RSSB Teaching Associate Geography syllabus

1History of Geographic Thought

• Development of geographical knowledge during ancient and medieval period; Contributions of Greek, Roman and Arab geographers. Foundations of modern geography; Contributions of German, French, British and American schools. Development of geographical knowledge in India. Conceptual and methodological developments during the 20th century with changing paradigms; determinism and possibilism, quantitative revolution and impact of positivism, behaviouralism, humanism, radicalism and welfare approach in geography. Concepts of chorological science, areal differentiation, system analysis and spatial organization.

2Research Methodology

• Meaning, types and significance of Research, Research approaches; deductive and inductive, Concept of qualitative and quantitative research, Identification of research problem, Research design, Types of data, Data collection; questionnaire and schedule, Research methodology and research methods, Bi-variate and multivariate analysis, Sampling fundamentals and sampling design, Data analysis, Interpretation and report-writing, Plagiarism, Research ethics, Citing of references.

3Geomorphology

• Fundamental Concepts of Geomorphology, Geological time scale, Processes of development of land forms; Endogenetic and exogenetic forces, Orogenesis and important phases of mountain building, Mountain building theories, Continental drift and plate tectonics, Denudation processes; weathering and erosion, Concept of geomorphic cycles; Davis and Penk, Landforms associated with fluvial, glacial, arid, coastal and karst cycles, Slope forms and concepts of slope evolution, Environmental and Applied geomorphology and Geomorphic hazards.

4Climatology

• Composition and structure of atmosphere, Insolation, Heat budget, Distribution of temperature, atmospheric pressure and general circulation of winds; Monsoons and jet streams, Stability and instability of atmosphere, Air-masses and fronts, Temperate and tropical cyclones, Types and distribution of precipitation, Classification of world climates; Koppen's and Thornthwatte's schemes and Hydrological cycle.

5Oceanography

• Relief of Oceans; hypsometric curve, Bottom relief of Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Ocean deposits, Coral reefs, Temperature, density and salinity of oceans, Ocean circulations; tides and ocean currents, Sea-level changes, Marine resources and their utilization.

6Environment Geography

• Components of environment and ecology, Physical factors influencing world distribution of plants and animals, Types, forms and functions of ecosystem; forest, grassland, marine, desert and mountain ecosystems, Bio-diversity; depletion and conservation, Environmental pollution; types, causes, effects and solutions, Climate change; global warming and ozone depletion, Environmental hazards and disasters; types, effects and management and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

7Cartography

• Types of maps and their interpretation, single purpose and composite maps; choropleth, isopleth and chorochromatic maps, Statistical diagrams; one, two and three dimensional diagrams, Climatic graphs; climograph, hyther graph and climatograph, Map projections; classification and their specific uses and Toposheets; Traditional and Open Series Maps (OSM).

8Geospatial Techniques

• Remote sensing and computer application in mapping; digital mapping, electro-magnetic radiations, Remote sensing systems; platforms, sensors, resolution and radiometric characteristics, Digital Elevation Model, Application of remote sensing in the study of land use, land cover and resource planning, Introduction to Geographic Information System (GIS), Fundamentals of GIS; geo-spatial databases, data capture, Raster and vector data, Implications of integration of remote sensing and GIS and Global Positioning System (GPS).

9Statistical Method

• Data tabulation, Study of frequency distribution, Measures of central tendency, Selection of class intervals for mapping, Measures of dispersion and concentration; standard deviation, Lorenz curve and Gini’s coefficient; Methods of measuring association, simple and multiple correlation and regression. Measurement of spatial patterns of distribution; nearest-neighbour analysis, Scaling techniques; rank score and weighted score; Sampling techniques for geographical analysis and Models in geography; Simulation model, Gravity model.

10Economic Geography

• Spatial organisation and classification of economies, Factors affecting spatial organization of economic activities; primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary, Classification of resources, Forest, power and mineral resources, Conservation of resources, World energy crisis, Globalisation and its impact on world economy and Major regional trade blocks and their economic integration.

