UPSC Recruitment 2026 : The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 notification for 127 vacancies at its official website. The examination is for recruitment to Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Scientist ‘B’ and their Assistant-level posts under the Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines) and the Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti).
Online applications are being accepted through the UPSC Online portal. The application process is open till 22nd Sep 2026, with the Preliminary Examination scheduled for 10th Jan 2027 and the Main Examination for 19th–20th June 2027. Candidates should check the post-wise eligibility, age limit, vacancy and selection process before applying.
UPSC Recruitment 2026 Out
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 has been announced for a total of 127 vacancies across Category-I (Geological Survey of India) and Category-II (Central Ground Water Board) posts. Applications must be submitted online through the UPSC portal.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2027 |
| Examination Notice Number | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Notification Date | 02.09.2026 |
| Post Names | Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist (GSI); Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology/Chemical/Geophysics), Assistant Hydrogeologist, Assistant Chemist, Assistant Geophysicist (CGWB) |
| Total Vacancies | 127 (Category-I: 111, Category-II: 16) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Last Date to Apply | 22nd Sep 2026 (up to 18:00 Hrs) |
| Preliminary Examination Date | 10th Jan 2027 |
| Main Examination Date | 19th & 20th June 2027 |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Examination (Objective), Main Examination (Descriptive), Personality Test/Interview |
| Official Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Notification PDF
UPSC has issued the notification under Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL for recruitment through the Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary and Main) Examination, 2027, in accordance with Rules published by the Ministry of Mines in the Gazette of India dated 2nd September 2026. Candidates should read the notification carefully, as eligibility conditions (age, qualification) vary by post and stream.
The notification clarifies that applications are invited for the Preliminary Examination only at this stage; only candidates declared qualified in the Preliminary Examination will be permitted to appear for the Main Examination.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Vacancy 2027
Category-I: Posts in Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines)
| 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 |
Also Read : 23757 Posts – India Post GDS Recruitment 2026 (All India Can Apply)
Category-II: Posts in Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti)
| 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 |
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 02.09.2026 |
| Last Date for Filling Application | 22.09.2026 (up to 18:00 Hrs) |
| Preliminary Examination Date | 10.01.2027 |
| Main Examination Dates | 19.06.2027 & 20.06.2027 |
| Personality Test/Interview | To be announced (after Main Examination result) |
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates applying must hold a Master’s degree in the relevant discipline, as prescribed for the post.
| Post | Essential Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| Geologist (GSI) | Master’s degree in Geological Science/Geology/Applied Geology/Geo-Exploration/Mineral Exploration/Engineering Geology/Marine Geology/Earth Science & Resource Management/Oceanography & Coastal Area Studies/Petroleum Geosciences/Geochemistry |
| Geophysicist (GSI) / Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics) (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Physics/Applied Physics/Geophysics/Exploration Geophysics/Applied Geophysics/Marine Geophysics/Applied Geophysics (Tech.) |
| Chemist (GSI) / Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical) (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Chemistry/Applied Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) / Assistant Hydrogeologist (CGWB) | Master’s degree in Geology/Applied Geology/Marine Geology/Hydrogeology |
| Assistant Geologist (GSI) | Master’s/Integrated Master’s degree in Geology/Applied Geology/Mineral Exploration/Marine Geology/Earth Science |
| Assistant Geophysicist (GSI & CGWB) | M.Sc./M.Sc.(Tech)/Integrated M.Sc. in Geophysics/Exploration Geophysics/Applied Geophysics/Geo-Exploration/Marine Geophysics/Physics/Applied Physics/Applied Geology |
| Assistant Chemist (GSI & CGWB) | M.Sc./Integrated M.Sc. in Chemistry/Applied Chemistry/Analytical Chemistry/Physical Chemistry/Inorganic Chemistry/Organic Chemistry/Hydro-Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry |
All degrees must be from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central/State Legislature, or an institution established/deemed university under the UGC Act, 1956. A candidate awaiting results of the qualifying exam may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing within a specified window after the Main Examination result.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Age Limit
A candidate must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 32 years of age as on 1st January 2027, i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January 1995 and not later than 1st January 2006.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Government servants in GSI/CGWB applying for the corresponding post | Up to 5 years |
| SC/ST | Up to 5 years |
| OBC (eligible for reservation) | Up to 3 years |
| Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations during hostilities | Up to 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen (including Commissioned Officers/ECOs/SSCOs with 5+ years’ service) | Up to 5 years |
| ECOs/SSCOs with extended assignment beyond 5 years (subject to conditions) | Up to 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (Blindness/Low Vision, Deaf/HH, Locomotor Disability, Autism/ID/SLD/Mental Illness, Multiple Disabilities) | Up to 10 years |
SC/ST/OBC candidates who also fall under Ex-Servicemen or PwBD categories are eligible for cumulative age relaxation under both categories.
