The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has published the official notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 under Advertisement Notice 01/2027 GEOL. This national-level recruitment drive offers a prestigious career path for earth science postgraduates to serve in Group 'A' and Group 'B' gazetted positions within the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).

With 127 total positions open across various earth science specialties, eligible candidates can complete their One Time Registration (OTR) and online application directly on the official UPSC portal.

UPSC Geo-Scientist Recruitment 2027: Key Information

Timeline & Key Dates

Keep track of the official dates to ensure every stage of your application and test preparation stays on schedule:

[02 Sep 2026] ──> Notification Out & Online Application Window Opens
[22 Sep 2026] ──> Last Date to Submit Online Application Form (6:00 PM)
[23-29 Sep 2026]─> Application Form Correction Window
[Dec 2026] ──> Release of Stage-I Prelims E-Admit Card
[10 Jan 2027] ──> Stage-I Preliminary Examination
[19-20 Jun 2027]─> Stage-II Main Written Examination

• Application Window: 02 September 2026 to 22 September 2026
• Fee Payment Deadline: 22 September 2026
• Stage-I Prelims Exam Date: 10 January 2027
• Stage-II Mains Exam Dates: 19 and 20 June 2027
• Stage-III Personality Test: Expected November/December 2027

Comprehensive Post-Wise & Category-Wise Vacancy Details

The 127 vacancies are divided into two distinct operational streams based on the employing central organization:

Category-I: Geological Survey of India (GSI)

• Geologist, Group 'A': 29 Posts
• Geophysicist, Group 'A': 0 Posts
• Chemist, Group 'A': 07 Posts
• Assistant Geologist, Group 'B': 34 Posts
• Assistant Geophysicist, Group 'B': 35 Posts
• Assistant Chemist, Group 'B': 06 Posts

Category-II: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)

• Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology), Group 'A': 05 Posts
• Scientist 'B' (Chemical), Group 'A': 01 Post
• Scientist 'B' (Geophysics), Group 'A': 01 Post
• Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group 'B': 07 Posts
• Assistant Chemist, Group 'B': 01 Post
• Assistant Geophysicist, Group 'B': 01 Post

Academic Qualification Requirements

Candidates must hold a relevant Master's Degree or Integrated M.Sc. from a recognized University as of the cutoff date. Final-year postgraduate students are also eligible to apply provisionally.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ EDUCATIONAL ELIGIBILITY MATRIX │
├───────────────────────┬─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Target Discipline │ Minimum Academic Qualifications Required │
├───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Geology / │ Master's degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine │
│ Hydrogeology │ Geology, Mineral Exploration, Earth Science, or │
│ │ Hydrogeology. │
├───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Geophysics │ M.Sc. in Physics, Applied Physics, Geophysics, │
│ │ Integrated M.Sc. Geophysics, Marine Geophysics, or │
│ │ Applied Geophysics. │
├───────────────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Chemistry / │ M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical │
│ Chemical │ Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic, Organic, │
│ │ or Industrial Chemistry. │
└───────────────────────┴─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Age Limits & Relaxation (As on 01 January 2027)

• Minimum Age Requirement: 21 Years
• Maximum Age Limit: 32 Years (Candidate must have been born not earlier than 2nd January 1995 and not later than 1st January 2006).
• Upper Age Relaxation:
  • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years
  • SC / ST Candidates: 5 Years
  • PwBD / Ex-Servicemen: As per Central Government rules.

Fee Structure & Payment Modes

• General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates: ₹200/-
• SC / ST / PwBD Candidates: Nil (Exempted)
• Female Candidates (All Categories): Nil (Exempted)

Accepted Payment Options: Online payment via Net Banking, Visa/Mastercard/Rupay Debit or Credit Cards, UPI, or cash deposit at any State Bank of India (SBI) branch before the deadline.

Three-Tier Examination Pattern Explained

The selection process evaluates deep domain expertise across three structured phases totaling 1020 marks:

[Stage-I: Prelims] ──> 400 Marks (Objective CBT / OMR)
│
▼
[Stage-II: Mains] ──> 600 Marks (Descriptive Papers)
│
▼
[Stage-III: Interview]──> 200 Marks (Personality Test)

Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective - 400 Marks)

The Preliminary round serves as a screening test. Marks obtained here are carried forward into the final merit list.

• Negative Marking Rule: $1/3^{\text{rd}}$ mark ($0.33\%$) is deducted for every wrong objective answer in Stage-I.

Stage-II: Main Examination (Descriptive - 600 Marks)

Candidates qualifying the Prelims cutoff proceed to the descriptive examination, consisting of three discipline-specific papers (200 marks each, 3 hours per paper).

Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview (200 Marks)

An interview board assesses candidate aptitude, field knowledge, leadership qualities, and overall suitability for gazetted technical service.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Online via OTR Portal

1. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): Visit upsconline.nic.in. If you haven't created an account, register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Access Active Application: Log into your profile using your OTR ID or registered Email ID and navigate to the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 link under Active Examinations.
3. Fill Part-I Registration: Select your target post stream (Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, or Hydrogeologist), enter academic marks, and save personal details.
4. Pay Application Fee: Remit the ₹200 fee using online payment gateways (exempted categories can skip this step).
5. Upload Documents & Photo ID: Upload clear scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and government-issued Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card, PAN, or Passport).
6. Select Test Center & Submit: Choose your preferred preliminary examination city, accept the declaration, and submit the final application. Save a printed copy for future reference.

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