Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Admit Card 2026 on its official website for candidates who qualified in the Preliminary Examination. UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on June 20, 2026 (Saturday) and June 21, 2026 (Sunday). Candidates can download their e-admit cards by logging in through the official portal using the required credentials. The admit card contains important details such as the candidate's information, the examination schedule, the exam centre address, the reporting time, and essential instructions for the examination day.

Download UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Mains Admit Card (Link Active)
Table of Contents
UPSC Geo Scientist Exam is a national-level exam to recruit officers as Geologists, Geophysicists, and Chemists in the Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines, in Group A posts & as Hydrogeologists, Geophysicists, and Chemists in the Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in Group B posts. They work for India’s geological surveys, mineral exploration, groundwater studies, and environmental monitoring efforts.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC Geo Scientist |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National level |
| Exam Mode | Written in pen & paper |
| UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Language | English & Hindi |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Vacancies 2026 | 85 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Selection Process |
|
| Official Website to Apply for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 | upsconline.nic.in |
Given below is the table for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Exam dates and other important dates:
| Events | Date |
|---|---|
| UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Notification Release Date | September 3, 2025 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Application Window Opens | September 3, 2025 |
| Last date to Apply for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 | September 23, 2025 |
| Last date for fee payment of UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 | September 23, 2025 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Prelims Admit Card 2026 Release Date | January 30, 2026 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Prelims 2026 Exam Date | February 8, 2026 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Mains 2026 Exam Date | June 20 & 21, 2026 |
| UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Interview Date | TBA |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Final Result 2026 | TBA |
| UPSC Geo Scientist Exam Events | UPSC Geo Scientist Exam Dates |
|---|---|
| UPSC Geo-Scientist Prelims 2026 Exam Date | Feb 8, 2026 |
UPSC Geo Scientist Notification 2026, which was released on September 3, 2026, announced vacancies for various Group A and Group B posts in the Geological Survey of India and the Central Ground Water Board. It includes details like eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, and important dates.
UPSC has mentioned rules about UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 eligibility criteria which include nationality, age limit, and educational qualification of candidates.
A candidate must be an Indian citizen. In case, a candidate is from Nepal, Bhutan or any other country, then that candidate needs to provide an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.
The table given below shows the age limit for different categories:
| Category | Age Limit/Relaxation (as on January 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 21-30 |
| SC/ST | Relaxed up to 5 years |
| OBC | Relaxed up to 3 years |
| PwBD | Relaxed up to 10 years |
UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 educational qualification varies by post. Geologists will need a Master’s degree in Geology, Applied Geology, or related earth sciences. Geophysicist posts will require an M.Sc. in Physics, Geophysics, or Applied Geophysics. Chemist posts will require an M.Sc. in Chemistry or its specializations. Hydrogeology posts will require a Master’s in Geology, Applied Geology, or Hydrogeology. Assistant Chemist posts accept a chemistry-related Master’s degree.
Candidates must check UPSC Geo Scientist Eligibility 2026 to know more about the eligibility criteria.
To apply for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026, candidates are advised to follow the steps given below:
UPSC has a different UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 application fee for different categories as given below:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | Rs. 200 |
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD | Nil |
Candidates must check UPSC Geo Scientist Application Process 2026 to know about the documents required during the application form filling.
UPSC Geo-Scientist Admit Card 2026 has been released by UPSC, for the Mains. Candidates can download it from UPSC website using their registration number and date of birth. To download UPSC Geo Scientist admit card 2026, follow the steps given below:
1. Visit the official UPSC website of upsc.gov.in
2. Now, on the homepage, click on the “Admit Card” section
3. Then, go to “E-Admit Card for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026”
4. Then, enter your login credentials
5. Then, download your e-admit card for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 in PDF format.
Inside the admit card, a candidate will find name and photograph, roll number and registration number, exam date, exam center details, reporting time, and other important details.
