).
  • cotton, jute, tea and coffee.
• Methods of Cultivation of Crops 
  • rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
  • sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soyabean).
  • cotton, jute, tea and coffee.
• Processing and Distribution of the Crops 
  • rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
  • sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soyabean).
  • cotton, jute, tea and coffee.

Indian Agriculture – importance, problems and reforms.

Types of farming in India: subsistence and commercial: shifting, intensive, extensive, plantation and mixed.

Agricultural seasons (rabi, kharif, zayad).

Climatic conditions, soil requirements, methods of cultivation, processing and distribution of the following crops

• rice, wheat, millets and pulses.
• sugarcane, oilseeds (groundnut, mustard and soyabean).
• cotton, jute, tea and coffee.

• Importance and Classification Manufacturing Industries 
• Agro Based Industry - Sugar, Textile (Cotton and Silk) 
• Mineral Based Industry – Iron and Steel (Tisco, Bhilai, Rourkela,Vishakhapatnam) 
• Petro Chemical and Electronics 

• Importance and classification
• Agro based Industry - Sugar, Textile (Cotton and Silk)
• Mineral based Industry – Iron & Steel (TISCO, Bhilai, Rourkela,Vishakhapatnam) Petro Chemical and Electronics.

• Importance and Modes Transport – Roadways, Railways,Airways and Waterways 
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Transport 

Importance and Modes – Roadways, Railways, Airways and Waterways – Advantages and disadvantages

• Impact of Waste Accumulation - Spoilage of Landscape 
• Impact of Waste Accumulation - Pollution 
• Impact of Waste Accumulation - Health Hazards 
• Effect on Terrestrial, Aquatic (Fresh Water and Marine) Life 
• Solid Waste Management 
• Need and Methods for Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Waste. 
• Methods of Safe Disposal - Segregation, Dumping and Composting 

• Impact of waste accumulation - spoilage of landscape, pollution, health hazards, effect on terrestrial, aquatic (fresh water and marine) life.
• Need for waste management.
• Methods of safe disposal - segregation, dumping and composting.
• Need and methods for reducing, reusing and recycling waste.