Stream-wise educational qualification criteria (Master's Degree of minimum 2 years' duration from a recognized University):
• Geologist Group 'A' & Assistant Geologist Group 'B' (GSI): Master's degree in Geological Science / Geology / Applied Geology / Geo-Exploration / Mineral Exploration / Engineering Geology / Marine Geology / Earth Science and Resource Management / Oceanography & Coastal Areas Studies / Petroleum Geosciences / Geochemistry.
• Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology) Group 'A' & Assistant Hydrogeologist Group 'B' (CGWB): Master's degree in Geology / Applied Geology / Marine Geology / Hydrogeology.
• Geophysicist Group 'A', Assistant Geophysicist Group 'B' (GSI/CGWB) & Scientist 'B' (Geophysics) (CGWB): M.Sc. in Physics / Applied Physics / Geophysics / Integrated M.Sc. (Exploration Geophysics) / Applied Geophysics / Marine Geophysics / M.Sc. (Tech.) (Applied Geophysics).
• Chemist Group 'A', Assistant Chemist Group 'B' (GSI/CGWB) & Scientist 'B' (Chemical) (CGWB): M.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry / Applied Chemistry / Analytical Chemistry / Physical / Inorganic / Organic / Hydro-Chemistry / Industrial Chemistry.
• Final Year / Awaiting Result Candidates: Candidates appearing at the qualifying exam can also apply provisionally; proof of passing must be produced within 10 days of declaration of Stage-II Mains results.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 – Apply Online for 127 Geologist, Geophysicist & Chemist Posts
Quick Recruitment Snapshot
Key recruitment parameters at a glance before you apply
Crucial Recruitment Dates
Official schedule & key deadlines
Published
Sep 2, 2026
Starts
Sep 2, 2026
Deadline
Sep 22, 2026
Exam Date
Jan 10, 2027
Eligibility Criteria & Educational Qualifications
Who is eligible to apply for this recruitment? Check essential educational qualifications, branch/stream criteria, and age limits.
Educational Qualification
Age Limit & Relaxations
Candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained 32 years on 1st January 2027 (born between 2nd January 1995 and 1st January 2006).
Upper age relaxations:
• Scheduled Castes (SC) / Scheduled Tribes (ST): Up to 5 years (max 37 years)
• Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL): Up to 3 years (max 35 years)
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Up to 10 years (cumulative relaxation applicable with SC/ST/OBC)
• Departmental Government Servants (in GSI / CGWB): Up to 5 years for corresponding posts
• Ex-Servicemen and ECOs/SSCOs: Up to 5 years as per Government norms.
Selection Procedure & Exam Stages
Verified Official SourceHow will candidates be selected? Multi-stage screening roadmap from application to final merit list.
Stage-I: Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type - 400 Marks)
Stage-II: Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination (Descriptive Type - 600 Marks)
Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview (200 Marks)
The examination plan comprises three sequential stages:
1. Stage-I (Preliminary) Examination: 400 Marks. Two objective multiple-choice papers (Paper-I General Studies: 100 marks, 2 hrs; Paper-II Domain Subject: 300 marks, 2 hrs). Conducted on OMR sheet with 1/3 negative marking.
2. Stage-II (Main) Examination: 600 Marks. Three conventional descriptive papers of 200 marks each (3 hours each) in the chosen discipline (Geology, Geophysics, or Chemistry).
3. Stage-III (Personality Test / Interview): 200 Marks before the UPSC Board.
• Crucial Merit Rule: Marks secured in Stage-I (400) + Stage-II (600) + Stage-III (200) are ALL counted together to determine the final composite merit list out of 1,200 marks.
Syllabus & Exam Pattern Overview
Verified Official SourceWhat is the examination structure? Mode of test, total marks, duration, and negative marking rules.
