ISC Class 12 Syllabus 2024 Geography

ISC
Syllabus

2024

Revised

Syllabus

GEOGRAPHY (853)
CLASS XII

There will be two papers in the subject: Himalayas, Nepal Himalayas, Assam
Paper I – Theory (3 hours) ...70 marks Himalayas).
Paper II – Practical and Project Work …30 marks • Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains
The relief features – bhabar, tarai,
PAPER I: THEORY (70 Marks) bhangar, khaddar, doabs. Regional
divisions of the plains: Rajasthan
INDIA IN THE WORLD’S CONTEXT plain (the Great Indian desert),
Punjab plain, Ganga plain,
1. Physical Environment Brahamaputra/ Assam plain.).
(i) Locational setting - India: size and area.
• The Peninsular Plateau
Present importance of the location of India
with reference to the Indian Ocean Rim The Malwa plateau, Chotanagpur
countries and the Northern and Western Plateau and Deccan Plateau: the
frontiers. relief features - badland, Western
Extent, position with reference to latitude Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Aravalis.
and longitude, length of coastline and Comparison between the Western
frontiers with neighbouring countries. The Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
locational advantages of India in the Indian The above three physical divisions
Ocean and as a subcontinent. are to be studied with reference to
(ii) Structure of India – Geological formation, their extent, altitude, slope and
relief and drainage; major physiographic landform characteristics.
divisions and their characteristics. • Coastal Plains
(a) Outline of the geological evolution and Comparison between Western and
structure: Eastern Coastal Plains and their
Names of the main Standard and Indian divisions. The relief features:
geological eras with reference to Indian Lagoons, deltas.
Geology.
• Islands
Geological evolution of: the Peninsular
Plateau, the Himalayas and the Great Difference between Andaman and
Plains. Difference between the Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
Peninsular Plateau and the Himalayas. (c) Drainage (i.e. rivers) and drainage
(b) The three-fold physiographic divisions: systems: Names and sources of the main
the Himalayan mountain complex, the rivers (Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, Sutlej,
Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains and Brahmaputra, Mahanandi, Godavari,
the Peninsular Plateau. Kaveri, Krishna, Narmada, Tapi).
• Himalayan mountain complex: Comparison of Himalayan and
(orthoclinal structure) Peninsular rivers.
The three parallel ranges, the (iii) Climate: India - Factors affecting India’s
northwest and northeast offshoots, climate: Temperature - factors affecting
comparison between Western and temperature. Atmospheric pressure
Eastern Himalayas. conditions during the year; origin and
Regional divisions of the Himalayas mechanism of the monsoon, Jet streams,
(Kashmir/ Punjab Himalayas, Southern Oscillations; wind and rainfall
Himachal/ Uttranchal/ Kumaon distribution during the year; characteristics of
the four main seasons - hot and dry, hot and

