UPSC CGSE 2027 Recruitment 2026 – 127 Geo-Scientist Posts, Apply Online
UPSC CGSE 2027 — Quick Facts
| Last Date | 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Total Vacancies | 127 (111 GSI + 16 CGWB) |
| Post Names | Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Assistant Geologist, Scientist 'B' and more |
| Age Limit | 21-32 years (as on 01-01-2027) |
| Qualification | Master's degree in relevant field (Geology/Geophysics/Chemistry/Hydrogeology) |
| Fee | ₹200 (Male Gen/OBC/EWS) / Nil (Female/SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Prelims Exam | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Exam | 19-20 June 2027 |
| Selection | Prelims + Mains + Personality Test |
| Apply | APPLY NOW |
| Notification | DOWNLOAD PDF |
| Website | upsc.gov.in |
Last verified against official notification: 03 September 2026
UPSC CGSE 2027 — 127 Geo-Scientist Posts in GSI & CGWB
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027 (Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL, dated 02-09-2026), inviting online applications for 127 tentative vacancies. The posts include Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist (Group A), Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist (Group B) in the Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines), and Scientist 'B' and Assistant-level posts in the Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti).
Applications are online through upsconline.nic.in, open from 02 September 2026 and closing on 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM). The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027, and the Main Examination for 19-20 June 2027. This notification covers applications for the Preliminary Examination only. Candidates must hold a relevant Master's degree in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, or Hydrogeology from a recognized university.
Selection is a three-stage process — Preliminary Examination (400 marks), Main Examination (600 marks), and Personality Test/Interview (200 marks). Marks in both Prelims and Mains count towards the final merit. The age limit is 21-32 years as on 01 January 2027, with standard category-based relaxations. The fee is ₹200 for male general/OBC/EWS candidates; women, SC/ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted.
Key Details at a Glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notification No. | 01/2027-GEOL, dated 02-09-2026 |
| Total Vacancies | 127 (111 GSI + 16 CGWB) |
| Application Start | 02 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Prelims Exam | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Exam | 19-20 June 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online at upsconline.nic.in |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates and Application Fee
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of Notification | 02 September 2026 |
| Start of Online Application | 02 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Application | 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Helpline Operational Period | 02-09-2026 to 22-09-2026, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (working days) |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19-20 June 2027 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male (General/OBC/EWS) | ₹200 |
| Female candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
| SC/ST candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
| PwBD candidates | Nil (Exempted) |
- Fee can be paid through net banking or Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI.
- Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Vacancy Details
127 tentative vacancies across two categories. The Commission states these numbers are liable to alteration, and appointments will initially be made on a temporary basis. A candidate may apply for one or both categories using a single application and a single fee payment.
Category-I: Geological Survey of India (111 Posts)
| Post | Group | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Geologist | A | 29 |
| Geophysicist | A | 0 |
| Chemist | A | 7 |
| Assistant Geologist | B | 34 |
| Assistant Geophysicist | B | 35 |
| Assistant Chemist | B | 6 |
| Total (GSI) | 111 |
Category-II: Central Ground Water Board (16 Posts)
| Post | Group | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology) | A | 5 |
| Scientist 'B' (Chemical) | A | 1 |
| Scientist 'B' (Geophysics) | A | 1 |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist | B | 7 |
| Assistant Chemist | B | 1 |
| Assistant Geophysicist | B | 1 |
| Total (CGWB) | 16 |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
- Citizen of India, or
- Subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- Tibetan refugee who came to India before 01 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling, or
- Person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, specified East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India (eligibility certificate from Government of India required).
Post-Wise Qualification
| Post | Minimum Qualification |
|---|---|
| Geologist / Assistant Geologist | 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 / Assistant Geophysicist / Scientist 'B' (Geophysics) | M.Sc. in Physics, Applied Physics, Geophysics, Exploration Geophysics, Applied Geophysics, or Marine Geophysics |
| Chemist / Assistant Chemist / Scientist 'B' (Chemical) | M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Hydro-Chemistry, or Industrial Chemistry |
| Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology) / Assistant Hydrogeologist | Master's degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology, or Hydrogeology |
- All qualifying degrees must be from a university incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, an institution established by an Act of Parliament, or a deemed university under the UGC Act, 1956.