UPSC has given a detailed UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 syllabus for both the Prelims and Mains exams. Prelims consist of two objective papers- Paper 1 (common, graduation-level science) and Paper 2 (stream-specific, M.Sc. level). Mains has three compulsory descriptive papers for each stream, all at the M.Sc. level. UPSC Geo Scientist Syllabus 2026 is given below:
UPSC Geo-Scientist 2026 Exam Pattern is designed to assess candidates’ conceptual understanding, analytical ability, and subject-specific knowledge. The selection process includes Prelims, Mains, and the Personality Test, with each stage playing a crucial role in the final selection. UPSC Geo Scientist Exam Pattern 2026 is given below in the table:
| Exam | Subject/ Paper | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | Geologist & Hydrogeology | 400 |
|
Geophysics |
400 | |
|
Chemistry |
400 | |
| Mains | Geologist | 600 |
| Geophysicist | 600 | |
| Chemist | 600 | |
| Hydrogeology | 600 | |
| Interview | - | 200 |
UPSC has announced UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Vacancy as given below in the table:
| Category | Post | Vacancy |
|---|---|---|
| Category- 1 (Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines) | Geologist, Group A | 39 |
| Geophysicist, Group A | 02 | |
| Chemist, Group A | 15 | |
| Category- 2 (Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dept. of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation) | Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology), Group A | 05 |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical), Group A | 02 | |
| Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), Group A | 01 | |
| Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group B | 18 | |
| Assistant Chemist, Group B | 02 | |
| Assistant Geophysicist, Group B | 01 | |
| Total | - | 85 |
09 vacancies are reserved for PwBD in Category 1(Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines. This includes 5 for Locomotor Disability or Cerebral Palsy [OH (OA/OL)] and 4 for Hearing Impairment (HH).
UPSC follows 3 stages for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 selection process, which are prelims, mains & interview. The selection process is given below:
For Prelims, there are 2 papers for each stream. Marks secured by the candidate will be counted for deciding final merit.
Total Marks=400
For Mains, there are 3 papers for each stream. Marks of mains exam will be counted for deciding final merit. The Mains exam will be fully subject-oriented.
Total Marks=600
The interview process will evaluate a candidate’s personality, subject knowledge, and overall suitability for the role.
Total Marks=200
Final Merit will be decided on the basis of marks obtained in Prelims, Mains & Interview.
UPSC has given a list of exam centers for both the Prelims and Mains exams in the notification of UPSC Geo Scientist 2026. The prelims will be held in 23 cities, while the mains will be held in 9 cities. The Interview will be held in UPSC Bhavan, Delhi.
The Prelims exam will be held in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Delhi, Dispur, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Shillong, Shimla, Thiruvananthapuram, Noida (Gautambudh Nagar), Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad.
The mains exam will be held in Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Shimla.
UPSC will release UPSC Geo Scientist provisional answer key 2026, within a week after for the Prelims exam is held on February 8, 2026. Candidates must follow the steps given below to download their UPSC Geo Scientist Prelims Answer Key 2026:
With the provisional Prelims answer keys, UPSC opens an objection window for 7 days. Objections are accepted online only through the UPSC portal. For UPSC Geo Scientist Mains 2026, UPSC doesn’t release answer keys. UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Mains marks will be released after the final result is published.
UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Result will be released stage-wise by UPSC for Prelims, Mains, and the Final Result. The Prelims result is expected by early May 2026, followed by the Mains result a few months later, and the final merit list after the Personality Test. Candidates must follow the steps given below to download UPSC Geo Scientist Result 2026:
UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Previous Year Papers play an important role in exam preparation by helping candidates understand the actual exam pattern and question trends. Solving previous year papers gives clarity on the difficulty level and important topics asked repeatedly. It also helps candidates improve time management and answer accuracy. Analyzing these papers allows candidates to identify strong and weak areas effectively. Regular practice with past papers boosts confidence and enhances overall exam readiness.
