UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027: Notification, 127 Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Name of Examination: UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2027
Examination Notice No.: 01/2027-GEOL
Post Date / Update: 02 September 2026

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 – Key Facts

Particular	Details
Recruiting Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Examination Name	Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2027
Examination Notice No.	01/2027-GEOL
Ministry/Departments	Ministry of Mines; Ministry of Jal Shakti
Participating Organizations	Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
Total Tentative Vacancies	127
Application Mode	Online
Application Start Date	02 September 2026
Last Date to Apply	22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM
Preliminary Examination	10 January 2027
Main Examination	19 & 20 June 2027
Selection Stages	Preliminary, Main, Personality Test/Interview
Preliminary Marks	400
Main Examination Marks	600
Personality Test Marks	200
Total Marks for Final Merit	1200
Official Application Portal	UPSC Online

The notification states that the Preliminary Examination is the screening stage for admission to the Main Examination, but the marks obtained at Stage-I are also counted for final merit.

Short Information

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 for recruitment to scientific and technical posts in the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti. The examination will be conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview. The notification carries 127 tentative vacancies across Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist, Scientist ‘B’ and Assistant Hydrogeologist posts. The online application process begins on 02 September 2026 and closes on 22 September 2026 at 6:00 PM. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027, while the Main Examination is scheduled for 19 and 20 June 2027. Candidates must apply online through the UPSC application portal.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Notification Date	02 September 2026
Application Begin	02 September 2026
Last Date for Application	22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM
Preliminary Examination	10 January 2027
Main Examination	19 & 20 June 2027
Personality Test/Interview	To Be Announced

Application Fee

Candidate Category	Examination Fee
General	₹200
OBC	₹200
EWS	₹200
Female Candidates	Exempted
SC Candidates	Exempted
ST Candidates	Exempted
Persons with Benchmark Disability	Exempted, subject to the prescribed conditions

The examination fee can be paid through net banking, Visa/Master/RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI. OBC and EWS candidates are not exempted from the fee. Fee once paid is not refundable.

Age Limit

The candidate must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 32 years as on 01 January 2027.

Age Requirement	Details
Minimum Age	21 Years
Maximum Age	32 Years
Age Calculated As On	01 January 2027
Date of Birth Requirement	Born not earlier than 02 January 1995 and not later than 01 January 2006
SC/ST Relaxation	Up to 5 Years
OBC Relaxation	Up to 3 Years
Eligible Government Servants	Up to 5 Years, subject to prescribed conditions
Defence Personnel Disabled in Operations	Up to 3 Years
Eligible Ex-Servicemen/ECOs/SSCOs	Up to 5 Years, subject to conditions
Certain PwBD Categories	Up to 10 Years, subject to applicable rules

The notification contains additional conditions governing departmental age concessions, ex-servicemen/ECO/SSCO concessions and disability-related relaxation. Candidates must satisfy the specific conditions prescribed in the examination rules.

Vacancy Details

The UPSC has notified 127 tentative vacancies across GSI and CGWB. The vacancy figures are liable to alteration.

Category-I – Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines

Post	Group	Tentative Vacancy
Geologist	Group A	29
Geophysicist	Group A	00
Chemist	Group A	07
Assistant Geologist	Group B	34
Assistant Geophysicist	Group B	35
Assistant Chemist	Group B	06
Total		111

Category-II – Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti

Post	Group	Tentative Vacancy
Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology)	Group A	05
Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical)	Group A	01
Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics)	Group A	01
Assistant Hydrogeologist	Group B	07
Assistant Chemist	Group B	01
Assistant Geophysicist	Group B	01
Total		16

Combined Vacancy

Organization	Vacancies
Geological Survey of India	111
Central Ground Water Board	16
Total	127

Eight GSI vacancies and two CGWB vacancies are specifically identified for Persons with Benchmark Disability in the notification. The overall vacancy figure remains tentative and may be altered.

Reservation and Category Conditions

Reservations are provided for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD categories as applicable under Government rules.

For CGSE 2027, an EWS candidate must possess the required Income & Asset Certificate based on the Financial Year 2025–2026, issued on or after 01 April 2026 and no later than the application closing date.

OBC candidates must possess the prescribed OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate based on the income criteria for FY 2025–2026, 2024–2025 and 2023–2024, issued on or after 01 April 2026 and no later than 22 September 2026.

Post-Wise Educational Qualification

Post	Required Qualification
Geologist, Group A	Master’s degree in Geological Science, Geology, Applied Geology, Geo-Exploration, Mineral Exploration, Engineering Geology, Marine Geology, Earth Science and Resource Management, Oceanography and Coastal Areas Studies, Petroleum Geosciences or Geochemistry
Geophysicist, Group A / Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), Group A	M.Sc. in Physics/Applied Physics, Geophysics, Integrated M.Sc. in Exploration Geophysics, M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics, Marine Geophysics or M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Geophysics
Chemist, Group A / Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical), Group A	M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry
Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology), Group A / Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B	Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology
Assistant Chemist, Group B	M.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Hydro-Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry
Assistant Geologist, Group B	Master’s degree or Integrated Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Mineral Exploration, Marine Geology or Earth Science
Assistant Geophysicist, Group B	M.Sc./M.Sc. (Tech.)/Integrated M.Sc. in Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics, Geo-Exploration, Marine Geophysics, Physics, Applied Physics or Applied Geology

The prescribed postgraduate degree is generally required to be of at least two years’ duration after graduation in the relevant discipline, whether integrated or otherwise. Candidates who are awaiting qualifying examination results may be provisionally admitted, subject to the conditions prescribed for producing proof of qualification before the Personality Test/Interview.

Nationality

A candidate must satisfy one of the nationality conditions prescribed by UPSC. Eligible categories include:

• Citizen of India
• Subject of Nepal
• Subject of Bhutan
• Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India
• Certain persons of Indian origin who migrated from the countries specified in the notification with the intention of permanently settling in India

Candidates in specified categories other than Indian citizens must possess the required Government of India certificate of eligibility where applicable.

Physical Standards

Candidates must satisfy the physical fitness requirements prescribed for admission to the examination under the relevant Combined Geo-Scientist Examination rules.

PwBD candidates must also satisfy the applicable physical requirements and functional classifications associated with the concerned post/service.

Application and Registration System

The UPSC online application system uses multiple modules:

1. Account Creation
2. Universal Registration Number (URN)
3. Common Application Form (CAF)
4. Examination-Specific Module

The URN is generated after registration and remains common to the candidate’s UPSC examinations. The Application Number is examination-specific.

Candidates are required to provide supporting information and documents relating to claims such as date of birth, educational qualification and category. Failure to provide the required information/documents can result in cancellation of candidature.

Photograph, Live Photograph and Signature Requirements

Candidates are required to upload their photograph and also capture a live photograph while completing the Common Application Form.

The candidate must also upload signatures made three times one below another on plain white paper using black ink. The signatures must be clear and legible.

Candidates should follow the specific photograph and signature instructions displayed on the UPSC Online Application Portal.

