EXAMINATION NOTICE NO.01/2021-GEOL Dated 07.10.

2020
(LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS: 27.10.2020
COMBINED GEO-SCIENTIST EXAMINATION, 2021
(COMMISSION'S WEBSITE: www.upsc.gov.in)
IMPORTANT
1. CANDIDAT ES TO EN SURE THEIR ELIGIBI LITIY FOR T HE EXAMINATION:
All candidates (male/female/transgender) are requested to carefully read the Rules of Combined Geo-Scientist
Examination notified by the Government (Ministry of Mines) and the Notice of Examination derived from these
Rules. Candidates applying for the Examination should ensure that they fulfill all eligibility conditions for
admission to the Examination. Their admission at all the stages of the Examination will be purely provisional
subject to satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions.
Mere issue of Admission Certificate to the candidate will not imply that his/her candidature has been
finally cleared by the Commission.
Verification of eligibility conditions with reference to original documents is taken up only after the candidate
has qualified for Interview/Personality Test.
2. HOW TO APPLY :
Candidates are required to apply online only by using the website
h t t p s : / / upsconline.nic.in. Brief instructions for filling up the online Application Form have been given
in Appendix-II. Detailed instructions are available on the above mentioned website.
2.1 Candidate should have details of one Photo ID Card viz. Aadhaar Card/Voter Card/PAN
Card/Passport/Driving Licence/Any other Photo ID Card issued by the State/Central Government. The
details of this Photo ID Card will have to be provided by the candidate while filling up the online
application form. The candidates will have to upload a scanned copy of the Photo ID whose details have
been provided in the online application by him/her. This Photo ID Card will be used for all future
referencing and the candidate is advised to carry this Photo ID Card while appearing for Examination/
Personality Test.
2.2 The facility of withdrawal of Application is available for those candidates who do not want to appear for the
Examination. In this regard, instructions are mentioned in Appendix-II (B) of this Examination Notice.
3. LAST DATE OF SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:
(I)The Online Applications can be filled up to 27th October, 2020 till 18.00 Hours.
(II)The online Applications can be withdrawn from 04.11.2020 to 10.11.2020 till 18.00 Hours
4. The eligible candidates shall be issued an e-Admission Certificate three weeks before the
commencement of the Examination. The e-Admission Certificate will be made available in the UPSC
website [https://upsconline.nic.in] for downloading by candidates. No Admission Certificate will be sent
by post. All the applicants are required to provide valid active E-Mail I.D. while filling up Online
Application Form as the Commission may use electronic mode for contacting them at different
stages of examination process.
5. PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWERS (in Objective Type Papers) :
Candidates should note that there will be penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers marked by a
candidate in the Objective Type Question Papers.
6. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS :
Candidates are advised to read carefully “Special Instructions to the candidates for Objective Type Test
and Conventional Type Test” (Appendix III - Part A and Part B).
The Preliminary Examination for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination for two Objective Type
papers will be conducted in Computer Based Mode. A demo module for Computer Based Mode of this
Examination will be available on UPSC website https://upsc.gov.in at the time of launching of e-Admit
Card.
7. FACILITATION COUNTER FOR GUIDANCE OF CANDIDATES :
In case of any guidance/information/clarification regarding their applications, candidature etc.
candidates can contact UPSC's Facilitation Counter near 'C' Gate of its campus in person or over
Telephone No. 011-23385271/011-23381125/01123098543 on working days between 10.00 hrs and
17.00 hrs.
8. Mobile Phones Banned:
(a) The use of any mobile phone (even in switched off mode), pager or any electronic equipment or
programmable device or storage media like pen drive, smart watches etc. or camera or blue tooth devices or any
other equipment or related accessories either in working or switched off mode capable of being used as a
communication device during the Examination is strictly prohibited. Any infringement of these instructions
shall entail disciplinary action including ban from future Examinations.
(b) Candidates are advised in their own interest not to bring any of the banned item including mobile phones
or any valuable/costly items to the venue of the Examination, as arrangement for safe-keeping cannot be

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assured. Commission will not be responsible for any loss in this regard.
(A) No.4/1/2020-E.l(B) : The Union Public Service Commission will hold a Computer Based
Screening Test for selection to Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination, 2021 through
Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination, 2021 which will be held on 21st February,
2021, in accordance with the Rules published by the Ministry of Mines in the Gazette of India
dated the 7th October, 2020.
(B) The Preliminary Examination will be held at the following Centers:
(1) AHMEDABAD (2) BANGALURU (3) BHOPAL (4) CHANDIGARH (5) CHENNAI (6) CUTTACK
(7) DELHI (8) DISPUR (9) H YD ERA BAD ( 10) JAIPUR (11) JAMMU (12) KOLKATA (13) LUCKNOW
(14) MUMBAI (15) PATNA (16) PRAYAGRAJ (ALLAHABAD) (17) SHILLONG (18) SHI MLA ( 19)
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
The Centres and the dates of holding the Examination as mentioned above are liable to be
changed at the discretion of the Commission. Applicants should note that there will be a
ceiling on the number of candidates allotted to each of the Centre, except Delhi, Dispur,
Kolkata and Ahmedabad. Allotment of Centres will be on the "first-apply-first-allot" basis,
and once the capacity of a particular Centre is a t t a i n e d , t h e s a m e w i l l b e f r o z e n .
Applicants, who cannot get a Centre of their choice due to ceiling, will be required to choose a Centre
from the remaining ones. Applicants are, thus, advised that they may apply early so that they
could get a Centre of their choice.
NB: Notwithstanding the aforesaid provision, Commission reserves the right to change
the Centres at their discretion if the situation demands. Candidates admitted to the
Examination will be informed of the time table and place or plac es of Ex amina tion.
Can didat es should note that no request for change of centre will be granted. All the
Examination Centres for the Examination will cater to the examination for Persons with
Benchmark Disabilities also.
(B) PLAN OF EXAMINATION
The Combined Geo-Scientist Examination will consist of three successive stages (vide Appendix I
Section-I below):-
Stage-I : Computer Based Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination (Objective type) having
two papers for selection of the candidates for the Combined Geo-Scientist (Main)
Examination. Marks secured in the Preliminary Examination will be counted for deciding
the final merit;
Stage-II : Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination (Descriptive Type) having three papers for
selection of candidates for the Personality Test (Stage-III). Marks secured in the Main
Examination will be counted for deciding the final merit; and
Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview
Applications are now invited for the Computer Based Preliminary Examination only. Candidates who
will be declared by the Commission to have qualified in the Computer Based Preliminary
Examination will be allowed to take the Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination. The Main
Examination will be held on 17th & 18th July, 2021. The Main Examination will be held on the
following Centres :
Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Dispur (Guwahati), Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai and Shimla.
2(a). The categories of post to which recruitment is to be made on the results of this
examination and the approximate number of vacancies in the various posts are given
below:-
Category-I : (Posts in the Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines).
Chemist, Group A : 15
C a t e g o r y - I I : ( P o s t s i n t h e C e n t r a l G r o u n d W a t e r B o a r d , M i n i s t r y o f Water
Resources)
(i) Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology), Group ‘A’ : 16
(ii) Scientist ‘B’(Chemical ) Group ‘A’ : 03
(iii)Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics) Group ‘A’ : 06
NOTE : No vacancies for PwBD candidates have been reported.
Th e a b o v e n u m b e r s o f v a c a n c i e s a r e liable to alteration.
Appointments will be made on a temporary basis in the first instance.
Reservations will be made for candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward
Classes, Economically Weaker Sections and Persons with Benchmark disability categories in respect of
vacancies as may be fixed by the Government.
A candidate will be eligible to get the benefit of community reservation only in case the particular
caste to which the candidates belong is included in the list of reserved communities issued by the
Central Government. The candidates will be eligible to get the benefit of the Economically Weaker
Section reservation only in case the candidate meets the criteria issued by the Central Government
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and in possession of such eligibility certification. If a candidate indicates in his/her application form
for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination that he/she belongs to General category but subsequently
writes to the Commission to change his/her category to a reserved one, such request shall not be
entertained by the Commission. Further, once a candidate has chosen a reserved category, no
request shall be entertained for change to other reserved category viz. SC to ST, ST to SC, OBC to
SC/ST or SC/ST to OBC, SC to EWS, EWS to SC, ST to EWS, EWS to ST, OBC to EWS, EWS to
OBC. No reserved category candidates other than those recommended on General Merit shall be
allowed to change his/her category from Reserved to Unreserved or claim the vacancies for UR
category after the declaration of final result by UPSC.
Further no Person with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) of any subcategory thereunder shall be
allowed to change his/her sub-category of disability.
While the above principle will be followed in general, there may be a few cases where there was a gap
not more than 3 months between the issuance of a Government Notification enlisting a particular
community in the list of any of the reserved communities and the date of submission of the
application by the candidate. In such cases the request of change of community from general to
reserved may be considered by the Commission on merit. In case of a candidate unfortunately
becoming person with benchmark disability during the course of the examination process, the
candidate should produce valid documents showing him/her acquiring a disability to the extent of
40% or more as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 to enable him/her to
get the benefits of reservation earmarked for persons with benchmark disability provided he/she
otherwise remains eligible for Chemist, Group A and Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology) Group ‘A’,
Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) Group ‘A’ and Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics) Group ‘A’ posts as per Rule 21 of the
Rules of the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2021.
Candidates seeking reservation/relaxation benefits available for SC/ST/OBC/
EWSs/PwBD/Ex-servicemen must ensure that they are entitled to such reservation/relaxation as
per eligibility prescribed in the Rules/Notice. They should also be in possession of all the requisite
certificates in the prescribed format in support of their claim as stipulated in the Rules/Notice for
such benefits, and these certificates should be dated earlier than the due date (closing date) of the
application.
The EWS candidate applying for Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2021 must produce
an Income and Asset Certificate for Financial Year (FY) 2019-2020.

2(b). A candidate may apply for admission to the Stage-I Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary)
Examination through the On-line Application Form in respect of any one or both the categories, mentioned
in Para 2(a) above. Once an application has been made, no change will be allowed.
If a candidate wishes to be admitted for both the categories, he/she need to fill in only one application.
He/She will be required to pay the fee mentioned in para 4 below once only and will not be required to pay
separate fee for each of the categories for which he/she applies.
A candidate may compete for any one or both the categories of Posts for which he/she is eligible in terms of
Rules. A candidate who qualifies for both the categories of Posts on the result of the Stage-II Combined Geo-
Scientist (Main) Examination will be required to indicate clearly in the Detailed Application Form the categories of
Posts for which he/ she wishes to be considered in the order of preference.
N.B: (i) : No request for making subsequent addition/alteration in the details indicated by a
candidate in his/her Online Application Form/Detailed Application Form will be
entertained by the Commission.
N.B:(ii) : The selection of candidates for the posts of Chemist in GSI in the Ministry of Mines
and Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology) Group ‘A’, Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) Group ‘A’ and
Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics) Group ‘A’, in CGWB in the Ministry of Water Resources
shall be strictly in accordance with their merit position in each category and number
of vacancies separately.
3. ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS :
(I) Nationality
A candidate must be either:
(a) a Citizen of India, or
(b) a subject of Nepal, or
(c) a subject of Bhutan, or
(d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before the 1st January, 1962 with the intention of
permanently settling in India. or
(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka or East
African Countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and
Ethiopia or from Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
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Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (b), (c), (d) and (e) above shall be a person in
whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
A candidate in whose case a certificate of eligibility is necessary, may be admitted to the
Examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate
has been issued to him/her by the Government of India.
(II) Age Limits: A candidate for this examination must have attained the age criteria as prescribed below:-
(a) For Chemist (Group 'A') in the Geological Survey of India, an attached office of Ministry of Mines,
Government of India: A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the
age of 32 years on the first day of the month of January of the year in which the Examination is to be
held (i.e. as on 1st January, 2021] i.e. he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd January, 1989
and not later than 1st January 2000.
(b) For Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology) Group ‘A’, Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) Group ‘A’ and Scientist
‘B’(Geophysics) Group ‘A’ in Central Ground water Board, Ministry of Water
Resources:-
Must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained at the age of 32
years on 1 s t January, 2021 i.e. he/she must have been born not later than 2 n d
January 1989 and not later than 1 s t January 2000.
NB: Candidates should ensure that they meet the age eligibility criteria for each post mentioned
above for which they are applying.
(C) The upper age limit will be relaxable upto a maximum of 7 years in the case of G o v e r n m e n t
s e r v a n t s , i f t h e y a r e employed in a Department mentioned in C o l u m n I b e l o w a n d a p p l y
f o r t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g p o s t m e n t i o n e d i n column II.
Column I Column II

Geological
Survey of India Chemist Group 'A'

Central Ground Water Board ( i ) Scientist ‘B’ (Hydrogeology) Group ‘A’.

(ii) Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical) Group ‘A’.
(iii)Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics) Group ‘A’.
d) The upper age limit prescribed above will be further relaxable as follows:
(i) Upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled
Tribe.
(ii) Upto a maximum of three years in the case of candidate belonging to Other Backward
Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates.

