The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 (CGSE 2027). The examination will be conducted for recruitment to various Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist, Scientist B and Assistant Hydrogeologist posts under the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines, and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti.
According to the notification, the online application process begins with the release of the examination notice, while the last date to submit the application is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM. The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Examination 2027 is scheduled for 10 January 2027, followed by the Main Examination on 19 and 20 June 2027.
This article covers the complete details of UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027, including vacancy details, educational qualification, age limit, application fee, examination pattern, salary information, selection process and online application procedure.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 Overview
The Combined Geo-Scientist Examination is a national-level competitive examination conducted by UPSC for recruitment to specialized scientific and technical posts in government departments.
For CGSE 2027, vacancies are divided into two major categories:
- Category-I: Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines
- Category-II: Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti
Candidates can apply for one or both categories, provided they satisfy the prescribed eligibility requirements. A candidate applying for both categories has to submit only one application and pay the examination fee only once.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Examination Notice No. | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Notification Date | 02 September 2026 |
| Total Tentative Vacancies | 127 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Last Date | 22 September 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19 & 20 June 2027 |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary, Main, Personality Test/Interview |
| Application Fee | Rs. 200 |
| Official Application Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
The vacancy numbers mentioned in the notification are tentative and may be altered by the Commission.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Vacancy 2027: Post-Wise Vacancy Details
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 offers vacancies in the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board.
The notification contains 111 vacancies under Category-I and 16 vacancies under Category-II, making a total of 127 tentative vacancies.
Category-I: Geological Survey of India Vacancy 2027
The following posts are available under the 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 |
The notification specifically mentions eight vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) within this category.
Therefore, candidates searching for UPSC Geologist Vacancy 2027, UPSC Assistant Geologist Recruitment 2027, UPSC Assistant Geophysicist Vacancy 2027, UPSC Chemist Recruitment 2027 and related government scientific jobs should check their stream-specific eligibility carefully.
Category-II: Central Ground Water Board Vacancy 2027
The Central Ground Water Board vacancies are as follows:
| 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 |
Two vacancies in this category are specifically reserved for PwBD candidates. The notification also states that the number of vacancies is liable to alteration and appointments will initially be made on a temporary basis.
Total UPSC Geo-Scientist Vacancy 2027
Total Tentative Vacancies = 111 + 16 = 127
The recruitment therefore provides opportunities for candidates with postgraduate qualifications in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry and related disciplines.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Important Dates
Candidates preparing for the UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam 2027 should keep the following dates in mind:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 02 September 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 02 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 September 2026 |
| Last Time for Application | 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19 & 20 June 2027 |
The official notification confirms that applications can be submitted up to 22 September 2026 at 18:00 hours. After this deadline, the application link will be disabled.
Candidates should avoid waiting until the final day because examination centres may have capacity restrictions and some centres are allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Application Fee 2027
The application fee for the UPSC CGSE 2027 Recruitment is Rs. 200 for candidates who are not covered under the fee exemption categories.
The fee can be paid through:
- Net Banking
- Visa Credit/Debit Card
- Master Credit/Debit Card
- RuPay Credit/Debit Card
- UPI
Category-Wise Application Fee
| Candidate Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/Other candidates liable to pay fee | Rs. 200 |
| Female Candidates | No Fee |
| SC Candidates | No Fee |
| ST Candidates | No Fee |
| PwBD Candidates, subject to prescribed conditions | No Fee |
| OBC Candidates | Rs. 200 |
| EWS Candidates | Rs. 200 |
The notification clearly states that there is no fee exemption for OBC and EWS candidates. Fee once paid will not be refunded.
UPSC Geo-Scientist Eligibility Criteria 2027
Candidates applying for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 must satisfy the prescribed nationality, age, educational qualification and physical fitness requirements.
Admission at every stage remains provisional until the Commission verifies the eligibility conditions.
Nationality
A candidate must generally be:
- A citizen of India; or
- A subject of Nepal; or
- A subject of Bhutan; or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India; or
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Candidates in the specified non-Indian categories may require a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Educational Qualification 2027
The educational qualification is one of the most important parts of UPSC CGSE eligibility because the required postgraduate discipline depends upon the post and stream selected.
Geologist Group A Educational Qualification
For the post of Geologist, Group A in Geological Survey of India, candidates must possess a Master’s degree in one of the specified disciplines, including:
- 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
- Geochemistry
The degree must be from a recognized university or institution as prescribed in the notification.