Selection Process

The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 consists of three successive stages:

1. Stage-I – Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Examination
2. Stage-II – Combined Geo-Scientist Main Examination
3. Stage-III – Personality Test/Interview

The Preliminary Examination contains two objective papers and is used to select candidates for the Main Examination. Importantly, Stage-I marks are also included in the final merit calculation.

The Main Examination consists of three conventional/descriptive papers for each stream. Candidates qualifying at Stage-II are called for the Personality Test/Interview.

The final merit is based on marks secured across the stages prescribed by the Commission.

Exam Pattern

Stage-I – Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination carries 400 marks and consists of two objective papers.

Stream	Paper	Subject	Duration	Marks
Stream I	Paper I	General Studies	2 Hours	100
Stream I	Paper II	Geology/Hydrogeology	2 Hours	300
Stream II	Paper I	General Studies	2 Hours	100
Stream II	Paper II	Geophysics	2 Hours	300
Stream III	Paper I	General Studies	2 Hours	100
Stream III	Paper II	Chemistry	2 Hours	300

The papers are objective type. The question papers are set in English. There is negative marking: one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for an incorrect answer. No penalty is imposed for a question left unanswered.

Preliminary Examination Streams

Stream	Posts/Disciplines Covered
Stream I	Geologist, Assistant Geologist, Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology), Assistant Hydrogeologist
Stream II	Geophysicist, Assistant Geophysicist, Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), Assistant Geophysicist
Stream III	Chemist, Assistant Chemist, Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical), Assistant Chemist

A candidate can apply for one or both categories of posts where eligible, but the examination fee is payable only once. Candidates must choose the applicable stream/discipline in accordance with their qualification and the conditions of the notification.

Stage-II – Main Examination Pattern

The Main Examination carries 600 marks.

Geology Stream

Paper	Subject	Duration	Marks
Paper I	Geology	3 Hours	200
Paper II	Geology	3 Hours	200
Paper III	Geology	3 Hours	200
Total			600

Geophysics Stream

Paper	Subject	Duration	Marks
Paper I	Geophysics	3 Hours	200
Paper II	Geophysics	3 Hours	200
Paper III	Geophysics	3 Hours	200
Total			600

Chemistry Stream

Paper	Subject	Duration	Marks
Paper I	Chemistry	3 Hours	200
Paper II	Chemistry	3 Hours	200
Paper III	Chemistry	3 Hours	200
Total			600

Hydrogeology Stream

Paper	Subject	Duration	Marks
Paper I	Geology	3 Hours	200
Paper II	Geology	3 Hours	200
Paper III	Hydrogeology	3 Hours	200
Total			600

The Main Examination is conventional/descriptive and must be answered in English only. Candidates must appear in all papers prescribed for their respective stream. Failure to appear in one or more required papers results in rejection of candidature and the attempted portion is not evaluated for selection.

Stage-III – Personality Test/Interview

The Personality Test/Interview carries 200 marks and has no minimum qualifying marks.

Candidates who secure the minimum marks prescribed by the Commission at the Main Examination stage are called for the Personality Test. The number of candidates called is expected to be about twice the number of vacancies.

The interview assesses suitability for the concerned posts, including qualities such as:

• Leadership
• Initiative
• Intellectual curiosity
• Tact
• Social qualities
• Mental and physical energy
• Practical application of knowledge
• Integrity of character
• Ability to adapt to field life

Final Merit

The examination provides a total of 1,200 marks across the three stages:

Stage	Maximum Marks
Preliminary Examination	400
Main Examination	600
Personality Test/Interview	200
Total	1,200

Preliminary and Main Examination marks are counted in determining final merit. Marks are rounded to two decimal places wherever applicable.

If candidates have equal aggregate final marks, the prescribed subject-specific marks combined with Personality Test marks are used for tie resolution. Further ties are resolved using subject-specific marks, age and, if required, the Commission’s discretion.

Detailed Syllabus

Stage-I Paper-I: General Studies

General Studies is common to all streams and is designed at a level expected of a science graduate.

Area	Topics
Current Affairs	National and international events of importance
Indian History	History of India and the Indian National Movement
Geography	Physical, social and economic geography of India and the world
Polity & Governance	Constitution, political system, Panchayati Raj, public policy and rights issues
Economic & Social Development	Sustainable development, poverty, inclusion, demographics and social-sector initiatives
Environment	Environmental ecology, biodiversity and climate change, excluding specialist-level requirements
General Science	General scientific knowledge

Stage-I Paper-II: Geology/Hydrogeology Syllabus

1. Physical Geology

• Uniformitarianism
• Origin, differentiation and internal structure of Earth
• Origin of the atmosphere
• Earthquakes and volcanoes
• Continental drift
• Seafloor spreading
• Isostasy
• Orogeny
• Plate tectonics
• Geological action of rivers, wind, glaciers and waves
• Erosional and depositional landforms
• Weathering processes and products

2. Structural Geology

• Stress and strain
• Rheological properties of rocks
• Planar and linear structures
• Folds and faults
• Mohr’s circle
• Failure criteria for rocks
• Brittle and ductile shear
• Toposheets
• V-rules
• Outcrop patterns
• Stereographic projection

3. Mineralogy

• Symmetry and crystallographic notation
• Bravais lattices
• Mineral classification
• Isomorphism
• Polymorphism
• Solid solution and exsolution
• Silicate structures
• Physical and optical properties of major rock-forming minerals
• Olivine
• Garnet
• Pyroxene
• Amphibole
• Mica
• Feldspar
• Quartz

4. Igneous Petrology

• Magma types and evolution
• IUGS classification
• Forms, structures and textures of igneous rocks
• Binary and ternary phase diagrams
• Magmatic differentiation
• Assimilation
• Petrogenesis of granite
• Basalt
• Komatiite
• Carbonatite
• Kimberlite
• Lamprophyre
• Nepheline syenite

5. Metamorphic Petrology

• Limits and types of metamorphism
• Controls of metamorphism
• Slate, schist and gneiss structures
• Metamorphic textures
• Porphyroblasts
• Metamorphic zones
• Isograds
• Metamorphic facies
• Geothermal gradients
• Facies series
• Relationship with plate tectonics

6. Sedimentology

• Origin of sediments
• Sedimentary textures
• Grain-size scale
• Primary sedimentary structures
• Sandstone classification
• Carbonate rocks
• Siliciclastic environments
• Sedimentary facies
• Carbonate diagenesis

7. Paleontology

• Fossils and fossilization
• Species concept
• Binomial nomenclature
• Invertebrate morphology and classification
• Trilobites
• Brachiopods
• Lamellibranchs
• Gastropods
• Cephalopods
• Evolution of Equidae and Hominidae
• Foraminifera
• Ostracoda
• Gondwana flora

8. Stratigraphy

• Law of superposition
• Lithostratigraphy
• Biostratigraphy
• Chronostratigraphy
• Archaean cratonic nuclei
• Dharwar
• Singhbhum
• Aravalli
• Central Indian Tectonic Zone
• Aravalli-Delhi Belt
• Eastern Ghats
• Cuddapah and Vindhyan basins
• Phanerozoic stratigraphy of India
• Spiti
• Kashmir
• Damodar Valley
• Kutch
• Trichinopoly
• Siwaliks
• Indo-Gangetic alluvium

