West Bengal Board Geography Syllabus for Class 11

Class 11 
Geography Syllabus

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,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;) temperature - factors 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 and cyclones.

Precipation - evaporation; condensation - dew, frost, fog, mist and cloud;
rainfall-types and world distribution;

World climates - classification (Koeppen); greenhouse effect, global warming.

Unit 5 : Water (Oceans)

Hydrological Cycle.

Oceans - distribution of temperature and salinity; movements of ocean water - waves, tides and currents.

(Periods 8)

Unit 6 : Life on the Earth

Biosphere - importance of plants and other organisms; biodiversity and conservation; ecosystems and ecological balance.

(Periods 6)

UNIT 7 : Map Work on outline political map of the world for identification only

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 water sheds;
Peninsular;

-Physiographic divisions

Unit 10 : Climate, Vegetation and Soil

Weather and climate - spatial and temporal distribution of temperature, pressure winds and rainfall, Indian monsoons; mechanism, onset and withdrawal variability - spatial and temporal;

Natural vegetation - forest – types and distribution; wild life;
conservation ; biosphere reserves.

Soils - major types (ICAR’s classification) and their distribution, soil degradation conservation.

Unit 11 : Natural Hazards and Disasters : Causes, Consequences and Management (One case study to be introduced for each topic)
(Periods 16)

-Floods and droughts

-Earthquakes and Tsunami

-Cyclones

-Landslides

Unit 12 : Map Work on Outline Political map of India-for identification,
location and Labelling.