The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027, under Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL. This opens up 127 tentative vacancies for Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, Hydrogeologist, and related Group A and Group B posts across the Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines, and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. This notification specifically covers applications for the Preliminary Examination, scheduled for 10 January 2027. This article walks through every detail — vacancy breakup, eligibility, exam pattern, fee, and how to apply.
1. Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027 |
| Examination Notice No. | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Recruiting Organisations | Geological Survey of India (GSI), Ministry of Mines; Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Ministry of Jal Shakti |
| Total Vacancies | 127 |
| Notification Release Date | 2 September 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Online only, via upsconline.nic.in |
| This Notification Covers | Preliminary Examination applications only |
CGSE is one of the main nationwide routes for postgraduates in geology, geophysics, chemistry, and hydrogeology to enter a permanent, prestigious Central Government scientific service.
2. Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification release | 2 September 2026 |
| Online application start | 2 September 2026 |
| Online application close | 22 September 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Age reckoning date | 1 January 2027 |
| Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 19 – 20 June 2027 |
| Personality Test/Interview | To be scheduled after the Main Examination result |
3. Vacancy Details
Total Vacancies: 127 (tentative), split across two organisations:
Geological Survey of India (GSI) — 111 Posts
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Geologist | 29 |
| Assistant Geologist | 34 |
| Assistant Geophysicist | 35 |
| Chemist | 7 |
| Assistant Chemist | 6 |
| Total | 111 |
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) — 16 Posts
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) | 5 |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist | 7 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical) | 1 |
| Assistant Chemist | 1 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics) | 1 |
| Assistant Geophysicist | 1 |
| Total | 16 |
These vacancy numbers are tentative and may be revised by UPSC before the final selection stage.
4. Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit (as on 1 January 2027)
- Minimum age: 21 years
- Maximum age: 32 years
- Age relaxation is applicable for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD, and other eligible categories, as per standard Government of India rules mentioned in the official notification.
Educational Qualification (Post-wise)
| Post | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| Geologist / Assistant Geologist (GSI) | Master’s Degree in Geology or Applied Geology from a recognised university |
| Geophysicist / Assistant Geophysicist (GSI/CGWB) | Master’s Degree in Geophysics or Applied Geophysics (M.Sc./M.Tech.) from a recognised university |
| Chemist / Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical) / Assistant Chemist (GSI/CGWB) | M.Sc. in Chemistry, Applied Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, or Industrial Chemistry from a recognised university |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) / Assistant Hydrogeologist (CGWB) | Master’s Degree in Geology, Applied Geology, Marine Geology, or Hydrogeology from a recognised university |
Note: Candidates appearing in their final qualifying examination are also eligible to apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of having passed by the prescribed deadline.
5. Selection Process
CGSE 2027 selection runs through three successive stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Stage-I) — used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. This is the stage this current notification covers.
- Main Examination (Stage-II) — used to shortlist candidates for the Personality Test.
- Personality Test/Interview (Stage-III) — the final stage before selection.
Final selection depends on merit position, category, candidate’s stream and post preference, and the number of available vacancies.
Preliminary Examination Pattern (Objective, OMR-based — 400 Marks Total)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies (common for all streams) | 100 | 2 hours |
| Paper-II | Stream-Specific Paper (Geology/Hydrogeology, Geophysics, or Chemistry — as per candidate’s chosen stream) | 300 | 2 hours |
| Total | 400 |
- Negative Marking: 1/3 (0.33) mark deducted for every wrong answer.
- The Preliminary Examination is used only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination — Prelim marks themselves are not typically added to the final merit, which is based on Main Examination and Interview performance.
Main Examination Pattern (Descriptive — 600 Marks)
- Conducted for candidates who qualify the Preliminary Examination.
- Descriptive/conventional papers, specific to the candidate’s chosen stream (Geology/Hydrogeology, Geophysics, or Chemistry).
- Scheduled for 19 and 20 June 2027.
Personality Test (200 Marks)
- The final stage, testing the candidate’s suitability, communication skills, and aptitude for geological/scientific fieldwork.
Total marks across the full selection process: 1,200 (400 Prelims + 600 Mains + 200 Interview), though final merit ranking is typically drawn from Main Examination plus Interview scores, as per the scheme detailed in the official notification.
Preliminary Examination Centres
The exam will be conducted at the following centres: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj, Shillong, Shimla, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Candidates select 3 preferred centres at the time of application, allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis — applying early improves your chances of getting your preferred centre.
6. Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹200 |
| Female candidates (all categories) | Exempted |
| SC / ST / PwBD candidates | Exempted |
- Payment is accepted via Net Banking, or Visa/Mastercard/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI.
- The fee, once paid, is non-refundable under any circumstances.
7. How to Apply
- Visit the official UPSC application portal: upsconline.nic.in
- Select the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027 module/notification link.
- Complete Part I of the registration with your basic personal and educational details.
- Select your Stream — Geology/Hydrogeology, Geophysics, or Chemistry — based on your qualification.
- Choose your 3 preferred Preliminary Examination centres (allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis).
- Complete Part II of the application, including document upload and other required details.
- Pay the applicable examination fee of ₹200 online (waived for female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates).
- Preview the filled application carefully, and verify every field before submission.
- Click Submit before 22 September 2026, 6:00 PM.
- Download and print your submitted application form, and keep your URN (Unique Registration Number) and Application Number safe for future reference.
Important: Don’t wait until the last date — the application server tends to slow down closer to the deadline, and any last-minute technical glitch could cost you an entire year’s opportunity.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
127 tentative vacancies — 111 under the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and 16 under the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
22 September 2026, 6:00 PM. The application window opened on 2 September 2026.
10 January 2027.
A Master’s degree in the relevant discipline (Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, or Hydrogeology, depending on the post), with age between 21 and 32 years as on 1 January 2027.
An objective-type OMR exam worth 400 marks total — Paper-I: General Studies (100 marks, 2 hours) and Paper-II: a stream-specific paper (300 marks, 2 hours), with a negative marking of 1/3 mark per wrong answer.
₹200 for General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are fully exempted.
No. This notification covers applications for the Preliminary Examination only. Candidates who qualify will be separately called for the Main Examination on 19-20 June 2027.
Yes. Candidates appearing in their final qualifying examination can apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by the prescribed deadline.
21 centres are notified nationwide. Candidates select 3 preferred centres at the time of application, allotted on a first-apply-first-allot basis.
Preliminary Examination (400 marks, for shortlisting) → Main Examination (600 marks) → Personality Test/Interview (200 marks), with final selection based on merit, category, and vacancy availability.
9. Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Notification – UPSC CGSE 2027 | Download PDF |
| Online Application Portal | upsconline.nic.in |
| Official UPSC Website | upsc.gov.in |
Read the complete official notification carefully to confirm the exact post-wise eligibility and vacancy details for your chosen stream. Apply well before the deadline to secure your preferred exam centre, and rely only on the official UPSC website for updates on admit cards and further stages.
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