9. Economic Geology

• Mineral-deposit properties
• Mineral assemblages
• Ore textures
• Rock-ore relationships
• Magmatic ore formation
• Sedimentary deposits
• Metamorphic deposits
• Hydrothermal deposits
• Supergene processes
• Weathering-related deposits
• Coal formation
• Petroleum formation
• Major mineral deposits of India
• Major hydrocarbon deposits of India

10. Hydrogeology

• Groundwater occurrence
• Aquifer characteristics
• Porosity
• Permeability
• Hydraulic conductivity
• Transmissivity
• Darcy’s Law
• Bernoulli equation
• Reynolds number
• Groundwater composition
• Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes
• Artificial groundwater recharge

Stage-I Paper-II: Geophysics Syllabus

1. Solid Earth Geophysics

• Branches of geophysics
• Origin and characteristics of the solar system
• Shape and rotation of Earth
• Gravity and magnetic fields
• Geomagnetism
• Rock and mineral magnetism
• Elastic waves
• Internal structure of Earth
• Physical-property variations inside Earth
• Plate tectonics
• Earthquakes
• Focal depth
• Epicentre
• Intensity and magnitude
• Earthquake energy
• Seismicity

2. Mathematical Methods in Geophysics

• Vector analysis
• Scalars, vectors and tensors
• Gradient, divergence and curl
• Gauss theorem
• Stokes theorem
• Matrices
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors
• Newton’s law of gravitation
• Gravity potential and fields
• Fundamental forces
• Conservation of energy and momentum
• Rigid-body motion
• Moment of inertia
• Special relativity
• Lorentz transformation
• Forward and inverse problems
• Probability
• Inverse theory

3. Electromagnetism

• Electrostatic and magnetostatic fields
• Coulomb’s law
• Electrical permittivity
• Dielectric constant
• Lorentz force
• Ampere’s law
• Biot-Savart law
• Gauss theorem
• Poisson and Laplace equations
• Faraday’s law
• Maxwell equations
• Boundary conditions
• Electromagnetic waves
• Scalar and vector potentials

4. Geophysical Prospecting

• Gravity methods
• Magnetic methods
• Electrical methods
• Electromagnetic methods
• Well logging
• Seismic methods
• Fermat’s principle
• Snell’s law
• Reflection and transmission
• Layered-media interpretation
• Sampling theorem
• Aliasing
• Fourier series
• Fourier transform
• Laplace transform
• Convolution
• Correlation
• Power spectrum

5. Remote Sensing and Thermodynamics

• Remote sensing fundamentals
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Frequency-wavelength-energy relationship
• Stefan-Boltzmann law
• Wien’s law
• Planck radiation law
• Interaction of electromagnetic energy with atmosphere and terrain
• Thermodynamic laws
• Thermodynamic potential

6. Nuclear Physics and Radiometry

• Nuclear size, shape and charge
• Spin and parity
• Binding energy
• Semi-empirical mass formula
• Fission and fusion
• Radioactivity
• Alpha, beta and gamma decay
• Photoelectric and Compton effects
• Pair production
• Radioactive decay law
• Radioactivity of rocks and minerals
• Ionization chambers
• GM counters
• Scintillation counters
• Gamma-ray spectrometers
• Matter waves
• Wave-particle duality
• Electron spin
• Atomic spectra

Stage-I Paper-II: Chemistry Syllabus

1. Chemical Periodicity

• Schrödinger equation for hydrogen
• Orbital radial distribution
• Electronic configurations
• Modern periodic table
• Periodic trends
• s, p, d and f block elements
• Effective nuclear charge
• Screening
• Atomic, ionic and covalent radii
• Ionization enthalpy
• Electron gain enthalpy
• Electronegativity
• Oxidation states
• Aqueous and redox chemistry
• Hydrides
• Halides
• Oxides
• Oxyacids
• Complex chemistry

2. Chemical Bonding and Structure

• Ionic bonding
• Radius-ratio rules
• Lattice energy
• Born-Landé equation
• Born-Haber cycle
• Solvation energy
• Polarizing power
• Polarizability
• Fajan’s rules
• Solid-state defects
• Valence Bond Theory
• Molecular Orbital Theory
• Hybridization
• Resonance
• Coordination compounds
• Werner theory
• Ligands
• Chelates
• IUPAC nomenclature
• Coordination number
• Geometrical and stereoisomerism

3. Acids and Bases

• Chemical and ionic equilibrium
• Acid and base strength
• Ionization of weak acids and bases
• Ostwald dilution law
• Ionization constants
• Ionic product of water
• pH
• Temperature effects on pH
• Buffer solutions
• Buffer capacity
• Henderson equation

4. Quantitative Inorganic Analysis

• Equivalent weights
• Normal and molar solutions
• Primary and secondary standards
• Acid-base titration
• Redox titration
• Complexometric titration
• Precipitation titration
• Acid-base indicators
• Redox indicators
• Metal-ion indicators

5. Kinetic Theory and Gaseous State

• Kinetic theory of gases
• Translational kinetic energy
• Boltzmann constant
• Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution
• Average, RMS and most probable velocities
• Collision diameter
• Collision number
• Mean free path
• Binary collisions
• Wall collisions
• Effusion

6. Chemical Thermodynamics and Equilibrium

• First law
• Thermodynamic functions
• State functions
• Free expansion
• Joule-Thomson effect
• Hess’s law
• Second law
• Gibbs function
• Helmholtz function
• Gibbs-Helmholtz equation
• Equilibrium and spontaneity

7. Solutions of Non-Electrolytes

• Colligative properties
• Raoult’s law
• Vapour-pressure lowering
• Osmosis
• Osmotic pressure
• Boiling-point elevation
• Freezing-point depression
• Gas solubility
• Solid solutions

8. Electrochemistry

• Cell constant
• Conductance
• Molar conductance
• Kohlrausch’s law
• Ionic mobility
• Debye-Hückel theory
• Conductometric titrations
• Transport number

9. Basic Organic Chemistry

• Delocalization
• Resonance
• Conjugation
• Hyperconjugation
• Hybridization
• Bond polarization
• Carbocations
• Carbanions
• Free radicals

10. Stereochemistry

• Chirality
• Symmetry
• Optical isomerism
• R/S nomenclature
• Geometrical isomerism
• E/Z nomenclature
• Cyclic systems
• Newman projections

11. Organic Reaction Mechanisms

• SN1 and SN2 substitution
• Factors controlling substitution
• E1 and E2 elimination
• Saytzeff rule
• Hofmann rule
• Electrophilic addition
• Nucleophilic addition
• Radical addition
• Electrophilic aromatic substitution
• Nucleophilic aromatic substitution

12. Molecular Rearrangements

• Acid-induced rearrangements
• Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement
• Neighbouring-group participation

