The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027. The recruitment drive has been announced through Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL, dated September 2, 2026, for a total of 127 tentative vacancies in the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
The online application process has already started, and candidates can submit their forms until September 22, 2026, up to 6:00 PM. The Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Examination 2027 will be held on January 10, 2027, while the Main Examination is scheduled for June 19 and 20, 2027.
Table of Contents
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Examination | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 |
| Notice No. | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Total Vacancies | 127 |
| Notification Date | September 2, 2026 |
| Application Deadline | September 22, 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Exam | January 10, 2027 |
| Main Exam | June 19 and 20, 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Fee | Rs. 200 for applicable candidates |
UPSC has invited applications for posts across the Geological Survey of India, under the Ministry of Mines, and the Central Ground Water Board, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The vacancy figures are tentative and may be altered.
Vacancy
The notification lists 111 vacancies in the Geological Survey of India and another 16 vacancies in the Central Ground Water Board, taking the overall tentative vacancy count to 127.
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Geologist, Group A | 29 |
| Geophysicist, Group A | 0 |
| Chemist, Group A | 7 |
| Assistant Geologist, Group B | 34 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | 35 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | 6 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology), Group A | 5 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical), Group A | 1 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), Group A | 1 |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B | 7 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | 1 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | 1 |
| Total | 127 |
The notification also earmarks specified vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) across eligible posts.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | September 2, 2026 |
| Application Last Date | September 22, 2026 |
| Application Closing Time | 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | January 10, 2027 |
| Main Examination | June 19 and 20, 2027 |
Candidates should apply early because several preliminary examination centres are subject to a ceiling and are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Ahmedabad are excluded from this stated ceiling provision.
Age Limit
Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years as on January 1, 2027.
Accordingly, a candidate should have been born not earlier than January 2, 1995 and not later than January 1, 2006.
The notification provides upper-age relaxation for eligible categories, including:
- SC/ST: up to 5 years
- OBC: up to 3 years
- Eligible defence personnel: up to 3 years
- Eligible ex-servicemen: up to 5 years
- Eligible PwBD candidates: up to 10 years
- Certain eligible government servants: up to 5 years
Candidates should check the post-specific and category-specific conditions before claiming relaxation.
Educational Qualification
The required qualification differs according to the post.
For Geologist Group A, candidates generally need a Master’s degree in fields 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.
For Geophysicist and related Geophysics posts, qualifications include prescribed postgraduate degrees in Physics, Applied Physics, Geophysics or related disciplines.
For Chemist and related Chemistry posts, candidates need the prescribed Master’s degree in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry or other notified Chemistry disciplines.
For Hydrogeology posts, a Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology is among the prescribed qualifications.
Candidates who are awaiting the result of a qualifying examination may also apply, subject to the conditions laid down by UPSC.
Application Fee
The application fee is Rs. 200.
However, the following candidates are exempted from paying the examination fee:
- Female candidates
- SC candidates
- ST candidates
- Eligible Persons with Benchmark Disabilities
UPSC has explicitly stated that OBC and EWS candidates are not exempt and must pay the full prescribed fee.
Payment can be made through net banking, credit card, debit card or UPI.
Selection Process
The Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 will be conducted in three stages:
- Preliminary Examination – 400 marks
- Main Examination – 600 marks
- Personality Test/Interview – 200 marks
Importantly, marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination will also be counted while determining the final merit.
Preliminary Exam Pattern
The Preliminary Examination will consist of two objective-type papers.
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Stream-Specific Paper | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
The stream-specific second paper will be Geology/Hydrogeology, Geophysics or Chemistry, depending on the category selected by the candidate.
The notification confirms negative marking. For every incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. No penalty will apply to questions left unanswered.
Main Examination Pattern
The Main Examination consists of three descriptive papers, each worth 200 marks, for a total of 600 marks.
Each paper lasts three hours. The subject combination varies according to the candidate’s discipline.
For example, Geologist and Assistant Geologist candidates will take three Geology papers, while Hydrogeology candidates will take two Geology papers and one Hydrogeology paper.
The Main Examination papers must be answered in English only.
How to Apply for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027
Candidates must submit the application through the UPSC online application system.
The new application framework consists of four modules: Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form, and Examination-Specific Form.
After registration, candidates receive a Universal Registration Number (URN), which remains common for UPSC examinations. A separate application number is generated for each examination.
Applicants should:
- Create or access their UPSC online account.
- Complete Universal Registration and obtain the URN.
- Fill in the Common Application Form.
- Complete the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination Specific Form.
- Select the examination centre and applicable post preferences.
- Upload the prescribed photograph, live photograph, signature and supporting documents.
- Pay the applicable examination fee.
- Review the application carefully before final submission.
UPSC has stated that candidates cannot withdraw their applications after submission, and corrections or alterations to application fields are not permitted after final submission.
Photo and Signature Requirements
Applicants are required to upload their photograph and also complete a live photograph capture while filling out the Common Application Form.
For the signature, candidates have been instructed to sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper using black ink, and to upload the image as prescribed.
UPSC has also strongly advised candidates to use their Aadhaar Card as an identity document for easier verification, although other specified government-issued photo IDs are also accepted.
Admit Card
UPSC states that eligible candidates will normally receive their e-Admit Card on the last working day of the week preceding the examination.
The admit card will be made available online and will not be sent by post.
Candidates should therefore keep their registered email address and mobile number active throughout the examination process.
What Candidates Should Keep in Mind
Applicants should complete the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 application before 6:00 PM on September 22, 2026 and avoid waiting until the closing date.
Since examination centres with limited capacity are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis, an early application can also improve the chances of receiving a preferred centre.
Candidates should carefully verify their age, qualifications, category documents, and post preferences before submitting the form, as UPSC does not allow withdrawal or routine post-submission corrections to the examination application.
