CBSE Class 11 Syllabus 2022-23 Geography

GEOGRAPHY
XI-XII (2022-23)
(Code No. 029)

Geography is introduced as an elective subject at the senior secondary stage. After ten
years of general education, students branch out at the beginning of this stage and are
exposed to the rigors of the discipline for the first time. Being an entry point for the higher
education, students choose Geography for pursuing their academic interest and,
therefore, need a broader and deeper understanding of the subject. For others,
geographical knowledge is useful in daily lives because it is a valuable medium for the
education of young people. Its contribution lies in the content, cognitive processes, skills
and values that Geography promotes and thus helps the students explore, understand and
evaluate the environmental and social dimensions of the world in a better manner.

Since Geography explores the relationship between people and their environment, it
includes studies of physical and human environments and their interactions at different
scales-local, state/region, nation and the world. The fundamental principles responsible for
the varieties in the distributional pattern of physical and human features and phenomena
over the earth's surface need to be understood properly. Application of these principles
would be taken up through selected case studies from the world and India. Thus, the
physical and human environment of India and study of some issues from a geographical
point of view will be covered in greater detail. Students will be exposed to different
methods used in geographical investigations.

Objectives:
The course in Geography will help learners to:
 Familiarize with key concepts, terminology and core principles of Geography.
 Describe locations and correlate with Geographical Perspectives.
 List/describe what students might see, hear, and smell at a place.
 List/describe ways a place is linked with other places.
 Compare conditions and connections in one place to another.
 Analyze/describe how conditions in one place can affect nearby places.
 Identify regions as places that are similar or connected.
 Describe and interpret the spatial pattern features on a thematic map.
 Search for, recognize and understand the processes and patterns of the
spatial arrangement of the natural features as well as human aspects and
phenomena on the earth's surface.
 Understand and analyze the inter-relationship between physical and human
environments and utilize such knowledge in reflecting on issues related to
community.

 Apply geographical knowledge and methods of inquiry to emerging situations
or problems at different levels-local, regional, national and global.
 Develop geographical skills, relating to collection, processing and analysis of
spatial data/ information and preparation of report including maps and graphs
and use of computers where ever possible; and to be sensitive to issues.
 The child will develop the competency to analyze, evaluate, interpret and apply
the acquired knowledge to determine the environmental issues effectively.

COURSE STRUCTURE
CLASS XI (2022-23)
One Theory Paper 70 Marks
3 Hours

Part Units No. of Marks
A Fundamentals of Physical Geography 89 35 Marks
Unit-1: Geography as a discipline 06
Unit-2: The Earth 11
Unit-3: Landforms 20
Unit-4: Climate 30 30
Unit-5: Water (Oceans) 10
Unit-6: Life on the Earth 07
Map and diagram 05 5
B India-Physical Environment 78 35 Marks
Unit-7: Introduction 04
Unit-8: Physiography 28
30
Unit-9: Climate and Natural Vegetation 28
Unit-10: Natural hazards and disasters 14
Map and Diagram 04 5
Total 167 70 Marks
C Practical Work in Geography Part I 50 30 Marks
Unit-1: Fundamentals of Maps 25 15 Marks
Unit-2: Topographic Maps 25 10 Marks
Practical Record Book and Viva 5 Marks

COURSE CONTENT

Part A: Fundamentals of Physical Geography 89

Unit 1: Geography as a Discipline
 Geography as an integrating discipline, as a 06
science of spatial attributes Periods
 Branches of Geography: Physical Geography
and Human Geography
Unit 2: The Earth
 Origin and evolution of the earth 11
 Interior of the earth Earthquakes and volcanoes: Periods
causes, types and effects
 Distribution of oceans and continents :
Wegener's continental drift theory and plate
tectonics
Unit 3: Landforms
20
 Geomorphic processes: weathering; mass Periods
wasting; erosion and deposition; soil-formation
 Landforms and their evolution- Brief erosional
and depositional features
Unit 4: Climate
30
 Atmosphere- composition and structure; Periods
elements of weather and climate
 Solar Radiation-Insolation-angle of incidence
and distribution; heat budget of the earth-
heating and cooling of atmosphere (conduction,
convection, terrestrial radiation and advection);
temperature- factors controlling temperature;
distribution of temperature-horizontal and
vertical; inversion of temperature
 Atmospheric circulation and weather systems -
Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary,
seasonal and local; air masses and fronts;
tropical and extra tropical cyclones
 Water in the atmosphere-Precipitation-
evaporation; condensation-dew, frost, fog, mist
and cloud; rainfall-types and world distribution
 World Climate and Global Concerns

Unit 5: Water (Oceans) 10
 Basics of Oceanography Periods
 Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity
 Movements of ocean water-waves, tides and
currents; submarine reliefs
Unit 6: Life on the Earth 07
 Biosphere - importance of plants and other Periods
organisms; biodiversity and conservation

Map work on identification of features based on 1 to 6 units 05
on the outline Physical/Political map of the world. Periods
Part B: India-Physical Environment 78
Unit 7: Introduction 04
 India : Location, space relations, India's place in Periods
the world
Unit 8: Physiography 28
 Structure and Relief; Physiographic Divisions Periods
 Drainage systems: Concept of river basins,
watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular
rivers
Unit 9: Climate, Vegetation and Soil 28
 Weather and climate - spatial and temporal Periods
distribution of temperature, Indian monsoon:
mechanism, onset and withdrawal
 Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution;
wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves
Unit 10: Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences 14
andManagement Periods
 Floods, Cloudbursts
 Droughts: types and impact
 Earthquakes and Tsunami Cyclones: features
and impact
 Landslides
Map Work of features based on above units for locating 04
andlabeling on the outline Political/Physical map of India Periods

Part C: Practical Work in Geography Part I 50
Unit 1: Fundamentals of Maps 25
 Geo spatial data, Concept of Geographical data Periods
matrix; Point, line, area data
 Maps - types; scales-types; construction of
simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding
direction and use of symbols
 Map projection- Latitude, longitude and time,
typology, construction and properties of
projection: Conical with one standard parallel
and Mercator's projection. (only two projections)
Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps 25
 Study of topographic maps (1 : 50,000 or 1 : Periods
25,000 Survey of India maps); contour cross
section and identification of landforms-slopes,
hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution of
settlements
 Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing
data- acquisition, platform and sensors and data
products, (photographic and digital)

Practical Record Book and Viva Voce
Viva to be based on Practical Unit I and II only.