Stage-II Geology Syllabus

Geology Paper-I

Section A – Physical Geology and Remote Sensing

• Evolution of Earth
• Earth’s internal structure
• Earthquakes and volcanoes
• Geodesy
• Isostasy
• Weathering
• Fluvial, aeolian, glacial, wave and groundwater landforms
• Ocean-floor features
• Continental shelf, slope and rise
• Landscape evolution
• Major geomorphic features of India
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Remote-sensing bands
• Spectral signatures of soil, rock, water and vegetation
• Thermal, near-infrared and microwave sensing
• Digital image processing
• LANDSAT, IRS and SPOT
• Aerial photographs
• Scale, parallax and relief displacement
• Image interpretation

Section B – Structural Geology

• Geological mapping
• Kinematic and dynamic deformation
• Stress-strain relationships
• Elastic, plastic and viscous behaviour
• Strain measurement
• Folds
• Cleavage
• Boudinage
• Lineation
• Joints
• Faults
• Stereographic projection
• Superposed deformation
• Micro-scale deformation
• Recrystallisation
• Brittle and ductile shear zones
• Paleostress calculation

Section C – Sedimentology

• Sedimentary-rock classification
• Grain size, roundness, sphericity, shape and fabric
• Grain-size analysis
• Sediment transport
• Fluid and sediment gravity flows
• Laminar and turbulent flow
• Reynolds and Froude numbers
• Grain entrainment
• Hjulstrom diagram
• Bed-load and suspended-load transport
• Sedimentary structures
• Biogenic structures
• Paleocurrent analysis
• Sandstone, limestone, BIF, mudstone and conglomerate
• Carbonate diagenesis
• Dolomitisation
• Fluvial, glacial, deltaic and marine environments
• Carbonate platforms
• Tectonic settings
• Sequence stratigraphy

Geology Paper-II

Section A – Mineralogy

• Crystal symmetry
• Motifs and Miller indices
• Unit cells
• Bravais lattices
• Crystal classes
• Bonding
• Pauling’s rules
• Coordination polyhedra
• Crystal defects
• Twinning
• Zoning
• Polymorphism
• Pseudomorphism
• Isomorphism
• Solid solutions
• Physical properties of minerals
• Polarising microscope
• Optical mineralogy
• Double refraction
• Polarisation
• Pleochroism
• Interference figures
• Major rock-forming minerals

Section B – Geochemistry and Isotope Geology

• Composition of atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
• Geochemical cycles
• Meteorites
• Goldschmidt classification
• Element fractionation
• Partition coefficients
• Diffusion
• Activity-composition relationships
• Trace-element applications
• Rayleigh fractionation
• REE patterns
• Eh-pH diagrams
• Mineral stability
• Radioactive decay
• K-Ar dating
• Rb-Sr dating
• U-Pb dating
• Sm-Nd dating
• Stable carbon, oxygen and sulphur isotopes
• Monazite chemical dating

Section C – Igneous Petrology

• Magma viscosity, temperature and pressure
• IUGS classification
• Mineral nucleation and growth
• Igneous textures
• Differentiation
• Assimilation
• Magma mixing and mingling
• Mantle melting
• Binary and ternary phase diagrams
• Granite
• Basalt
• Ophiolite
• Komatiite
• Syenite
• Boninite
• Anorthosite
• Layered complexes
• Carbonatite
• Kimberlite
• Lamproite
• Lamprophyre
• Mantle metasomatism
• Hotspot magmatism
• Large igneous provinces of India

Section D – Metamorphic Petrology

• Physical and chemical controls of metamorphism
• Pressure, temperature and fluids
• Bulk-rock composition
• Metamorphic zones
• Facies
• Isograds
• Facies series
• Geothermal gradients
• Orogenic belts
• Regional and contact metamorphism
• Metamorphic structures
• Microstructures
• Textures
• Metamorphic phase diagrams
• Metamorphic reactions

Geology Paper-III

Section A – Economic Geology

• Ore and industrial minerals
• Ore-mineral properties
• Ore textures
• Paragenesis
• Mineral-deposit characteristics
• Syngenetic and epigenetic deposits
• Stratiform and strata-bound deposits
• Ore-forming processes
• Magmatic and pegmatitic deposits
• Chromite
• Ti-magnetite
• Diamond
• Cu-Ni sulphides
• PGE
• REE
• Muscovite
• Rare metals
• Porphyry deposits
• Greisen deposits
• Skarn
• VMS and SEDEX deposits
• Orogenic gold
• Sedimentary Fe, Mn and phosphorite deposits
• Placer deposits
• Supergene deposits
• Metamorphic deposits
• Fluid inclusions
• Stable isotopes
• Global tectonics and mineralisation

Section B – Indian Mineral Deposits and Mineral Economics

• Mineral distribution in the Indian Shield
• Chromite
• Diamond
• Muscovite
• Cu-Pb-Zn
• Sn-W
• Gold
• Fe-Mn
• Bauxite
• Industrial minerals
• Refractory minerals
• Fertilizer minerals
• Ceramic, cement and glass minerals
• Abrasives
• Fillers
• Building stones
• Strategic and critical minerals
• Mineral production in India
• Co-products and by-products
• Consumption and substitution
• Mineral conservation
• National Mineral Policy
• Mineral Concession Rules
• Marine mineral resources
• Law of the sea

Section C – Mineral Exploration

• Exploration stages
• Prospecting objectives and methods
• Regional and detailed exploration
• Geological methods
• Geochemical methods
• Geobotanical methods
• Lithogeochemical surveys
• Biogeochemical surveys
• Soil surveys
• Element mobility and dispersion
• Geochemical anomalies
• Ore controls and guides
• Pitting
• Trenching
• Drilling
• Sampling
• Assaying
• Ore-reserve estimation
• Reserve categorisation
• Ground and airborne geophysical exploration
• Gravity
• Magnetic
• Electrical
• Seismic methods

Section D – Fuel Geology and Engineering Geology

• Coal properties
• Proximate and ultimate analysis
• Coal varieties and ranks
• Peat
• Lignite
• Bituminous coal
• Anthracite
• Coalification
• Lithotypes
• Microlithotypes
• Macerals
• Indian lignite and coal deposits
• Hydrocarbon origin, migration and entrapment
• Source rocks
• Reservoir rocks
• Structural and stratigraphic traps
• Hydrocarbon exploration
• Petroliferous basins of India
• Uranium deposits
• Engineering properties of rocks
• Geological investigations for dams
• Reservoirs
• Tunnels
• Bridges
• Highways
• Coastal structures
• Construction materials

Section E – Environmental Geology and Natural Hazards

• Planetary temperature
• Global climate change
• Earth’s radiation budget
• Greenhouse gases
• Climate feedback
• Carbon cycle
• Nuclear-waste disposal
• Estuaries
• Mangroves
• Lagoons
• Ozone depletion
• Ocean acidification
• Coral bleaching
• Milankovitch cycles
• Sea-level rise
• Eutrophication
• Acid rain
• Urbanisation impacts
• Mining impacts
• Hydropower impacts
• Water pollution
• Waterlogging
• Soil erosion
• Himalayan glaciers
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes
• Tsunamis
• Floods
• Landslides
• Coastal erosion
• Drought
• Desertification
• Remote sensing and GIS applications

