UPSC CGSE 2027 Notification Out - Combined Geo-Scientist Preliminary Exam for 127 Posts
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027, inviting online applications for 127 tentative vacancies of Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist, and related Group A/B posts in the Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines) and the Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti). Eligible candidates aged 21 to 32 years, holding a relevant Master's degree in Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry, or Hydrogeology, can apply online through the Commission's portal from 02-09-2026 to 22-09-2026 (6:00 PM). Selection is a three-stage process: the Preliminary Examination on 10-01-2027, the Main Examination on 19th and 20th June 2027, and a Personality Test/Interview. This notification covers applications for the Preliminary Examination only.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Notification
The notification was issued as Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL and File No. 04/01/2026-E.I(B), dated 02-09-2026, based on the Rules of the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2027 notified by the Ministry of Mines in the Gazette of India dated 02-09-2026.
- Notification: UPSC Recruitment 2026 Notification PDF
- Apply Online: Apply Now
- Commission's Website: https://upsc.gov.in
UPSC CGSE 2027 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Combined Geo-Scientist Examination (CGSE), 2027 |
| Notification Number | Examination Notice No. 01/2027-GEOL |
| Posts | Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist (Group A); Assistant Geologist, Assistant Geophysicist, Assistant Chemist (Group B) in GSI; Scientist 'B' and Assistant-level posts in CGWB |
| Total Vacancies | 127 (tentative): 111 in GSI (Category-I) + 16 in CGWB (Category-II) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (Female/SC/ST/PwBD exempted) |
| Last Date to Apply | 22-09-2026, up to 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 10-01-2027 |
| Main Exam Date | 19th and 20th June, 2027 |
| Job Location | Geological Survey of India / Central Ground Water Board, across India |
| Official Website | https://upsc.gov.in |
UPSC CGSE 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Date of notification | 02-09-2026 |
| Start of online application | 02-09-2026 |
| Last date for filling online application | 22-09-2026, up to 6:00 PM |
| Helpline operational period | 02-09-2026 to 22-09-2026, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM (working days) |
| Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination | 10-01-2027 |
| Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination | 19-06-2027 and 20-06-2027 |
This notification is for the Preliminary Examination only. Candidates who qualify will separately be permitted to appear for the Main Examination.
UPSC CGSE Vacancy 2027 – Category-Wise Details
UPSC has notified 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.
Category-I: Geological Survey of India (Ministry of Mines)
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Geologist, Group A | 29 |
| Geophysicist, Group A | 0 |
| Chemist, Group A | 7 |
| Assistant Geologist, Group B | 34 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | 35 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | 6 |
| Category-I Total | 111 |
Of these, 8 vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability: 1 Geologist [OH(OA/OL)], 1 Chemist [HH], 2 Assistant Geologist [1-OH(OA/OL), 1-HH], 3 Assistant Geophysicist [HH], and 1 Assistant Chemist [HH].
Category-II: Central Ground Water Board (Ministry of Jal Shakti)
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology), Group A | 5 |
| Scientist 'B' (Chemical), Group A | 1 |
| Scientist 'B' (Geophysics), Group A | 1 |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B | 7 |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | 1 |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | 1 |
| Category-II Total | 16 |
Of these, 2 vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disability: 1 Scientist 'B' (Hydrogeology) [HH] and 1 Assistant Hydrogeologist [LDCP]. A candidate may apply for one or both categories using a single application and a single fee payment.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Examination Centres
The Preliminary Examination will be held at 21 centres: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Shillong, Shimla, and Thiruvananthapuram. Centre allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis, with a ceiling per centre except at Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad; candidates are advised to apply early to secure their preferred centre. The Main Examination will be held at 9 centres: Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Shimla.
UPSC CGSE Eligibility Criteria 2027
Nationality: A candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling, or a 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 (subject to an eligibility certificate for the latter categories).
UPSC CGSE Educational 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 (as applicable) |
| 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, whether integrated or otherwise. Candidates awaiting their qualifying result may also apply, subject to producing proof of passing before the Personality Test.