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wet, cool and dry, cool and wet with 2. Population and Human settlements
reference to temperature distribution in north (i) Population of India compared to six countries
and south India, pressure, wind conditions – - China, Australia, USA, Canada, Russia and
distribution of resultant rainfall; variability of Brazil.
rainfall, incidence of droughts and floods.
Temperature and rainfall graphs of Mumbai, Population of India as compared to the other
Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaisalmer and Leh. six countries with reference to percentage of
world population and India’s position in the
Role of various factors affecting Indian world.
climate – latitudinal extent, distance from the
(ii) National and State level patterns of
sea, northern mountain ranges,
population distribution.
physiography, monsoon winds, upper air
circulation, western disturbances and Definition of census. Index of concentration
tropical cyclones, southern oscillation, El (highest and lowest index of concentration as
Nino; understanding of the concept and per the latest census), density of population –
mechanism of monsoon; Indian Monsoonal arithmetic and physiological.
Regime – onset, rain bearing system, break Spatial distribution of population in India
in the monsoon, retreat of the monsoon; and explanation of the factors influencing it –
Seasons of India – with reference to landforms, climate, accessibility and level of
temperature, pressure distribution, wind development that result in this pattern.
systems and local winds (loo, kalbaisaki/ Comparison of the density at the State level
Norwesters, Mango showers; explanation of and factors influencing it.
the variability of rainfall in different areas (iii) Pattern of population growth in the last three
over different seasons. decades; implications for development.
Droughts and Floods – meaning, causes, Meaning of terminologies such as
affected areas and mitigation programmes. population, birth rate, death rate, population
Temperature and rainfall graphs of Mumbai, growth rate, natural growth rate and
Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Leh and Jaisalmer. migratory growth.
(iv) Natural vegetation: Population growth of India at national level
– trends of 1921, 1951 and 1981 to the latest
Forest – area covered, importance, use, Census. Demographic characteristics of
misuse and potential both for exploitation India at the National level- birth rate, death
and conservation. Present forest policy. rate, and natural growth rate from 1991 to
Distinction between vegetation and forest, the latest Census.
virgin vegetation; factors affecting Drawing general conclusions about the:
vegetation.
Impact of rapid growth rate on economic
Importance of forest to man; Impact of development, on environment; need for
human activity on vegetation. Forest area planned development (to maintain the
and forest cover in India. Forest ecological balance).
Conservation – need, Social Forestry (Agro
forestry, community forestry, commercial (iv) Migration trends over the last 25 years.
farm forestry, non-commercial farm forestry, Explanation of the important terms – step-
urban forestry); Forest Conservation wise migration and migrant, push and pull
Movement: Van Mahotsav, Chipko factors.
Movement.
Types (National and International migration,
National Forest Policy (1988): objectives of inter migration and intra migration.
the Forest Policy.
Streams of migration: (rural-rural, rural-
urban, urban-urban and urban-rural).

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Causes for migration - natural, economic, net sown area, area sown more than once,
political and social. forests, land not available for cultivation,
permanent pastures and other grazing lands,
(v) Demographic attributes at National level -
land under miscellaneous tree crops,
trends and patterns of: 1. Rural urban
culturable (cultivable) waste, fallow land,
population 2. Age and sex composition
quality and size of cultivable land holdings.
3. Literacy levels 4. Working and non-
Methods to reduce fragmentation of land
working population; implications for
holdings.
development.
(iii) Water resources and types of irrigation.
Study of the causes and trends of rural urban
composition, age and sex ratio, literacy level, Water Resources: Their demand and
working and non-working population at the utilization. Types of water resources: surface
National level (highest and lowest figures for and ground water.
each of the above) in the latest census.
Meaning, importance and need for irrigation
Implications for development.
in India.
(vi) Rural settlements –Types and patterns in hill
Sources of irrigation:
areas, plains and coastal locations.
Modern methods: sprinkler irrigation, drip
Distinction between Rural and Urban
irrigation, Perennial canals - Advantages
settlements; Rural and Urban Population.
and disadvantages.
Factors affecting the types (distinction
Use and misuse of water for irrigation.
between compact and dispersed) and
Overwatering - reasons and regions affected
patterns (linear, circular, star shaped,
by it; dangers of overwatering;
rectangular, shapeless) of rural settlements
in plains, coastal areas, mountains and Conservation of water resources including
plateau areas. their management; rain water harvesting.
(vii) Urban settlements – size, classification of (iv) Agriculture: Types, development and
towns as per the latest census. problems.
Definition of an Urban area according to the (a) Wet and dry farming, crop rotation,
latest census; Urban agglomeration, intensity of cropping, problems of Indian
conurbation, urban sprawl. agriculture; use of technology in
agriculture. Modern inputs, change over
Factors that influence the growth of urban
from subsistence to commercial
centres in India. Problems and advantages of
agriculture, need for Green Revolution.
urban growth- slums.
Diversifying Indian agriculture –
3. Resources of India and their Utilisation importance of animal husbandry.
(i) Need for environmental management vis-à- Wet and dry agriculture: Crop rotation.
vis development. Intensity of cropping – concept and crops
associated; problems of Indian
Understanding that from the development
agriculture; Use of new technology –
point of view, environment may mistakenly be
Green revolution: Need, second green
seen as a ‘resource’ to be exploited, whereas,
revolution - its strategies. Diversification
environment needs to be viewed as a
of Indian agriculture – Animal
‘capital’ that needs to be managed carefully.
Husbandry: meaning and its importance
(ii) Land resources: Land use pattern in India – in Indian Agriculture.
quality of cultivable land, size of land
(b) Study of crops:
holdings.
(i) Conditions of growth (soil,
Defining the term land resource; its
temperature, rainfall requirements, crop
importance and problems. Land use pattern –
seasons. (ii) World production and

