UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSPE) 2027: 127 Group A and Group B Posts
The Union Public Service Commission has opened applications for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027, and this year the notice carries 127 posts in the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board. If you have finished an M.Sc. in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry or Physics and felt there was no central government exam written for your subject, this is that exam. See more UPSC jobs on GovtJobsAlert.in while you decide.
Applications at this stage are for the Preliminary examination only. The window opened on 2 September 2026 and closes on 22 September 2026 at 6:00 PM, so you have a short run. Below you will find the post-wise vacancy list, the exact degree each post asks for, the age rule, the fee, the three-stage plan and every condition in the notice that can end your candidature. Read the row for your own post, not just the total.
What are the Key Highlights of UPSC CGSPE 2027 Notification?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination | Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination 2027 |
| Notice Number | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Total Posts | 127 |
| Departments | Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board |
| Application Window | 2 September 2026 to 22 September 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 10 January 2027 |
| Job Location | All India |
How Many Vacancies are There in UPSC Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027?
The notice lists the posts in two blocks: Category-I in the Geological Survey of India under the Ministry of Mines, and Category-II in the Central Ground Water Board under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
| Post | Department | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Geologist, Group A | GSI | 29 |
| Geophysicist, Group A | GSI | 00 |
| Chemist, Group A | GSI | 7 |
| Assistant Geologist, Group B | GSI | 34 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | GSI | 35 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | GSI | 6 |
| Scientist B (Hydrogeology), Group A | CGWB | 5 |
| Scientist B (Chemical), Group A | CGWB | 1 |
| Scientist B (Geophysics), Group A | CGWB | 1 |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B | CGWB | 7 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | CGWB | 1 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | CGWB | 1 |
| Total | GSI and CGWB | 127 |
Two things there need a careful eye. Geophysicist, Group A in GSI is advertised with 00 vacancies — that is the printed figure, not a gap in our reading, so look at Assistant Geophysicist instead. And the notice says the number of vacancies is liable to alteration; it prints no grand total, so 127 is the sum of the twelve rows. Appointments are temporary in the first instance.
This notification carries no category-wise UR, EWS, OBC, SC or ST split for any post. It only says reservation will be made as fixed by the Government. Do not hunt for a seat count for your category — it is not in this notice. The one split given is for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, and those seats sit inside the totals above.
| Post Reserved for PwBD | Disability and Count |
|---|---|
| Geologist, Group A (GSI) | 1 — OH (OA/OL) |
| Chemist, Group A (GSI) | 1 — HH |
| Assistant Geologist, Group B (GSI) | 2 — one OH (OA/OL), one HH |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B (GSI) | 3 — HH |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B (GSI) | 1 — HH |
| Scientist B (Hydrogeology), Group A (CGWB) | 1 — HH |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B (CGWB) | 1 — LDCP |
| PwBD seats in all | 10 |
What is the Eligibility Criteria for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?
UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027 Educational Qualification
| Post | Degree the Notice Asks For |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Geophysicist, Group A (GSI) and Scientist B (Geophysics), Group A (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Physics or Applied Physics, or M.Sc. in Geophysics, Integrated M.Sc. in Exploration Geophysics, M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics, M.Sc. in Marine Geophysics, or M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Geophysics |
| Chemist, Group A (GSI) and Scientist B (Chemical), Group A (CGWB) | M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry |
| Scientist B (Hydrogeology), Group A and Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B (CGWB) | Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology or Hydrogeology |
| Assistant Geologist, Group B (GSI) | Master’s or Integrated Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Mineral Exploration, Marine Geology or Earth Science |
| 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 |
| 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 |
A Master’s degree here means a post-graduate degree of at least two years after graduation, and an integrated course counts. If your result is still awaited, or you only intend to appear at the qualifying examination, you may still apply — that admission is provisional and can be cancelled. A Master’s degree from an approved foreign university is accepted, and the Commission may treat other examinations as equivalent in exceptional cases. Qualifications are also relaxable at the direction of the Commission, in writing, for candidates who are otherwise well qualified. See more post graduate government jobs if this list does not fit you.
One rule catches people every year. If your degree is in Geo-Exploration or Applied Geology, you are eligible under both the Geophysics stream and the Geology or Hydrogeology stream — but you must pick one stream while filling the form, and you may apply only for posts under that single stream. Choose it after checking where the seats are.
UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027 Age Limit and Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Rule |
|---|---|
| All candidates | 21 to 32 years as on 1 January 2027 (born 2 January 1995 to 1 January 2006) |
| SC / ST | Up to 5 years relaxation |
| OBC | Up to 3 years relaxation |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | Up to 10 years relaxation |
| Ex-servicemen with 5 years military service | Up to 5 years relaxation |
| ECOs / SSCOs on extended assignment | Up to 5 years relaxation |
| Defence Services Personnel disabled in operations | Up to 3 years relaxation |
| Government servants in GSI or CGWB for the same post | Up to 5 years relaxation |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including any age relaxation you qualify for. →
SC, ST and OBC candidates who are also ex-servicemen or PwBD get cumulative relaxation under both heads. Beyond what is written above, the age limits can in no case be relaxed. Only the date of birth in your Matriculation or Higher Secondary certificate is accepted — no affidavit, horoscope, birth extract or service record — and it can never be changed later.
What is the Salary for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?
This notification does not state a pay scale, pay level or salary figure anywhere. We will not import a number from an older year and pass it off as this year’s pay. What the notice does give is the classification of each post.
| Classification | Posts |
|---|---|
| Group A | Geologist, Geophysicist and Chemist in GSI; Scientist B (Hydrogeology), Scientist B (Chemical) and Scientist B (Geophysics) in CGWB |
| Group B | Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist and Assistant Chemist in GSI; Assistant Hydrogeologist, Assistant Chemist and Assistant Geophysicist in CGWB |
Group A posts are gazetted scientific jobs with field postings across India; Group B posts sit a rung below with the same field work. For the exact pay, wait for the Rules published in the Gazette of India rather than a figure floating on social media.
What is the Selection Process and Exam Pattern for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stage-I: Preliminary Examination | Objective type, two papers, 400 marks, answered on an OMR sheet; these marks count in the final merit |
| Stage-II: Main Examination | Conventional descriptive type, three papers, 600 marks; these marks also count in the final merit |
| Stage-III: Personality Test | Interview of 200 marks with no minimum qualifying marks |
| Verification of eligibility | Checked against your original documents only after you qualify for the Personality Test |
| Stage and Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Stage-I Paper-I: General Studies | 2 hours | 100 |
| Stage-I Paper-II: Stream subject | 2 hours | 300 |
| Stage-II Papers I, II and III | 3 hours each | 200 each |
| Stage-III Personality Test | Not stated | 200 |
| All three stages together | — | 1200 |
| Exam Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Negative marking | One-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers |
| Blank answers | A question left blank carries no penalty |
| Calculators | Not permitted in the objective papers; non-programmable calculators are allowed in the conventional papers |
| Language | Every paper is set in English only, and the Main papers must be answered in English only |
| Standard | Paper-I is at science-graduate standard; the stream papers are approximately of M.Sc. standard |
| Practical test | There is no practical examination in any of the subjects |
| Shortlisting ratio | About six to seven times the vacancies reach Stage-II; about twice the vacancies are called for the Personality Test |
The negative marking is explicit in this notice, so guessing costs you. Our exam syllabus and pattern guides can help you plan the months ahead.
What Conditions Can Cancel Your Candidature in UPSC CGSPE 2027?
These are the lines candidates skip. Each one is in the notice, and each one can end your attempt.
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Nationality | You must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from the listed countries; everyone except Indian citizens needs a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India |
| Physical fitness | You must be physically fit as per the physical standards in Appendix-II of the Rules published in the Gazette of India |
| e-Admit Card | Mere issuance of an e-Admit Card does not mean your candidature has been finally cleared |
| Missing documents | Failure to provide the required information or documents with the Common Application Form will entail cancellation of candidature |
| No withdrawal | You cannot withdraw an application after submission, and no correction, alteration or modification in any field is allowed afterwards |
| Fee not paid | Applications without the prescribed fee or mode, unless remission is claimed, shall be summarily rejected, and fee once paid is never refunded |
| OMR encoding | Any omission, mistake or discrepancy in filling the Roll Number or Test Booklet Series Code renders the answer sheet liable for rejection |
| Late entry | Face authentication at the venue is mandatory, and entry closes 30 minutes before each session; no candidate is allowed in after that under any circumstances |
| Banned items in the hall | Using a programmable calculator amounts to resorting to unfair means, and calculators cannot be loaned or interchanged in the hall; any infringement of the ban on mobile phones and electronic equipment entails disciplinary action, including a ban from future examinations |
| Category change | A General candidate cannot switch to a reserved category later, one reserved category cannot be swapped for another, and a PwBD candidate cannot change the sub-category of disability |
| Reserved to Unreserved | Reserved candidates who did not qualify each stage on General standard cannot claim UR vacancies after the final result, and such candidature shall be cancelled |
