Information about Exams for Geologists

Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts examinations for various posts of geologists once a year. The notification for the Combined Geo-Scientists and Geologists Examination is issued during the month of February and the exam is held in May.

The combined competitive examination is held for the following posts and departments:

• Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines (GSI): For the posts of Geologists, Geophysicists, And Chemists (Group ‘A’)
• Central Ground Water Board: For the posts of Junior Hydro-Geologist (Scientist ‘B’), Group (‘A’)

Selection Process:

The selection process for these posts takes place in these 3 stages:

1. Written Examination
2. Interview/Personality Test
3. Document Verification

1. Information about Written Examinations

The written examination pattern consists of 4 different papers for different posts:

• Geologist: Geology paper – I, II & III (200 marks each)and General English (100 marks).
• Geophysicists: Geophysicist paper – I, II & III (200 marks each)and General English(100 marks).
• Chemist: Chemistry Paper – I, II & III (200 marks each)and General English(100 marks).
• Jr. Hydrogeologist: Geology Paper I & II, Hydrogeology (200 marks each), andGeneral English(100 marks).

The duration for these subjects is 3 hours each. All questions are subjective and essay type questions. The commission decides the qualifying marks in each of the subjects. 

Syllabus of Geologist’s Exam

The questions of geological subjects are based on the M.Sc. degree and are aimed to test the fundamentals of each subject.

Syllabus of English Paper

The questions include a short essay that has to be written in English, questions testing understanding of the language, vocabulary skills and the usage of words.

Syllabus of Hydrogeology Paper

The syllabus is based on the following 5 sections:

• Section A: Origin, occurrence and distribution of water
• Section B:Well hydraulics and well design
• Section C: Groundwater chemistry
• Section D: Groundwater exploration
• Section E:Groundwater problems and management

2. Interview/Personality Test

Interview and personality test carries a maximum of 200 marks.Those candidates who qualify in the written examination are called to appear for the interview or personality test.During the interview, the interviewers observe the candidates career record, test personality traits such as leadership skills, intellectual ability, tact, social skills, integrity of character, flexibility and aptitude for the job.

3. Document Verification

When a candidate qualified in the interview or personality test, they have to undergo document verification process in which their eligibility conditions and educational qualifications are assessed in the form of proof as documents.

Educational Qualification

The candidates should have any of the following qualifications:

• Geologists Group ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India: Master’s Degree in Geological Science or Geology or Geo-Exploration or Mineral Exploration or Engineering Geology or Marine Geology or Earth Science and Resource Management or Oceanography and Coastal Area Studies or Petroleum Geosciences or Petroleum Exploration or Geochemistry or Geological Technology.
• Geophysicists Group ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India: M.Sc. in Physics or Applied Physics orGeophysics or Exploration Geophysics or Applied Geophysics or Marine Geophysics or Applied Geophysics.
• Chemists Group ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India: M.Sc. in Chemistry Or Applied Chemistry Or Analytical Chemistry.
• Junior Hydrogeologist (Scientist ‘B’), Group ‘A’ in Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources: Master’s degree in Geology or Applied Geology or Marine Geology.

The degree should be from a University incorporated by an act of Parliament or State Legislature or other educational institutes established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed Universities under section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 as a recognizedUniversity.

For eligibility details and exam notifications, refer to www.upsc.gov.in and its exam sections.