Stage-II Hydrogeology Syllabus

Section A – Occurrence and Distribution of Groundwater

• Origin of water on Earth
• Global hydrological cycle
• Global water budget
• Residence time
• Aquifer-forming geological formations
• Confined and unconfined aquifers
• Groundwater-table mapping
• Piezometric nests
• Porosity
• Void ratio
• Effective and representative porosity
• Primary and secondary porosity
• Groundwater zonation
• Specific retention
• Specific yield
• Groundwater basins
• Springs

Section B – Groundwater Movement and Well Hydraulics

• Groundwater-flow concepts
• Darcy’s Law
• Isotropic and anisotropic media
• Flow rates and direction
• Water volume in aquifers
• Permeability
• Hydraulic conductivity
• Bernoulli equation
• Field and laboratory determination of hydraulic conductivity
• Dispersion and diffusion
• Transmissivity
• Aquifer thickness

Section C – Water Wells and Groundwater Levels

• Flow toward wells
• Unidirectional and radial flow
• Steady and unsteady flow
• Aquifer boundaries
• Shallow-well construction
• Well drilling
• Well completion
• Well testing
• Pumping tests
• Slug tests
• Groundwater-level fluctuations
• Stream-groundwater interaction
• Land subsidence
• Climate-change effects on groundwater

Section D – Groundwater Exploration

• Geological investigation
• Remote sensing
• Electrical resistivity
• Seismic methods
• Gravity
• Magnetic methods
• Test drilling
• Resistivity logging
• Spontaneous-potential logging
• Radiation logging

Section E – Groundwater Quality and Management

• Groundwater composition
• Units of expression
• Mass-balance calculations
• Rock-water interaction
• Chemical equilibrium
• Free energy
• Redox reactions
• Cation and anion exchange
• Chemical-data representation
• Groundwater hardness
• Groundwater microorganisms
• Water-quality standards
• Seawater intrusion
• Urban groundwater problems
• Solid and liquid waste disposal
• Plume migration
• Hydrogen, carbon and oxygen isotopes
• Artificial recharge
• Groundwater-resource management
• Groundwater-basin investigation and management

Stage-II Geophysics Syllabus

Geophysics Paper-I

Part A

A1. Solid Earth Geophysics

• Geophysics and its branches
• Solar-system origin and planetary characteristics
• Earth rotation and figure
• Geoid, spheroid and topography
• Plate tectonics
• Geodynamic processes
• Thermal history
• Heat flow
• Earth’s temperature variation
• Convection
• Gravity and isostasy
• Geomagnetism
• Paleomagnetism
• Continental drift
• Seafloor spreading
• Elastic and body waves
• Earth’s internal structure
• Adam-Williamson equation

A2. Earthquake Seismology

• Earthquake fundamentals
• Focal depth and epicentre
• Indian earthquakes
• Intensity and magnitude scales
• Earthquake energy
• Foreshocks and aftershocks
• Elastic rebound
• Faulting
• Fault-plane solutions
• Indian seismicity and seismotectonics
• b-values
• Elastic parameters
• Seismic-wave propagation
• Absorption, attenuation and dispersion
• Seismic ray theory
• Seismic tomography
• Receiver functions
• Vp/Vs studies
• Seismic networks
• Seismometers and accelerometers
• Broadband seismometers
• Seismic arrays
• Earthquake prediction
• Microzonation
• Engineering applications

A3. Mathematical Methods in Geophysics

• Vector analysis
• Gradient, divergence and curl
• Gauss and Stokes theorems
• Gravitational field
• Newton’s law
• Gravity potential
• Coulomb’s law
• Dielectric properties
• Magnetic-field equations
• Laplace equation
• Electrical fields
• Electromagnetic induction
• Maxwell equations
• Near and far fields
• EM attenuation
• Half-space and multilayer problems

A4. Geophysical Inversion

• Inverse theory
• Forward and inverse problems
• Discrete and continuous models
• Probability
• Least-square solutions
• Minimum-norm solutions
• Norms
• Jacobian matrix
• Condition number
• Stability
• Non-uniqueness
• Resolution
• A priori information
• Constrained inversion
• Eigenvalues/eigenvectors
• Singular-value decomposition
• Gauss-Newton method
• Gradient methods
• Marquardt-Levenberg method
• Maximum likelihood
• Stochastic inversion
• Monte Carlo methods
• Backus-Gilbert method
• Bayesian inversion
• Genetic algorithms
• Simulated annealing

Part B

B1. Mathematical Methods of Physics

• Dimensional analysis
• Units and measurement
• Vector algebra and calculus
• Linear algebra
• Matrices
• Eigenvalues/eigenvectors
• Ordinary differential equations
• Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre functions
• Fourier series
• Fourier and Laplace transforms
• Probability
• Random variables
• Binomial, Poisson and normal distributions
• Green’s function
• Partial differential equations
• Numerical methods
• Root finding
• Interpolation and extrapolation
• Numerical integration
• Runge-Kutta method
• Tensors
• Complex variables
• Taylor and Laurent series
• Poles and residues
• Beta and Gamma functions
• Operators
• Least-squares fitting

B2. Electrodynamics

• Electrostatics
• Gauss law
• Laplace and Poisson equations
• Boundary-value problems
• Magnetostatics
• Biot-Savart law
• Ampere theorem
• Magnetic vector potential
• Faraday law
• Electromagnetic potentials
• Gauge conditions
• Lorentz force
• Charged-particle motion
• Poynting theorem
• Radiation
• Cerenkov radiation
• Plasma
• Magnetohydrodynamics
• Plasma waves
• Relativistic electromagnetic formulation

B3. Electromagnetic Theory

• Maxwell equations
• Displacement current
• Boundary conditions
• Wave equation
• Electromagnetic waves
• Scalar/vector potentials
• Reflection
• Refraction
• Fresnel law
• Interference
• Coherence
• Diffraction
• Polarisation
• Transmission lines
• Waveguides

B4. Atmospheric and Space Physics

• Neutral atmosphere
• Atmospheric nomenclature
• Vertical atmospheric structure
• Hydrostatic equation
• Geopotential height
• Atmospheric expansion and contraction
• Fundamental and apparent forces
• Atmospheric composition
• Solar radiation interaction

Geophysics Paper-II

Part A

A1. Potential Field Methods

• Gravity and magnetic fields
• Inverse-square law
• Gravity and magnetic surveying
• Global gravity anomalies
• Newtonian and logarithmic potentials
• Laplace equation
• Green’s function
• Gravity anomalies
• Rock density
• Earth’s magnetic field
• Diurnal and secular variation
• Geomagnetic elements
• Magnetisation and induction
• Magnetic susceptibility
• Rock magnetism
• Hysteresis
• Survey instruments
• Data reduction
• Gravity bases
• IGRF corrections
• Regional/residual separation
• Derivatives
• Continuation
• Analytical signal
• Reduced-to-pole
• Euler deconvolution
• Potential-field ambiguity
• Mineral exploration
• Environmental applications