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India’s position. (iii) Major producing The main power resources – Nuclear,
States in India and their rank as thermal, three main centres for
producers of the following crops: generation of nuclear power in India.
Food grains – Rice, Wheat, Coarse (b) Conventional energy sources - fossil
grains – Sorghum (Jowar, Maize), fuels, potential (Indian context) and
Pennisetum (Bajra or Camboo), Eleusine limitations of each source, methods of
(Ragi), Pulses. harnessing and environmental
consequences of their use.
Commercial and Industrial crops –
Coffee, Tea, Cotton, Sugarcane, Jute, Conventional energy sources:
oilseed cultivation in India particularly of
Coal, Petroleum-their potential and
Groundnut, Coconut.
limitations in India. Environmental
Conditions of growth: For each crop, the concerns with regard to their use (global
type of soil, temperature range, rainfall warming, thermal pollution in waters, fly
range, the crop seasons are to be done. ash, atmospheric pollution, etc.).
Main areas of growth of the above crops (c) Non-conventional energy sources - types
and reasons for growth are to be studied. of non-conventional sources (bio-mass,
solar, wind, ocean, hydel, geothermal),
Name of the leading producer (country)
potential (Indian context); their
in the world for each of the above crops
environmental consequences; need to
(Food grains, commercial and industrial
promote non-conventional energy
crops) and India’s position in the world.
sources.
Importance of Market Gardening and
Advantages and limitations of each non-
Orchard Farming – reasons and trends in
conventional energy source.
development in recent years.
Uses of these energy sources and
Self-explanatory
distribution.
(v) Fishing in India
Understanding the need to promote non-
Methods, factors affecting the importance conventional energy sources.
and development, fishing ports and markets,
4. Infrastructural Resources (Development of
need and methods of fish conservation.
Transport and Communication).
Understanding of marine and inland
(a) Railways, Roadways, Water transport (inland
fisheries; deep sea and inshore fishing;
and coastal), Air transport, Pipelines - these
pelagic and demersal fishing should be done.
modes of transport are to be studied with
Problems affecting fishing in India.
regard to –
Two fishing centres and two types of fishes of
Natural and economic factors that govern
each coastal State in India should be studied.
their distribution; density and growth.
(vi) Sources of Energy
The present position, areas well and poorly
(a) Minerals and power resources. served by each mode.
Distinguishing between metallic and Problems – comparative advantage of each
non-metallic minerals; ferrous and non- mode of transport, national goals to be
ferrous minerals. achieved in the development of modes of
Production and distribution (one transport (The Golden quadrilateral - its
leading State and one leading centre in north-south and east-west corridor).
each State) of Iron ore, mica, coal, Ports (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Kochi),
manganese and petroleum; their uses. their location and advantage; major exports
and imports of different ports. Nature and