11Agricultural Geography

• Nature, scope and development of agriculture geography, Agriculture typology; agricultural systems of the world, Selected agricultural concepts and their measurements; agricultural productivity and efficiency, cropping pattern, crop concentration, crop diversification, cropping intensity and degree of commercialization, Concept and techniques of delimitation of agricultural regions, Von Thunen's model of land use planning and Green Revolution.

12Industrial and Transport Geography

• Nature, scope and development in industrial geography, Factors of localization of manufacturing industries, Classification of industries; Resource based and footloose industries, Theories of industrial location: A. Weber, August Losch, D. M. Smith, TordPalander and E. M. Hoover, Industrial regions of the world and Major industrial hazards. Models of transport development, Structural analysis of transport network, Measure of accessibility and connectivity, Transport cost and spatial patterns of flow.

13Regional Planning

• Typology of Regions, Regional concept in geography and its application to planning, Concept of planning region, Conceptual and theoretical framework of regional planning, Regional hierarchy, Methods of regional delineation, Theories of Regional Development, Concept of development, Indicators of development and Regional imbalances.

14Population Geography

• Nature, scope and development of population geography, Population components and characteristics, Patterns of world population distribution, growth and density, Policy issues, Migration; types, causes and consequences, Patterns and processes of migration, Population theories; Malthus, Marx, Sadler and Ricardo, Demographic transition model, Population-resource regions, Gender discrimination and empowerment of women.

15Settlement Geography

• Site, situation, types, size, spacing and internal morphology of rural and urban settlements, Ecological processes of urban growth, Spatial pattern and distribution of urban centres, Rural-urban fringe, City-region, Settlement systems, Primate city, Rank-size rule, Settlement hierarchy; Christaller's central place theory; August Losch's theory of market centres and Concepts of smart city.

16Socio-Cultural Geography

• Nature and scope of social geography, Social structure and social processes, Elements of social geography: ethnicity, tribe, dialect, language, caste and religion and Concept of social well-being. Nature and scope of cultural geography, Concept of culture-areas and cultural regions, Cultural regions of the world, Theories of tribal groups, Environment impact on dwelling places as cultural expressions and Problems arising due to cultural diffusion, racism and terrorism.

17Political Geography

• Definition and scope of political geography, Geopolitics, Global strategic views, Concept of nation, state and nation-state, Boundaries and frontiers, Capital cities and core areas, Politics of world resources, Geography of federalism, Geo-political significance of Indian Ocean and Development of Electoral geography.

18Geography of India

• Physiographic divisions, Climate, Vegetation, Drainage, Major soil types, Water resources, Irrigation, Agriculture; major food and commercial crops, Green revolution and food security, Agro-climatic regions, Mineral and power resources, Major industries and industrial regions, Population distribution and growth, Population problems and policies, Tribes, Tribal areas and their problems, Regional disparities in social and economic development, Regional planning in India and planning regions, Development of road, rail and inland water ways and Natural disasters in India; earthquakes, floods, droughts, cyclones and tsunami.

19Geography of Rajasthan

• Physiographic divisions, Climate, Rivers and lakes, Soils and vegetation, Minerals and power resources, Agriculture and irrigation, Agro-climatic regions, Livestock, Major industries and industrial regions, Sites of geo-tourism, Population; distribution, density, growth, sex-ratio, literacy, SC and ST population, Environmental problems; desertification, deforestation and soil erosion, Bio-diversity and its conservation and Development programmes. •