(iii) Upto a maximum of three years in the case of Defence Services Personnel disabled in
operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in a disturbed area and released as a
consequence thereof:
(iv) Upto a maximum of five years in the c a s e o f E x - S e r v i c e m e n i n c l u d i n g Commissioned
Officers and ECOs/SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on 1 st
January, 2021 and have been released (i) on completion of assignment (including those whose
assignment is due to be completed within one year from 1st January, 2021) otherwise than by way
of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or (ii) on account of physical
disability attributable to Military Service or (iii) on invalidment.
(v) Upto a maximum of 5 years in the case of ECOs/SSCOs who have completed an initial period
of assignment of 5 years Military Service as on 1 st January, 2021 a n d w h o s e a s s i g n m e n t
h a s b e e n extended beyond 5 years and in whose case the Ministry of Defence issue a
certificate that they can apply for civil employment and that they will be released on 3 month's
notice on selection from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.
(vi) Upto a maximum of 10 years in the c a s e o f b l i n d , d e a f - m u t e a n d orthopedically
handicapped persons. up to a maximum of 10 years in the case of (a) blindness and low vision; (b)
deaf and hard of hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism,
acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning
disability and mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to
(d) including deaf-blindness.
Note I:—Candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the Other
Backward Classes who are also covered under any other clauses of Para 3(II)(d) above, viz. those
coming under the category of Ex-servicemen and (a) blindness and low vision; (b) deaf and hard of
hearing; (c) locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack
victims and muscular dystrophy; (d) autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and
4 
 
mental illness; and (e) multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d) including
deaf-blindness etc. will be eligible for grant of cumulative age-relaxation under both the categories.
NOTE II- The term Ex-Servicemen will apply to the persons who are defined as Ex-Servicemen
in the Ex-servicemen (Re-employment in Civil Service and Posts) Rules, 1979, as amended from
time to time.
NOTE Ill- The age concession under Para 3(II)(d)(iv) and (v) will be admissible to Ex-servicemen i.e. a
person who has served in any rank whether as combatant or non-combatant in the Regular Army,
Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union and who either has been retired or relieved or discharged
from such service whether at his own request or being relieved by the employer after earning his or
her pension.
NOTE IV- Notwithstanding the provision of age-relaxation under para 3(II)(d)(vi) abov e , a pe r son
w ith ben chma r k disa bi lit y will be considered eligible for appointment only if he/she (after such
physical examination as the Government or appointing authority, as the case may be, may prescribe) is
found to satisfy the requirements of physical and medical standards for the concerned Services/
posts to be allocated to the persons with benchmark disabilities b y t h e Government.
Note V- The details of Functional Classification (FC) and Physical Requirements (PR) of each service
is indicated in this Notice which are identified and prescribed by the respective Cadre Controlling
Authorities (CCAs) as per the provisions of Section 33 and 34 of the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Act, 2016. Only those category (ies) of disability (ies) mentioned in the Notice shall apply
for the Examination under Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) categories. Therefore, the
candidates belonging to the Persons with Benchmark Disability categories are advised to read it
carefully before applying for the Examination.
Save as provided above the age limits prescribed can in no case be relaxed. The date of birth
accepted by the Commission is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving
Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an
extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University which must be certified by the proper
authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate. These
certificates are required to be submitted only after the declaration of the result of the Main Examination.
No other document relating to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal
Corporation, service records and the like will be accepted. The e x p r e s s i o n
M a t r i c u l a t i o n / H i g h e r Secondary Examination Certificate in this part of the instruction
includes the alternative certificate mentioned above.
NOTE I:- Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the
M a t r i c u l a t i o n / H i g h e r S e c o n d a r y Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate as on the
date of submission of applications will be accepted by the Commission and no subsequent request for
its change will be considered or granted.
NOTE II:- Candidates should also note that once a Date of Birth has been claimed by them and entered
in the records of the Commission for the purpose of admission to an Examination, no change will be
allowed subsequently (or at any other Examination of the Commission) on any ground whatsoever.
NOTE III :-The candidates should exercise due care while entering their date of birth in online
application form for the Examination. If on verification at any subsequent stage, any variation
is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their matriculation or equivalent examination
certificate, disciplinary action will be taken against them by the Commission under the Rules.
N.B. - (i) The candidature of a person who is admitted to the Examination under the age concession
mentioned in para 3(II)(c) above, shall be cancelled, if after
submitting his/her application, he/she resigns from service or his/her services are terminated by
his/her department/office, either before or after taking the Examination. He/she will, however,
continue to be eligible if he/she is retrenched from the service or post after submitting the
application.
(ii) A candidate who, after submitting his/her application to his/her department is transferred to other
department/office will be eligible to compete under departmental age concession for the post(s), for which
he/she would have been eligible, but for his/her transfer, provided his/her application, duly
recommended, has been forwarded by his/her parent Department.
(iii) Minimum Educational Qualification
(i) For Chemist Gr ‘A’ in Geological Survey of India and Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) Group ‘A’ in
C.G.W.B.
M. Sc. in Chemistry or Applied Chemistry or Analytical Chemistry from a University incorporated
by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature or other educational Institutes established by an Act of
the Parliament or declared to be deemed Universities under section 3 of the University Grants
Commission Act, 1956 i.e. recognized University.

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(ii) (a) For Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology) Group ‘A’ in C.G.W.B.
Master’s degree in Geology or applied Geology or Marine Geology or Hydrogeology from a University
incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational Institutes
established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as Universities under Section 3 of the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

(b) For Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics) Group ‘A’ in C.G.W. B.

Master of Science degree in Physics or Applied Physics or Geophysics or Applied Geophysics or
Marine Geophysics or Integrated M.Sc. (Exploration Geophysics) or M.Sc (Technology) (Applied
Geophysics) from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or
other educational Institutes established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as
Universities under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

Note I: Master's degree in respective d i s c i p l i n e m e a n s t h e p o s t g r a d u a t e

degree or post graduate diploma of minimum two years duration after
graduation from aforesaid University or I n s t i t u t e i n t h e r e s p e c t i v e d i s c i p l i n e ,
w h e t h e r b e i t a n i n t e g r a t e d c o u r s e o r otherwise.
Note II : A c a n d i d a t e w h o h a s a p p e a r e d at an examination, the passing of which
w o u l d r e n d e r h i m / h e r e d u c a t i o n a l l y qualified for this Examination but has not
been informed of the result, may apply for a d m i s s i o n t o t h e E x a m i n a t i o n . A
candidate who intends to a ppear at such a qua lifying ex amination ma y also apply .
Such candidates will be admitted to the Examination, if otherwise eligible but their
a d m i s s i o n w o u l d b e d e e m e d t o b e provisional and subject to cancellation if t h e y
do not produce proof of having p a s s e d the requisite qualifying
e x a m i n a t i o n a l o n g w i t h t h e D e t a i l e d Application Form which will be required to b e
s u b m i t t e d b y t h e c a n d i d a t e s w h o qualify on the result of the Main Examination.
Such proof of passing the requisite examination should be dated earlier than the due date (closing
date) of Detailed Application Form of the Combined Geo-Scientist Examination, 2021, which will
be required to be filled up by them who are declared qualified for the Stage-III of the Examination
i.e. Personality Test/Interview.
Note III : A candidate who is otherwise qualified but who possesses the Master's degree
from a foreign University approved by the Government may also be admitted to the
E x am ina t ion by t he C om mi ss io n .
N o t e I V : C a n d i d a t e p o s s e s s i n g c o m m o n qualifications in sub-para (i) can apply for
both the posts.
N O T E V : I n e x c e pt i o n a l c a s e s t h e Commission may treat a candidate who does not possess
any of the qualifications prescribed in this rule, as educationally qualified provided that he/she has
passed e x a m i n a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d b y o t h e r institutions, the standard of which in the
opinion of the Commission, justifies his/ her admission to the Examination.

(IV) PHYSICAL STANDARDS:

Candidates must be physically fit according to physical standards for admission to the
Examination, 2021 as per Regulations given in Appendix-II of the rules for the Combined Geo-scientist
Examination, 2021 in Gazette of India dated 7th October, 2020.
4. FEE:
Candidates (excepting Female/SC/ST/Persons with Benchmark Disability Candidates who are
exempted from payment of fee) are required to pay fee of Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only),
alongwith the submission of On-line Application Form, either by remitting the money in any Branch
of State Bank of India or by using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card or by using Internet
Banking of SBI. Applicants who opt for "Pay by Cash" mode should print the system generated Pay-
in-slip during Part II registration and deposit the fee at the counter of SBI Branch on the next
working day only. "Pay by Cash” mode will be deactivated at 11:59 p.m. of 26.10.2020 i.e. one day
before the closing date of submission of application; however applicants who have generated their
Pay-in- Slip before it is deactivated may pay at the counter of SBI Branch during banking hours on
the closing date. Such applicants who are unable to pay by cash on the closing date i.e. during
banking hours at SBI Branch, for reasons whatsoever, even if holding valid pay-in-slip will have no
other offline option but to opt for available online Debit/Credit Card or Internet Banking payment
mode on the closing date i.e. till 6:00 p.m. of 27.10.2020.
Note 1: Candidates should note that payment of Examination Fee can be made only through the modes
prescribed above. Payment of fee through any other mode is neither valid nor acceptable. Applications submitted
without the prescribed fee/mode (unless remission of fee is claimed) shall be summarily rejected.
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Note 2: Fee once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances nor can the fee be held in reserve for
any other Examination or Selection.
Note 3: For the applicants in whose case payments details have not been received from the bank, they will
be treated as fictitious payment cases and their applications will be rejected in the first instance. A list of
all such applicants shall be made available on the Commission website within two weeks after the last day of
submission of online application. The applicants shall be required to submit the proof of their fee payment
within 10 days from the date of such communication either by hand or by speed post to the
Commission. On receipt of documentary proof, genuine fee payment cases will be considered and their
applications will be revived, if they are otherwise eligible.
All Female Candidates and candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes are
not required to pay any fee. No fee exemption is, however, available to OBC/EWS candidates and
they are required to pay the prescribed full fee.
Persons with benchmark disability are exempted from the payment of fee provided they are otherwise eligible
for appointment to the Posts to be filled on the results of this Examination on the basis of the standards of
medical fitness for these Posts (including any concessions specifically extended to the persons with
benchmark disability). A person with benchmark disability claiming age relaxation/fee concession will
be required by the Commission to submit along with their detailed application form, a certified copy of the
certificate of disability from a Government Hospital/Medical Board in support of his/her claim for being person
with benchmark disability.
NOTE: Notwithstanding the aforesaid provision for age relaxation/fee exemption, a person with benchmark
disability candidate will be considered to be eligible for appointment only if he/she (after such
physical examination as the Government or the appointing authority, as the case may be, may prescribe) is
found to satisfy the requirements of physical and medical standards for the concerned Services/Posts to
be allocated to Persons with benchmark disability can di dat es by t he Government.
Note : Applications without the prescribed Fee (Unless remission of Fee is claimed) shall be summarily
rejected.
5. How to Apply:
(a) Candidates are required to apply Online using the link https://www. upsconline.nic.in Detailed
instructions for filling up Online Applications are available on the above mentioned website.
(b) The applicants are advised to submit only single application. However, if due to any unavoidable
situation, he/she submits another/multiple applications, then he/she must ensure that application with the
higher RID is complete in all respects like applicants details, examination centre, photograph, Photo I.D.,
signature, fee etc. The applicants who are submitting multiple applications should note that only the
applications with higher RID (Registration ID) shall be entertained by the Commission and fee paid
against one RID shall not be adjusted against any other RID.
(c) All candidates, whether already in Government Service, in Government owned industrial
undertakings or other similar organisations or in private employment should submit their
applications direct to the Commission. Persons already in Government service, whether in permanent or
temporary capacity or as work charged employees other than casual or daily rated employees or those
serving under the Public Enterprises are, however, required to inform in writing their Head of
Office/Department that they have applied for the Examination. Candidates should note that in case a
communication is received from their employer by the Commission withholding permission to the candidates
applying for/appearing at the Examination, their application will be liable to be rejected/candidature will be liable
to be cancelled.
NOTE-1: While filling in his/her On-line Application Form, the candidate should carefully decide
about his/her choice for the Centre for the Examination.
If any candidate appears at a Centre other than the one indicated by the Commission in his/her e-
admission certificate, the papers of such a candidate will not be valued and his/her candidature will
be liable to cancellation.
NOTE-2: Suitable provisions for information regarding use of scribes by the blind candidates,
candidates with locomotor disability and cerebral palsy where dominant (writing) extremity is
affected to the extent of slowing the performance of function (minimum of 40% impairment),
candidates with both arms affected and such PwBD candidates who produces a certificate to the
effect that he/she has physical limitation to write have been made in the online application.
NOTE-3: Incomplete or defective applications shall be summarily rejected. No representation or
correspondence regarding such rejection shall be entertained under any circumstances.
(d) Candidates are not required to submit hard copy/print out of their application to the Commission at this
stage. The candidates applying for the Examination should ensure that they fulfill all the
eligibility conditions for admission to the Examination. Their admission at all the stages of
Examination for which they are admitted by the Commission viz. Preliminary Examination,
Main Examination and Personality Test/Interview will be purely provisional, subject to their satisfying
the prescribed eligibility conditions. If on verification at any time before or after the Preliminary
7 
 
Examination, Main Examination or Personality Test/Interview, it is found that they do not fulfill any
of the eligibility conditions; their candidature for the Examination will be cancelled by the
Commission.
Candidates are requested to keep ready the scanned copies of the following documents for
submission to the Commission alongwith the Detailed Application Form soon after the declaration of the
result of the Main Examination which is likely to be declared in the month of September, 2021.
1. Certificate of Age.
2. Certificate of Educational Qualification.
3. Certificate in support of claim to belong to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Economically Weaker Sections
and Other Backwa rd Classes where applicable.
4. Certificate in support of claim for age/ fee concession, wherever applicable.
5. Certificate in support of being persons with benchmark disability (wherever applicable).
Immediately after the declaration of the result of the Main Examination successful candidates will be intimated by
the Commission electronically and they shall be asked to submit Detailed Application Form (DAF)
online with scanned copies of the above documents. Originals will have to be produced at the time
of Personality Test/Interview. The interview letter to the candidates will also be issued
electronically.
If any of their cl aims is found to be incorrect, they may render themselves l i a b l e t o
d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n b y t h e Commission in terms of Rule 14 of the Combined Geo-Scientist
Examination, 2021 notified in the Gazette of India dated 7 th October, 2020 and also
reproduced below:
A candidate who is or has been declared by the Commission to be guilty of:—
(i) obtaining support for his/her candidature by the following means, namely:—
(a) offering illegal gratification to, or
(b) applying pressure on; or
(c) blackmailing or threatening to blackmail any person connected with the conduct of
Examination, or
(ii) impersonation; or
(iii) procuring impersonation by any person; or
(iv) submitting fabricated documents or documents which have been tampered with; or
(v) uploading irrelevant photos in the application form in place of actual photo/signature.
(vi) making statements which are incorrect or false, or suppressing material information; or
(vii) resorting to the following means in connection with his/her candidature for the
Examination namely :—
(a) obtaining copy of question paper through improper means;
(b) finding out the particulars of the persons connected with secret work relating to the
Examination;
(c) influencing the examiners; or
(viii) being in possession of or using unfair means during the Examination; or
(ix) writing obscene matters, drawing obscene sketches or writing irrelevant matter in the
scripts; or
(x) misbehaving in the Examination Hall including tearing of the scripts, provoking fellow
examinees to boycott Examination, creating a disorderly scene and the like; or
(xi) harassing or doing bodily harm to the staff employed by the Commission for the conduct
of its Examination; or
(xii) being in possession of or using any mobile phone (even in switched off mode), pager or
any electronic equipment or programmable device or storage media like pen drive, smart
watches etc. or camera or blue tooth devices or any other equipment or related accessories
either in working or switched off mode capable of being used as a communication device
during the Examination; or

