CBSE Board Geography Syllabus for Class 11
CBSE Board Syllabus for Class 11 Geography
COURSE STRUCTURE
GEOGRAPHY
Class XI
Part A. Fundamentals of Physical Geography .
Unit-1: Geography as a discipline
Unit-2: The Earth
Unit-3: Landforms
Unit-4: Climate
Unit-5: Water (Oceans)
Unit-6: Life on the Earth
Unit-7: Map work
Part B. India- Physical Environment
Unit-8: Introduction
Unit-9: Physiography
Unit-10: Climate, vegetation and soil
Unit-11: Natural hazards and Disasters
Unit-12: Map Work
Part C. Practical Work
Unit-1: Fundamentals of Maps
Unit-2: Topographic and Weather Maps
Unit-3 : Practical Record Book & Viva .
Part A. Fundamentals of Physical Geography .
Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline
Geography as an integrating discipline, as a science
of spatial attributes;
Branches of geography; importance of physical geography.
Unit-2: The Earth
Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth;
Wegener’s continental drift theory and plate tectonics;
Earthquakes and volcanoes.
Unit-3: Landforms
Rocks: major types of rocks and their characteristics;
Landforms and their evolution
Geomorphic processes:weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition; soil-formation
Unit 4: Climate
Atmosphere- composition and structure; elements of weather and climate.
Insolation-angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget of the earth-heating and cooling
of atmosphere (conduction, convection, terrestrial radiation and advection); temperaturefactors controlling temperature; distribution of temperature-horizontal and vertical; inversion
of temperature.
Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary, seasonal and local; air masses and fronts; tropical
and extratropical cyclones.
Precipitation-evaporation; condensation-dew, frost, fog, mist and cloud; rainfall-types
and world distribution.
World climates-classification (Koeppen and Thornthwaite), greenhouse effect, global
warming and climatic changes.
Unit 5: Water Hydrological Cycle.
Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity; movements of ocean water-waves,
tides and currents; submarine reliefs.
Unit 6: Life on the Earth
Biosphere - importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation;
ecosystem and ecological balance.
Unit 7: Map work on identification of features based on the above units on
the outline political map of the world.
Part B. India - Physical Environment .
Unit 8: Introduction
Location-space relations and India’s place in the world.
Unit 9: Physiography
Structure and Relief;
Drainage systems: concept of watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular;
Physiographic divisions.
Unit 10: Climate, Vegetation and Soil
Weather and climate — spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds
and rainfall, Indian monsoon: mechanism, onset and withdrawal, variability of rainfalls :
spatial and temporal; Climatic types .
Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution; wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves;
Soils - major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution, soil degradation and
conservation.
Unit 11: Natural Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and
Management (One case study to be introduced for each topic)
Floods, Clouds bursts and droughts
Earthquakes and Tsunami
Cyclones
Landslides
Unit 12: Map Work of features based on above units for locating and
labelling on the Outline Political map of India.
C. Practical Work
Unit 1: Fundamentals of Maps
Maps -types; scales-types; construction of simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding
direction and use of symbols.
Latitude, longitude and time.
Map projection- typology, construction and properties of projection : Conical with one
standard parallel and Mercator’s projection.
Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps
Study of topographic maps (1 : 50,000 or 1 : 25,000 Survey of India maps); contour
cross section and identification of landforms-slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution
of settlements.
Aerial Photographs: Types & Geometry-vertical aerial photographs; difference between
maps & aerial photographs; photo scale determination.
Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform & sensors and
data products, (photographic & digital).
Identification of physical & cultural features from aerial photographs & satellite imageries.
Use of weather instruments: thermometer, wet and dry-bulb thermometer, barometer,
wind vane, raingauge.
Use of weather charts: describing pressure, wind and rainfall distribution.
Unit 3: Practical Record Book and Vivavoce.
GEOGRAPHY
Class XI
Part A. Fundamentals of Physical Geography .
