UPSC exam consists of three tiers:
Exam pattern and syllabus for UPSC Geoscientist and Geologist exam:
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination
Stage-II: Main Examination
Stage-III: Personality Test
Geologist:
Sl.no | Paper | Subject | Marks | Time Period |
1 | I | General English | 100 | 3 Hrs |
2 | II | Geology I | 200 | 3 Hrs |
3 | III | Geology II | 200 | 3 Hrs |
4 | IV | Geology III | 200 | 3 Hrs |
Combined Geologist and Geophysicist:
Sl.no | Paper | Subject | Marks | Time Period |
1 | I | General English | 100 | 3 Hrs |
2 | II | Geophysics I | 200 | 3 Hrs |
3 | III | Geophysics II | 200 | 3 Hrs |
4 | IV | Geophysics III | 200 | 3 Hrs |
Chemist:
Sl.no | Paper | Subject | Marks | Time Period |
1 | I | General English | 100 | 3 Hrs |
2 | II | Chemistry I | 200 | 3 Hrs |
3 | III | Chemistry II | 200 | 3 Hrs |
4 | IV | Chemistry III | 200 | 3 Hrs |
Jr Hydrogeologist:
Sl.no | Paper | Subject | Marks | Time Period |
1 | I | General English | 100 | 3 Hrs |
2 | II | Geology I | 200 | 3 Hrs |
3 | III | Geology II | 200 | 3 Hrs |
4 | IV | Hydrogeology III | 200 | 3 Hrs |
- All the questions in the paper are conventional, that is each answer require essay style write up.
- The written exam comprises of 4 papers for every post and English being standard for each.
- Each subject paper contains 200 marks each.
- Exam duration is of 3 hours each.

Syllabus:
General English
- Short essays
- Conclusion
- Tenses
- Error correction
- Articles
- Vocabulary
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Unseen passages
- Comprehension
- Sentence rearrangement
- Verb
- Fill in the blanks
- Idioms and phrases
- Adverb
- Theme detection
- Word Formation
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Grammar
- Sentence completion
- Passage completion
Geology I
- Geomorphology and remote sensing
- Electromagnetic radiation
- Applied Geomorphology
- Proterozoic stratigraphy
- Zones: Brittle and Ductile shear zones
- Gravity anomalies at mid-ocean ridges
- Concepts of Magnetostratigraphy
- Stratigraphy
- Geodynamics
- Palaeontology
- Structural Geology
Geology II
- Mineralogy and Geochemistry & Isotope Geology.
- Principles of optical mineralogy.
- The external chemistry of crystals.
- Introduction to mineralogy.
- Accessory minerals.
- Geochronology and age of the earth.
- Igneous Petrology.
- Origin of magmas.
- Magmatic evolution and differentiation.
- Magmatism and tectonics.
- Intermediate rocks.
- Petrogenetic provinces.
- Metamorphic petrology & processes.
- Concepts and Theory.
- Effects of Metamorphism.
- Metamorphism in space and time.
- Environmental Geology and Natural hazards.
- Air sampling techniques.
- Fundamental concepts of Environmental Geology.
Geology III
- Indian mineral deposits and mineral economics.
- Ore genesis and Geophysics.
- Mineral exploration.
- Geology of fuels.
- Engineering Geology.
- Coastal geotechniques.
- Mineralogy and geochemistry of radioactive minerals.
- Maceral analysis of coal.
- Characters of source and reservoir rocks.
- Principles of mineral and prospecting and exploration.
- Ore deposits and ore minerals.
- Occurrence and distribution in India of metalliferous deposits.
Geophysics I
- Solid earth geophysics.
- Earthquake and Engineering Seismology.
- Mathematical methods in Geophysics.
- Geophysical inversion.
- Global optimization techniques.
- Fundamental concepts of inverse physics.
- Mathematical methods of physics.
- Thermodynamics and Statistical physics.
- Introductory atmospheric and space physics.
Geophysics II
- Geophysical potential fields (Gravity and Magnetic).
- Electrical and Electromagnetic methods.
- Seismic prospecting.
- Borehole Geophysics (principals of well logging).
- Atomic and molecular Physics and Properties and Characterization of materials.
- Nuclear and Particle Physics.
- Electromagnetic theory.
- Classical Mechanics.
- Electrostatics, Magneto statics.
- Crystalline and amorphous structure of matter.
- Airborne EM systems.
- Principles of Gravity and Magnetic instruments.
Geophysics III
- Radiometric exploration / airborne geophysical surveys for Geological mapping.
- Digital electronics, radar systems, Satellite communications.
- Digital circuits. Number systems and codes.
- Crystalline and Amorphous structure of matter.
- Geophysical signal processing.
- Remote sensing and GIS Applications.
- Laser Cavity modes.
- Semiconductor devices.
- Laser systems.
- Marine Geophysics.
- Solid state physics.
- Electronics and devices.
- Quantum mechanics.
Chemistry I
- Chemical periodicity.
- Acid-Base reactions.
- Organometallic compounds.
- Nuclear Chemistry.
- p-Block Elements.
- Chemical bonding and structure.
- Chemistry and coordination compounds.
- Precipitation and Redox reactions.
- s-Block Elements.
- Chemistry of d- and f- block elements.
Chemistry II
- Kinetic theory and gaseous states.
- Collision of gas and molecules, real gases.
- Thermodynamics and equilibrium.
- Solution of non-electrolytes.
- Adsorption and surface chemistry.
- UV Spectra.
- Application of Second Law of Thermodynamics.
- Basic Principal and application of spectroscopy.
- Chemical kinetics and catalysis.
- Liquid state.
- Acids- bases and solvents.
- Thermodynamics
- Quantum chemistry.
- PMR Spectra.
Chemistry III
- Analytical chemistry.
- Theoretical basis of quantitative inorganic analysis.
- Gravimetric analysis.
- Sampling and treating of samples for chemical analysis.
- Volumetric analysis.
- Acid base titration.
- Redox Titration.
- Complexometric titration.
- Chromatographic methods of analysis.
- X-ray methods of analysis.
- Analysis of minerals. Ores and Alloys.
- Basic organic chemistry.
- Bonding and physical chemistry.
- Mechanism of some name reactions.
- Flame photometry and Atomic absorption spectrometry.
- Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy.
- Analysis of petroleum and petroleum products.
- UV-visible spectroscopy.
- Electrocyclic reactions.
- Organic reaction mechanisms.
- Organometallic compounds.
- Aldol and related reactions.
- Organic spectroscopy.
Hydrogeology
- Origin, occurrence and distribution of water.
- Groundwater Hydraulics.
- Groundwater exploration and water well construction.
- Geologic and hydrogeologic methods of exploration.
- Groundwater quality.
- Physical and chemical properties of water.
- Groundwater management.