Theme T40 · Resources & Economic Geography

Desertification, land degradation & land-use change

Share this theme

What UPSC asks

Questions ask about desertification across climate zones, aeolian processes, drivers of land-use change, and reclamation of water bodies for urban use.

Prepare these

• Desertification causes: overgrazing, deforestation, salinity, climate
• Aeolian processes
• Land-use change drivers: urbanisation, agriculture, mining
• Reclamation of wetlands for urban use and its effects (floods, heat)
• UNCCD, land degradation neutrality

Answer writing

• Use examples beyond deserts to show desertification has no climate boundary

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (1), Analyse (1), Explain (1), Justify (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

On the map

Syllabus lines covered

• GS1-L10 — Salient features of world's physical geography.
• GS1-L12 — Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.

All 4 PYQs, newest first

1. GS1202610 marks · 150 wordsGS1-GEO-01-M2026-S01

   Discuss the role of aeolian processes in desertification and land degradation

   CopyReport a typo
2. GS1202615 marks · 250 wordsGS1-GEO-07-M2026-S03

   Analyze the major drivers of human-induced land-use changes in India and their geographical consequences

   CopyReport a typo
3. GS12021GS1-GEO-07-M2021-S01

   What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples.

   Also needs: T42 Wetlands & Ramsar sitesCopyReport a typo
4. GS12020GS1-GEO-07-M2020-S01

   The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples.

   CopyReport a typo