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type - OMR Mode)
240 Minutes
One-third (0.33) marks deducted per wrong answer
| Subject / Section | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Studies (Common to all streams) | 100 | 100 |
| Paper-II: Stream Subject (Geology/Hydrogeology OR Geophysics OR Chemistry) | 120 | 300 |
| Total | 220 | 400 |
Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Descriptive Papers)
540 Minutes
Not Applicable
| Subject / Section | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Domain Subject Paper 1 | 8 | 200 |
| Paper-II: Domain Subject Paper 2 | 8 | 200 |
| Paper-III: Domain Subject Paper 3 (Hydrogeology for CGWB) | 8 | 200 |
| Total | 24 | 600 |
Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview
30 Minutes
Not Applicable
| Subject / Section | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personality Evaluation, Field Aptitude & Scientific Viva-Voce | 1 | 200 |
Previous Recruitment Cutoff Benchmarks
Verified Official SourceHistorical qualifying marks and eligibility benchmarks for prior recruitment cycles.
| Year / Cycle | Stage / Tier | UR (Gen) | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 (Geologist) | Stage-I Preliminary (Out of 400 marks) | 154 | 154 | 154 | 95 | 94 |
| 2024/2025 (Geologist) | Stage-II Main written (Out of 1000 marks) | 413 | 384 | 366 | 316 | 275 |
| 2024/2025 (Geologist) | Final Selection (Combined Out of 1200 marks) | 574 | 552 | 535 | 456 | 411 |
| 2024/2025 (Geophysicist) | Stage-I Preliminary (Out of 400 marks) | 160 | 160 | 160 | 124 | 81 |
| 2024/2025 (Geophysicist) | Final Selection (Combined Out of 1200 marks) | 543 | 497 | 497 | 469 | 453 |
| 2024/2025 (Chemist) | Stage-I Preliminary (Out of 400 marks) | 238 | 221 | 238 | 180 | 131 |
| 2024/2025 (Chemist) | Final Selection (Combined Out of 1200 marks) | 722 | 655 | 702 | 620 | 587 |
| 2024/2025 (Scientist 'B' Hydrogeology) | Stage-I Preliminary (Out of 400 marks) | 154 | 154 | 154 | 110 | 105 |
| 2024/2025 (Scientist 'B' Hydrogeology) | Final Selection (Combined Out of 1200 marks) | 622 | 590 | 580 | 520 | 500 |
Aspirant Ground Reality & Career Trajectory
Verified Official SourcePractical service rules, posting locations, transfer policy, and promotion ladder curated from official gazettes.
Work Culture & Environment
Office/fieldwork balance, duties, organizational environment.
Posting & Transfer Policy
Initial posting criteria, zone preferences, transfer liability.
Career & Promotion Ladder
Promotion timeline, seniority ladder, pay grade scaling.
Avoid common application rejection triggers, photo/signature guidelines, and certificate validity windows.
- Crucial Preliminary Score Inclusion: Candidates must note that unlike the Civil Services Examination, marks secured in Stage-I (Preliminary) Examination (out of 400 marks) ARE ADDED to Stage-II Mains (out of 600) and Stage-III Interview (out of 200) to determine the final rank and service allocation out of 1,200 marks. High Prelims scores provide a decisive competitive buffer.
- Strict Online Application Deadline: Online applications must be submitted via UPSC portal (https://upsconline.nic.in) before 18:00 Hours on 22.09.2026. No physical applications or late submissions are entertained. Once submitted, no withdrawal or modification of application data is permissible.
- Single Application for Both GSI & CGWB: Eligible candidates can apply for both Category-I (GSI) and Category-II (CGWB) posts within a single application form and single fee payment (₹200 for General/OBC/EWS males, free for Female/SC/ST/PwBD). Service preferences must be carefully indicated at the time of online application.
- Centre Allotment Ceiling ('First-Apply-First-Allot'): There is a ceiling on candidate capacity for each exam centre (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad). Centres are allocated on a first-apply-first-allot basis; early application is essential to secure preferred test cities.
- Mandatory Face Authentication & Gate Closure: Face authentication is mandatory at test centres. Venue gates close strictly 30 minutes before commencement of each session; no entry is permitted thereafter under any circumstances.
Category-Wise Vacancy Breakdown & Pay Scale
Detailed post distribution across UR, OBC, EWS, SC, ST quotas and 7th CPC Pay Matrix / Monthly Stipend.