UPSC Geo Scientist Previous Year Cutoff provides valuable insight into the level of competition and qualifying standards of the examination. Analyzing past cutoffs helps candidates understand score trends across Prelims, Mains, and the final stage. It also assists aspirants in setting realistic preparation and score targets. UPSC Geo Scientist Cutoff of the previous year is given below:
UPSC Geo Scientist Cutoff 2025UPSC Geo Scientist 2025 Cutoff for different posts in different stages of the exam, category-wise, as mentioned below:
Geologist, Group ‘A’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 175 | 458 | 599 |
| EWS | — | — | — |
| OBC | 174 | 442 | 582 |
| SC | 139 | 387 | 535 |
| ST | — | — | — |
| PwBD-1 | 30 | 118 | 206 |
| PwBD-3 | — | — | — |
Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology), Group ‘A’ / Assistant Hydrogeologist, Group ‘B’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 175 | 460 | 633 |
| EWS | 174 | 429 | 619 |
| OBC | 174 | 456 | 625 |
| SC | 139 | 417 | 559 |
| ST | 139 | 373 | 521 |
Geophysicist, Group ‘A’ / Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), Group ‘A’ / Assistant Geophysicist, Group ‘B’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 131 | 369 | 566 |
| EWS | 130 | 368 | 601 |
| OBC | 130 | 356 | 532 |
| SC | 106 | 318 | 462 |
| ST | — | — | — |
| PwBD-3 | — | — | — |
Chemist, Group ‘A’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 167 | 530 | 791 |
| EWS | — | — | — |
| OBC | 158 | 451 | 730 |
| SC | 102 | 426 | 563 |
| ST | — | — | — |
Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical), Group ‘A’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 167 | 530 | 785 |
| EWS | — | — | — |
| OBC | — | — | — |
| SC | — | — | — |
| ST | — | — | — |
Assistant Chemist, Group ‘B’
| Category | Stage 1 (Prelims) (Out of 400) | Stage 2 (Mains) (Out of 1000) | Final Cutoff (Out of 1200) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 167 | 530 | 716 |
| EWS | — | — | — |
| OBC | 158 | 451 | 714 |
| SC | 102 | 426 | 550 |
| ST | — | — | — |
Candidates must check UPSC Geo Scientist Cutoff 2026 to know more about the past year cutoff trends.
A UPSC Geo Scientist gets a basic pay of Rs. 56,100 (Pay Level 10), placed on the Grade Pay of Rs. 5400. When allowances like HRA, TA, DA, etc are added to the Basic salary, the gross Salary is around Rs.76,100. After deductions, in-hand salary is around Rs. 64,700. However, salaries will vary with different posts. UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Salary Structure is given below:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Level | Level 10 (7th CPC) Group A post |
| Basic Pay | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month |
| Grade Pay | ₹5,400 (as per 7th CPC norms) |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | Variable, linked to CPI (added on basic) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Depends on city of posting |
| Transport Allowance (TA) | Additional monthly allowance |
| Estimated In-Hand Salary | ₹75,000–₹1,00,000 per month (after deductions) |
| Estimated Gross Salary | ₹85,000–₹1,20,000 per month (including allowances) |
| Annual Package (Approx.) | ₹10.5 – ₹12 Lakhs (entry-level) |
Ques: Can a candidate from final year Master’s degree apply for UPSC Geo Scientist 2026?
Ans: No. Only those candidates who have completed their master’s degree by the end of the application form fill-up are eligible to apply for the exam.
Ques: Can I change my UPSC Geo Scientist 2026 Exam center after submitting my application form?
Ans: No. Once you’ve submitted your application form and paid your exam fee, the examination center cannot be changed.
Ques: What documents do I need to carry at the time of UPSC Geo Scientist interview 2026?
Ans: Candidates must carry a printed copy of interview call letter, original Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, or Driving License), original educational certificates and Category Certificate (only for SC / ST / OBC / EWS / PwBD).
Ques: What are the essential details for a photograph to be uploaded in UPSC Geo Scientist Application 2026?
Ans: The essential details for photograph are:
Ques: What is the negative marking scheme in UPSC Geo Scientist Mains exam 2026?
Ans: There is no negative marking scheme in UPSC Geo Scientist Mains exam. All Mains papers of UPSC Geo Scientist are descriptive in nature, and answers must be written within the allotted time of each paper.
Ques: How many attempts can I give UPSC Geo Scientist exam?
Ans: You can take as many attempts as you want, provided you don’t exceed the maximum age limit for your category.
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