CBSE Class 6 Geography CBSE Notes - 2025-26

To revise effectively using notes, first, quickly read through the summary of a chapter to refresh your memory. Next, pay close attention to bolded key terms and their definitions. Try to create a simple mind map or flowchart that connects concepts, for example, linking the Earth's revolution to the changing seasons. Finally, use the notes to quickly recall facts about diagrams, like the different heat zones of the Earth or the major landforms, just before an exam.

A simple way to quickly revise these concepts is to associate each motion with its primary effect. Remember that Rotation is the Earth spinning on its axis, which takes about 24 hours and is the reason we have day and night. On the other hand, Revolution is the Earth's orbit around the Sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days and, combined with the Earth's tilt, is responsible for the cycle of seasons.

The four major domains of the Earth are interconnected spheres that support life. For a quick recap:

• Lithosphere: This is the solid, rocky part of the Earth, including the continents and ocean floors.
• Hydrosphere: This comprises all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and ice.
• Atmosphere: This is the layer of gases surrounding the planet, providing air to breathe and protecting us from the sun.
• Biosphere: This is the narrow zone where the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere meet and interact to support life.

For a fast revision, remember these key distinctions:

• Mountains: They are natural elevations with a small summit and a broad base. They are significantly higher than the surrounding area. Example: The Himalayas.
• Plateaus: These are elevated flatlands, like a tabletop standing above the surrounding area. They have steep slopes on one or more sides. Example: The Deccan Plateau.
• Plains: These are large stretches of flat or gently rolling land with very low elevation. They are generally very fertile. Example: The Indo-Gangetic Plains.

While locating places is their primary function, latitudes and longitudes have deeper significance. Latitudes help us understand the climate and heat zones of the Earth. For example, areas near the Equator (0° latitude) are in the Torrid Zone and are very hot. Longitudes are crucial for determining time zones. The world's time is calculated based on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), and every 15 degrees of longitude corresponds to a one-hour difference in time.

The four domains are not isolated; they constantly interact to create the world we live in. For example, water from the hydrosphere evaporates into the atmosphere, forms clouds, and then falls as rain onto the lithosphere (land), which allows plants and animals in the biosphere to survive. Human activities on the lithosphere, like deforestation, can affect the atmosphere by increasing carbon dioxide, which in turn impacts the entire biosphere.

The concepts learned in Class 6 Geography are the foundational building blocks for many other subjects. Understanding how landforms and climate work helps you grasp topics in History (why civilizations settled in river valleys), Economics (why certain regions are agricultural), and Environmental Science. This basic knowledge is also essential for a deeper understanding of complex issues like climate change and resource management in higher classes and even for competitive exams later in life.

India's diverse physical features create a wide range of climates and vegetation. For instance:

• The towering Himalayas in the north act as a barrier, protecting India from cold central Asian winds and influencing the monsoon.
• The Western Ghats trap moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea, causing heavy rainfall on their western slopes, leading to dense tropical forests.
• The vastness of the Northern Plains allows for a continental climate with extreme summers and winters.
• The Thar Desert in the west has an arid climate due to scanty rainfall, which supports only thorny shrubs and cacti.