(xiii) violating any of the instructions issued to candidates alongwith their admission
certificates permitting them to take the Examination; or
(xiv) attempting to commit or as the case may be, abetting the commission of all or any of the
acts specified in the foregoing clauses;
may in addition to rendering himself/herself liable to criminal prosecution, be liable:-

8 
 
 (a) and shall be disqualified by the Commission from the Examination held under this
Rules for which he/she is a candidate; and/or
(b) shall be liable to be debarred either permanently or for a specified period :—
(i) by the Commission from any Examination or Selection held by them;
(ii) by the Central Government from any employment under them; and
(c) if he/she is already in service under Government to disciplinary action under the
appropriate rules.
Provided that no penalty under this rule shall be imposed except after:—
(i) giving the candidate, an opportunity of making such representation in writing
as he/she may wish to make in that behalf; and
(ii) taking the representation, if any, submitted by the candidate, within the
period allowed to him/her into consideration.
5.(1) Any person who is found by the Commission to be guilty of colluding with a candidate(s) in
committing or abetting the commission of any of the misdeeds listed at the clauses (i) to (xiii) above
render himself liable to action in terms of the clause (xiv).

6. LAST DATE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

The Online Applications can be filled upto 27th October, 2020 ti11 1800 Hrs.
7. CORRESPONDENCE WITH COMMISSION:
The Commission will not enter into any correspon dence with the can di dates about their
candidature except in the following cases:
(i) The eligible candidates shall be issued an e-Admission Certificate three weeks before the
commencement of the Examination. The e-Admission Certificate will be made available on the UPSC
Web-site [https://www.upsc.gov.in] for downloading by candidates. No Admission Certificate will be
sent by post. For downloading the e-Admission Certificate/e-Admit Card the candidate must have
his/her vital parameters like RID and Date of Birth or Roll No. (if received) & date of birth or name,
father’s name & Date of Birth available with him/her. If a candidate does not receive his/her
admission certificate or any other communication regarding his/her candidature for the
Examination three weeks before the commencement of the Examination, he/she should at
once contact the Commission. Information in this regard can also be obtained from the
Facilitation Counter located in the Commission’s Office either in person or over phone Nos.011-
23381125/011-23385271/011-23098543. In case no communication is received in the
Commission’s office from the candidate regarding non-receipt of his/her e-Admission
Certificate at least three weeks before the Examination, he/she himself/herself will be solely
responsible for non-receipt of his/her e-Admission Certificate.
No candidate will ordinarily be allowed to take the Examination unless he/she holds an e-
admission certificate for the Examination. On receipt of e-Admission Certificate, check it
carefully and bring discrepancies/errors, if any, to the notice of UPSC immediately.
The candidates should note that their admission to the Examination will be purely provisional based
on the information given by them in the Application Form. This will be subject to verification of all
the eligibility conditions by the UPSC.
The mere fact that an e-admission certificate to the Examination has been issued to a
candidate will not imply that the Commission has finally cleared his/her candidature or that
the Commission has accepted entries made by the candidate in his/her application for the
Examination as true and correct. Candidates may note that the Commission will take up the
verification of eligibility conditions of a candidate, with reference to original documents, only
after the candidate has qualified the Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination. Unless the
Commission formally confirms candidature, it continues to be provisional.
The decision of the Commission as to the eligibility or otherwise of a candidate for admission to the
Examination shall be final.
Candidates should note that the name in the e-Admission Certificate in some cases may be
abbreviated due to technical reasons.
(ii) The candidates must ensure that their E-Mail IDs given in their Online Applications are valid
and active as the Commission may use electronic mode of communication while contacting them at
different stages of examination processes.
(iii) A candidate must see that communications sent to him/her at the address stated in his/her
application are redirected, if necessary. Change in address should be communicated to the
Commission at the earliest opportunity. Although the Commission make every effort to take account
of such changes, they cannot accept any responsibility in the matter.
(iv) Candidates may note that they will not be allowed to take the Examination on the strength of an
e-Admission Certificate issued in respect of another candidate.
9 
 
Important: All communications to the Commission should invariably contain the following particulars.
1. Name and year of Examination.
2. Registration I.D. (RID) Number
3. Roll No. (if received)
4. Name of candidate in full and in Block Letters.
5. Complete Postal Address as given in the Application.
6. Valid and active E-mail I.D.
N.B.(i) Communications not containing the above particulars may not be attended to.
N.B.(ii) If a letter/communication is received from a candidate after an Examination has been held and it does not give
his/her full name and Roll number, it will be ignored and no action will be taken thereon.
N.B.(iii) Candidates are strongly advised to keep a printout or soft copy of their online application for future
references.
8. The eligibility for availing reservation against the vacancies reserved for the Persons with
Benchmark Disabilities shall be the same as prescribed in “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Act, 2016 (RPwD Act, 2016)”. The candidates of Multiple Disabilities will be eligible for reservation
under category (e) - Multiple Disabilities only of Section 34(1) of RPwD Act, 2016 and shall not be
eligible for reservation under any other categories of disabilities i.e. (a) to (d) of Section 34(1) of RPwD
Act, 2016 on account of having 40% and above impairment in any of these categories of PwBD.
Provided further that the persons with Benchmark Disabilities shall also be required to meet special
eligibility criteria in terms of physical requirements/functional classification (abilities/ disabilities)
consistent with requirements of the identified Service/Post as under:-
Chemist:
Sl. Functional Classification Physical Requirements
1 PD S, ST, BN, MF, SE, W,KC, C
2 OA, OL S, ST, BN, MF, SE, W,KC, C

Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology) and Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics):

Sl. Functional Classification Physical Requirements
1. PB - Partially Blind S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
2. PD- Partially Deaf S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
3. OL - One leg affected(R or L) S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
(Impaired Reach)
4. MW - Muscular Weakness and S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
limited physical endurance

Scientist ‘B’(Chemical):

Sl. Functional Classification Physical Requirements

1 OL - One leg affected(R or L) S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
2. MW - Muscular Weakness and S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
limited physical endurance
3. PD- Partially Deaf S, ST, W, SE, H, RW
Note: H- Hearing, SP- Speaking, S – Sitting, ST – Standing, W – Walking, MF – Manipulation by
fingers, RW – Reading & Writing, SE – Seeing, OA - One Arm affected, OL - One Leg affected,
OLA - One Leg One Arm affected, N- Numerical calculation ability, and BL - Both legs affected.
BN-Bending, KC-Kneeling, C-Communication
9. As per the decision taken by the Government for increasing the access of unemployed to job
opportunities, the Commission will publically disclose the scores of the candidates (obtained in the
Written Examination and Interview/Personality Test) through the public portals. The disclosure will
be made in respect of only those candidates who will appear in the Interview/Personality Test for the
Combined Geo-scientist Examination and are not finally recommended for appointment. The
information shared through this disclosure scheme about the non-recommended candidates may be
used by other public and private recruitment agencies to appoint suitable candidates from the
information made available in the public portal.
Candidates will be required to give their options at the time of Interview/ Personality Test,
while acknowledging the e-summon letter mailed to them for interview. A candidate may opt out of
the scheme also and in that case his/her details will not be published by the Commission.
Besides sharing of the information of the non-recommended candidates for the Examinations
conducted by the Commission, the Commission will not assume any responsibility or liability for the
10 
 
method and manner in which information related to candidates who appear at the Commission’s
Examinations/Selections is utilized by other private of public organizations.
10. WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATIONS: THE COMMISSION HAS INTRODUCED THE FACILITY OF
WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION FOR THOSE CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT WANT TO APPEAR FOR
THE EXAMINATION. INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN IN APPENDIX-IIB.
11. Details about the scheme of Examination, standard and syllabi of the subjects etc. may be seen in
Appendix-I of this Notice.
(OM PRAKASH )
UNDER SECRETARY
UNION PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
******
APPENDIX – I
PLAN OF EXAMINATION
Plan of Examination

The Examination shall be conducted according to the following plan:—

(i) Stage-I : Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination (Computer Based Objective

Type Papers) for the selection of candidates for the Stage-II:

…….. 400 Marks

(ii) Stage-II : Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination (Conventional Type Papers); and
…….. 600 Marks

(iii) Stage-III : Personality Test/Interview …….. 200 Marks

2. The candidates will first take the Computer Based Combined Geo-Scientist
(Preliminary/Stage-I) Examination which consists of two Objective Type (multiple choices) Questions
Papers for each stream. The Question Papers will be set in English only. The detailed Scheme of
Stage-I: is as follow:-

Stage-I: Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination:-

Stream-I : Scientist B (Hydrogeology)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : General Studies 2 Hours 100 Marks

Paper-II : Geology/Hydrogeology 2 Hours 300 Marks

Total 400 Marks

Stream-II : Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : General Studies 2 Hours 100 Marks

Paper-II : Geophysics 2 Hours 300 Marks

11 
 
 Total 400 Marks

Stream-III : Chemist and Scientist ‘B’(Chemical)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : General Studies 2 Hours 100 Marks

Paper-II : Chemistry 2 Hours 300 Marks

Total 400 Marks

Note-1: There will be penalty (Negative Marking) for wrong answers marked by a candidate in the
objective type question papers.

(i) There are four alternatives for the answers to every question. For each question for which a
wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third of the marks assigned to that question will
be deducted as penalty.
(ii) If a question is left blank i.e. no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for
that question.
Note-2: The candidates are not permitted to use calculators for answering Objective Type Papers.
They should therefore not bring the same inside the Examination Hall.

Note-3: Only those candidates who are declared by the Commission to have qualified in the
Preliminary/Stage-I Examination in the year will be eligible for admission to the Main/Stage-II
Examination of that year provided they are otherwise eligible for admission to the Main/Stage-II
Examination. The marks obtained in Preliminary/Stage-I Examination by the candidates who are
declared qualified for admission to the Main/Stage-II Examination will be counted for determining
their final order of merit. The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main/Stage-II Examination
will be about six to seven times of the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year
through this Examination.
Note-4: The Commission will draw a list of candidates to be qualified for Combined Geo-Scientist
(Main) Examination based on the criterion of minimum qualifying marks in General Studies Paper
(Paper-I) and Geo-Scientist Stream specific paper (Paper-II) of Preliminary Examination.

3. The Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination will consist of three conventional type
papers for each stream. Conventional Type papers must be answered in English only. Question
paper will be set in English only. The detailed scheme of Stage-II is as follows:-

Stage-II : Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination:-

Stream-I : Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : Geology 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-II : Geology 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-III : Hydrogeology 3 Hours 200 Marks

12 
 
 Total 600 Marks

Stream-II : Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : Geophysics 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-II : Geophysics 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-III : Geophysics 3 Hours 200 Marks

Total 600 Marks

Stream-III : Chemist & Scientist ‘B’ (Chemical)

Subject Duration Maximum Marks

Paper-I : Chemistry 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-II : Chemistry 3 Hours 200 Marks

Paper-III : Chemistry 3 Hours 200 Marks

Total 600 Marks

Note-I : Candidates competing for selection to the posts of Chemist, Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology),
Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) and Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics) will be required to appear in all the
subjects mentioned against respective category above.
Note-II: If any candidate failed to appear in any one or more of above papers, meant for Stage-II/
Main Examination for selection to the post(s) of Chemist, Scientist B’(Hydrogeology),
Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) and Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics), their candidature shall stand rejected
and part of the Main Examination attempted by him/her shall not be evaluated and counted
for any
purpose.
Note-III: Credit will be given for orderly effective and exact expression combined with due economy of
words in all subjects of Examination.
Note IV : Candidates should use only international form of Indian numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.)
while answering question papers.
Note V: Candidates will be allowed the use of Non-Programmable type Pocket Calculators in
Descriptive/Conventional Type Papers of the Examination. Programmable type calculators
will not be allowed and the use of such calculators shall tantamount to resorting to unfair
means by the candidates. Loaning or interchanging of calculators in the Examination Hall
is not permitted.

13 
 
Note VI: Candidates should note that if any irrelevant matters/signages/marks etc. are found
written in the answer script(s), which would not be related to any question/answer and/or
would be having the potential to disclose the candidate’s identity, the Commission will
impose a penalty of deduction of marks from the total marks from the total marks
otherwise accruing to the candidate or will not be evaluate the said script(s) on this
account.
4. Common instructions for Stage-I(Preliminary) and Stage-II(Main) Examinations.