Geophysicist Group A and Scientist B Geophysics Qualification
For Geophysicist Group A in GSI and Scientist B (Geophysics) Group A in CGWB, candidates require an eligible Master’s qualification such as:
- M.Sc. in Physics
- M.Sc. in Applied Physics
- M.Sc. in Geophysics
- Integrated M.Sc. in Exploration Geophysics
- M.Sc. in Applied Geophysics
- M.Sc. in Marine Geophysics
- M.Sc. (Tech.) in Applied Geophysics
The qualification must be from a recognized university or institution.
Chemist Group A and Scientist B Chemical Qualification
For Chemist Group A in GSI and Scientist B (Chemical) Group A in CGWB, candidates must possess:
- M.Sc. in Chemistry; or
- M.Sc. in Applied Chemistry; or
- M.Sc. in Analytical Chemistry.
Scientist B Hydrogeology and Assistant Hydrogeologist Qualification
For Scientist B (Hydrogeology) Group A and Assistant Hydrogeologist Group B, candidates require a Master’s degree in:
- Geology
- Applied Geology
- Marine Geology
- Hydrogeology
Assistant Chemist Qualification
For Assistant Chemist posts in GSI and CGWB, the notification accepts Master’s qualifications in specified chemistry disciplines including:
- Chemistry
- Applied Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Hydro-Chemistry
- Industrial Chemistry
Assistant Geologist Qualification
For Assistant Geologist Group B, candidates must possess a Master’s or Integrated Master’s degree in:
- Geology
- Applied Geology
- Mineral Exploration
- Marine Geology
- Earth Science
Assistant Geophysicist Qualification
For Assistant Geophysicist Group B in GSI and CGWB, eligible qualifications include Master’s degrees in:
- Geophysics
- Exploration Geophysics
- Applied Geophysics
- Geo-Exploration
- Marine Geophysics
- Physics
- Applied Physics
- Applied Geology
The notification defines a Master’s degree in the respective discipline as a postgraduate degree of at least two years’ duration after graduation, whether integrated or otherwise.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Age Limit 2027
The UPSC CGSE 2027 age limit is:
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 32 years
- Age calculated as on: 1 January 2027
- Candidate should have been born not earlier than 2 January 1995
- Candidate should have been born not later than 1 January 2006
Age Relaxation
The notification provides applicable relaxation for eligible categories, including:
| Category | Maximum Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Certain Defence Services Personnel | 3 years |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Eligible ECOs/SSCOs | 5 years |
| PwBD categories | Up to 10 years |
The exact conditions for relaxation must be checked against the detailed rules applicable to the candidate.
UPSC Geo-Scientist Salary 2027
The uploaded Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 notification does not specify an exact salary amount or detailed pay matrix in the examination notice. Therefore, a specific monthly salary figure should not be stated as being officially provided by this notification.
The examination is for Group A and Group B scientific posts in GSI and CGWB, and candidates selected through the examination will be appointed against the respective government services/posts subject to the applicable service rules.
Candidates should therefore refer to the applicable service/recruitment rules for the exact pay scale, allowances and other service benefits rather than relying on unofficial salary figures.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Exam Pattern 2027
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist selection process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Personality Test/Interview
The overall examination structure carries:
| Stage | Type | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Stage-I | Preliminary Objective | 400 |
| Stage-II | Main Descriptive | 600 |
| Stage-III | Personality Test/Interview | 200 |
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective papers for each stream.
Stream-I: Geology/Hydrogeology
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Geology/Hydrogeology | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
Stream-II: Geophysics
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Geophysics | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
Stream-III: Chemistry
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies | 2 Hours | 100 |
| Paper-II | Chemistry | 2 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 400 |
The Preliminary examination contains negative marking. For an incorrect answer, one-third of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. No penalty is imposed for leaving a question blank.
UPSC CGSE Main Examination 2027
Candidates qualifying in the Preliminary Examination will be eligible to appear in the Main Examination.
The Main Examination is descriptive/conventional in nature and carries 600 marks.
For the Geophysics and Chemistry streams, the Main Examination contains three papers of 200 marks each. The Hydrogeology stream also contains three papers of 200 marks each.
The Main Examination is designed to test candidates at approximately the M.Sc. degree standard in the relevant subjects.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Selection Process 2027
The selection process for UPSC Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027 consists of three stages.
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is an objective screening stage consisting of General Studies and the relevant technical/scientific subject.
Candidates qualifying at this stage are permitted to appear in the Main Examination.
Stage 2: Main Examination
The Main Examination is descriptive and consists of three papers relevant to the candidate’s stream.