A2. Electrical and Electromagnetic Methods

• Electrical properties of rocks
• Stratified-earth models
• Anisotropy
• D.C. resistivity
• Electrode configurations
• Profiling
• Vertical electrical sounding
• ERT
• SP method
• Induced polarisation
• Chargeability
• Frequency-domain IP
• Electromagnetic methods
• Diffusion and wave equations
• Skin depth
• Depth of investigation
• Dip-angle method
• Turam
• Slingram
• AFMAG
• VLF
• Time-domain EM
• EM profiling and sounding
• Magnetotellurics
• TE and TM modes
• Static shift
• Dimensionality
• GPR

A3. Seismic Prospecting

• Seismic principles
• Rock velocities
• Reflection and refraction
• Energy partitioning
• Geometrical spreading
• Layered and dipping media
• Seismic absorption
• Anisotropy
• 2D and 3D seismic acquisition
• Sources
• Geophones
• Array geometry
• Instrumentation
• Digital recording
• Multiples
• Travel-time curves
• Data corrections
• Bright spots
• Low-velocity layers
• Static and dynamic corrections
• NMO and DMO
• Dix equation
• Interval, average and RMS velocities
• Seismic resolution
• Fresnel zone
• Velocity analysis
• Migration
• Time/depth sections
• VSP
• High-resolution seismic surveys

A4. Borehole Geophysics

• Well logging objectives
• Borehole conditions
• Reservoir-rock properties
• Formation parameters
• Formation factor
• Borehole logging methods
• Interpretation of borehole data

Part B

B1. Solid State Physics and Basic Electronics

• Crystalline and amorphous materials
• Crystal systems
• Space groups
• X-ray diffraction
• SEM and TEM
• Band theory
• Conductors, insulators and semiconductors
• Einstein and Debye theories
• Magnetism
• Superconductivity
• Meissner effect
• Josephson junctions
• Semiconductor devices
• p-n junctions
• Diodes
• Transistors
• FET, JFET and MOSFET
• Thermistors
• Optoelectronic devices
• Solar cells
• Photodetectors
• LEDs
• Operational amplifiers

B2. Laser Systems

• Spontaneous and stimulated emission
• Coherence
• Einstein coefficients
• Rate equations
• Ruby laser
• Nd:YAG
• CO2
• Dye
• Excimer
• Semiconductor lasers
• Cavity modes
• Line broadening
• FWHM
• Q-switching
• Mode locking
• Optical fibres

B3. Digital Electronics, Radar and Satellite Communication

• Boolean algebra
• De Morgan’s theorems
• Logic gates
• Registers
• Counters
• Comparators
• A/D and D/A converters
• Microprocessors
• Microcontrollers
• Sequential and combinational circuits
• Timing diagrams
• Data transfer
• Digital computers
• Radar
• Surveillance radar
• Tracking radar
• Radar antennas
• Satellite systems
• Frequency bands
• Satellite orbits
• Inclination
• Earth-station technology

B4. Quantum Mechanics

• Wave-particle duality
• Wave functions
• Commutators
• Heisenberg uncertainty
• Schrödinger equation
• Particle in a box
• Harmonic oscillator
• Tunnelling
• Central potentials
• Angular momentum
• Hydrogen atom
• Matrix representation
• Bra-ket notation
• Perturbation theory
• Variational method
• WKB approximation
• Fermi golden rule
• Selection rules
• Scattering
• Partial waves
• Born approximation
• Identical particles
• Pauli principle
• Spin-statistics
• Klein-Gordon and Dirac equations

Geophysics Paper-III

Part A

A1. Radiometric and Airborne Geophysics

• Radioactivity
• Decay processes
• Radiometric units
• Radioactivity of rocks/minerals
• Ionization chambers
• GM counters
• Scintillation counters
• Gamma-ray spectrometry
• Radiometric mineral exploration
• Beach placers
• Titanium
• Zirconium
• Rare earths
• Radon studies
• Airborne gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric surveys
• Survey planning
• Flight-path recovery
• Geological mapping
• Structural interpretation
• Alteration zones

A2. Marine Geophysics

• Seawater salinity, temperature and density
• Seafloor physiography
• Continental shelves
• Slopes and abyssal plains
• Ocean-basin evolution
• Turbidity currents
• Offshore mineral and hydrocarbon resources
• Marine gravity and magnetic surveys
• Marine electromagnetic surveys
• Sonobuoys
• Ship-borne instrumentation
• Towing systems
• Oceanic magnetic anomalies
• Vine-Mathews hypothesis
• Geomagnetic time scale
• Seafloor dating
• Oceanic heat flow
• Ocean ridges
• Basins and marginal basins
• Rift valleys
• Marine seismic surveys
• Hydrophones
• Bathymetry
• Echo sounding
• Seabed mapping
• Navigation and positioning

A3. Geophysical Signal Processing

• Time series
• Signal types
• Sampling theorem
• Aliasing
• Fourier series
• Fourier transform
• DFT and FFT
• Hilbert transform
• Convolution/deconvolution
• Auto and cross correlation
• Power spectrum
• Z-transform
• Poles and zeros
• Digital filters
• Recursive and non-recursive filters
• Chebyshev and Butterworth filters
• Moving-average filters
• Low-pass, band-pass and high-pass filters
• Random-signal processing
• Signal-to-noise improvement
• Spatial filtering

A4. Remote Sensing and Geohydrology

• Electromagnetic radiation
• Atmospheric interaction
• Surface interaction
• Photographic systems
• Reflectance and emittance
• False-colour composites
• Remote-sensing platforms
• Flight planning
• Geosynchronous and sun-synchronous orbits
• Sensors
• Spatial/spectral resolution
• Parallax
• Relief displacement
• Aerial-photo interpretation
• Photogrammetry
• Satellite remote sensing
• Multispectral and thermal scanners
• Microwave remote sensing
• Image processing
• Water-bearing formations
• Porosity
• Permeability
• Storage coefficient
• Specific storage
• Specific retention
• Specific yield
• Aquifer types
• Groundwater distribution
• Steady and unsteady groundwater flow

Part B – Additional Geophysics Topics

The Main Examination also covers advanced areas of solid-state physics, electronics, laser systems, radar, satellite communication and quantum mechanics. The official syllabus includes crystal structures, X-ray diffraction, semiconductor devices, superconductivity, laser systems, optical fibres, digital logic, radar, satellite orbits and communication, quantum operators, perturbation theory, scattering, spin and relativistic quantum mechanics.