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability | Exempted |
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹200/- |
Also Read : 3993 Posts – The Railway Recruitment Boards – RRBs JE Recruitment 2026(All India Can Apply)
How to Apply for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027?
Applications must be submitted online only, in four modules — Account Creation, Universal Registration Number (URN), Common Application Form (CAF), and the Examination-Specific Module.
- Visit upsconline.nic.in and create an account.
- Complete the Universal Registration Number (URN) profile — a one-time registration valid for life across all UPSC exams — providing a valid photo ID (Aadhaar recommended).
- Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF), uploading your photograph (with live photo capture) and signature (signed three times on white paper) as per specifications.
- Complete the Examination-Specific Module for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, including choice of centre and category/categories applied for.
- Pay the prescribed fee online, where applicable.
- Submit the form; no withdrawal, correction or modification is allowed after final submission (except a one-time URN profile edit facility, which does not affect already-submitted applications).
The Online Application link will be disabled after 22.09.2026, 18:00 Hrs, following which no further submissions will be accepted.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Selection Process
The examination consists of three successive stages:
| Stage | Type | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Stage-I: Preliminary Examination | Objective Type (2 papers) | 400 |
| Stage-II: Main Examination | Descriptive/Conventional Type (3 papers) | 600 |
| Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview | — | 200 |
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
| Stream | Paper-I: General Studies | Paper-II (Stream-Specific) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream-I (Geology/Hydrogeology) | 100 marks (2 hrs) | Geology/Hydrogeology – 300 marks (2 hrs) | 400 |
| Stream-II (Geophysics) | 100 marks (2 hrs) | Geophysics – 300 marks (2 hrs) | 400 |
| Stream-III (Chemistry) | 100 marks (2 hrs) | Chemistry – 300 marks (2 hrs) | 400 |
There is a penalty of one-third of the marks for each wrong answer; no penalty for unattempted questions. Marks scored in the Preliminary Examination count towards the final merit for candidates who qualify for the Main Examination. Approximately 6 to 7 times the number of vacancies will be admitted to the Main Examination.
Stage-II: Main Examination (Descriptive Type)
| Stream | Papers | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Stream-I: Geologist/Assistant Geologist | 3 papers of Geology (200 marks each, 3 hrs each) | 600 |
| Stream-II: Geophysicist/Assistant Geophysicist/Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics) | 3 papers of Geophysics (200 marks each, 3 hrs each) | 600 |
| Stream-III: Chemist/Assistant Chemist/Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical) | 3 papers of Chemistry (200 marks each, 3 hrs each) | 600 |
| Stream-IV: Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology)/Assistant Hydrogeologist | 2 papers of Geology + 1 paper of Hydrogeology (200 marks each, 3 hrs each) | 600 |
Candidates must appear in all prescribed papers of their stream; failure to appear in any paper results in rejection of candidature for that stage.
Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview
The Personality Test/Interview carries 200 marks with no minimum qualifying marks. Candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks fixed by the Commission in the Main Examination will be summoned for interview, in a number about twice the number of vacancies. The interview assesses the candidate’s suitability for the post, including leadership, initiative, intellectual curiosity, tact, mental and physical energy, integrity of character, and aptitude for field life.