Marks secured in the Main Examination are considered for final merit.
Stage 3: Personality Test/Interview
Candidates who obtain the minimum marks prescribed by the Commission in Stage-II are called for the Personality Test.
The Personality Test carries 200 marks and has no minimum qualifying marks. Approximately twice the number of vacancies may be summoned for the Personality Test.
During the interview, UPSC assesses factors such as:
- Leadership ability
- Initiative
- Intellectual curiosity
- Social qualities
- Mental and physical energy
- Practical application
- Integrity of character
- Ability to adapt to field life
Final selection is based on merit, candidate preference and the number of vacancies for the respective category/post.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Examination Centres
The Preliminary Examination is scheduled to be conducted at several centres including:
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Cuttack
- Delhi
- Dispur
- Ghaziabad
- Gurugram
- Hyderabad
- Jammu
- Jaipur
- Kolkata
- Lucknow
- Mumbai
- Patna
- Prayagraj
- Shillong
- Shimla
- Thiruvananthapuram
Centre allotment is subject to availability and, for several centres, follows a first-apply-first-allot basis.
How to Apply Online for UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027
Eligible candidates can submit their UPSC CGSE 2027 online application through the official UPSC online application portal.
The application process uses the following major modules:
- Account Creation
- Universal Registration Number (URN)
- Common Application Form (CAF)
- Examination Specific Module
Once the Universal Registration Number is generated, it remains common for future UPSC examinations, while the Application Number is specific to each examination.
Steps to Apply
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC online application portal.
Step 2: Create an account and complete the required profile information.
Step 3: Generate/complete the Universal Registration Number (URN).
Step 4: Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).
Step 5: Upload the required photograph and capture the live photograph as instructed.
Step 6: Upload the required signature. The notification specifies that the candidate has to sign three times one below another on plain white paper using black ink.
Step 7: Select the relevant Combined Geo-Scientist examination stream/category.
Step 8: Select the examination centre carefully.
Step 9: Pay the applicable application fee.
Step 10: Review all details carefully and submit the application before the deadline.
Candidates should keep a copy of the submitted application for future reference. Hard copies of the application do not have to be submitted to UPSC.
Documents Required for UPSC CGSE Application 2027
Candidates should keep scanned copies of the required documents ready before beginning the application process.
Important documents may include:
- Date of Birth Certificate
- Educational Qualification Certificate
- SC/ST/OBC/EWS Certificate, wherever applicable
- Age/Fee Concession Certificate, wherever applicable
- PwBD Certificate, wherever applicable
Original documents are required at the Personality Test/Interview stage.
Candidates should also keep details of an acceptable photo identity document such as Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, Driving Licence or another government-issued photo ID.
Important Instructions for UPSC Geo-Scientist Exam 2027
Candidates should carefully read the examination instructions before applying.
The application cannot be withdrawn after submission, and corrections or modifications in the submitted application are generally not allowed after submission.
Candidates appearing in the Preliminary Examination must use a black ball pen for writing and marking answers on the OMR sheet.
Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, cameras, pagers and other prohibited electronic equipment are strictly banned inside the examination venue.
Face authentication is also mandatory at the examination venue.
UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist 2027 Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| UPSC Official Website | UPSC Official Website |
| Online Application Portal | UPSC Online Application Portal |
| CGSE 2027 Notification | Download PDF |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19 & 20 June 2027 |
The notification directs candidates to use the UPSC online portal for submitting the application and provides detailed instructions on the portal itself.
Conclusion: UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027
The UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 is an important government recruitment opportunity for candidates holding postgraduate qualifications in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, Hydrogeology and related disciplines.
A total of 127 tentative vacancies have been announced across the Geological Survey of India and Central Ground Water Board. The available posts include Geologist, Chemist, Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist, Scientist B (Hydrogeology), Scientist B (Chemical), Scientist B (Geophysics) and Assistant Hydrogeologist.
Interested candidates should complete the online application before 22 September 2026 at 6:00 PM and begin preparation for the Preliminary Examination scheduled for 10 January 2027.
Since the examination involves a technical subject at approximately postgraduate level, candidates should focus on both the General Studies paper and their selected technical stream. The notification also specifies that Preliminary marks and Main Examination marks contribute to final merit, followed by the 200-mark Personality Test/Interview.
Candidates are advised to read the complete official notification carefully before submitting the application because eligibility, reservation, educational qualifications, physical standards, examination rules and document requirements are governed by the detailed UPSC rules and notification.
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