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direction of trade from the ports. Cotton Textiles:
International trading patterns and products in
Maharashtra (Mumbai and Pune),
the last five years.
Gujarat (Ahmedabad and Surat).
Distinguishing between harbour and port;
(ii) Mineral based industries – Iron and
natural and artificial harbours. Location of
steel, Petrochemicals, including
major ports in India and their advantage;
refineries.
main items of export and import from
different ports and the patterns in the last The following industrial centres of each
five years. industry are to be studied.
(b) Communication – importance of Iron and Steel:
communication in rural development and its TISCO (Jamshedpur), Vishweshvarya
policy. Importance of infrastructure as key to
Iron and Steel Plant (Bhadravati), Bhilai
the development of an industrial economy. Iron and Steel Plant (Bhilai), Rourkela
Modern means of communication - satellites Iron and Steel Plant (Rourkela),
and remote sensing - Geographic Hindustan Steel Limited Plant
Information Systems (GIS), cellular phones, (Durgapur), Bokaro Iron and Steel Plant
radio, doordarshan, internet; difference (Bokaro), Salem Iron and Steel
between mass communication and tele Plant (Salem), Vishakhapatnam Iron
communication. and Steel Plant (Vishakhapatnam).
5. Industries (Integrated and mini steel plants:
meaning, advantages and disadvantages
(a) Study of the location and distribution of also to be studied.)
important industrial centres; a general
comparison of disparities. Petro Chemicals:
Self-explanatory. UDEX (Koyali), IPCL (Vadodara).
(b) Major industrial regions – factors governing Oil refineries:
their growth. IOCL (Barauni, Haldia and Digboi),
Reasons for the spread of industrial areas; HPCL (Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam).
Understand how the distribution of heavy NOTE: Factors responsible for the
and consumer industries varies in the location, development and present
different regions; Understanding why certain status of the Agro and Mineral based
industries are more in a particular region. industries mentioned above, as well as
Major Industrial regions: Mumbai-Pune, the distribution centres are to be
Hooghly, Bengaluru-Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, studied.
Chota Nagpur, Vishakhapatnam-Guntur, Difference between key and footloose
Gurgaon-Delhi-Meerut. industry; industrial clusters and indices
Factors governing the growth of the above to to identify industrial clusters.
be studied. Maps and sketches of Industrial regions
and centres (location of agro based and
(c) Location, production and growth of the
mineral based industries) should be the
following industries:
basis for explaining the pattern of
(i) Agro based industries – Sugar, cotton industrial development.
textile (d) Tourism industry – Major natural and
Sugar Industry: cultural tourist areas in India. Their special
features and level of development - impact
Maharashtra (Ahmednagar and Pune), on environment and local economy. Tourist
Uttar Pradesh (Muzaffarnagar and flows.
Saharanpur),
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Definition of tourism, growth of tourism, Plateaus (To mark and label):
advantages of tourism, important places – Malwa, Chota Nagpur, Deccan, Meghalaya.
both natural and cultural. Positive and
Peninsula (To mark and label):
negative impact of tourism, problems of
tourism and measures for developing eco- Kathiawar, Kachchh.
tourism. Lakes (To mark and label):
Chilika, Pulicat.
6. Regional Economic Development
Waterbodies (To mark and label):
(Case studies) Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Palk Strait, Gulf of
Case studies will be preceded by a brief Kachchh, Gulf of Khambat,
understanding of the meaning of development, Passes (To mark and label) :
multilevel planning and planning regions. These
case studies will be undertaken with reference to Karakoram, Shipki La, Nathu La, Bomdi La,
the advantages and disadvantages that have Palghat, Bhorghat, Thalghat.
accrued to the people and area - aspects covered Rivers (To identify) :
will be their geographical location, resource base, Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej,
developmental history, agriculture and industrial Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak,
activities, issues of development. Kosi, Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Son, Damodar,
1. Area development in Chhattisgarh region – Luni, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari,
mining, silk industry and farming. Krishna, Kaveri, Brahmaputra.
2. Electronics industry in Bengaluru– reasons Population (To identify):
for its development, extent, national and The States of India (according to the latest
international linkages and problems. Census) for the following: The Lowest density of
3. Growth of Haldia port, its industries and population, highest density of population,
highest level of urbanization, lowest level of
hinterland.
urbanisation, highest Index of Concentration of
7. Map Work population, the highest sex ratio, the lowest sex
ratio, the highest literacy, the lowest literacy;
A question on map work will be set to identify,
label and locate any of the following items Urban cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and
Kolkata, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad.
studied in topics 1-6.
Agriculture (To identify):
MAP LIST:
Main producing States/regions of India for: Rice,
Locational setting of India (To identify): Wheat, Coffee, Tea, Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane,
804’N-3706’N, 6807’E- 97025’E (Latitudinal and Groundnut, Coconut.
longitudinal extent of India); 23030’ N (Central Power resources (To identify):
latitude) and 82030’E (Central longitude); Indira
Col and Cape Comorin (Northern and Southern Nuclear Power Stations (Kaiga, Kalpakkam,
point of mainland India). Tarapur, Rawatbhata, Narora, Kakrapara),
Mountains (To mark and label): Industries (To identify):
3 parallel ranges of Himalayas (Greater, Lesser, Sugar Industry: Ahmednagar, Pune
Outer), Trans Himalayan range – Karakoram, Cotton Textiles: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat
Aravallis, Vindhyas, Satpura, Western and Iron and Steel: TISCO(Jamshedpur), Bhilai Iron
Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris, Cardamom hills, Garo, and Steel Plant (Bhilai), Vishakhapatnam Iron
Khasi, Jaintia hills, Patkoi hills, Naga hills, Mizo and Steel Plant (Vishakhapatnam).
hills.
Petro Chemicals: UDEX (Koyali) and IPCL
Plains (To mark and label): (Vadodara);
Indus-Ganga-Brahmapurtra region, Konkan, Oil refineries: IOCL (Digboi, Barauni and
Kanara, Malabar, Coromandel, Northern Haldia);
Circars.

