UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 – Apply Online for 127 Posts

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2027. The examination is being conducted for recruitment to various Group A and Group B scientific posts in the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti.

The recruitment is being conducted for 127 tentative vacancies. Eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the UPSC online application portal. The notification was released on 02 September 2026, and the last date to submit the application is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.

The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination will be conducted in three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027, while the Main Examination is scheduled for 19 and 20 June 2027.

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 – Overview

The official notice states that candidates must apply online through the UPSC online application portal and that the application process uses the Universal Registration Number (URN), Common Application Form (CAF) and examination-specific module.

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Vacancy 2027

The recruitment covers vacancies under two major organizations: Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

Category-I – Geological Survey of India

Category-II – Central Ground Water Board

The vacancy figures are tentative and are liable to alteration. The notification also provides reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) within the notified vacancies.

UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must carefully check the eligibility conditions before submitting the application. Admission to all stages is provisional and subject to verification of eligibility.

Age Limit

For the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027, the candidate must have:

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 32 years
• Age will be calculated as on 01 January 2027.
• The candidate must have been born not earlier than 02 January 1995 and not later than 01 January 2006.

Age relaxation is available to eligible reserved and other specified categories as per the rules.

The notification provides, among other relaxations:

• SC/ST – up to 5 years
• OBC – up to 3 years
• Certain Ex-Servicemen categories – up to 5 years
• PwBD categories – up to 10 years
• Certain Government servants – up to 5 years

Candidates claiming relaxation must possess the required supporting certificates by the closing date of application.

Educational Qualification

The educational qualification depends upon the post/stream selected by the candidate.

Geologist

Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in subjects 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 from a recognized university/institution.

Geophysicist / Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics)

Candidates require an M.Sc. in Physics/Applied Physics or M.Sc. in Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics, Marine Geophysics or equivalent qualifications specified in the notification.

Chemist / Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical)

Candidates require an M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry from a recognized university/institution.

Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) / Assistant Hydrogeologist

Candidates require a Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology from a recognized university/institution.

Assistant Geologist

Candidates require a Master’s or Integrated Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Mineral Exploration, Marine Geology or Earth Science.

Assistant Geophysicist

Candidates require an M.Sc., M.Sc. (Tech.) or Integrated M.Sc. in Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics, Geo-Exploration, Marine Geophysics, Physics, Applied Physics or Applied Geology.

Candidates who have appeared in a qualifying examination and are awaiting results may also apply in certain circumstances, but their admission remains provisional. If they reach the Personality Test stage, they must provide proof of passing the required qualification within the prescribed window.

Application Fee

The examination fee for eligible candidates is ₹200.

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

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Selection Process 2027

The selection process consists of three stages:

Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination is an objective-type examination consisting of two papers for each stream.

Stage 2 – Main Examination

Candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination will be eligible to appear for the Main Examination. The Main Examination consists of three conventional/descriptive papers depending on the stream.

Stage 3 – Personality Test/Interview

Candidates who qualify in the Main Examination will be called for the Personality Test/Interview.

The official scheme provides 400 marks for Stage-I, 600 marks for Stage-II and 200 marks for Stage-III, with the marks from the examination stages contributing to the final merit as prescribed in the notification.

UPSC Geo-Scientist Exam Pattern 2027

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary papers are objective type and there is negative marking. For an incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted; unanswered questions do not attract a penalty.

Candidates should also note that calculators are not permitted in the objective papers.

Main Examination

The Main Examination consists of three conventional-type papers for each stream.

For Geology, the three papers carry 200 marks each, for a total of 600 marks. Geophysics and Chemistry also have three papers of 200 marks each. The Hydrogeology stream has two Geology papers and one Hydrogeology paper, each carrying 200 marks.

The Main Examination papers have a duration of 3 hours each.

UPSC Geo-Scientist Syllabus 2027

The official syllabus states that the General Studies paper is common to all streams and is broadly at the level expected from a science graduate. The stream-specific papers and Main Examination subjects are approximately at M.Sc. degree standard.

General Studies

Important areas include:

• Current events of national and international importance
• Indian History
• Indian National Movement
• Indian and World Geography
• Indian Polity and Governance
• Constitution and political system
• Economic and Social Development
• Sustainable Development
• Poverty and inclusion
• Environmental ecology
• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• General Science

The stream-specific syllabus covers subjects such as Physical Geology, Structural Geology, Mineralogy, Igneous Petrology and Metamorphic Petrology, along with the other discipline-specific topics prescribed in the notification.

How to Apply for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?

Candidates must apply online only. No offline application mode is available.

Step 1

Visit the UPSC online application portal.

UPSC Online Application Portal

Step 2

Create an account on the portal if you are a new applicant.

Step 3

Complete the Universal Registration (URN) process.

The URN is generated after registration and remains common for future UPSC examinations. The examination-specific Application Number will be generated separately for each examination.

Step 4

Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).

Candidates need to upload the required photograph and capture a live photograph as instructed.

Step 5

Upload the signature.

The notification specifies that candidates must sign three times one below another on plain white paper using black ink and upload the signature as instructed.

Step 6

Select the appropriate examination stream/post preferences and examination centre.

Step 7

Pay the applicable ₹200 examination fee, if applicable.

Step 8

Review all details carefully and submit the application before the deadline.

Candidates should remember that after submission, the application cannot be withdrawn, and corrections/alterations are generally not permitted in the submitted application.

Important Dates

These dates are given in the official UPSC examination notice.

Documents Required

Candidates should keep scanned copies of the necessary documents ready before beginning the application process.

Important documents include:

1. Age/Date of Birth Certificate
2. Educational Qualification Certificate
3. SC/ST/OBC/EWS Certificate, wherever applicable
4. Age/Fee Concession Certificate, wherever applicable
5. PwBD Certificate, wherever applicable
6. Valid Photo ID details
7. Photograph
8. Live photograph as required during CAF
9. Signature

The notification specifically asks candidates to keep scanned copies of age, educational qualification, reservation and concession-related certificates ready for uploading. Originals are required later at the Personality Test/Interview stage.

For EWS candidates, the notification specifies an Income & Asset Certificate based on FY 2025-26 and issued on/after 01 April 2026, but not later than the application closing date. OBC candidates must have the prescribed OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate based on the specified financial years and issued on/after 01 April 2026.

Examination Centres

The Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be conducted at centres including:

Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj, Shillong, Shimla and Thiruvananthapuram.

Centre allotment is subject to capacity and, for most centres, follows a first-apply-first-allot basis. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply early if they want a preferred examination centre.

Important Links

The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 is an important opportunity for postgraduate candidates from Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry and related disciplines to enter scientific positions under the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board.

The recruitment notification includes 127 tentative vacancies across Group A and Group B positions. Candidates should pay particular attention to the post-wise educational qualifications because eligibility differs considerably between Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Hydrogeologist and Assistant-level posts.

The application window is short, with the final date being 22 September 2026 at 6:00 PM. Candidates should complete the URN, CAF and examination-specific application carefully, upload the required documents, select their stream and examination centre correctly, and pay the prescribed fee where applicable.

The Preliminary Examination will be held on 10 January 2027, followed by the Main Examination on 19 and 20 June 2027. Since the selection process involves Preliminary, Main and Personality Test stages, candidates should begin preparation well in advance.

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