4.1 Candidates must mark/write the papers in their own hand. In no circumstances will they be
allowed the help of a scribe to mark/write the answers for them. The Persons with Benchmark
Disabilities in the categories of blindness, locomotor disability (both arm affected – BA) and cerebral
palsy will be provided the facility of scribe, if desired by the person. In case of other category of
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities as defined under section 2(r) of the RPWD Act, 2016, the facility
of scribe will be allowed to such candidates on production of a certificate to the effect that the person
concerned has physical limitation to write, and scribe is essential to write Examination on behalf,
from the Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of a Government Health Care
institution as per proforma at Appendix–V.

4.2 The candidates have discretion of opting for his/her own scribe or request the Commission
for the same. The details of scribe i.e. whether own or the Commission’s and the details of scribe in
case candidates are bringing their own scribe, will be sought at the time of filling up the application
form online as per proforma at Appendix-VI.

4.3 The qualification of the Commission’s scribe as well as own scribe will not be more than the
minimum qualification criteria of the Examination. However, the qualification of the scribe should
always be matriculate or above.

4.4 The Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the category of blindness, locomotor disability
(both arm affected – BA) and cerebral palsy will be allowed Compensatory Time of twenty minutes
per hour of the Examination. In case of other categories of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, this
facility will be provided on production of a certificate to the effect that the person concerned has
physical limitation to write from the Chief Medical Officer/ Civil Surgeon/Medical Superintendent of
a Government Health Care institution as per proforma at Appendix – V.

Note (1) : The eligibility conditions of a scribe, his/her conduct inside the Examination Hall and the
manner in which and extent to which he/she can help the PwBD candidate in writing the
Examination shall be governed by the instructions issued by the UPSC in this regard. Violation of all
or any of the said instructions shall entail the cancellation of the candidature of the PwBD candidate
in addition to any other action that the UPSC may take against the scribe.
Note (2) : The criteria for determining the percentage of visual impairment shall be as follows:—
Better eye Worse eye Per Cent Disability category
Best Corrected Best Corrected Impairment
6/6 to 6/18 6/6 to 6/18 0% 0
6/24 to 6/60 10% 0
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 20% I
Less than 3/60 to No Light 30% II (One eyed person)
Perception
6/24 to 6/60 6/24 to 6/60 40% III a (low vision)
Or Less than 6/60 to 3/60 50% III b (low vision)
Visual field less than 40 up Less than 3/60 to No Light 60% III c (low vision)
to 20 degree around centre Perception
of fixation or heminaopia
involving macula
Less than 6/60 to 3/60 Less than 6/60 to 3/60 70% III d (low vision)
Or Less than 3/60 to No Light 80% III e (low vision)

14 
 
Visual field less than 20 up Perception
to 10 degree around centre
of fixation
Less than 3/60 to 1/60 Less than 3/60 to No Light 90% IV a (Blindness)
Or Perception
Visual field less than 10
degree around centre of
fixation
Only HMCF Only HMCF 100% IV b (Blindness)
Only Light Perception Only Light Perception
No Light Perception No Light Perception
The concession admissible to blind candidates shall not be admissible to those suffering from
Myopia.
4.5 In the question papers, wherever necessary, questions involving the Metric System of Weights
and Measures only will be set.
5. The Stage-III will consist of Personality Test/Interview carrying 200 Marks (with no minimum
qualifying marks). Candidates, who obtain such minimum qualifying marks in Stage-II as may be
fixed by the Commission as per its discretion, shall be summoned for Stage-III (Personality Test).
The number of candidates to be summoned for Personality Test will be about twice the number of
vacancies to be filled. In the Personality Test, the candidate will be interviewed by Board i.e.
Interview Board (s) constituted by the Commission. The object of the interview will be to assess the
suitability for the post(s) of Chemist, Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology), Scientist ‘B’(Chemical) and
Scientist ‘B’ (Geophysics). Special attention will be paid in the Personality Test to assessing the
candidate’s capacity for leadership, initiative and intellectual curiosity, tact and other social
qualities, mental and physical energy powers of practical application, integrity of character and
aptitude for adapting themselves to the field life.

6. The Details of the syllabi for Stage-I: (Preliminary Examination) and Stage-II: (Main
Examination) of Combined Geo-Scientist Examination are as under:
SCHEDULE
STANDARD AND SYLLABUS
Paper-I in General Studies of Stage-I is common for all streams and its standard will be such as
may be expected of a science graduate. Paper-II of Stage-I (Stream specific) and 3 compulsory papers of
Stage-II each on Geology, Geophysics, Chemistry and Hydrogeology subjects will be approximately of the
M.Sc. degree standard of an Indian University and questions will generally be set to test the candidate’s
grasp of the fundamentals in each subject.
There will be no practical examination in any of the subjects

Syllabus of Combined Geo-Scientist (Preliminary) Examination

Stage-I (Objective Type)

Paper-I : General Studies (Common for all streams)

 Current events of national and international importance.

 History of India and Indian National Movement.
 Indian and World Geography -Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.
 Indian Polity and Governance -Constitution, Political System, Panchayati Raj, Public Policy,
Rights Issues, etc.
 Economic and Social Development – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion,
Demographics, Social Sector initiatives, etc.
 General issues on Environmental Ecology, Bio-diversity and Climate Change - that do not
require subject specialisation
 General Science
Stage-I (Objective Type)

Paper-II : Geology/Hydrogeology
15 
 
1. Physical Geology

Principle of uniformitarianism; origin, differentiation and internal structure of the Earth;

origin of atmosphere; earthquakes and volcanoes; continental drift, sea-floor spreading, isostasy,
orogeny and plate tectonics; geological action of rivers, wind, glaciers, waves; erosional and
depositional landforms; weathering processes and products.

2. Structural Geology

Stress, strain and rheological properties of rocks; planar and linear structures; classification
of folds and faults; Mohr's circle and criteria for failure of rocks; ductile and brittle shear in rocks;
study of toposheets, V-rules and outcrop patterns; stereographic projections of structural elements.

3. Mineralogy

Elements of symmetry, notations and indices; Bravais lattices; chemical classification of

minerals; isomorphism, polymorphism, solid solution and exsolution; silicate structures; physical
and optical properties of common rock forming minerals- olivine, garnet, pyroxene, amphibole, mica,
feldspar and quartz.

4. Igneous Petrology

Magma types and their evolution; IUGS classification of igneous rocks; forms, structures and
textures of igneous rocks; applications of binary and ternary phase diagrams in petrogenesis;
magmatic differentiation and assimilation; petrogenesis of granites, basalts, komatiiites and alkaline
rocks (carbonatite, kimberlite, lamprophyre and nepheline syenite).

5. Metamorphic Petrology

Limits, types and controls of metamorphism; metamorphic structures- slate, schist and
gneiss; metamorphic textures- pre, syn and post tectonic porphyroblasts; concept of metamorphic
zone, isograd and facies; geothermal gradients, facies series and plate tectonics.

6. Sedimentology

Origin of sediments; sedimentary textures, grain-size scale; primary sedimentary structures;

classification of sandstone and carbonate rocks; siliciclastic depositional environments and
sedimentary facies; diagenesis of carbonate sediments.

7. Paleontology

Fossils and processes of fossilization; concept of species and binomial nomenclature;

morphology and classification of invertebrates (Trilobites, Brachiopods, Lamellibranchs, Gastropods
and Cephalopods); evolution in Equidae and Hominidae; microfossils-Foraminifera, Ostracoda;
Gondwana flora.

8. Stratigraphy

Law of superposition; stratigraphic nomenclature- lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and

chronostratigraphy; Archaean cratonic nucleii of Peninsular India (Dharwar, Singhbhum, and
Aravalli cratons); Proterozoic mobile belts (Central Indian Tectonic Zone, Aravalli-Delhi and Eastern
Ghats); Purana sedimentary basins (Cuddapah and Vindhyan); Phanerozoic stratigraphy of India-
Spiti, Kashmir, Damodar valley, Kutch, Trichinopoly, Siwaliks and Indo-Gangetic alluvium.

9. Economic Geology

Properties of mineral deposits- form, mineral assemblage, texture, rock-ore association and
relationship; magmatic, sedimentary, metamorphic, hydrothermal, supergene and weathering-

16 
 
related processes of ore formation; processes of formation of coal, and petroleum; distribution and
geological characteristics of major mineral and hydrocarbon deposits of India.

10. Hydrogeology

Groundwater occurrence and aquifer characteristics, porosity, permeability, hydraulic

conductivity, transmissivity; Darcy's Law in homogenous and heterogenous media; Bernoulli
equation, Reynold's number; composition of groundwater; application of H and O isotopes in
groundwater studies; artificial recharge of groundwater.

Stage-I (Objective Type)

Paper-II : Geophysics

1. Solid Earth Geophysics:

Introduction to Geophysics and its branches. Solar system: origin, formation and
characteristics of planets, Earth: shape and rotation. Gravity and magnetic fields of earth.
Geomagnetism, elements of earth's magnetism, Rock and mineral magnetism, Elastic waves, types
and their propagation characteristics, internal structure of earth, variation of physical properties in
the interior of earth. Plate tectonics, Earthquakes and their causes, focal depth, epicenter, Intensity
and Magnitude scales, Energy of earthquakes, Seismicity.

2. Mathematical Methods in Geophysics:

Elements of vector analysis, Vector algebra, Properties of scalars, vectors and tensors,
Gradient, Divergence and Curl, Gauss's divergence theorem, Stoke’s theorem. Matrices, Eigen values
and Eigen vectors and their applications in geophysics. Newton's Law of gravitation, Gravity
potential and gravity fields due to bodies of different geometric shapes. Basic Forces of Nature and
their strength: Gravitational, Electromagnetic, Strong and Weak forces. Conservation Laws in
Physics: Energy, Linear and angular momentum. Rigid body motion and moment of inertia. Basics of
special theory of relativity and Lorentz transformation.

Fundamental concepts of inverse theory, Definition of inversion and application to

Geophysics. Forward and Inverse problems. Probability theory, Random variables, binomial, Poisson
and normal distributions. Linear algebra, Linear ordinary differential equations of first and second
order. Partial differential equations (Laplace, wave and heat equations in two and three dimensions).
Elements of numerical techniques: root of functions, interpolation, and extrapolation, integration by
trapezoid and Simpson's rule, solution of first order differential equation using Runge-Kutta method,
Introduction to finite difference and finite elements methods.

3. Electromagnetism:

Electrostatic and magneto-static fields, Coulomb's law, Electrical permittivity and dielectric
constant, Lorentz force and their applications. Ampere's law, Biot and Savart's law, Gauss’s
Theorem, Poisson's equation. Laplace's equation: solution of Laplace's equation in Cartesian
coordinates, use of Laplace's equation in the solutions of geophysical and electrostatic problems.
Displacement current, Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. Maxwell's equations. Boundary
conditions. Wave equation, plane electromagnetic waves in free space, dielectric and conducting
media, electromagnetic vector and scalar potentials.

4. Geophysical Prospecting:

Elements of geophysical methods: Principles, data reduction and applications of gravity,

magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic and well logging methods. Fundamentals of seismic methods:
Fermat’s Principle, Snell’s Law, Energy portioning, Reflection and transmission coefficients,
Reflection and Refraction from layered media. Signals and systems, sampling theorem, aliasing
effect, Fourier series and periodic waveforms, Fourier transform and its application, Laplace
17 
 
transforms, Convolution, Auto and cross correlations, Power spectrum, Delta function, unit step
function.

5. Remote Sensing and Thermodynamics:

Fundamentals of remote sensing, electromagnetic spectrum, energy- frequency-wavelength

relationship, Stefan-Boltzmann Law, Wien’s Law, electromagnetic energy and its interactions in the
atmosphere and with terrain features. Planck’s Radiation Law. Laws of thermodynamics and
thermodynamic potential.

6. Nuclear Physics and Radiometry:

Basic nuclear properties: size, shape, charge distribution, spin and parity; Binding energy,
semi-empirical mass formula; Fission and fusion. Principles of radioactivity, Alpha, beta and gamma
decays, Photoelectric and Compton Effect, Pair Production, radioactivity decay law, radioactivity of
rocks and minerals, Radiation Detectors: Ionization chamber, G-M counter, Scintillation counter and
Gamma ray spectrometer. Matter Waves and wave particle duality, Electron spin, Spectrum of
Hydrogen, helium and alkali atoms.

Stage-I (Objective Type)

Paper-II : Chemistry

1. Chemical periodicity:

Schrödinger equation for the H-atom. Radial distribution curves for 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 3d
orbitals. Electronic configurations of multi-electron atoms.

Periodic table, group trends and periodic trends in physical properties. Classification of
elements on the basis of electronic configuration. Modern IUPAC Periodic table. General
characteristics of s, p, d and f block elements. Effective nuclear charges, screening effects, atomic
radii, ionic radii, covalent radii. Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy and electronegativity.
Group trends and periodic trends in these properties in respect of s-, p- and d-block elements.
General trends of variation of electronic configuration, elemental forms, metallic nature, magnetic
properties, catenation and catalytic properties, oxidation states, aqueous and redox chemistry in
common oxidation states, properties and reactions of important compounds such as hydrides,
halides, oxides, oxy-acids, complex chemistry in respect of s-block and p-block elements.

2. Chemical bonding and structure:

Ionic bonding: Size effects, radius ratio rules and their limitations. Packing of ions in
crystals, lattice energy, Born-Landé equation and its applications, Born-Haber cycle and its
applications. Solvation energy, polarizing power and polarizability, ionic potential, Fajan's rules.
Defects in solids.

Covalent bonding: Valence Bond Theory, Molecular Orbital Theory, hybridization. Concept of
resonance, resonance energy, resonance structures.

Coordinate bonding: Werner theory of coordination compounds, double salts and complex salts.
Ambidentate and polydentate ligands, chelate complexes. IUPAC nomenclature of coordination
compounds. Coordination numbers, Geometrical isomerism. Stereoisomerism in square planar and
octahedral complexes.

3. Acids and bases:

Chemical and ionic equilibrium. Strengths of acids and bases. Ionization of weak acids and
bases in aqueous solutions, application of Ostwald's dilution law, ionization constants, ionic product

18 
 
of water, pH-scale, effect of temperature on pH, buffer solutions and their pH values, buffer action &
buffer capacity; different types of buffers and Henderson's equation.