- A Master's degree means a postgraduate degree of minimum two years' duration after graduation.
- Candidates awaiting their qualifying result may also apply, subject to producing proof of passing before the Personality Test.
Age Limit (as on 01-01-2027)
Minimum 21 years, Maximum 32 years. Born not earlier than 02 January 1995 and not later than 01 January 2006.
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Disabled Defence Services personnel | 3 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disability | 10 years |
| Government servants in GSI/CGWB | 5 years (for corresponding post) |
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
Selection Stages
- Stage-I: Preliminary Exam — Objective type (two papers per stream), 400 marks. Shortlists for Main Exam.
- Stage-II: Main Exam — Conventional/Descriptive type (three papers per stream), 600 marks. Shortlists for Personality Test.
- Stage-III: Personality Test — 200 marks. Final selection by merit position.
Prelims Exam Pattern (Per Stream)
- Paper-I: General Studies (2 hours, 100 marks)
- Paper-II: Geology/Hydrogeology/Geophysics/Chemistry (2 hours, 300 marks)
- Total: 400 marks
- Negative marking: Applicable for wrong answers
- Both papers count towards final merit
Examination Centres
- Prelims (21 centres): Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj, Shillong, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram
- Mains (9 centres): Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Shimla
- Centre allotment is on first-apply-first-allot basis with a ceiling per centre (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, Ahmedabad). Apply early to secure preferred centre.
How to Apply
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Step 1: Visit the UPSC Online Application Portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Step 2: Create an account and complete Universal Registration to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN), common to all UPSC examinations for life.
- Step 3: Fill the Common Application Form (CAF), shared across UPSC exams.
- Step 4: Fill the examination-specific module for CGSE 2027, including fee payment and choice of examination centre.
- Step 5: Upload photograph, live photo capture, and signature as per the Commission's instructions.
- Step 6: Pay the application fee online (if applicable) and submit the application by 22-09-2026, 6:00 PM.
Important Instructions
- No other mode of submission is allowed, and no withdrawal, correction, or alteration is permitted after submission.
- Mobile phones, pagers, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, and similar electronic equipment are strictly banned at the examination venue, even in switched-off mode.
- Entry to the examination venue closes 30 minutes before the commencement of each session.
- Only black ball pens are permitted for writing and marking the OMR sheet.
- e-Admit Cards will be issued on the Commission's website only, on the last working day of the week preceding the exam.
- Candidates may make representations on question papers and provisional answer keys online, within 5 days from the 3rd day of the exam.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (strongly advised) or Voter Card/PAN Card/Passport/Driving Licence
- Matriculation/Secondary School certificate (for date of birth)
- Educational qualification certificates/mark sheets for the relevant Master's degree
- Category certificates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwBD), where applicable, in the prescribed format
- Photograph and signature, per the Commission's upload specifications
Important Links
Official Recruitment Links
- Apply Online - Apply Now
- Official Notification PDF - Download PDF
- Official Website - upsc.gov.in
Join Our Job Community
- Telegram Channel - Join Channel
- WhatsApp Channel - Join Channel
- Facebook Page - Follow Page
- Twitter / X - Follow Updates
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination conducted by UPSC to recruit 127 tentative posts of Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, and related Group A/B posts in the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board.
127 vacancies: 111 in the Geological Survey of India (Category-I) and 16 in the Central Ground Water Board (Category-II).
22 September 2026, up to 6:00 PM. This notification is for the Preliminary Examination only.
10 January 2027. The Main Examination is scheduled for 19-20 June 2027.
Candidates need a relevant Master's degree — for example, M.Sc in Geology for Geologist posts, M.Sc in Physics/Geophysics for Geophysicist posts, and M.Sc in Chemistry for Chemist posts.
21-32 years as on 01 January 2027. Category-wise relaxation: SC/ST (5 years), OBC (3 years), PwBD (10 years), ESM (5 years).
₹200 for Male General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female, SC/ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted.
Apply online only through upsconline.nic.in by creating a URN, completing the Common Application Form, and submitting the CGSE 2027 examination module before the deadline.
Three-stage process: Preliminary Examination (400 marks), Main Examination (600 marks), and Personality Test/Interview (200 marks). Marks in both Prelims and Mains count towards final merit.
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