Maps for GS1, GS2 and GS3

Learn the maps Mains answers need

Mains rewards a quick, palm-sized sketch with a few correct labels, not memorised place names. These modules go from drawing India's outline to the maps behind geography, IR, security and environment answers. The sketch lab lets you practise on real PYQs against the clock.

Open the sketch lab Start with module 0

Modules, basic to advanced

1. 0
   India outline & map grammarDrawing India in 60 seconds: latitude–longitude frame, Tropic of Cancer, standard meridian, extreme points, states and island groups.Used in every GS1–GS3 sketch
2. 1
   Physical IndiaMountains and hills, plateaus, plains and desert, coasts and deltas, passes, peaks and islands.GS1
3. 2
   Drainage & water bodiesHimalayan and peninsular rivers, east- and west-flowing rivers, the Indus system, inter-state and transboundary river issues.GS1 · GS2 · GS3
4. 3
   Climate, monsoon & soilsThe two monsoon branches, rainfall extremes, the north-east monsoon, and the main soil regions.GS1 · GS3
5. 4
   World physical frameworkMountain ranges, hot and cold deserts, plateaus and plains, cyclone seas, great rivers, Equator and Tropics.GS1
6. 5
   Hazard zonesSeismic zone V; cyclone-, flood-, drought- and landslide-prone states; major disasters since 1984.GS1 · GS3
7. 6
   Resources & agricultureCoal, iron ore, bauxite, oil and gas; rice, wheat, sugarcane, cotton, tea, coffee and jute states.GS1 · GS3
8. 7
   Industry & infrastructureSteel plants, refineries, the 12 major ports, freight corridors and industrial corridors.GS1 · GS3
9. 8
   History on the map: world · India placesWorld: revolutions, industrialisation, the World Wars, decolonisation, Suez. India: Harappan and Buddhist sites, temples, 1857, Gandhian movements, tribal revolts.GS1
10. 9
    Society & polity on the mapFifth and Sixth Schedules, Article 371 states, states formed after 1956, Union Territories, sex-ratio extremes.GS1 · GS2
11. 10
    Neighbourhood & sea routesIndia’s land neighbours and border lengths; straits, channels and chokepoints on India’s trade routes.GS1 · GS2 · GS3
12. 11
    Borders & internal securityStates on each border and the force guarding it, the LWE belt, coastal states and security hotspots.GS3
13. 12
    Environment overlaysSelected Ramsar sites, tiger reserves, UNESCO biosphere reserves, mangroves and coral reefs.GS1 · GS3
14. 13
    PYQ sketch labPick a PYQ, sketch the map against the clock, reveal the answer, score yourself.GS1 · GS2 · GS3

India's boundaries on every map follow the Survey of India. Each build checks that Jammu & Kashmir (including PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan), Ladakh (including Aksai Chin), Arunachal Pradesh and the island groups are shown as part of India.