Introduction and Syllabus Scope

Topic 77 is the single highest-scoring topic in Paper II Geography, with a 6-year total of 35 marks and average 7.0 marks/year. It appeared in 4 of 5 exam years (2013, 2016, 2021, 2023) and both 2021 and 2023 had 10-mark questions from this topic. For 2026, this is a near-certainty for at least one 10-mark question.

PYQ pattern analysis:

• 2023: Q37 (10 marks) — "Ozone layer depletion causes and effects" — very specific
• 2021: Q11 (10 marks) — "Geopolitics of South East Asian countries" — broader environmental geopolitics
• 2016: 10 marks — environmental issues (ecological integrity)
• 2013: Q40 (20 marks) — ecological crisis India/world

2026 prediction: Given the trajectory, expect either (a) climate change/Paris Agreement (10 marks) or (b) biodiversity/ecosystem services (10 marks), plus possibly ozone depletion or plastic pollution (5 marks). RPSC tends to rotate — since ozone was asked in 2023, expect climate change or biodiversity in 2026.

Scope: World scope but with India-specific context relevant (India's NDCs, NAPCC, Himalayan glaciers). Rajasthan context is also relevant (desertification, water stress).

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