Stage-II Chemistry Syllabus

Chemistry Paper-I – Inorganic Chemistry

Inorganic Solids

• Defects
• Non-stoichiometric compounds
• Solid solutions
• Atomic and ionic diffusion
• Solid electrolytes
• Material synthesis
• 3d-metal oxides
• Complex oxides
• Spinel and perovskite structures
• Framework structures
• Silicates
• Zeolites
• Nitrides
• Fluorides
• Chalcogenides
• Intercalation chemistry
• Semiconductors
• Molecular materials

Coordination Chemistry

• Isomerism
• Stability and reactivity
• Cis/trans configurations
• Labile and inert complexes
• Substitution reactions
• Trans effect
• Stability constants
• Crystal Field Theory
• Octahedral, square-planar and tetrahedral splitting
• Crystal-field stabilisation energy
• Pairing energy
• Jahn-Teller distortion
• Metal-ligand bonding
• Sigma and pi bonding
• Magnetic moments
• d-d transitions
• LS coupling
• Spectroscopic ground states
• Selection rules
• Spectrochemical series
• Charge-transfer spectra

Acid-Base Titrations

• Strong/strong titration
• Weak/strong titration
• Polyprotic acids
• Equivalence points
• Acid-base indicators
• Indicator ranges
• Indicator selection
• NaHCO3/Na2CO3 estimation

Gravimetric Analysis

• Solubility
• Solubility product
• Common-ion effect
• Hydrolysis
• Stoichiometry
• Precipitate properties
• Nucleation
• Crystal growth
• Coprecipitation
• Post-precipitation
• Washing and purification
• Homogeneous precipitation
• Chloride estimation
• Sulphate estimation
• Aluminium estimation
• Nickel estimation

Redox and Complexometric Titrations

• Redox potentials
• Nernst equation
• pH and precipitation effects
• Normal hydrogen electrode
• Redox indicators
• Iodometry
• Permanganometry
• Dichrometry
• Iron, copper, manganese and chromium estimation
• Complex formation
• Stability constants
• EDTA
• Direct, back and displacement titration
• Masking and demasking
• Water-hardness determination

Organometallic and Nuclear Chemistry

• 18-electron rule
• Metal carbonyls
• Metal-metal bonding
• Metal clusters
• Wilkinson catalyst
• Radioactive decay
• Half-life
• Artificial radionuclides
• Radiochemical separation
• Radioisotope assay
• Radiation detectors

Chemistry Paper-II – Physical Chemistry

Major areas include:

• Chemical kinetics
• Reaction order
• Parallel and consecutive reactions
• Temperature dependence
• Activation energy
• Collision theory
• Transition-state theory
• Adsorption
• Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms
• BET equation
• Colloids
• Electrical double layer
• Electrokinetic phenomena
• Soaps, detergents and micelles
• Electrochemical cells
• Cell reactions
• EMF
• Nernst equation
• Thermodynamic functions
• Standard cells
• Reversible electrodes
• Concentration cells
• pH-metric and potentiometric titrations
• Quantum chemistry
• Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues
• Uncertainty relation
• Hermitian operators
• Schrödinger equation
• Particle in one- and three-dimensional boxes
• Spectroscopy
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Atomic spectra
• Rotational spectroscopy
• Vibrational spectroscopy
• Raman spectroscopy
• Photochemistry
• Franck-Condon principle
• Fluorescence
• Phosphorescence
• Jablonski diagram
• Quantum yield
• Photostationary state
• Photosensitised reactions

Chemistry Paper-III – Analytical and Organic Chemistry

Part A – Analytical Chemistry

• Accuracy and precision
• Sensitivity
• Standard deviation
• Analytical errors
• Significant figures
• Q-test
• t-test
• F-test
• Control charts
• Sampling
• Standard reference materials
• Statistical treatment
• Solvent extraction
• Extraction by solvation and chelation
• UV-visible spectroscopy
• Lambert-Beer law
• Spectrophotometric determination
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Flame atomic absorption/emission
• AAS modes
• Hollow cathode and electrode-discharge lamps
• Thermal analysis
• Thermogravimetry
• X-ray generation
• XRD
• XRF
• Powder diffraction
• ICP spectroscopy
• Analysis of minerals and ores
• Analysis of metals and alloys
• Petroleum analysis
• Coal and coke analysis
• Bomb calorimetry

Part B – Organic Chemistry

• Carbenes
• Nitrenes
• Rearrangements
• Addition reactions
• Alkene polymerisation
• Ziegler-Natta catalyst
• Polyurethane
• Conducting polymers
• Diels-Alder reaction
• Carbonyl additions
• Cannizzaro reaction
• Aldol reaction
• Perkin reaction
• Claisen reaction
• Benzoin and benzil-benzilic acid rearrangement
• Mannich reaction
• Dieckmann reaction
• Michael reaction
• Stobbe reaction
• Darzens reaction
• Wittig reaction
• Doebner reaction
• Knoevenagel reaction
• Reformatsky reaction
• Reduction and oxidation reactions
• Hydroboration
• Ozonolysis
• Epoxidation
• Sharpless epoxidation
• Electrocyclic reactions
• Woodward-Hoffmann rules
• Norrish reactions
• Sigmatropic rearrangements
• IR spectroscopy
• UV spectroscopy
• NMR spectroscopy
• Proton and carbon-13 NMR
• Chemical shift
• Spin-spin coupling
• Mass spectrometry
• Molecular ion
• Metastable ions
• McLafferty rearrangement

Exam Centre

Preliminary Examination Centres

No.	Centre
1	Ahmedabad
2	Bengaluru
3	Bhopal
4	Chandigarh
5	Chennai
6	Cuttack
7	Delhi
8	Dispur
9	Ghaziabad
10	Gurugram
11	Hyderabad
12	Jaipur
13	Jammu
14	Kolkata
15	Lucknow
16	Mumbai
17	Patna
18	Prayagraj
19	Shillong
20	Shimla
21	Thiruvananthapuram

Centre allocation follows a first-apply-first-allot principle subject to the applicable capacity limits. Once a centre reaches capacity, candidates may have to select from the remaining centres. The Commission reserves the right to change centres when required.

Main Examination Centres

No.	Centre
1	Bhopal
2	Chennai
3	Delhi
4	Dispur (Guwahati)
5	Hyderabad
6	Kolkata
7	Lucknow
8	Mumbai
9	Shimla

Job Role and Work Profile

The recruitment covers scientific and technical positions in the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board. The specific nature of work varies by discipline and post.

Post/Discipline	Broad Functional Area
Geologist	Geological investigation, geological studies and mineral/resource-related scientific work
Geophysicist	Geophysical investigation and interpretation
Chemist	Chemical and analytical investigation related to geological materials
Assistant Geologist	Geological and field-support functions
Assistant Geophysicist	Geophysical survey and technical support
Assistant Chemist	Laboratory and analytical support
Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology)	Groundwater and hydrogeological investigation
Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical)	Chemical investigation and analysis
Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics)	Geophysical investigation and interpretation
Assistant Hydrogeologist	Hydrogeological and groundwater-related technical work

The exact service duties, responsibilities and posting conditions are governed by the applicable service rules and departmental requirements.

Salary / Pay Scale

The UPSC Examination Notice dated 02 September 2026 does not specify detailed pay levels or a post-wise salary table in the available examination notice.

