UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2025 – Download Paper I & II PDFs (General Studies, Chemistry, Geology, Geophysics)
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) successfully conducted the Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2025 to recruit officers for the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Government of India.
The exam aims to select highly skilled candidates in the fields of Geology, Hydrogeology, Geophysics, and Chemistry.
If you appeared for this exam or are preparing for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2026, this article provides official download links (PDFs) for all the 2025 question papers, including:
- Paper I – General Studies (Common for All)
- Paper II – Chemistry
- Paper II – Geology / Hydrogeology
- Paper II – Geophysics
You’ll also find a detailed exam analysis, difficulty review, and topic-wise breakdown for each paper.
Overview of UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2025
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2025 |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Departments Covered | Geological Survey of India (GSI), Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) |
| Posts | Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) |
| Exam Date | 16 February 2025 (Expected) |
| Exam Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT – Objective Type) |
| Selection Process | Prelims → Mains → Interview |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
UPSC Geo-Scientist Prelims 2025 – Exam Pattern
The Preliminary Exam comprises two papers for each stream.
Paper I (General Studies) is common to all candidates, while Paper II is stream-specific.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies (Common) | 100 | 2 Hours | Objective (MCQ) |
| Paper II | Subject-Specific (Chemistry / Geology / Geophysics / Hydrogeology) | 300 | 2 Hours | Objective (MCQ) |
| Total | — | 400 Marks | — | — |
Paper I – General Studies (Common for All)
Purpose:
To test awareness of current events, environment, scientific developments, geography, polity, and general aptitude relevant to Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Topics Covered:
Current Affairs (National & International)
Environmental Issues and Climate Change
General Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
Geography – India & World
Disaster Management & Ecology
Indian Polity and Governance
Economic & Social Development
Scientific and Technological Developments
Paper I 2025 – Difficulty Analysis
| Section | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs | 20 | Moderate | Focused on climate policies |
| Polity & Governance | 15 | Moderate | Conceptual |
| Environment | 15 | Easy | Repeated from PYQs |
| Geography | 15 | Moderate | Concept-based |
| Science & Tech | 20 | Moderate | Applied focus |
| Economy | 15 | Moderate | Current budget themes |
Overall Paper Level: Moderate
Focus Area: Environmental & Earth-Science-related current issues.
Download Paper I – General Studies (2025) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I – General Studies (2025) | Download PDF (Official UPSC) | UPSC Official |
| Answer Key | View Answer Key (2025) | UPSC Official |
Paper II – Chemistry
Purpose:
To test your knowledge in Physical, Inorganic, and Organic Chemistry relevant to applied research and analytical work in GSI & CGWB.
Key Topics Covered:
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry | Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Quantum Chemistry, Kinetics |
| Inorganic Chemistry | Coordination Compounds, Transition Elements, Analytical Chemistry |
| Organic Chemistry | Reaction Mechanisms, Aromatic Compounds, Spectroscopy |
| Analytical Methods | Chromatography, Instrumental Analysis, Spectrophotometry |
Paper II – Chemistry 2025 Analysis
| Section | Questions | Level | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Chemistry | 40 | Moderate | Calculation heavy |
| Inorganic Chemistry | 40 | Moderate–Difficult | Complex structures |
| Organic Chemistry | 35 | Moderate | Conceptual |
| Analytical Chemistry | 35 | Easy | Application-based |
Overall Level: Moderate to Tough
Trend: Numerical-heavy with conceptual focus on reaction mechanisms.
Download Paper II – Chemistry (2025) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paper II – Chemistry (2025) | Download PDF (Official UPSC) | UPSC Official |
| Answer Key (Chemistry) | View UPSC Official Key | UPSC Official |
Paper II – Geology / Hydrogeology
Purpose:
To evaluate conceptual understanding and practical knowledge in Earth Science, Mineralogy, and Hydrogeology.