Unit-1: Geography as a discipline
Unit-2: The Earth
Unit-3: Landforms
Unit-4: Climate
Unit-5: Water (Oceans)
Unit-6: Life on the Earth
Unit-7: Map work
Part B. India- Physical Environment
Unit-8: Introduction
Unit-9: Physiography
Unit-10: Climate, vegetation and soil
Unit-11: Natural hazards and Disasters
Unit-12: Map Work
Part C. Practical Work
Unit-1: Fundamentals of Maps
Unit-2: Topographic and Weather Maps
Unit-3 : Practical Record Book & Viva .
Part A. Fundamentals of Physical Geography .
Unit-1: Geography as a Discipline
Geography as an integrating discipline, as a science
of spatial attributes;
Branches of geography; importance of physical geography.
Unit-2: The Earth
Origin and evolution of the earth; Interior of the earth;
Wegener’s continental drift theory and plate tectonics;
Earthquakes and volcanoes.
Unit-3: Landforms
Rocks: major types of rocks and their characteristics;
Landforms and their evolution
Geomorphic processes:weathering, mass wasting, erosion and deposition; soil-formation
Unit 4: Climate
Atmosphere- composition and structure; elements of weather and climate.
Insolation-angle of incidence and distribution; heat budget of the earth-heating and cooling
of atmosphere (conduction, convection, terrestrial radiation and advection); temperaturefactors controlling temperature; distribution of temperature-horizontal and vertical; inversion
of temperature.
Pressure-pressure belts; winds-planetary, seasonal and local; air masses and fronts; tropical
and extratropical cyclones.
Precipitation-evaporation; condensation-dew, frost, fog, mist and cloud; rainfall-types
and world distribution.
World climates-classification (Koeppen and Thornthwaite), greenhouse effect, global
warming and climatic changes.
Unit 5: Water Hydrological Cycle.
Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity; movements of ocean water-waves,
tides and currents; submarine reliefs.
Unit 6: Life on the Earth
Biosphere - importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation;
ecosystem and ecological balance.
Unit 7: Map work on identification of features based on the above units on
the outline political map of the world.
Part B. India - Physical Environment .
Unit 8: Introduction
Location-space relations and India’s place in the world.
Unit 9: Physiography
Structure and Relief;
Drainage systems: concept of watershed; the Himalayan and the Peninsular;
Physiographic divisions.
Unit 10: Climate, Vegetation and Soil
Weather and climate — spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds
and rainfall, Indian monsoon: mechanism, onset and withdrawal, variability of rainfalls :
spatial and temporal; Climatic types .
Natural vegetation-forest types and distribution; wild life; conservation; biosphere reserves;
Soils - major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution, soil degradation and
conservation.
Unit 11: Natural Hazards and Disasters: Causes, Consequences and
Management (One case study to be introduced for each topic)
Floods, Clouds bursts and droughts
Earthquakes and Tsunami
Cyclones
Landslides
Unit 12: Map Work of features based on above units for locating and
labelling on the Outline Political map of India.
C. Practical Work
Unit 1: Fundamentals of Maps
Maps -types; scales-types; construction of simple linear scale, measuring distance; finding
direction and use of symbols.
Latitude, longitude and time.
Map projection- typology, construction and properties of projection : Conical with one
standard parallel and Mercator’s projection.
Unit 2: Topographic and Weather Maps
Study of topographic maps (1 : 50,000 or 1 : 25,000 Survey of India maps); contour
cross section and identification of landforms-slopes, hills, valleys, waterfall, cliffs; distribution
of settlements.
Aerial Photographs: Types & Geometry-vertical aerial photographs; difference between
maps & aerial photographs; photo scale determination.
Satellite imageries, stages in remote sensing data-acquisition, platform & sensors and
data products, (photographic & digital).
Identification of physical & cultural features from aerial photographs & satellite imageries.
Use of weather instruments: thermometer, wet and dry-bulb thermometer, barometer,
wind vane, raingauge.
Use of weather charts: describing pressure, wind and rainfall distribution.
Unit 3: Practical Record Book and Vivavoce.