Salary Detail	Status
Pay Level	Not Specified in the Examination Notice
Basic Pay	Not Specified in the Examination Notice
Grade Pay	Not Specified in the Examination Notice
Allowances	Not Specified in the Examination Notice
In-Hand Salary	Not Specified

Candidates should rely on the applicable service rules and appointment-related documents for detailed remuneration and service conditions.

Documents and Information Required

Candidates should keep the information and supporting documents required for the URN, Common Application Form and Examination-Specific Module ready.

Important requirements include:

• Date-of-birth details
• Educational qualification details
• Category information, where applicable
• Photo ID details
• Photograph
• Live photograph
• Signature
• Required reservation certificates
• EWS Income & Asset Certificate, where applicable
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate, where applicable
• PwBD certificate, where applicable
• Active email ID
• Active mobile number

The candidate must provide the information and documents required by the UPSC. Incomplete or defective applications can be rejected.

How to Apply

1. Visit the UPSC Online Application Portal.
2. Create an account if required.
3. Complete the Universal Registration Number (URN) process.
4. Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).
5. Provide the required personal, educational and category information.
6. Upload the photograph as instructed.
7. Capture the required live photograph.
8. Upload the prescribed signature.
9. Complete the Examination-Specific Module for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027.
10. Select the applicable category/stream and examination centre.
11. Pay the ₹200 fee if applicable.
12. Review all information carefully before final submission.
13. Submit the application within the prescribed deadline.
14. Retain the Application Number and URN.
15. Keep a printout or soft copy of the submitted application for future reference.

The application must be submitted online. No other mode of application is permitted.

Important Application Rules

No Withdrawal

Candidates are not permitted to withdraw the application after submission.

No Post-Submission Correction

No addition, deletion or modification is permitted in the submitted online application after submission. The URN profile has a separate one-time edit facility, but changes made to the URN profile do not automatically modify an already submitted application.

Photo ID

Candidates must provide details of one valid photo identity document such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence or another photo ID issued by the State/Central Government. The same ID should be carried for the examination.

Admit Card

Eligible candidates will receive the e-Admit Card through the UPSC Online system. No admit card is sent by post. Candidates should maintain a valid and active email address because UPSC may use electronic communication during the examination process.

Examination Hall Instructions

• Candidates must use a black ball-point pen for marking answers in the Preliminary OMR answer sheet.
• Pencil and ink pens are not permitted for OMR marking.
• Errors in roll number or Test Booklet Series Code can result in rejection of the answer sheet.
• Mobile phones are prohibited, including when switched off.
• Smart watches, Bluetooth devices, cameras, storage media and other prohibited electronic devices are also banned.
• Candidates should not bring valuables because the examination venue will not provide safe-keeping arrangements.
• Entry to the examination venue closes 30 minutes before the commencement of each session.
• Mandatory face authentication is required at the examination venue.
• Candidates should reach the venue sufficiently early for authentication, identity verification and frisking.

Calculator Rules

Calculators are not permitted in the Objective Type Preliminary Examination.

A non-programmable pocket calculator is permitted in the Descriptive/Conventional Main Examination. Programmable calculators are prohibited, and candidates may not lend or exchange calculators inside the examination hall.

Question Paper and Provisional Answer Key Representation

After the examination, UPSC provides an online mechanism for candidates who appeared in the examination to submit representations concerning questions and provisional answer keys.

The representation window is five days, beginning from the third day after the examination date and remaining open until 6:00 PM on the seventh day.

Representations must be submitted through the prescribed UPSC Online facility. Representations sent by email, post, hand delivery or other modes are not accepted after the prescribed window.

Scribe and PwBD Provisions

The notification contains provisions for scribe assistance for eligible Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, including specified categories of blindness, locomotor disability and cerebral palsy.

Candidates in other eligible disability categories may be required to submit the prescribed medical certificate establishing the physical limitation to write and the need for a scribe.

The scribe arrangement and related conditions are governed by UPSC instructions and the applicable disability rules.

Important Service Preference Rule

Candidates must indicate their order of preference for participating services for which they are interested in allocation.

A candidate cannot ordinarily be considered for allocation to a service that was not included in the submitted preference order. At least one service preference must be indicated for consideration for service allocation.

Final Selection and Tie-Breaking

The final ranking is prepared using the prescribed marks from the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test.

In case of equal final marks:

1. Higher combined marks in the relevant subject-specific papers and Personality Test receive preference.
2. If still equal, higher subject-specific marks are considered.
3. If the tie continues, the older candidate is ranked higher.
4. Any remaining tie is resolved at the discretion of UPSC.

Marks are rounded to two decimal places wherever applicable before applying the tie-breaking principles.

Important Links

Important Links
Apply Online
Notification
SarkariCop Official Home Page
Official Website

FAQs

1. What is the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027?

It is a UPSC examination for recruitment to scientific and technical posts in the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board.

2. How many vacancies are available in UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027?

There are 127 tentative vacancies across GSI and CGWB.

3. When does the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 application process start?

The online application process starts on 02 September 2026.

4. What is the last date to apply for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027?

The last date is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.

5. What is the Preliminary Examination date?

The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027.

6. When will the Main Examination be conducted?

The Main Examination is scheduled for 19 and 20 June 2027.

7. What is the age limit for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027?

Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years as on 01 January 2027, subject to applicable relaxations.

8. What is the application fee?

The prescribed fee is ₹200. Female, SC, ST and eligible PwBD candidates are exempted from payment.

9. Is there negative marking in the Preliminary Examination?

Yes. One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for an incorrect answer.

10. Is there negative marking for unanswered questions?

No. An unanswered question carries no penalty.

11. How many stages are there in the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination?

There are three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview.

12. How many marks are there in the Preliminary Examination?

The Preliminary Examination carries 400 marks.

13. How many marks are there in the Main Examination?

The Main Examination carries 600 marks.

14. How many marks are allotted to the Personality Test?

The Personality Test/Interview carries 200 marks.

15. Is the Preliminary Examination score counted in final merit?

Yes. The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination by candidates qualifying for the Main Examination are counted for final merit.

16. What educational qualification is required for the Geologist post?

A relevant Master’s degree in areas such as Geological Science, Geology, Applied Geology, Geo-Exploration, Mineral Exploration, Engineering Geology, Marine Geology, Earth Science and Resource Management, Oceanography and Coastal Areas Studies, Petroleum Geosciences or Geochemistry is prescribed.

17. What qualification is required for Geophysicist posts?

Relevant M.Sc., Integrated M.Sc. or M.Sc. (Tech.) qualifications in Physics, Applied Physics, Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics or Marine Geophysics are prescribed depending on the post.

18. What qualification is required for Chemist posts?

Candidates require the prescribed M.Sc. qualification in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry for the relevant Group A posts.

19. Can a candidate apply for both categories?

Yes, where the candidate is eligible for both categories, a single application can cover both categories and the examination fee is paid only once.

20. Where can candidates apply?

Applications must be submitted online through the UPSC Online Application Portal.