4. Theoretical basis of quantitative inorganic analysis:

Volumetric Analysis: Equivalent weights, different types of solutions, normal and molar solutions.
Primary and secondary standard substances.

General principles of different types of titrations: i) acid-base, ii) redox, iii) complexometric, iv)
Precipitation. Types of indicators - i) acid-base, ii) redox iii) metal-ion indicators.

5. Kinetic theory and the gaseous state:

Kinetic theory of gases, average kinetic energy of translation, Boltzmann constant and
absolute scale of temperature. Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of speeds. Calculations of average,
root mean square and most probable velocities. Collision diameter; collision number and mean free
path; frequency of binary collisions; wall collision and rate of effusion.

6. Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium:

First law and its applications to chemical problems. Thermodynamic functions. Total
differentials and state functions. Free expansion, Joule-Thomson coefficient and inversion
temperature. Hess’ law.

Applications of Second law of thermodynamics. Gibbs function (G) and Helmholtz function (A),
Gibbs-Helmholtz equation, criteria for thermodynamic equilibrium and spontaneity of chemical
processes.

7. Solutions of non-electrolytes:

Colligative properties of solutions, Raoult's Law, relative lowering of vapour pressure, osmosis
and osmotic pressure; elevation of boiling point and depression of freezing point of solvents.
Solubility of gases in liquids and solid solutions.

8. Electrochemistry:

Cell constant, specific conductance and molar conductance. Kohlrausch's law of independent
migration of ions, ion conductance and ionic mobility. Equivalent and molar conductance at infinite
dilution. Debye-Hückel theory. Application of conductance measurements. Conductometric
titrations. Determination of transport number by moving boundary method.

9. Basic organic chemistry:

Delocalized chemical bond, resonance, conjugation, hyperconjugation, hybridisation, orbital

pictures of bonding sp3, sp2, sp: C-C, C-N and C-O system), bond polarization and bond
polarizability. Reactive intermediates: General methods of formation, relative stability and reactivity
of carbocations, carbanions and free radicals.

10. Stereochemistry:

Configuration and chirality (simple treatment of elements of symmetry), optical isomerism of

compounds containing two to three stereogenic centres, R,S nomenclature, geometrical isomerism in
compounds containing two C=C double bonds (E,Z naming), and simple cyclic systems, Newman
projection (ethane and substituted ethane).

11. Types of organic reactions:

19 
 
Aliphatic substitution reactions: SN1, SN2 mechanisms, stereochemistry, relative reactivity in
aliphatic substitutions. Effect of substrate structure, attacking nucleophile, leaving group and
reaction medium and competitive reactions.

Elimination reactions: E1, E2, mechanisms, stereochemistry, relative reactivity in aliphatic

eliminations. Effect of substrate structure, attacking base, leaving group, reaction medium and
competitive reactions, orientation of the double bond, Saytzeff and Hoffman rules.

Addition reactions: Electrophilic, nucleophilic and radical addition reactions at carbon-carbon

double bonds.

Electrophilic and nucleophilic aromatic substitution: Electrophilic (halogenation, sulphonation,

nitration, Friedal-Crafts alkylation and acylation), nucleophilic (simple SNAr, SN1 and aryne
reactions).

12. Molecular Rearrangements:

Acid induced rearrangement and Wagner-Meerwein rearrangements. Neighbouring group

participation.

*****

Syllabus of Combined Geo-Scientist (Main) Examination

For the post of Scientist ‘B’(Hydrogeology)

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)
Geology : Paper-I
Section A. Physical geology and remote sensing

Evolution of Earth; Earth’s internal structure; earthquakes and volcanoes; principles of geodesy,
isostasy; weathering- processes and products; geomorphic landforms formed by action of rivers,
wind, glaciers, waves and groundwater; features of ocean floor; continental shelf, slope and rise;
concepts of landscape evolution; major geomorphic features of India- coastal, peninsular and extra
peninsular.

Electromagnetic spectrum; electromagnetic bands in remote sensing; spectral signatures of soil,

rock, water and vegetation; thermal, near infra-red and microwave remote sensing; digital image
processing; LANDSAT, IRS and SPOT- characteristics and use; aerial photos- types, scale, parallax,
relief displacement; elements of image interpretation.

Section B. Structural geology

Principles of geological mapping; kinematic and dynamic analysis of deformation; stress-strain

relationships for elastic, plastic and viscous materials; measurement of strain in deformed rocks;
structural analysis of fold, cleavage, boudin, lineation, joint, and fault; stereographic projection of
linear and planar structures; superposed deformation; deformation at microscale- dynamic and
static recrystallisation, controls of strain rate and temperature on development of microfabrics;
brittle and ductile shear zones; time relationship between crystallisation and deformation,
calculation of paleostress.

Section C. Sedimentology

Classification of sedimentary rocks; sedimentary textures-grain size, roundness, sphericity, shape

and fabric; quantitative grain size analysis; sediment transport and deposition- fluid and sediment
gravity flows, laminar and turbulent flows, Reynold’s number, Froude number, grain entrainment,
Hjulstrom diagram, bed load and suspension load transport; primary sedimentary structures;
20 
 
penecontemporaneous deformation structure; biogenic structures; principles and application of
paleocurrent analysis; composition and significance of different types of sandstone, limestone,
banded iron formation, mudstone, conglomerate; carbonate diagenesis and dolomitisation;
sedimentary environments and facies-facies models for fluvial, glacial, deltaic, siliciclastic shallow
and deep marine environments; carbonate platforms- types and facies models; sedimentation in
major tectonic settings; principles of sequence stratigraphy-concepts, and factors controlling base
level changes, parasequence, clinoform, systems tract, unconformity and sequence boundary.

Section D. Paleontology

Fossil record and geological time scale; modes of preservation of fossils and concept of taphonomy;
body- and ichno-fossils, species concept, organic evolution, Ediacara Fauna; morphology and time
range of Graptolites, Trilobites, Brachiopods, Lamellibranchs, Gastropods, Cephalopods, Echinoids
and Corals; evolutionary trends in Trilobites, Lamellibranchs, Gastropods and Cephalopods;
micropaleontology- methods of preparation of microfossils, morphology of microfossil groups
(Foraminifera, Ostracoda), fossil spores, pollen and dinoflagellates; Gondwana plant fossils and their
significance; vertebrate life through ages, evolution in Proboscidea, Equidae and Hominidae;
applications of paleontological data in stratigraphy, paleoecology, and paleoclimatology; mass
extinctions.

Section E. Stratigraphy

Principles of stratigraphy-code of stratigraphic nomenclature of India; lithostratigraphy,

biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy; principles of stratigraphic correlation;
characteristics of Archean granite-greenstone belts; Indian stratigraphy- geological evolution of
Archean nucleii (Dharwar, Bastar, Singhbhum, Aravalli and Bundelkhand); Proterozoic mobile belts-
Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, Southern Granulite Terrain, Central Indian Tectonic Zone, Aravalli-Delhi
Belt, North Singhbhum Mobile Belt; Proterozoic sedimentary basins (Cuddapah and Vindhyan);
Phanerozoic stratigraphy- Paleozoic (Spiti, Kashmir and Kumaon), Mesozoic (Spiti, Kutch, Narmada
Valley and Trichinopoly), Gondwana Supergroup, Cenozoic (Assam, Bengal basins, Garhwal-Shimla
Himalayas); Siwaliks; boundary problems in Indian stratigraphy.

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Geology : Paper-II

Section A. Mineralogy

Symmetry, motif, Miller indices; concept of unit cell and Bravais lattices; 32 crystal classes; types of
bonding, Pauling’s rules and coordination polyhedra; crystal imperfections-defects, twinning and
zoning; polymorphism, pseudomorphism, isomorphism and solid solution; physical properties of
minerals; polarising microscope and accessory plate; optical properties of minerals- double
refraction, polarisation, pleochroism, sign of elongation, interference figure and optic sign; structure,
composition, physical and optical properties of major rock-forming minerals- olivine, garnet,
aluminosilicates, pyroxene, amphibole, mica, feldspar, clay, silica and spinel group.

Section B. Geochemistry and isotope geology

Chemical composition and characteristics of atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere; geochemical

cycles; meteorites-types and composition; Goldschmidt’s classification of elements; fractionation of
elements in minerals/rocks; Nernst’s partition coefficient (compatible and incompatible elements),
Nernst-Berthelot partition coefficient and bulk partition coefficient; Fick’s laws of diffusion and
activity composition relation (Roult’s and Henry’s law); application of trace elements in petrogenesis;
principles of equilibrium and Rayleigh fractionation; REE patterns, Eh and pH diagrams and mineral
stability.
21 
 
Half-life and decay equation; dating of minerals and rocks with potassium-argon, rubidium-
strontium, uranium-lead and samarium-neodymium isotopes; petrogenetic implications of
samarium-neodymium and rubidium-strontium systems; stable isotope geochemistry of carbon,
oxygen and sulphur and their applications in geology; monazite chemical dating. Section C.
Igneous petrology

Viscosity, temperature and pressure relationships in magmas; IUGS classification of plutonic and
volcanic rocks; nucleation and growth of minerals in magmatic rocks, development of igneous
textures; magmatic evolution (differentiation, assimilation, mixing and mingling); types of mantle
melting (batch, fractional and dynamic); binary (albite-anorthite, forsterite-silica and diopside-
anorthite) and ternary (diopside-forsterite-silica, diopside-forsterite-anorthite and nepheline-
kalsilite-silica) phase diagrams and relevance to magmatic crystallization; petrogenesis of granites,
basalts, ophiolite suite, komatiites, syenites, boninites, anorthosites and layered complexes, and
alkaline rocks (carbonatite, kimberlite, lamproite, lamprophyre); mantle metasomatism, hotspot
magmatism and large igneous provinces of India.

Section D. Metamorphic petrology

Limits and physico-chemical controls (pressure, temperature, fluids and bulk rock composition) of
metamorphism; concept of zones, facies, isograds and facies series, geothermal gradients and
tectonics of orogenic belts; structures, micro-structures and textures of regional and contact
metamorphic rocks; representation of metamorphic assemblages (ACF, AKF and AFM diagrams);
equilibrium concept in thermodynamics; laws of thermodynamics, enthalpy, entropy, Gibb’s free
energy, chemical potential, fugacity and activity; tracing the chemical reactions in P-T space, phase
rule and mineralogical phase rule in multi-component system; Claussius-Clapeyron equation and
slopes of metamorphic reactions; heat flow, diffusion and mass transfer; Fourier’s law of heat
conduction; geothermobarometry; mass and energy change during fluid-rock interactions;
charnockite problem, formation of skarns, progressive and retrogressive metamorphism of pelitic,
calcareous and basic rocks; P-T-t path and tectonic setting.

Section E. Geodynamics

Phase transitions and seismic discontinuities in the Earth; seismic waves and relation between Vp,
Vs and density; seismic and petrological Moho; rheology of rocks and fluids (Newtonian and non-
Newtonian liquids); rock magnetism and its origin; polarity reversals, polar wandering and
supercontinent cycles; continental drift, sea floor spreading; gravity and magnetic anomalies of
ocean floors and their significance; mantle plumes and their origin; plate tectonics- types of plate
boundaries and their inter-relationship; heat flow and heat production of the crust.

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Hydrogeology

Section A. Occurrence and distribution of groundwater

Origin of water on Earth; global water cycle and budget; residence time concept, geologic formations
as aquifers; confined and unconfined aquifers; groundwater table mapping and piezometric nests;
porosity, void ratio, effective porosity and representative porosity range; primary and secondary
porosities; groundwater zonation; specific retention, specific yield; groundwater basins; springs.

Section B. Groundwater movement and well hydraulics

Groundwater flow concepts; Darcy's Law in isotropic and anisotropic media and validity; water flow
rates, direction and water volume in aquifers; permeability and hydraulic conductivity and ranges in
representative rocks; Bernoulli equation; determination of hydraulic conductivity in field and
laboratory; concept of groundwater flow through dispersion and diffusion; transmissivity and aquifer
thickness.
22 
 
Section C. Water wells and groundwater levels

Unidirectional and radial flow to a well (steady and unsteady); well flow near aquifer boundaries;
methods for constructing shallow wells, drilling wells, well completion; testing wells, pumping test,
slug tests for confined and unconfined aquifers; fluctuations in groundwater levels; stream flow and
groundwater flows; groundwater level fluctuations; land subsidence; impact of global climate change
on groundwater.

Section D. Groundwater exploration

Surface investigation of groundwater- geologic, remote sensing, electrical resistivity, seismic, gravity
and magnetic methods; sub-surface investigation of groundwater- test drilling, resistivity logging,
spontaneous potential logging, radiation logging.

Section E. Groundwater quality and management

Groundwater composition, units of expression, mass-balance calculations; rock-water interaction

(chemical equilibrium, free energy, redox reactions and cation/anion exchanges), graphic
representation of chemical data; groundwater hardness, microorganisms in groundwater; water
quality standards; sea-water intrusion; groundwater issues due to urbanization; solid and liquid
waste disposal and plume migration models; application of isotopes (H, C, O) in groundwater;
concepts of artificial recharge methods; managing groundwater resources; groundwater basin
investigations and management practices.

For the post of Scientist ‘B’(Geophysics)

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Geophysics : Paper-I
PART-A
A1. Solid Earth Geophysics:

Introduction to Geophysics and its branches. Solar system: origin, characteristics of planets, Earth:
rotation and figure, Geoid, Spheroid and topography. Plate tectonics and Geodynamic processes,
Thermal history and heat flow, Temperature variation in the earth, convection currents. Gravity field
of earth and Isostasy. Geomagnetism, elements of earth's magnetism: Internal and External fields
and their causes, Paleomagnetism, Polar wandering paths, Continental drift, Seafloor spreading and
its geophysical evidences. Elastic Waves, Body Waves and internal structure of earth, variation of
physical properties in the interior of earth, Adam-Williamson’s Equation.

