UPSC Geologist Syllabus 2026- UPSC will release the complete syllabus of Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Exam 2026 along with the official notification. UPSC Geologist 2026 syllabus includes the important chapters and topics that are mandatory to prepare to qualify the examination. UPSC Geologist 2026 is different for different posts including Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist and Junior Hydrogeologists.
Combined Geo-Scientist and Geologist Exam 2026 includes prelims, main and interview. In the preliminary exam, General Studies is the mandatory paper for all the candidates. Here is the UPSC geologist 2026 syllabus for the ease of candidates. Refer the official notification for in-depth syllabus topics.
[Form id=”2″]
UPSC Geologist Syllabus 2026 (Prelims)
Check the name of the major topics that students need to prepare for the examination-
| Subjects | Chapters |
| General Studies | - Indian and World Geography
- History of India and Indian National Movement
- National and international Current events
- Economic and Social Development
- Indian Polity and Governance
- General issues on Environmental Ecology
- General Science
|
| Geology/Hydrogeology | - Physical Geology
- Structural Geology
- Mineralogy
- Igneous Petrology
- Metamorphic Petrology
- Sedimentology
- Paleontology
- Stratigraphy
- Economic Geology
- Hydrogeology
|
| Geophysics | - Solid Earth Geophysics
- Mathematical Methods in Geophysics
- Electromagnetism
- Geophysical Prospecting
- Remote Sensing and Thermodynamics
- Nuclear Physics and Radiometry
|
| Chemistry | - Chemical periodicity
- Chemical bonding and structure
- Acids and bases
- Theoretical basis of quantitative inorganic analysis
- Kinetic theory and the gaseous state
- Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium
- Solutions of non-electrolytes
- Electrochemistry
- Basic organic chemistry
- Stereochemistry
- Types of organic reactions
- Molecular Rearrangements
|
UPSC Geologist Syllabus 2026 (Main)
The main examination will be of descriptive type. Below are the topics of Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Syllabus 2026. To get the detailed UPSC Geologist syllabus 2026, candidates are advised to download the official notification-
Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Syllabus 2026 for Geology Paper-I (200 Marks)
- Geomorphology and Remote Sensing
- Structural Geology
- Geodynamics
- Stratigraphy
- Palaeontology
Geo-Scientist (Main) Syllabus 2026 for Geology Paper-II (200 Marks)
- Mineralogy and Geochemistry & Isotope Geology
- Igneous Petrology
- Metamorphic Petrology & Processes
- Sedimentology
- Environmental Geology and Natural Hazards
Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Syllabus 2026 for Geology Paper-III (200 Marks)
- Economic geology
- Indian mineral deposits and mineral economics
- Ore genesis and Geophysics
- Mineral exploration
- Geology of fuels
- Engineering Geology
Geophysics Paper I (200 Marks)
| Part A (100 Marks) | Part B (100 Marks) |
| Solid Earth Geophysics | Mathematical Methods of Physics |
| Earthquake and Engineering Seismology | Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics |
| Mathematical methods in Geophysics | Electrodynamics |
| Geophysical Inversion | Introductory Atmospheric and Space Physics |
Geophysics Paper II (200 Marks)
| Part A (100 Marks) | Part B (100 Marks) |
| Geophysical Potential Fields (Gravity and Magnetic) | Atomic and Molecular Physics and Properties and Characterization of materials |
| Electrical and Electromagnetic methods | Nuclear and Particle Physics |
| Seismic Prospecting | Electromagnetic Theory |
| Borehole Geophysics (Principles of Well logging) | Classical Mechanics |
Geophysics Paper III (200 Marks)
| Part A (100 Marks) | Part B (100 Marks) |
| Radiometric Exploration / Airborne Geophysical surveys for Geological Mapping | Solid State Physics |
| Marine Geophysics | Laser systems |
| Geophysical Signal Processing | Laser cavity modes |
| Remote Sensing and GIS applications | Electronics and devices |
| | Digital electronics, Radar systems, Satellite communications |
| | Quantum Mechanics |
Chemistry Paper I (200 Marks)
| Chemical periodicity | s-Block Elements |
| Chemical Bonding and structure | p-Block Elements |
| Chemistry of coordination compounds | Chemistry of d- and f- block elements |
| Acid-Base reactions | Organo metallic compounds |
| Precipitation and Redox Reactions | Nuclear chemistry |
Chemistry Paper II (200 Marks)
| Kinetic theory and the gaseous state | Application of Second law of thermodynamics |
| Collision of gas molecules, Real gases | Thermodynamics and Equilibrium |
| Thermodynamics | Acids-bases and solvents |
| Liquid State | Solutions of non-electrolytes |
| Solids | Chemical kinetics and catalysis |
| Adsorption and Surface Chemistry | Electrochemistry |
| Photochemistry | Quantum Chemistry |
| Basic principles and application of spectroscopy | UV Spectra |
| PMR Spectra | |
Chemistry Paper III (200 Marks)
| Part A- Analytical Chemistry (100 Marks) | Part B- Organic Chemistry (100 Marks) |
| Theoretical basis of Quantitative inorganic analysis | Basic organic chemistry |
| Gravimetric Analysis | Organometallic compounds |
| Sampling and treatment of samples for chemical analysis | Bonding and physical properties |
| Acid base titrations | Aldol and related reactions |
| Redox Titrations | Mechanism of some name reactions |
| Potentiometry | Electrocyclic Reactions |
| Complexometric titrations | Organic Reaction Mechanisms |
| Chromatographic methods of analysis | Organic Spectroscopy |
| UV-Visible Spectroscopy | |
| Flame photometry and Atomic absorption spectrometry | |
| X-ray methods of Analysis | |
| Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy | |
| Analysis of Minerals, Ores and Alloys | |
| Analysis of petroleum and petroleum products | |
| Analysis of coal and coke | |
Hydrogeology- 200 Marks
- Occurrence and distribution of groundwater
- Groundwater movement and well hydraulics
- Water wells and groundwater levels
- Groundwater Exploration and Water Well Construction
- Groundwater Quality
- Groundwater Management
Other Important Links
Stay Connected With StudyGrades for Latest Updates on Latest UPSC Recruitment 2026!!
