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

UPSC CGSE 2027 Overview

UPSC CGSE 2027 Important Dates

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)

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)

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

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

To avoid any confusion regarding age eligibility, candidates can use our Age Calculator to calculate their exact age based on the prescribed cut-off date before applying.

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

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

1. Visit the Commission's Online Application Portal at https://upsconline.nic.in.
2. Create an account and complete Universal Registration to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN), which is common to all UPSC examinations for life.
3. Fill the Common Application Form (CAF), which is shared across UPSC exams.
4. Fill the fourth, examination-specific module for CGSE 2027, including fee payment and choice of examination centre.
5. Upload your photograph, live photo capture, and signature as per the Commission's instructions.
6. 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