A2. Earthquake Seismology:

Seismology, earthquakes, focal depth, epicenter, great Indian earthquakes, Intensity and Magnitude
scales, Energy of earthquakes, foreshocks, aftershocks, Elastic rebound theory, Types and Nature of
faulting, Fault plane solutions, Seismicity and Seismotectonics of India, Frequency-Magnitude
relation (b-values). Bulk and rigidity modulus, Lame’s Parameter, Seismic waves: types and their
propagation characteristics, absorption, attenuation and dispersion. Seismic ray theory for
spherically and horizontally stratified earth, basic principles of Seismic Tomography and receiver
function analysis, Velocity structure, Vp/Vs studies, Seismic network and arrays, telemetry systems,
Principle of electromagnetic seismograph, displacement meters, velocity meters, accelerometers,
Broadband Seismometer, WWSSN stations, seismic arrays for detection of nuclear explosions.
Earthquake prediction; dilatancy theory, short-, medium- and long- term predictions, Seismic
microzonations, Applications for engineering problems.

A3. Mathematical methods in Geophysics:

Elements of vector analysis, Gradient, Divergence and Curl, Gauss's divergence theorem, Stoke’s
theorem, Gravitational field, Newton's Law of gravitation, Gravitation potential and fields due to

23 
 
bodies of different geometric shapes, Coulomb's law, Electrical permittivity and dielectric constant,
Origin of Magnetic field, Ampere's law, Biot and Savart's law, Geomagnetic fields, Magnetic fields due
to different type of structures, Solution of Laplace equation in Cartesian, Cylindrical and Spherical
Coordinates, Image theory, Electrical fields due to charge, point source, continuous charge
distribution and double layers, equipotential and line of force. Current and potential in the earth,
basic concept and equations of electromagnetic induction, Maxwell’s Equation, near and far fields,
Attenuation of EM waves, EM field of a loops of wire on half space and multi-layered media.

A4. Geophysical Inversion:

Fundamental concepts of inverse theory, Definition and its application to Geophysics. Probability,
Inversion with discrete and continuous models. Forward problems versus Inverse problems, direct
and model based inversions, Formulation of inverse problems, classification of inverse problems,
least square solutions and minimum norm solution, concept of norms, Jacobian matrix, Condition
number, Stability, non-uniqueness and resolution of inverse problems, concept of 'a priori'
information, constrained linear least squares inversion, review of matrix theory. Models and data
spaces, data resolution matrix, model resolution matrix, Eigen values and Eigen vectors, singular
value decomposition (SVD), Gauss Newton method, steepest descent (gradient) method, Marquardt-
Levenberg method. Probabilistic approach of inverse problems, maximum likelihood and stochastic
inverse methods, Random search inversion (Monte-Carlo) Backus-Gilbert method, Bayesian
Theorem and Inversion. Global optimization techniques: genetic algorithm and simulated annealing
methods.

PART-B:

B1. Mathematical Methods of Physics:

Dimensional analysis; Units and measurement; Vector algebra and vector calculus; Linear algebra,
Matrices: Eigenvalues and eigenvectors; Linear ordinary differential equations of first and second
order; Special functions (Hermite, Bessel, Laguerre and Legendre); Fourier series, Fourier and
Laplace transforms; Elementary probability theory, Random variables, Binomial, Poisson and normal
distributions; Green's function; Partial differential equations (Laplace, wave and heat equations in
two and three dimensions); Elements of numerical techniques: root of functions, interpolation, and
extrapolation, integration by trapezoid and Simpson's rule, solution of first order differential
equation using Runge-Kutta method; Tensors; Complex variables and analysis; Analytic functions;
Taylor & Laurent series; poles, residues and evaluation of integrals; Beta and Gamma functions.
Operators and their properties; Least-squares fitting.

B2. Electrodynamics:

Electrostatics: Gauss' Law and its applications; Laplace and Poisson equations, Boundary value
problems; Magnetostatics: Biot-Savart law, Ampere's theorem; Ampere's circuital law; Magnetic
vector potential; Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction; Electromagnetic vector and scalar
potentials; Uniqueness of electromagnetic potentials and concept of gauge: Lorentz and Coulomb
gauges; Lorentz force; Charged particles in uniform and non-uniform electric and magnetic fields;
Poynting theorem; Electromagnetic fields from Lienard-Wiechert potential of a moving charge;
Bremsstrahlung radiation; Cerenkov radiation; Radiation due to oscillatory electric dipole; Condition
for plasma existence; Occurrence of plasma; Magnetohydrodynamics; Plasma waves; Transformation
of electromagnetic potentials; Lorentz condition; Invariance or covariance of Maxwell field equations
in terms of 4 vectors; Electromagnetic field tensor; Lorentz transformation of electric and magnetic
fields.

B3. Electromagnetic Theory:

Maxwell's equations: its differential and integral forms, physical significance; Displacement current;
Boundary conditions; Wave equation, Plane electromagnetic waves in: free space, non-conducting

24 
 
isotropic medium, conducting medium; Scalar and vector potentials; Reflection; refraction of
electromagnetic waves; Fresnel's Law; interference; coherence; diffraction and polarization; Lorentz
invariance of Maxwell's equations; Transmission lines and waveguides.

B4. Introductory Atmospheric and Space Physics:

The neutral atmosphere; Atmospheric nomenclature; Height profile of atmosphere; Hydrostatic

equation; Geopotential height; Expansion and contraction; Fundamental forces in the atmosphere;
Apparent forces; Atmospheric composition; Solar radiation interaction with the neutral atmosphere;
Climate change; Electromagnetic radiation and propagation of Waves: EM Radiation; Effects of
environment; Antennas: basic considerations, types. Propagation of waves: ground wave, sky wave,
and space wave propagation; troposcatter communication and extra terrestrial communication; The
Ionosphere; Morphology of ionosphere: the D, E and F-regions; Chemistry of the ionosphere
Ionospheric parameters E and F region anomalies and irregularities in the ionosphere; Global
Positioning Systems (GPS): overview of GPS system, augmentation services GPS system segment;
GPS signal characteristics; GPS errors; multi path effects; GPS performance; Satellite navigation
system and applications.

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Geophysics : Paper-II

PART-A

A1. Potential Field (Gravity and Magnetic) Methods:

Geophysical potential fields, Inverse square law, Principles of Gravity and Magnetic methods, Global
gravity anomalies, Newtonian and logarithmic potential, Laplace's equations for potential field.
Green's Function, Concept of gravity anomaly, Rock densities, factors controlling rock densities,
determination of density, Earth's main magnetic field, origin, diurnal and secular variations of the
field, Geomagnetic elements, intensity of magnetization and induction, magnetic potential and its
relation to field, units of measurement, interrelationship between different components of magnetic
fields, Poisson's relation, Magnetic susceptibility, factors controlling susceptibility. Magnetic
Mineralogy: Hysteresis, rock magnetism, natural, and remnant magnetization, demagnetization
effects. Principles of Gravity and Magnetic instruments, Plan of conducting gravity and magnetic
surveys, Gravity and Magnetic data reduction, Gravity bases, International Gravity formula, IGRF
corrections. Concept of regional and residual anomalies and various methods of their separation,
Edge Enhancement Techniques (Derivatives, Continuation, Analytical Signal, Reduced to Pole and
Euler Deconvolution), ambiguity in potential field interpretation, Factors affecting magnetic
anomalies, Application of gravity and magnetics in geodynamic, mineral exploration and
environmental studies. Qualitative interpretation, Interpretation of gravity and magnetic anomalies
due to different geometry shaped bodies and modeling.

A2. Electrical and Electromagnetic methods:

Electrical properties of rocks and minerals, concepts and assumptions of horizontally stratified
earth, anisotropy and its effects on electrical fields, geoelectric and geological sections, D.C
Resistivity method. Concept of natural electric field, various electrode configurations, Profiling and
Sounding (VES). Tpes of Sounding curves, Equivalence and Suppression, Concept of Electrical
Resistivity Tomography (ERT). SP Method:, Origin of SP, application of SP surveys. Induced
Polarization (IP) Method: Origin of IP, Membrane and Electrode polarization, time and frequency
domains of measurement, chargeability, percent frequency effect and metal factor, Application of IP
surveys for mineral exploration. Electromagnetic methods, Passive and Active source methods,
Diffusion equation, wave equation and damped wave equation used in EM method, boundary
conditions, skin depth, depth of investigation and depth of penetration, amplitude and phase
relations, real and imaginary components, elliptical polarization, Principles of EM prospecting,

25 
 
various EM methods: Dip angle, Turam, moving source-receiver methods-horizontal loop (Slingram),
AFMAG, and VLF.. Principles of Time Domain EM: INPUT method. EM Profiling and sounding,
Interpretation of EM anomalies. Principle of EM scale modeling. Magnetotelluric methods: Origin and
characteristics of MT fields, Instrumentation, Transverse Electric and Transverse Magnetic Modes,
Static Shift. Dimensionality and Directionality analysis. Field Layout and interpretation of MT data
and its applications. Principles of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).

A3. Seismic Prospecting:

Basic principles of seismic methods, Various factors affecting seismic velocities in rocks, Reflection,
refraction and Energy partitioning at an interface, Geometrical spreading, Reflection and refraction
of wave phenomena in a layered and dipping media. Seismic absorption and anisotropy, Multi
channel seismic (CDP) data acquisition (2D and 3D), sources of energy, Geophones, geometry of
arrays, different spread geometry, Instrumentation, digital recording. Different types of multiples,
Travel time curves, corrections, Interpretation of data, bright spot, low velocity layer, Data
processing, static and dynamic (NMO and DMO) corrections, shot-receiver gather, foldage,
multiplexing and demultiplexing. Dix’s equation, Velocities: Interval, Average and RMS, Seismic
resolution and Fresnel Zone, Velocity analysis and Migration techniques, Seismic Interpretation,
Time and Depth Section, Fundamentals of VSP method, High Resolution Seismic Surveys (HRSS).

A4. Borehole Geophysics:

Objectives of well logging, concepts of borehole geophysics, borehole conditions, properties of

reservoir rock formations, formation parameters and their relationships-formation factor, porosity,
permeability, formation water resistivity, water saturation, irreducible water saturation, hydrocarbon
saturation, residual hydrocarbon saturation; Arhcie's and Humble's equations; principles,
instrumentations, operational procedures and interpretations of various geophysical logs: SP,
resistivity and micro resistivity, gamma ray, neutron, sonic, temperature, caliper and directional
logs. Production logging, overlay and cross-plots of well-log data, determination of formation
lithology, porosity, permeability and oil-water saturation, sub-surface correlation and mapping,
delineation of fractures; application of well-logging in hydrocarbon, groundwater, coal, metallic and
non-metallic mineral exploration.

PART-B

B1. Classical Mechanics

Inertial and non-inertial frames, Newton's laws; Pseudo forces; Central force motion; Two-body
collisions, Scattering in laboratory and centre-of-mass frames; Rigid body dynamics, Moment of
inertia, Variational principle, Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms and equations of motion;
Poisson brackets and canonical transformations; Symmetry, Invariance and conservation laws,
Cyclic coordinates; Periodic motion, Small oscillations and normal modes; Special theory of
relativity, Lorentz transformations, Relativistic kinematics and mass-energy equivalence.

B2. Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics

Laws of thermodynamics and their significance; Thermodynamic potentials, Maxwell relations;

Chemical potential, Phase equilibria; Phase space, Micro- and macro- states; Micro canonical,
canonical and grand-canonical ensembles and partition functions; Free Energy and connection with
thermodynamic quantities; First and second order phase transitions; Maxwell-Boltzmann
distribution, Quantum statistics, Ideal Fermi and Bose gases; Principle of detailed balance;
Blackbody radiation and Planck's distribution law; Bose-Einstein condensation; Random walk and
Brownian motion; Diffusion equation.

B3. Atomic and Molecular Physics and Characterization of materials

26 
 
Quantum states of an electron in an atom; Electron spin; Stern-Gerlach experiment; Spectrum of
Hydrogen, Helium and alkali atoms; Relativistic corrections for energy levels of hydrogen; Hyperfine
structure and isotopic shift; Width of spectral lines; LS and JJ coupling; Zeeman, Paschen Back and
Stark effects; Rotational, vibrational, electronic, and Raman spectra of diatomic molecules; Frank-
Condon principle; Thermal and optical properties of materials, Study of microstructure using SEM,
Study of crystal structure using TEM, Resonance methods: Spin and applied magnetic field, Larmor
precession, relaxation times - spin-spin relaxation, Spin-lattice relaxation, Electron spin resonance,
g factor, Nuclear Magnetic resonance, line width, Motional narrowing, Hyperfine splitting; Nuclear
Gamma Resonance: Principles of Mössbauer Spectroscopy, Line width, Resonance absorption,
Isomer Shift, Quadrupole splitting.

B4. Nuclear and Particle Physics

Basic nuclear properties: size, shape, charge distribution, spin and parity; Binding energy, Packing
fraction, Semi-empirical mass formula; Liquid drop model; Fission and fusion, Nuclear reactor; Line
of stability, Characteristics of the nuclear forces, Nucleon-nucleon potential; Charge-independence
and charge-symmetry of nuclear forces; Isospin; Deuteron problem; Evidence of shell structure,
Single-particle shell model and, its validity and limitations; Elementary ideas of alpha, beta and
gamma decays and their selection rules; Nuclear reactions, reaction mechanisms, compound nuclei
and direct reactions; Classification of fundamental forces; Elementary particles (quarks, baryons,
mesons, leptons); Spin and parity assignments, strangeness; Gell Mann-Nishijima formula; C, P and
T invariance and applications of symmetry arguments to particle reactions, Parity non-conservation
in weak interaction; Relativistic kinematics.