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Transport (To identify): (v) Introduction to Geographic Information
Trace the route of: Golden Quadrilateral - 4 System: Elements of visual interpretation of
sides, North South Corridor, East West Corridor; remote sensing maps/ images.
State with the Highest Density of roads. Colour significance in the image and true
Ports (To identify): colour (false colour composition): texture;
Kandla, Mumbai, Kochi, Haldia, Chennai, size; shape; shadow; association.
Vishakhapatnam, Kolkata. (Reference material – Wikipedia, Google.
SKETCH MAPS earth, IIRS Hyderabad).
Candidates should be able to draw, label, (vi) Elementary principles of surveying an area:
understand and interpret the sketch maps related preparing two plans of school compound
to the following topics: and/or a small area using Plane table/ GPS.
• Locational setting of India; 2. Project Work (Assignment):
• Relief of India; Local field surveys on any one of the following
• Climate; will be submitted as Project Report. These
• Population; surveys should be organized with a table of
contents, sample taken and statistical methods
• Industries. used, interview schedule. The report should be
organized systematically, and the conclusions
PAPER II: PRACTICAL WORK AND should be clearly stated.
PROJECT WORK (30 Marks)
(i) Agricultural land use survey.
Candidates will be required to undertake the
Choose a district or topographical map of an
following Practical work and Project work .
area 1: 250000 and make a sketch map
1. Practical Work: showing land use; compare the patterns of
Any two of the following topics to be undertaken: these. Alternatively, a local village could be
chosen and the fields mapped from the
(i) Drawing of scales: linear, graphic scales
cadastral map with information on the crops
showing primary and secondary divisions;
grown in different seasons and the location
representative fractions and statement of
of the village, its roads and landmarks, if
scale methods.
any.
(ii) Drawing of cross-section or profiles of
(ii) Household survey of about 30-60 households
important contours, viz. ridge, plateau,
of a village or locality.
escarpment, valley, conical hill, types of
slope, sea cliffs, waterfalls, spurs, by using Family size, age structure, educational
vertical exaggeration and horizontal background, occupation, involvement of men
equivalent. and women in economic activity, educational
service. Draw conclusions to reflect the
(iii) Understanding and illustrating location
economic development of the households.
references of SOI maps.
(iii) Amenity study.
(iv) Map reading and interpretation of survey of
India maps: Study will be based on Study of hospitals in a city, schools (school
representative portions of any two where you studied), post offices, municipal
topographical sheets. It will include the zones within the city (blocks in a village
description of location, extent, relief features, study) – reasons for travel (based on the
drainage, land use, settlement patterns, importance and demand for the place), travel
communications and inferences about human time, travel distance, mapping the hinterland
occupations and stage of economic of the service.
development of the area.

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(iv) Study of a manufacturing industry or a self- The Practical Work and the Project Work will be
employed person. assessed by the teacher and a Visiting Examiner
Visit a manufacturing unit or self-employed appointed locally and approved by the Council.
person – cycle or car repair shop, small No question paper for practical work and project
fabricating unit, factory if nearby and find work will be set by the Council.
out – source of raw material, supply routes, Evaluation of Practical Work and Project Work will
final product, areas where it is sent, be as follows:
manpower strength and their organization. Practical file (Sessional Record): 10 marks
(v) Area development of a multipurpose river Assignment (Project Report): 10 marks
valley project – impact on the region.
Viva voce: 10 marks
Self-explanatory.

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