Major Topics Covered:
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| General Geology | Earth Structure, Plate Tectonics, Geological Time Scale |
| Geomorphology | Landforms, Erosion, Weathering |
| Mineralogy & Petrology | Silicate Structures, Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks |
| Structural Geology | Faults, Folds, Lineations |
| Stratigraphy | Indian Stratigraphic Sequences |
| Paleontology | Fossils, Evolution, Vertebrates |
| Hydrogeology | Groundwater Hydraulics, Aquifers, Well Hydrology |
Paper II – Geology / Hydrogeology 2025 Analysis
| Section | No. of Questions | Level | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Geology | 25 | Moderate | Standard UPSC pattern |
| Petrology | 25 | Moderate–Tough | Conceptual |
| Hydrogeology | 25 | Easy–Moderate | Straightforward |
| Structural Geology | 25 | Moderate | Diagram-based |
| Stratigraphy | 25 | Moderate | Indian context focused |
Overall Level: Moderate to Challenging
Focus: Applied Geology and Groundwater studies.
Download Paper II – Geology / Hydrogeology (2025) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paper II – Geology / Hydrogeology (2025) | Download PDF (Official UPSC) | UPSC Official |
| Answer Key | View UPSC Key | UPSC Official |
Paper II – Geophysics
Purpose:
To assess knowledge in Physics-based Earth Studies, including seismic, gravity, magnetic, and electrical methods used in subsurface exploration.
Important Topics:
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Seismology | Earthquakes, Wave Propagation, Seismic Refraction |
| Gravity Methods | Gravitational Anomalies, Isostasy |
| Magnetic Methods | Field Measurement, Magnetic Properties of Rocks |
| Electrical & Electromagnetic Methods | Resistivity, Induction, EM Surveys |
| Geophysical Signal Processing | Fourier Transform, Data Filtering |
| Remote Sensing & GIS | Satellite Data Interpretation |
| Nuclear Geophysics | Radioactive Decay, Logging Techniques |
Paper II – Geophysics 2025 Analysis
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seismology | 30 | Moderate | Formula-based |
| Magnetic & Gravity | 25 | Moderate | Calculation-heavy |
| Electrical Methods | 25 | Easy–Moderate | Application-based |
| Remote Sensing | 20 | Moderate | Theoretical |
| Nuclear Geophysics | 20 | Moderate | Conceptual |
Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Trend: Balance of numerical and theoretical application.
Download Paper II – Geophysics (2025) PDF
| Paper | Download Link | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Paper II – Geophysics (2025) | Download PDF (Official UPSC) | UPSC Official |
| Answer Key (Geophysics) | View Official Key | UPSC Official |
Overall Difficulty Summary – Geo-Scientist Prelims 2025
| Stream | Paper I | Paper II | Overall Level | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Moderate | Tough | Challenging | Numerical-heavy |
| Geology / Hydrogeology | Moderate | Moderate | Balanced | Applied Geology |
| Geophysics | Moderate | Moderate | Balanced | Seismology & EM |
| General Studies (Common) | Moderate | — | Average | Environment & Current Affairs |
Importance of Solving 2025 Question Papers
Practicing the 2025 question papers gives you are a direct understanding of UPSC’s evolving question pattern.
Here’s why it’s essential:
You can understand real exam structure and time distribution
You can identify frequently repeated concepts
You can improve numerical solving speed and accuracy
You can learn how to apply theoretical concepts
You can build exam confidence
Tips for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2026 Preparation
Focus on Conceptual Understanding: Don’t just memorize formulas; understand the logic behind every concept.
Practice PYQs (2015–2025): At least 10 years of question papers for pattern analysis.
Use Standard Books:
- Geology: P.K. Mukherjee, Parbin Singh
- Geophysics: Kearey & Brooks, Telford
- Chemistry: Atkins, Morrison & Boyd
Mock Tests: Attempt topic-wise online tests.
Revise Weekly: Maintain short notes of important formulae and diagrams.
Stay Updated: Read environment-related current affairs monthly.
Conclusion
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2025 marks the beginning of India’s most technical and scientific recruitment process.
By practicing 2025 question papers of General Studies, Chemistry, Geology, and Geophysics, you can:
Analyze UPSC’s evolving pattern
Strengthen core fundamentals
Prepare strategically for the Mains stage (Descriptive)
“Science reveals truth — Preparation transforms it into success.”
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