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Geophysics : Paper-III

PART-A

A1. Radiometric and Airborne Geophysics:

Principles of radioactivity, radioactivity decay processes, units, radioactivity of rocks and minerals,
Instruments, Ionization chamber, G-M counter, Scintillation counter, Gamma ray spectrometer,
Radiometric prospecting for mineral exploration (Direct/Indirect applications), beach placers,
titanium, zirconium and rare-earths, radon studies in seismology and environmental applications.
Airborne geophysical surveys (gravity, magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric), planning of
surveys, flight path recovery methods. Applications in geological mapping, identification of structural
features and altered zones.

A2. Marine Geophysics:

Salinity, temperature and density of sea water. Introduction to Sea-floor features: Physiography,
divisions of sea floor, continental shelves, slopes, and abyssal plains, growth and decline of ocean
basins, turbidity currents, occurrence of mineral deposits and hydrocarbons in offshore.
Geophysical surveys and instrumentation: Gravity, Magnetic and electromagnetic surveys, Sonobuoy
surveys, Instrumentation used in ship borne surveys, towing cable and fish, data collection and
survey procedures, corrections and interpretation of data. Oceanic magnetic anomalies, Vine-
Mathews hypothesis, geomagnetic time scale and dating sea floor, Oceanic heat flow, ocean ridges,
basins, marginal basins, rift valleys. Seismic surveys, energy sources, Pinger, Boomer, Sparker, Air
gun, Hydrophones and steamer cabling. Data reduction and interpretation. Ocean Bottom Seismic
surveys. Bathymetry, echo sounding, bathymetric charts, sea bed mapping. Navigation and Position
fixing methods.

A3. Geophysical Signal Processing:

27 
 
Time Series, Types of signals, sampling theorem, aliasing effect, Fourier series of periodic waveforms,
Fourier transform and its properties, Discrete Fourier transform and FFT, Hilbert Transform,
Convolution and Deconvolution, Auto and cross correlations, Power spectrum, Delta function, unit
step function. Time domain windows, Z transform and properties, Inverse Z transform. Poles and
zeroes. Principles of digital filters, types of filters: recursive, non recursive, time invariant,
Chebyshev, Butterworth, moving average, amplitude and phase response of filters, low pass, band
pass and high pass filters. Processing of Random signals. Improvement of signal to noise ratio,
source and geophone arrays as spatial filters. Earth as low pass filter.

A4. Remote Sensing and Geohydrology:

Fundamental concepts of remote sensing, electromagnetic radiation spectrum, Interaction of

electromagnetic energy and its interactions in atmosphere and surface of the earth, elements of
photographic systems, reflectance and emittance, false color composites, remote sensing platforms,
flight planning, geosynchronous and sun synchronous orbits, sensors, resolution, parallax and
vertical exaggeration, relief displacement, mosaic, aerial photo interpretation and geological
application. Fundamentals of photogrammetry, satellite remote sensing, multi-spectral scanners,
thermal scanners, microwave remote sensing, fundamental of image processing and interpretation
for geological applications. Types of water bearing formations, porosity, permeability, storage
coefficient, specific storage, specific retention, specific yield, Different types of aquifers, vertical
distribution of ground water, General flow equation; steady and unsteady flow of ground water in
unconfined and confined aquifers.

PART-B

B1. Solid State Physics and Basic Electronics

Crystalline and amorphous structure of matter; Different crystal systems, Space groups; Methods of
determination of crystal structure; X-ray diffraction, Scanning and transmission electron
microscopes; Band theory of solids, conductors, insulators and semiconductors; Thermal properties
of solids, Specific heat: Einstein's and Debye theory; Magnetism: dia, para and ferro; Elements of
superconductivity; Meissner effect, Josephson junctions and applications; Elementary ideas about
high temperature superconductivity.

Semiconductor devices and circuits: Intrinsic and Extrinsic semiconductors; Devices and structures
(p-n junctions, diodes, transistors, FET, JFET and MOSFET, homo and hetero junction transistors,
thermistors), Device characteristics, Frequency dependence and applications. Opto-electronic
devices (solar cells, photo detectors, LEDs) Operational amplifiers and their applications.

B2. Laser systems

Spontaneous and stimulated emission of radiation. Coherence, Light amplification and relation
between Einstein A and B coefficients. Rate equations for three and four level systems. Lasers: Ruby,
Nd-YAG, CO2, Dye, Excimer, Semiconductor. Laser cavity modes, Line shape function and full width
at half maximum (FWHM) for natural broadening, collision broadening, Doppler broadening;
Saturation behavior of broadened transitions, Longitudinal and transverse modes. Mode selection,
ABCD matrices and cavity stability criteria for confocal resonators. Quality factor, Expression for
intensity for modes oscillating at random and mode-locked in phase. Methods of Q-switching and
mode locking. Optical fiber waveguides, Fiber characteristics.

B3. Digital electronics, Radar systems, Satellite communications

Digital techniques and applications: Boolean identities, de Morgan's theorems, Logic gates and truth
tables; Simple logic circuits: registers, counters, comparators and similar circuits). A/D and D/A
converters. Microprocessor: basics and architecture; Microcontroller basics. Combination and
sequential logic circuits, Functional diagram, Timing diagram of read and write cycle, Data transfer
techniques: serial and parallel. Fundamentals of digital computers. Radar systems, Signal and data
28 
 
processing, Surveillance radar, Tracking radar, Radar antenna parameters. Fundamentals of
satellite systems, Communication and Orbiting satellites, Satellite frequency bands, Satellite orbit
and inclinations. Earth station technology.

B4. Quantum Mechanics

Wave-particle duality; Wave functions in coordinate and momentum representations; Commutators

and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle; Schrodinger’s wave equation (time-dependent and time-
independent); Eigenvalue problems: particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, tunneling through a 1-D
barrier; Motion in a central potential; Orbital angular momentum; Addition of angular momentum;
Hydrogen atom; Matrix representation; Dirac's bra and ket notations; Time-independent
perturbation theory and applications; Variational method; WKB approximation; Time dependent
perturbation theory and Fermi's Golden Rule; Selection rules; Semi-classical theory of radiation;
Elementary theory of scattering, Phase shifts, Partial waves, Born approximation; Identical particles,
Pauli's exclusion principle, Spin-statistics connection; Relativistic quantum mechanics: Klein
Gordon and Dirac equations.

For the posts of Chemist and Scientist ‘B’(Chemical)

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Chemistry : Paper-I (Inorganic Chemistry)
1. Inorganic solids:

Defects, non-stoichiometric compounds and solid solutions, atom and ion diffusion, solid
electrolytes. Synthesis of materials, monoxides of 3d-metals, higher oxides, complex oxides
(corundrum, ReO3, spinel, pervoskites), framework structures (phosphates, aluminophosphates,
silicates, zeolites), nitrides and fluorides, chalcogenides, intercalation chemistry, semiconductors,
molecular materials.

2. Chemistry of coordination compounds:

Isomerism, reactivity and stability: Determination of configuration of cis- and trans- isomers by
chemical methods. Labile and inert complexes, substitution reactions on square planar complexes,
trans effect. Stability constants of coordination compounds and their importance in inorganic
analysis.

Structure and bonding: Elementary Crystal Field Theory: splitting of dn configurations in

octahedral, square planar and tetrahedral fields, crystal field stabilization energy, pairing energy.
Jahn-Teller distortion. Metal-ligand bonding, sigma and pi bonding in octahedral complexes and
their effects on the oxidation states of transition metals. Orbital and spin magnetic moments, spin
only moments and their correlation with effective magnetic moments, d-d transitions; LS coupling,
spectroscopic ground states, selection rules for electronic spectral transitions; spectrochemical
series of ligands, charge transfer spectra.

3. Acid base titrations:

Titration curves for strong acid-strong base, weak acid-strong base and weak base-strong acid
titrations, polyprotic acids, poly-equivalent bases, determining the equivalence point: theory of acid-
base indicators, pH change range of indicator, selection of proper indicator. Principles used in
estimation of mixtures of NaHCO3 and Na2CO3 (by acidimetry).

4. Gravimetric Analysis:

General principles: Solubility, solubility product and common ion effect, effect of temperature on the
solubility; Salt hydrolysis, hydrolysis constant, degree of hydrolysis.

Stoichiometry, calculation of results from gravimetric data. Properties of precipitates. Nucleation and
crystal growth, factors influencing completion of precipitation. Co-precipitation and post-
29 
 
precipitation, purification and washing of precipitates. Precipitation from homogeneous solution. A
few common gravimetric estimations: chloride as silver chloride, sulphate as barium sulphate,
aluminium as oxinate and nickel as dimethyl glyoximate.

5. Redox Titrations:

Standard redox potentials, Nernst equation. Influence of complex formation, precipitation and
change of pH on redox potentials, Normal Hydrogen Electrode (NHE). Feasibility of a redox titration,
redox potential at the equivalence point, redox indicators. Redox potentials and their applications.

Principles behind Iodometry, permanganometry, dichrometry, difference between iodometry and

iodimetry. Principles of estimation of iron, copper, manganese, chromium by redox titration.

6. Complexometric titrations:

Complex formation reactions, stability of complexes, stepwise formation constants, chelating agents.
EDTA: acidic properties, complexes with metal ions, equilibrium calculations involving EDTA,
conditional formation constants, derivation of EDTA titration curves, effect of other complexing
agents, factors affecting the shape of titration curves: indicators for EDTA titrations, titration
methods employing EDTA: direct, back and displacement titrations, indirect determinations,
titration of mixtures, selectivity, masking and demasking agents. Typical applications of EDTA
titrations: hardness of water, magnesium and aluminium in antacids, magnesium, manganese and
zinc in a mixture, titrations involving unidentate ligands: titration of chloride with Hg2+ and cyanide
with Ag+.

7. Organometallic compounds:

18-electron rule and its applications to carbonyls and nature of bonding involved therein. Simple
examples of metal-metal bonded compounds and metal clusters. Wilkinson’s catalyst.

8. Nuclear chemistry:

Radioactive decay- General characteristics, decay kinetics, parent-daughter decay growth

relationships, determination of half-lives. Nuclear stability. Decay theories. Unit of radioactivity.
Preparation of artificial radionuclides by bombardment, radiochemical separation techniques.
Experimental techniques in the assay of radioisotopes, Geiger-Muller counters. Solid state detectors.

9. Chemistry of d- and f-block elements:

d-block elements: General comparison of 3d, 4d and 5d elements in terms of electronic

configuration, elemental forms, metallic nature, atomization energy, oxidation states, redox
properties, coordination chemistry, spectral and magnetic properties.

f-block elements: Electronic configuration, ionization enthalpies, oxidation states, variation in

atomic and ionic (3+) radii, magnetic and spectral properties of lanthanides, separation of
lanthanides (by ion-exchange method).

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Chemistry : Paper-II (Physical Chemistry)

1. Kinetic theory and the gaseous state:

Real gases, Deviation of gases from ideal behaviour; compressibility factor; van der Waals equation
of state and its characteristic features. Existence of critical state. Critical constants in terms of van
der Waals constants. Law of corresponding states and significance of second virial coefficient. Boyle
temperature.

30 
 
2. Solids: Nature of solid state. Band theory of solids: Qualitative idea of band theory, conducting,
semiconducting and insulating properties.

Law of constancy of angles, concept of unit cell, different crystal systems, Bravais lattices, law of
rational indices, Miller indices, symmetry elements in crystals. X-ray diffraction, Bragg's law.

3. Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium:

Chemical potential in terms of Gibbs energy and other thermodynamic state functions and its
variation with temperature and pressure. Gibbs-Duhem equation; fugacity of gases and fugacity
coefficient. Thermodynamic conditions for equilibrium, degree of advancement. vant Hoff's reaction
isotherm. Equilibrium constant and standard Gibbs energy change. Definitions of KP, KC and Kx;
vant Hoff's reaction isobar and isochore. Activity and activity coefficients of electrolytes / ions in
solution. Debye-Hückel limiting law.

4. Chemical kinetics and catalysis:

Second order reactions. Determination of order of reactions. Parallel and consecutive reactions.
Temperature dependence of reaction rate, energy of activation. Collision Theory and Transition State
Theory of reaction rates. Enthalpy of activation, entropy of activation, effect of dielectric constant
and ionic strength on reaction rate, kinetic isotope effect.

Physisorption and chemisorption, adsorption isotherms, Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption

isotherms, BET equation, surface area determination; colloids, electrical double layer and colloid
stability, electrokinetic phenomenon. Elementary ideas about soaps and detergents, micelles,
emulsions.

5. Electrochemistry:

Types of electrochemical cells, cell reactions, emf and Nernst equation, ᐃG, ᐃH and ᐃS of cell
reactions. Cell diagrams and IUPAC conventions. Standard cells. Half-cells / electrodes, types of
reversible electrodes. Standard electrode potential and principles of its determination. Concentration
cells. Determination of ᐃGº, Kº, Ksp and pH.

Basic principles of pH metric and potentiometric titrations, determination of equivalence point and
pKa values.

6. Quantum chemistry:

Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues. Uncertainty relation, Expectation value. Hermitian operators.

Schrödinger time-independent equation: nature of the equation, acceptability conditions imposed on
the wave functions and probability interpretation of wave function. Schrödinger equation for particle
in a one-dimensional box and its solution. Comparison with free particle eigenfunctions and
eigenvalues. Particle in a 3-D box and concept of degeneracy.

7. Basic principles and applications of spectroscopy:

Electromagnetic radiation, interaction with atoms and molecules and quantization of different forms
of energies. Units of frequency, wavelength and wavenumber. Condition of resonance and energy of
absorption for various types of spectra; origin of atomic spectra, spectrum of hydrogen atom.

Rotational spectroscopy of diatomic molecules: Rigid rotor model, selection rules, spectrum,
characteristic features of spectral lines. Determination of bond length, effect of isotopic substitution.