UPSC CGSE Age Limit
- A candidate must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 32 years as on 1 January 2027 - i.e., born not earlier than 2 January 1995 and not later than 1 January 2006
- Upper age relaxable up to 5 years for Government servants employed in GSI or CGWB applying for the corresponding post
- Upper age relaxable up to 5 years for SC/ST candidates, 3 years for OBC candidates, 3 years for disabled Defence Services personnel, 5 years for Ex-servicemen, and 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disability
UPSC CGSE Application Fee
Candidates are required to pay a fee of ₹200, through net banking or Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI. Female candidates and candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Persons with Benchmark Disability are exempted from the fee. OBC and EWS candidates are required to pay the full prescribed fee. Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
UPSC CGSE 2027 Exam Pattern
| Stage | Type | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Stage-I: Preliminary Examination | Objective Type (two papers per stream) | 400 |
| Stage-II: Main Examination | Conventional/Descriptive Type (three papers per stream) | 600 |
| Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview | - | 200 |
Marks secured in both the Preliminary and Main Examinations count towards the final merit. The Preliminary Examination for Stream-I (Geology/Hydrogeology) has Paper-I: General Studies (2 hours, 100 marks) and Paper-II: Geology/Hydrogeology (2 hours, 300 marks). Similar stream-specific papers apply for Geophysics and Chemistry streams.
UPSC CGSE Selection Process
Selection proceeds through three successive stages: the Preliminary Examination (Stage-I) for shortlisting to the Main Examination; the Main Examination (Stage-II) for shortlisting to the Personality Test; and the Personality Test/Interview (Stage-III). Final selection for GSI and CGWB posts is strictly by merit position in each category, candidate preference, and number of vacancies.
Documents Required
- Aadhaar Card (strongly advised as primary ID) 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 and validity window
- Photograph and signature, per the Commission's upload specifications
How to Apply Online for UPSC CGSE 2027
- Visit the Commission's Online Application Portal at https://upsconline.nic.in.
- Create an account and complete Universal Registration to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN), which is common to all UPSC examinations for life.
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF), which is shared across UPSC exams.
- Fill the fourth, examination-specific module for CGSE 2027, including fee payment and choice of examination centre.
- Upload your photograph, live photo capture, and signature as per the Commission's instructions.
- Pay the application fee online, if applicable, and submit the application by 22-09-2026, 6:00 PM.
Applications can be submitted online only, at https://upsconline.nic.in. No other mode of submission is allowed, and no withdrawal, correction, or alteration is permitted after submission - except for the one-time URN profile edit facility, which does not affect already-submitted applications.
UPSC CGSE 2027 – Important Instructions
- 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; no entry is allowed after closure under any circumstances.
- All candidates must undergo mandatory face authentication and identity verification at the venue.
- Only black ball pens are permitted for writing and marking the OMR sheet; pencils and ink pens are not allowed.
- There is negative marking for wrong answers in the Objective Type papers.
- e-Admit Cards will be issued on the Commission's website only, on the last working day of the week preceding the exam; no admit card will be sent by post.
- Eligible candidates may make representations on the question papers and provisional answer keys online, within 5 days from the 3rd day of the exam to 6:00 PM of the 7th day; no representation by email, post, or hand is accepted.
UPSC CGSE 2027 – Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC CGSE 2027?
It is the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission 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.
How many vacancies are there in UPSC CGSE 2027?
There are 127 vacancies: 111 in the Geological Survey of India (Category-I) and 16 in the Central Ground Water Board (Category-II).
What is the last date to apply for UPSC CGSE 2027?
The last date to submit the online application is 22-09-2026, up to 6:00 PM.
When is the UPSC CGSE 2027 Preliminary Examination?
The Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 will be held on 10-01-2027.
What is the qualification required for UPSC CGSE 2027?
Candidates need a relevant Master's degree depending on the post - for example, in Geology or Applied Geology for Geologist posts, M.Sc. in Physics or Geophysics for Geophysicist posts, and M.Sc. in Chemistry for Chemist posts.
What is the age limit for UPSC CGSE 2027?
Candidates must be between 21 and 32 years of age as on 1 January 2027, i.e., born between 2 January 1995 and 1 January 2006, with standard category-based relaxations.
What is the application fee for UPSC CGSE 2027?
The fee is ₹200. Female candidates and SC/ST/PwBD candidates are exempted; OBC and EWS candidates must pay the full fee.
What is the selection process for UPSC CGSE 2027?
Selection is a three-stage process: the Preliminary Examination (400 marks), the Main Examination (600 marks), and a Personality Test/Interview (200 marks).
How can candidates apply for UPSC CGSE 2027?
Candidates must apply online only, through https://upsconline.nic.in, by creating a Universal Registration Number (URN) and completing the Common Application Form along with the examination-specific module.
Where will the UPSC CGSE 2027 Preliminary Examination be held?
The Preliminary Examination will be held at 21 centres, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Jaipur, Lucknow, and others listed in the notification.