The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially published the examination notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE) 2027 under Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL. This premier national-level selection process offers an exceptional career path for postgraduates in scientific and earth science domains, providing entry into prestigious Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ scientific services under the Central Government.
A total of 127 tentative vacancies have been announced across two key organizations: the Geological Survey of India (GSI) under the Ministry of Mines, and the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The online registration process commenced on 02 September 2026, and prospective candidates can submit their applications through the commission’s portal up to 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM).
The competitive selection structure comprises a three-tier system: the Preliminary Examination scheduled for 10 January 2027, the Main Examination on 19 and 20 June 2027, followed by the Personality Test/Interview. To assist you in preparing a seamless application, we have compiled the detailed breakdown of post distributions, eligibility benchmarks, paper patterns, and step-by-step submission instructions below.
UPSC CGSE 2027: Examination Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027 |
| Notification Notice No. | 01/2027-GEOL |
| Total Vacancies | 127 Posts (Tentative) |
| Category-I (GSI) Vacancies | 111 Posts (Geological Survey of India) |
| Category-II (CGWB) Vacancies | 16 Posts (Central Ground Water Board) |
| Application Mode | Online (upsc.gov.in) |
| Notification Release Date | 02 September 2026 |
| Online Registration Start Date | 02 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 22 September 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 10 January 2027 |
| Main Exam Dates | 19 June 2027 & 20 June 2027 |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CGSE 2027: Important Links
| Resource / Link Description | Direct Access Link |
|---|---|
| UPSC CGSE 2027 Online Application Portal | Apply Online Here |
| UPSC CGSE 2027 Official Notification PDF | Download Official PDF |
| Union Public Service Commission Official Website | Visit Official Website |
UPSC CGSE 2027: Key Schedule & Deadlines
| Event Stage | Date / Deadline |
|---|---|
| Official Notification Release | 02 September 2026 |
| Commencement of Online Registration | 02 September 2026 |
| Last Date for Form Submission | 22 September 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| UPSC CGSE Preliminary Examination | 10 January 2027 |
| UPSC CGSE Main Examination | 19 June 2027 & 20 June 2027 |
Detailed Vacancy Distribution (127 Posts)
The 127 tentative vacancies are categorized under two separate departments based on functional disciplines and operational requirements:
Category-I: Geological Survey of India (GSI)
| Post Designation & Cadre | Service Group | Tentative 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 GSI Vacancies | 111 | |
Category-II: Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
| Post Designation & Cadre | Service Group | Tentative 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 CGWB Vacancies | 16 | |
Educational Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must hold a recognized Master’s postgraduate degree in the concerned stream from a recognized university or institute by the prescribed timeline:
| Post / Stream | Prescribed Minimum Educational 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. |
Age Limit & Application Fee Structure
Age Eligibility Criteria (As on 01 January 2027)
Candidates must have attained the minimum age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 32 years as on 01 January 2027. Concretely, applicants must have been born not earlier than 02 January 1995 and not later than 01 January 2006 (both dates inclusive). Standard upper age relaxations apply for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates in compliance with Government of India directives.
Application Fee Details
| Candidate Category | Prescribed Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates | ₹200 |
| Female Candidates (All Categories) | Exempted (Nil) |
| SC / ST Candidates | Exempted (Nil) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Exempted (Nil) |
The application fee can be remitted using online payment modes such as UPI, Net Banking, and Visa/Mastercard debit and credit cards.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Examination Scheme
The selection mechanism consists of three successive stages:
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (400 Marks)
The Preliminary Examination is an objective Computer-Based/OMR screening test comprising two papers with negative marking for incorrect responses:
| Paper | Subject Area | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies (Common for all streams) | 100 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Paper-II | Stream-Specific Domain Paper (Geology / Geophysics / Chemistry / Hydrogeology) | 300 Marks | 2 Hours |
| Total Preliminary Stage | 400 Marks | 4 Hours | |
Stage 2: Main Examination (600 Marks)
Candidates who qualify the preliminary cutoff are called for the descriptive/conventional Main Examination consisting of three stream-specific papers carrying 200 marks each, totaling 600 marks.
Stage 3: Personality Test / Interview (200 Marks)
Candidates shortlisted on the basis of the Main Examination appear for the personal interview round at UPSC, Dholpur House, New Delhi. The interview assesses leadership attributes, intellectual curiosity, and field aptitude, carrying a total of 200 marks.
Designated Preliminary Examination Centres
The Preliminary Examination will be hosted across designated centers throughout India, including:
- Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur
- Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai
- Patna, Prayagraj, Shillong, Shimla, and Thiruvananthapuram
Note: Examination centers are allotted on a “first-apply-first-allot” basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.
Checklist of Documents Required
- Valid Government Photo ID Card (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, PAN Card, Passport, or Driving Licence).
- Matriculation / Secondary School Certificate (as definitive proof of Date of Birth).
- Master’s degree certificates and consolidated semester mark sheets.
- Community / Caste Certificates (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST) in the central government format.
- Disability Certificate (for PwBD applicants).
- Scanned copy of recent passport-size color photograph and clear signature.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply Online for UPSC CGSE 2027
- Navigate to the official commission portal at upsc.gov.in.
- Access the One-Time Registration (OTR) platform and complete your profile registration if not already done.
- Log into your applicant dashboard using your registered credentials.
- Select the active application link for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination 2027.
- Fill in your educational qualifications, post preferences between GSI and CGWB, and preferred exam center locations.
- Upload your scanned photograph, signature, and prescribed photo identification document according to UPSC file guidelines.
- Pay the ₹200 application fee through available digital banking channels (if applicable).
- Verify all entered information thoroughly before final submission, as post-deadline modifications are restricted.
- Submit your application before 22 September 2026 (6:00 PM) and print a copy of the application summary for reference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many total vacancies are announced under UPSC CGSE 2027?
A total of 127 tentative vacancies have been announced, comprising 111 posts in the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and 16 posts in the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB).
Q2. What is the deadline to complete online registration for UPSC CGSE 2027?
The last date to submit the online application form is 22 September 2026 up to 6:00 PM.
Q3. When will the UPSC CGSE Preliminary and Main examinations be held?
The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 10 January 2027, while the descriptive Main Examination will be conducted on 19 and 20 June 2027.
Q4. What is the age bracket for candidates appearing in CGSE 2027?
Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as on 01 January 2027 (born between 02 January 1995 and 01 January 2006).
Q5. Who is exempt from paying the application fee?
All female candidates, as well as candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories, are completely exempt from paying the application fee.