Paper-I — common to every subject

1History, Art, Culture, Literature and Heritage of Rajasthan

• Ancient Civilizations of Rajasthan with special Reference to Mesolithic (Late Stone Age) sites in Rajasthan i.e. Nimbahera, Bagor and Mandia.
• Major dynasties of Rajasthan and its rulers through the Ages and their cultural achievements (1000-1800 A.D.).
• Political resistance of Rajput rulers against Muslim Power. Special reference to Rattan Singh, Hammir, Kanhad dev and Maldev, Chandrasen and Pratap.
• (i) Bhakti Movement and Sufism in Medieval Rajasthan, Special reference to Mira, Dadu and Khawaja Moin-ud-din Chishty. Saints: Special emphasis to be paid to teachings of Ramdevji, Gogaji, Tejaji, Pabuji, Mallinath, Dhanna, Pipa, Haridas, Raidas, Jasnath and other Sects.
• (ii) Folk gods and goddesses.
• Political Awakening and Freedom Movement in Rajasthan: 1857, Peasant and Tribal Movements, Prajamandal Movements, Contribution of Women in Social and Political awakening.
• (i) Folk Culture: Fairs and Festivals, Different Schools of Painting, Folk Tales and Gathas, Folk Songs, Folk Dances, Folk Music and Instruments.
• (ii) Dress and Ornaments, Handicrafts.
• Rajasthani Language: Origin and Development.
• Main Dialects and Region.
• Rajasthani Scripts: Mudia and Devnagari.
• (a) Rajasthani Literature: Its Evolution.
• (i) Early Period
• (ii) Pre-Medieval Period
• (iii) Post- Medieval Period
• (iv) Modern Period.
• (b) Famous Writers and their Works.
• Tourism and Rajasthan: Heritage, Tourism Policy and Vision.

2Geography of Rajasthan

• Physiographic regions, Rivers and lakes.
• Climate, Natural Vegetation, Soil, Minerals and Energy Resources – Renewable and Non-renewable.
• Population – Characteristics, Livestock, Biodiversity and its conservation.
• Production and Distribution of Major crops, Major Irrigation Projects, Major Industries.
• Drought and Famines, Desertification, Environmental Problems, Disaster Management and Pandemics.

3Political and Administrative System of Rajasthan

• Governor, Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.
• State Legislative Assembly, High Court and Judicial System of Rajasthan.
• Rajasthan Public Service Commission, State Election Commission, State Finance Commission, State Human Rights Commission, State Commission for Women, State Information Commission, Lokayukta and Auditor General.
• Chief Secretary, Government Secretariat, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Divisional Commissioner, District Administration, Institutions of Panchayati Raj and Urban Local- Self Government.
• Government Policies and Right based Citizenship: Right to Information, Guaranteed Delivery of Public Services, Citizen's Charters, Social Audit, Jan Soochna Portal, Rajasthan Sampark Portal etc.

4Economy of Rajasthan

• Characteristics of state economy.
• Occupational distribution.
• Compositional trend of state domestic product.
• Major Sectoral Issues.
• (i) Agricultural Sector: Characteristics of agricultural sector in Rajasthan. Major rabi and kharif crops with special reference to oil seeds and spices. Irrigated area and trends, Problems of migrant workers and their rehabilitation. Agricultural credit.
• (ii) Livestock: Trends in livestock population. Milk production in Rajasthan.
• (iii) Industrial Outlook: Major industries of Rajasthan. Constraints to development of industries. MSMEs in Rajasthan. Roles and problem of small industries. Industrial sickness. Major state public sector enterprises. SEZ in Rajasthan. Role of RIICO and RFC. Agro-processing policy (2020).
• (iv) Service Sector: Primary education, Development in recent years. Health programmes of state government. Mid-day meal programme. Indira Rasoi Yojana.
• (v) Infrastructure Development: Progress in national highways, state highways and village roads. Power: Progress in power generation. Recent progress in solar power projects.
• (vi) Handicrafts of Rajasthan.
• (vii) Major items of exports from Rajasthan.
• (viii) Latest major welfare schemes of state government with special reference to economically and socially backward classes, disabled people, old aged people. Steps taken for women empowerment and child development.
• (ix) Regional economic inequalities in Rajasthan.

5Contemporary Events

• Major Contemporary Events and Issues of Rajasthan.
• Persons and Places in News.
• Sports and Games.

Official syllabus from RSSB Advertisement 06/2026 (Teaching Associate), verbatim. Paper-I (General Studies of Rajasthan) is common to all subjects.