Category-Wise Vacancy Distribution
- Geologist (Group 'A') - GSI29
- Chemist (Group 'A') - GSI7
- Assistant Geologist (Group 'B') - GSI34
- Assistant Geophysicist (Group 'B') - GSI35
- Assistant Chemist (Group 'B') - GSI6
- Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology) (Group 'A') - CGWB5
- Scientist 'B' (Chemical) (Group 'A') - CGWB1
- Scientist 'B' (Geophysics) (Group 'A') - CGWB1
- Assistant Hydrogeologist (Group 'B') - CGWB7
- Assistant Chemist (Group 'B') - CGWB1
- Assistant Geophysicist (Group 'B') - CGWB1
- Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD - Horizontal Quota)10 (GSI: 8, CGWB: 2)
Pay Scale & Monthly Remuneration
Grade-wise Pay Scales in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix:
• Group 'A' Posts (Geologist, Chemist, Scientist 'B' Hydrogeology/Chemical/Geophysics): Pay Level 10 (Entry Basic ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500; approx gross monthly ₹95,000–₹1,10,000).
• Group 'B' Posts (Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist, Assistant Hydrogeologist): Pay Level 8 (Entry Basic ₹47,600 – ₹1,51,100; approx gross monthly ₹80,000–₹95,000).
Allowances include Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), Field Hardship Allowance (during field season/drilling camps), Medical coverage under CGHS, and National Pension System (NPS) benefits.
How to Apply Online Step-by-Step?
Follow this verified step-by-step application procedure on the official recruitment portal.
Application Procedure
Candidates must apply online through the Union Public Service Commission's website https://upsconline.nic.in. The application process involves:
- Creating an account.
- Obtaining a Universal Registration Number (URN).
- Filling out the Common Application Form (CAF) and an Examination Specific Module (which includes fee payment and center selection).
- Uploading requisite information and supporting documents (e.g., date of birth, educational qualification, category certificates).
- Capturing a live photograph and uploading a scanned signature as per the instructions available on the Commission's website.
Applicants are strongly advised to refer to the detailed instructions and prepare all documents in advance. Failure to provide the required information or documents will result in the cancellation of candidature. Candidates should apply well before the deadline of 22nd September 2026 to avoid last-minute issues, as the link will be disabled afterwards. Aadhaar Cards are recommended as ID documents for verification.
Application Fee & Category Concessions
Application fee is ₹200 (Rupees Two Hundred only) for General, OBC, and EWS male candidates payable online via Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, or UPI. Female candidates, SC, ST, and Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) candidates are completely exempt from payment of application fee. Candidates applying for both Category-I (GSI) and Category-II (CGWB) are required to pay the fee only once. Fee is non-refundable.
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Starts
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Deadline
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Exam Date
Jan 10, 2027
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Selection Procedure & Exam Stages
Verified Official SourceHow will candidates be selected? Multi-stage screening roadmap from application to final merit list.
Stage-I: Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination (Objective Type - 400 Marks)
Stage-II: Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination (Descriptive Type - 600 Marks)
Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview (200 Marks)
The examination plan comprises three sequential stages:
1. Stage-I (Preliminary) Examination: 400 Marks. Two objective multiple-choice papers (Paper-I General Studies: 100 marks, 2 hrs; Paper-II Domain Subject: 300 marks, 2 hrs). Conducted on OMR sheet with 1/3 negative marking.
2. Stage-II (Main) Examination: 600 Marks. Three conventional descriptive papers of 200 marks each (3 hours each) in the chosen discipline (Geology, Geophysics, or Chemistry).
3. Stage-III (Personality Test / Interview): 200 Marks before the UPSC Board.
• Crucial Merit Rule: Marks secured in Stage-I (400) + Stage-II (600) + Stage-III (200) are ALL counted together to determine the final composite merit list out of 1,200 marks.
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Sarkari Job Khojo is an independent information service and job discovery platform. All recruitment insights, syllabi, previous year exam cutoffs, and selection stages are compiled from official government notifications, gazettes, and recruitment portals. We are not affiliated with, authorized by, or an official representative of any government agency or recruitment board. Always verify details in the official advertisement PDF before applying.