The Union Public Service Commission has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 under Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL. The online application process started on 2 September 2026 and will remain open till 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM. A total of 127 tentative vacancies are available for posts in the Geological Survey of India under the Ministry of Mines and the Central Ground Water Board under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The posts include Geologist Group A, Chemist Group A, Assistant Geologist Group B, Assistant Geophysicist Group B, Assistant Chemist Group B in GSI along with Scientist B in Hydrogeology, Chemical and Geophysics streams and related Assistant posts in CGWB. Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as on 1 January 2027 and hold a postgraduate degree in the relevant discipline such as Geology, Applied Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry or Hydrogeology from a recognised university. The selection process has three stages beginning with the Preliminary Examination on 10 January 2027 followed by the Main Examination on 19 and 20 June 2027 and a Personality Test. Applications can be submitted only online through the UPSC portal at upsconline.nic.in after completing Universal Registration and the Common Application Form. The application fee is Rs 200 for male candidates of UR, OBC and EWS categories while female candidates and those belonging to SC, ST and PwBD categories are exempted. This article provides complete details on important dates, vacancy distribution, eligibility, selection process and steps to apply for the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 2 September 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 2 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Application | 22 September 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19 and 20 June 2027 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male candidates of UR, OBC and EWS | Rs 200 |
| Female candidates of all categories | Nil |
| SC, ST and PwBD candidates | Nil |
The fee can be paid online through net banking, Visa, Master or RuPay credit or debit card or UPI. The fee once paid is not refundable under any circumstances.
Age Limit
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 years as on 1 January 2027 |
| Maximum Age | 32 years as on 1 January 2027 |
| Date of Birth Range | Born not earlier than 2 January 1995 and not later than 1 January 2006 |
Age relaxation is available as per government rules for candidates belonging to SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, ex-servicemen and other eligible categories.
Vacancy Details
The total number of vacancies is 127 and is tentative. The distribution is as follows.
| Organisation | Post | Group | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geological Survey of India | Geologist | A | 29 |
| Geological Survey of India | Geophysicist | A | 0 |
| Geological Survey of India | Chemist | A | 7 |
| Geological Survey of India | Assistant Geologist | B | 34 |
| Geological Survey of India | Assistant Geophysicist | B | 35 |
| Geological Survey of India | Assistant Chemist | B | 6 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Scientist B (Hydrogeology) | A | 5 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Scientist B (Chemical) | A | 1 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Scientist B (Geophysics) | A | 1 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Assistant Hydrogeologist | B | 7 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Assistant Chemist | B | 1 |
| Central Ground Water Board | Assistant Geophysicist | B | 1 |
A total of 8 vacancies in GSI and 2 vacancies in CGWB are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as per the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria
| Post / Stream | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Geologist Group A (GSI) | 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 from a recognised university |
| Assistant Geologist Group B (GSI) | Master’s or Integrated Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Mineral Exploration, Marine Geology or Earth Science from a recognised university |
| Geophysicist Group A (GSI) and Scientist B (Geophysics) Group A (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Physics or Applied Physics, M.Sc. (Geophysics), Integrated M.Sc. (Exploration Geophysics), M.Sc. (Applied Geophysics), M.Sc. (Marine Geophysics) or M.Sc. (Tech.) (Applied Geophysics) from a recognised university |
| Assistant Geophysicist Group B (GSI and CGWB) | 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 from a recognised university |
| Chemist Group A (GSI) and Scientist B (Chemical) Group A (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry from a recognised university |
| Assistant Chemist Group B (GSI and CGWB) | M.Sc. or Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Hydro-Chemistry or Industrial Chemistry from a recognised university |
| Scientist B (Hydrogeology) Group A and Assistant Hydrogeologist Group B (CGWB) | Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology from a recognised university |
Candidates must also satisfy the nationality conditions prescribed by the Commission. Final year students may apply subject to production of proof of having passed the qualifying examination at the time of the Main Examination.
Selection Process
The Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 will be conducted in three successive stages.
Stage I is the Preliminary Examination. It is an objective type computer based test consisting of two papers. Paper I is General Studies common for all streams and carries 100 marks. Paper II is stream specific and carries 300 marks. Each paper is of two hours duration. There is negative marking of one third of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer. Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are counted for final merit.
Stage II is the Main Examination. It is a descriptive type examination. Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination will appear for the Main Examination. The Main Examination consists of papers specific to each stream along with a common General English paper. The total marks for the Main Examination are 600.
Stage III is the Personality Test. Candidates who secure the prescribed qualifying marks in the Main Examination will be called for the Personality Test which carries 200 marks. Document verification and medical examination form part of the final selection process.
The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test.
How to Apply Online
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official UPSC online application portal at https://upsconline.nic.in |
| 2 | Complete Account Creation if applying for the first time |
| 3 | Generate Universal Registration Number (URN) and complete the Universal Registration profile |
| 4 | Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal, educational and other details |
| 5 | Upload required documents, capture live photograph and upload signature signed three times on plain white paper in black ink |
| 6 | Select the Examination Specific Module for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 |
| 7 | Choose the preferred stream, category and examination centre |
| 8 | Pay the application fee if applicable and submit the form |
| 9 | Download and print the confirmation page for future reference |
Candidates are advised to keep scanned copies of age proof, educational qualification certificates, category certificates and photo identity proof ready before starting the application process.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification PDF | Click here |
| Apply Online | Click here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click here |
Frequently Asked Questions
[question]When was the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027 notification released?
[answer]The notification was released on 2 September 2026.
[question]What is the last date to apply for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027?
[answer]The last date to submit the online application is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
[question]How many vacancies are available in UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027?
[answer]There are 127 tentative vacancies across posts in the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board.
[question]What is the age limit for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027?
[answer]Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as on 1 January 2027. They must have been born not earlier than 2 January 1995 and not later than 1 January 2006.
[question]What is the application fee for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027?
[answer]The application fee is Rs 200 for male candidates belonging to UR, OBC and EWS categories. Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwBD categories are exempted from payment of fee.
[question]When will the Preliminary Examination for Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027 be held?
[answer]The Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be held on 10 January 2027.
[question]What is the selection process for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027?
[answer]The selection process consists of three stages namely Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Personality Test.
The online application window for the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 remains open till 22 September 2026. Eligible candidates are advised to complete the application process well before the closing date.