| Departmental age concession | Candidature admitted under the departmental age concession mentioned in the notice shall be cancelled if, after submitting the application, you resign or your services are terminated |
| Proof of qualification | If you applied while awaiting a result, upload the proof in the 10-day window after the Main result, failing which you will not be allowed to appear in the Personality Test |
| Service preference | You will not be considered for any service you did not list in your order of preference, and you must opt for at least one service |
| Employer objection | If your employer withholds permission to apply or appear, the application is liable to be rejected |
| Eligibility check | If at any stage the Commission finds you do not fulfil an eligibility condition, your candidature will be cancelled |
| Unfair means | Impersonation, fabricated documents or any unfair means invite prosecution under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024; you shall be disqualified and shall be liable to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period by the Commission and by the Central Government, and to face disciplinary action if already in service |
| Incomplete forms | Incomplete or defective applications shall be summarily rejected, and no representation or correspondence about such rejection is entertained under any circumstances |
| Blind candidates | The concession admissible to blind candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from myopia |
| Scribe rules | You must mark or write the papers in your own hand, and no scribe is allowed except for the permitted PwBD categories; if a scribe’s qualification is later found to be beyond your own qualification as declared, you forfeit your right to the post and all claims relating to it |
| Answer key representations | Representations on the question paper and answer keys are accepted only in the five-day online window; nothing is accepted afterwards by any mode, and the Commission will not enter into correspondence about it |
| Answer script marks | Identity marks or irrelevant matter in the answer script attract deduction of marks or non-evaluation of the script |
| Missed Main paper | If you fail to appear in any Main paper, the candidature stands rejected and the attempted part is not evaluated |
| Exam centre | No request for change of centre will be granted, and if you appear at a centre other than the one shown on your e-Admit Card your papers will not be valued and your candidature is liable to cancellation; candidates with multiple disabilities are eligible only under the Multiple Disabilities category and not under any other |
How to Apply Online for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Create an account on the UPSC online application portal (link in Essential Links below) |
| 2 | Complete Universal Registration and note the URN, which is generated once in a lifetime |
| 3 | Fill the Common Application Form with date of birth, category, qualification and supporting documents |
| 4 | Upload your photograph, capture the live photograph, and upload a signature signed three times one below the other in black ink |
| 5 | Fill the Examination Specific Module with fee and centre, and note the Application Number |
| 6 | Pay Rs. 200 by net banking, Visa / Master / RuPay card or UPI, unless you are exempted |
| 7 | Submit and save the confirmation; no hard copy goes to the Commission |
You may apply for Category-I, Category-II or both by filling only one form and paying the fee once. Keep scanned copies of your age proof, qualification certificate, category certificate and PwBD certificate ready; originals must be produced at the Personality Test. Centres are allotted first-apply-first-allot and freeze once full, so applying early is the only way to get the centre you want.
What are the Important Dates for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification and start of applications | 2 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply, up to 6:00 PM | 22 September 2026 |
| Last date for EWS and OBC (NCL) certificates issued on or after 1 April 2026 | 22 September 2026 |
| Age reckoned as on | 1 January 2027 |
| Preliminary Examination (Stage-I) | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination (Stage-II) | 19 and 20 June 2027 |
| e-Admit Card | Last working day of the week before the exam |
| Representation window on papers and answer keys | 3rd day to 6:00 PM of the 7th day after the exam |
What is the Application Fee for UPSC Geo-Scientist 2027?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| All female candidates | No fee |
| SC and ST candidates | No fee |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | No fee, subject to medical fitness standards |
| OBC candidates | Rs. 200 |
| EWS candidates | Rs. 200 |
| All other candidates | Rs. 200 |
Read that table twice, because the exemption pattern here is unusual. Every female candidate pays nothing, whatever her category, and SC, ST and PwBD candidates are also exempt. OBC and EWS candidates get no concession at all and must pay the full Rs. 200. Payment is by net banking of any bank, Visa, Master or RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI; no other mode is valid.
Essential Links — UPSC CGSPE 2027 Notification PDF and Apply Online Link
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification | Download Official Notification PDF |
| Apply Online | UPSC Online Application Portal |
| Official Website | UPSC Official Website |
| WhatsApp Channel | Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs |
| Telegram Channel | Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs |
If your degree is on that qualification list, this is one of the few central exams built for geoscience and chemistry post-graduates, and the competition is far smaller than the general exams. Fix your stream choice, work out your exact age on 1 January 2027, and submit well before 22 September rather than on the last evening, because centres freeze as they fill. Keep checking GovtJobsAlert.in and our government exam calendar for the admit card and every later stage of this exam.