UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027. The examination is being conducted for recruitment to various Group A and Group B Geo-Scientist posts in the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti.
As per the official notification, the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 notification was released on 2 September 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the UPSC online application portal. The last date to apply is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification Date | 02 September 2026 |
| Examination Notice No. | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Total Vacancies | 127 (Tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 September 2026 |
| Last Time | 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Exam Date | 19 & 20 June 2027 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 for applicable candidates |
| Official Application Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
The dates and vacancy figures are based on the notification and the vacancies are stated to be tentative and liable to alteration.
UPSC Geo-Scientist Vacancy 2027
The recruitment covers vacancies under two categories: Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
Category-I – Geological Survey of India (GSI)
| Post | Group | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 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 (CGWB)
| Post | Group | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Therefore, the notification contains 127 tentative vacancies in total. The notice also specifies PwBD-reserved vacancies within the listed posts.
Note: The vacancy numbers are tentative and may be changed by the Commission.
Also Read : MECL Recruitment 2026 : 122 Non-Executive Posts, Apply Online from 12 September
Important Dates for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027
Candidates should keep the following dates in mind:
- Notification Released: 02 September 2026
- Online Application Starts: 02 September 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 22 September 2026
- Last Time for Submission: 6:00 PM
- UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Exam: 10 January 2027
- UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Main Exam: 19 & 20 June 2027
The notification clearly states that online applications can be submitted up to 22 September 2026 at 18:00 hours, after which the application link will be disabled.
Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027
Age Limit
For the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027, candidates must have:
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years
- Age calculated as on: 1 January 2027
- Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2 January 1995 and not later than 1 January 2006.
Age relaxation is available to eligible candidates belonging to categories such as SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and certain Government servants as prescribed in the notification.
Educational Qualification
The required qualification depends on the post/stream.
For Geologist
Candidates should possess a Master’s degree in relevant disciplines 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.
For Geophysicist / Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics)
Relevant qualifications include M.Sc. in Physics/Applied Physics, M.Sc. in Geophysics, Integrated M.Sc. in Exploration Geophysics, M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics, Marine Geophysics or specified related qualifications.
For Chemist / Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical)
Candidates require M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry from a recognized university/institution.
For Hydrogeology Posts
For Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) and Assistant Hydrogeologist, a Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology is prescribed.
For Assistant Chemist
Relevant Master’s qualifications include Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Hydro-Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry.
For Assistant Geologist
A Master’s or Integrated Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Mineral Exploration, Marine Geology or Earth Science is required.
For Assistant Geophysicist
Relevant qualifications include M.Sc./M.Sc. (Tech.)/Integrated M.Sc. in Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics, Geo-Exploration, Marine Geophysics, Physics, Applied Physics or Applied Geology.
Application Fee
Candidates belonging to applicable categories are required to pay an examination fee of ₹200.
The notification states that Female candidates, SC/ST candidates and eligible Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates are exempted from payment of the fee. OBC/EWS candidates are not exempted and are required to pay the prescribed fee.
The fee can be paid through:
- Net Banking
- Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card
- UPI
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam Pattern 2027
The examination will be conducted in three stages:
- Stage-I – Preliminary Examination
- Stage-II – Main Examination
- Stage-III – Personality Test/Interview
The overall scheme carries:
- Preliminary Examination: 400 Marks
- Main Examination: 600 Marks
- Personality Test: 200 Marks
Thus, the examination structure carries 1,200 marks in total.
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers for each stream.
Geology/Hydrogeology Stream
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Geology/Hydrogeology | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
Geophysics Stream
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Geophysics | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
Chemistry Stream
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Chemistry | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
There is negative marking in the objective papers. One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for an incorrect answer, while there is no penalty for leaving a question unanswered.
Stage-II: Main Examination
The Main Examination consists of three conventional/descriptive papers for the relevant stream.
For the Geology, Geophysics and Chemistry streams, each paper carries 200 marks and three hours, making 600 marks for Stage-II.
Candidates must answer the conventional papers in English only.
Stage-III: Personality Test
The Personality Test/Interview carries 200 marks. Candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in Stage-II as prescribed by the Commission will be called for the Personality Test.
The Personality Test assesses qualities including leadership, initiative, intellectual curiosity, tact, social qualities, mental and physical energy, practical application and integrity.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Selection Process
The selection process is:
Preliminary Examination → Main Examination → Personality Test/Interview → Final Merit
The Preliminary Examination is used to select candidates for the Main Examination, while marks obtained in the Preliminary and Main Examinations are counted towards final merit as prescribed in the notice.
The Commission states that approximately six to seven times the total number of vacancies may be admitted to the Main Examination, subject to the prescribed qualifying criteria.
How to Apply for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027
Eligible candidates should follow these steps:
- Visit the UPSC online application portal.
- Complete the required Account Creation/Universal Registration (URN) process.
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).
- Select the examination-specific module for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027.
- Enter personal, educational and category details carefully.
- Upload the required documents, photograph and signature.
- Capture the required live photograph as instructed.
- Pay the applicable examination fee.
- Select the examination centre carefully.
- Submit the application before 22 September 2026, 6:00 PM.
- Keep a printout or soft copy of the submitted application for future reference.
The notification specifically states that candidates must apply online only through the UPSC online portal and that hard copies of the application are not required to be submitted to the Commission.
Documents Required UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027
Candidates should keep scanned copies of relevant documents ready, including:
- Age/Date of Birth Certificate
- Educational Qualification Certificate
- SC/ST/OBC/EWS certificates, where applicable
- Age/Fee concession certificate, where applicable
- PwBD certificate, where applicable
The original documents will be required at the Personality Test/Interview stage as prescribed by UPSC.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Candidates should be particularly careful while submitting the application because the notification states that applications cannot be withdrawn after submission, and correction/alteration/modification in the submitted application is not allowed.
The Commission also requires candidates to provide a valid photo ID and strongly advises the use of Aadhaar for verification and authentication.
At the examination venue, face authentication is mandatory, and candidates should reach the venue sufficiently early for authentication, identity verification and frisking.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 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 is generally on a first-apply-first-allot basis for centres where a ceiling applies. Candidates are therefore advised to apply early if they want their preferred centre.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 – Direct Link
| Particular | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
FAQs – UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027
Q1. When was the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 notification released?
The notification was released on 2 September 2026.
Q2. How many vacancies are announced?
There are 127 tentative vacancies across GSI and CGWB.
Q3. What is the last date to apply?
The last date is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
Q4. When will the Preliminary Examination be held?
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Examination 2027 is scheduled for 10 January 2027.
Q5. What is the application fee?
The applicable examination fee is ₹200. Female, SC/ST and eligible PwBD candidates are exempted as per the notification.
Q6. What is the age limit?
Candidates must be 21 to 32 years as on 1 January 2027, subject to applicable age relaxation.
Q7. What is the selection process?
Selection consists of Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview.
Q8. Can candidates apply for both GSI and CGWB categories?
Yes. A candidate may apply for one or both categories, if eligible, and only one application and one fee payment is required for both categories.
Conclusion
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 provides opportunities for candidates with relevant postgraduate qualifications in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, Hydrogeology and related disciplines. With 127 tentative vacancies across GSI and CGWB, eligible candidates should carefully check the post-wise educational qualification, age limit, physical standards and other conditions before applying.
The application window is open from 2 September to 22 September 2026, while the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027. Candidates should complete their applications well before the deadline because centre allocation is subject to availability and submitted applications cannot subsequently be withdrawn or corrected.