Vibrational spectroscopy of diatomic molecules: Simple Harmonic Oscillator model, selection

rules and vibration spectra. Molecular vibrations, factors influencing vibrational frequencies.
Overtones, anharmonicity, normal mode analysis of polyatomic molecules.

31 
 
Raman Effect: Characteristic features and conditions of Raman activity with suitable illustrations.
Rotational and vibrational Raman spectra.

8. Photochemistry:

Franck-Condon principle and vibrational structure of electronic spectra. Bond dissociation and
principle of determination of dissociation energy. Decay of excited states by radiative and non-
radiative paths. Fluorescence and phosphorescence, Jablonski diagram. Laws of photochemistry:
Grotthus-Draper law, Stark-Einstein law of photochemical equivalence; quantum yield and its
measurement for a photochemical process, actinometry. Photostationary state. Photosensitized
reactions. Kinetics of HI decomposition, H2-Br2 reaction, dimerisation of anthracene.

Stage-II (Descriptive Type)

Chemistry : Paper-III (Analytical and Organic)

PART-A (Analytical Chemistry)
A1. Errors in quantitative analysis:

Accuracy and precision, sensitivity, specific standard deviation in analysis, classification of errors
and their minimization, significant figures, criteria for rejection of data, Q-test, t-test, and F-test,
control chart, sampling methods, sampling errors, standard reference materials, statistical data
treatment.

A2. Separation Methods:

Chromatographic analysis: Basic principles of chromatography (partition, adsorption and ion

exchange), column chromatography, plate concept, plate height (HETP), normal phase and reversed
phase concept, thin layer chromatography, frontal analysis, principles of High Performance Liquid
Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC), and Ion-exchange chromatography.

Solvent extraction: Classification, principle and efficiency of the technique, mechanism of

extraction, extraction by solvation and chelation, qualitative and quantitative aspects of solvent
extraction, extraction of metal ions from aqueous solutions.

A3. Spectroscopic methods of analysis:

Lambert-Beer's Law and its limitations.

UV-Visible Spectroscopy: Basic principles of UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Instrumentation consisting

of source, monochromator, grating and detector, spectrophotometric determinations (estimation of
metal ions from aqueous solutions, determination of composition of metal complexes using Job’s
method of continuous variation and mole ratio method).

Infra-red Spectrometry: Basic principles of instrumentation (choice of source, monochromator and

detector) for single and double beam instruments, sampling techniques.

Flame atomic absorption and emission spectrometry: Basic principles of instrumentation (choice
of source, monochromator, detector, choice of flame and burner design), techniques of atomization
and sample introduction, method of background correction, sources of chemical interferences and
methods of removal, techniques for the quantitative estimation of trace level metal ions. Basic
principles and theory of AAS. Three different modes of AAS - Flame-AAS, VG-AAS, and GF-AAS.
Single beam and double beam AAS. Function of Hollow Cathode Lamp (HCL) and Electrode
Discharge Lamp (EDL). Different types of detectors used in AAS. Qualitative and quantitative
analysis.

A4. Thermal methods of analysis:

32 
 
Theory of thermogravimetry (TG), basic principle of instrumentation, techniques for quantitative
analysis of Ca and Mg compounds.

A5. X-ray methods of Analysis:

Introduction, theory of X-ray generation, X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray
fluorescence methods, instrumentation and applications. Qualitative and quantitative
measurements. Powder diffraction method.

A6. Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy:

Theory and principles, plasma generation, utility of peristaltic pump, sampler–skimmer systems, ion
lens, quadrupole mass analyzer, dynode / solid state detector, different types of interferences-
spectroscopic and non-spectroscopic interferences, isobaric and molecular interferences,
applications.

A7. Analysis of geological materials:

Analysis of minerals and ores- estimation of (i) CaCO3, MgCO3 in dolomite (ii) Fe2O3, Al2O3, and TiO2
in bauxite (iii) MnO and MnO2 in pyrolusite. Analysis of metals and alloys: (i) Cu and Zn in brass (ii)
Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Al and Ni in bronze (iii) Cr, Mn, Ni, and P in steel (iv) Pb, Sb, Sn in ‘type metal’.

Introduction to petroleum: constituents and petroleum fractionation. Analysis of petroleum

products: specific gravity, viscosity, Doctor test, aniline point, colour determination, cloud point,
pour point. Determination of water, neutralization value (acid and base numbers), ash content,
Determination of lead in petroleum.

Types of coal and coke, composition, preparation of sample for proximate and ultimate analysis,
calorific value by bomb calorimetry.

PART B (Organic chemistry)

B1. Unstable, uncharged intermediates:

Structure and reactivity of carbenes and nitrenes and their rearrangements (Reimer-Tiemann,
Hoffman, Curtius, Lossen, and Schimdt,).

B2. Addition reactions:

Addition to C-C multiple bonds: Mechanism of addition involving electrophiles, nucleophiles and
free radicals (polymerization reactions of alkenes and substituted alkenes), Ziegler-Natta catalyst for
polymerization, polyurethane, and conducting polymers; addition to conjugated systems (Diels-Alder
reaction), orientation and reactivity (on simple cis- and trans- alkenes).

Addition to carbon-heteroatom multiple bonds: Addition to C=O double bond, structure and
reactivity, hydration, addition of ROH, RSH, CN-, bisulphite, amine derivatives, hydride ions.

B3: Reactions at the carbonyl group:

Cannizzaro, Aldol, Perkin, Claisen ester, benzoin, benzil-benzilic acid rearrangement, Mannich,
Dieckmann, Michael, Strobe, Darzen, Wittig, Doebner, Knoevenagel, Reformatsky reactions.

B4. Oxidation and Reduction:

Reduction of C=C, Meerwein-Pondorf reaction, Wolff-Kishner and Birch reduction.

Oxidation of C=C, hydration, hydroxylation, hydroboration, ozonolysis, epoxidation, Sharpless

epoxidation.

33 
 
B5. Electrocyclic Reactions:

Molecular orbital symmetry, frontier orbitals of ethylene, 1,3-butadiene, 1,3,5-hexatriene, allyl

system, FMO approach, pericyclic reactions, Woodward-Hoffman correlation diagram method and
perturbation molecular orbital (PMO) approach for the explanation of pericyclic reactions under
thermal and photochemical conditions. Simple cases of Norrish type-I and type-II reactions.
Conrotatory and disrotatory motions of (4n) and (4n+2) polyenes with emphasis on [2+2] and [4+2]
cycloadditions, sigmatropic rearrangements- shift of H and carbon moieties, Claisen, Cope,
Sommerlet-Hauser rearrangement.

B6. Spectroscopic methods of analysis:

Infrared spectroscopy: Characteristic frequencies of organic molecules and interpretation of

spectra. Modes of molecular vibrations, characteristic stretching frequencies of O-H, N-H, C-H, C-D,
C=C, C=N, C=O functions; factors affecting stretching frequencies.

Ultraviolet spectroscopy: Chromophores, auxochromes. Electronic transitions (σ−σ*, n-σ*, π-π*

and n-π*), relative positions of λmax considering conjugative effect, steric effect, solvent effect, red
shift (bathochromic shift), blue shift (hypsochromic shift), hyperchromic effect, hypochromic effect
(typical examples). Woodward rules. Applications of UV spectroscopy to conjugated dienes, trienes,
unsaturated carbonyl compounds and aromatic compounds.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry: (Proton and Carbon-13 NMR) Nuclear spin, NMR
active nuclei, principle of proton magnetic resonance, equivalent and non-equivalent protons.
Measurement of spectra, the chemical shift, shielding / deshielding of protons, upfield and downfield
shifts, intensity of NMR signals and integration factors affecting the chemical shifts: spin-spin
coupling to 13C IH-IH first order coupling: some simple IH-IH splitting patterns: the magnitude of IH-
IH coupling constants, diamagnetic anisotropy.

Mass spectrometry: Basic Principles, the mass spectrometer, isotope abundances; the molecular
ion, metastable ions. McLafferty rearrangement.

*****

APPENDIX-II(A)
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES FOR FILLING ONLINE APPLICATIONS
 Candidates are required to apply Online using the website https://upsconline.nic.in.
 Salient features of the system of Online Application Form are given hereunder:
 Detailed instructions for filling up online applications are available on the above mentioned
website.
 Candidates will be required to complete the Online Application Form containing two stages
viz. Part-I and Part-II as per the instructions available in the above mentioned site through drop
down menus.
 The candidates are required to pay a fee of Rs.200/- Rupees Two Hundred only) [excepting
SC/ST/ Female/Persons with Benchmark Disability candidates who are exempted from payment of
fee] either by depositing the money in any branch of State Bank of India by cash, or by using net
banking facility of State Bank of India or by using any Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/ Debit Card.
 Before start filling up Online Application, a candidate must have his photograph and
signature duly scanned in the .jpg format in such a manner that each file should not exceed 300 KB
each and must not be less than 20 KB in size for the photograph and signature.
 The candidate should have details of one Photo ID viz. Aadhar Card/Voter Card/PAN
Card/Passport/Driving License/Any other photo ID Card issued by the State/Central Government.
The details of this photo ID will have to be provided by the candidate while filling up the online
application form. This photo ID will be used for all future references and the candidate is advised to
carry this ID while appearing for the Examination.
 The Online applications (Part I and II) can be filled from 7th October, 2020 to 27th October,
2020 till 1800 Hrs.
 Applicants should avoid submitting multiple applications. However, if due to any unavoidable
circumstances, any applicant submits multiple applications then he/she must ensure that the
34 
 
applications with higher RID is complete in all respects.
 In case of multiple applications, the applications with higher RID shall be entertained by the
Commission and fee paid against one RID shall not be adjusted against any other RID.
 The applicants must ensure that while filling their Application Form, they are providing their
valid and active E-Mail IDs as the Commission may use electronic mode of communication while
contacting them at different stages of examination process.
 The applicants are advised to check their emails at regular intervals and ensure that the
email addresses ending with @ nic.in are directed to their inbox folder and not to the SPAM folder or
any other folder.
 Candidates are strongly advised to apply online well in time without waiting for the last date
for submission of Online Applications.
 Moreover, the Commission has introduced provision of withdrawal of application for
the candidate, who does not want to appear at the Examination, he/she may withdraw
his/her application.
Appendix-II(B)
IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS TO WITHDRAW APPLICATION
1. Candidates are advised to go through the instructions carefully before filling up the request for
withdrawal of application.
2. The Commission has provided the withdrawal facility from 04.11.2020 to 10.11.2020 (till 18:00
Hrs) to those candidates who do not want to appear at this Examination.
3. Candidates are advised to provide the details of registered application with registration-id which
was completed and submitted finally. There is no provision for withdrawing of incomplete
applications.
4. Before making the request for withdrawal, candidate must ensure that they have access to the
registered mobile number and email-id which were provided by them at the time of submission of
application. Separate OTPs will be sent by the Commission on the registered mobile number and
email-id. Request for withdrawal will be accepted only after it is confirmed by validating the OTP
details sent on candidate’s mobile and email-id. Such OTPs will be valid for 30 Minutes only.
5. Request for generating OTP for withdrawal of application will be accepted only till 17:30
Hrs on 10.11.2020.
6. If a candidate has submitted more than one application form then the higher registration-id of
Application (latest) will be considered for withdrawal and all earlier applications will be treated as
cancelled automatically.
7. After the final acceptance of the request for online withdrawal of application, the candidate must
print the authenticated receipt. Once application has been withdrawn by the candidate, it cannot be
revived in future.
8. UPSC has no provision to refund any fee amount paid by candidates, so in case of successful
withdrawal of application the fees will not be refunded.
9. On successful completion of withdrawal of application, an auto-generated email and SMS will be
sent on candidate’s registered email-id and mobile. In case any candidate has not submitted the
request for withdrawal of application he/she may contact UPSC on email-id: [email protected]
immediately.
10. Candidates are advised not to share the OTPs received on email and SMS to anybody.
Appendix-III
(Part – A)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES FOR COMPUTER BASED OBJECTIVE TYPE TESTS
 No candidate will be allowed to leave the Test Lab during the test.
 No candidate is allowed to leave his/her seat without permission of the invigilator.
ITEMS ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED
 ELECTRONIC OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF CALCULATORS, LOG TABLES, SLIDE RULES,
CELLULAR/BLUETOOTH/MOBILE PHONES/PAGERS OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT CAPABLE
OF BEING USED AS A COMMUNICATION DEVICE ARE NOT ALLOWED INSIDE THE PREMISES
WHERE THE TEST IS BEING CONDUCTED. ANY INFRINGEMENT OF THE ABOVE
INSTRUCTIONS SHALL ENTAIL DISCIPLINARY ACTION INCLUDING BAN FROM FUTURE TEST.
 Candidates are advised not to bring any valuables/costly items to the test lab, as safe keeping of
the same cannot be assured. Commission will not be responsible for any loss in this regard.
INSTRUCTIONS DURING THE TEST
 Test time period is: 120 minutes i.e. 2 hours.
 Candidates to please ensure that they reach the venue of the Examination by the reporting time
as stipulated in the e-Admit Card failing which they will not be admitted to the Examination.
 Password will be announced at 10 minutes before starting the Examination. Candidates will
open the secure browser and read instructions for 10 minutes. However, candidate will not be
35 
 
 allowed to start their Examination before the prescribed time even if they read instruction before
time as the time is synchronized with Server. Candidates will have to enter their roll number as
user ID and password announced by the invigilator in the test log in page.
 Rough worksheets will be provided to the candidates on demand.
 In the event of the Test being disrupted, the candidate should immediately inform the invigilator.
The invigilator will help the candidate to re-login to the test. This will start the exam from where
it had stopped.
 Numbered list of all questions will appear at the right side of the screen.
 Keep a close watch on "Time Left" while appearing for the test.
 Question once attempted, it would be final. However, answer can be changed at any time during
the Test before final submission including unattempting the question using 'de-select' button.
 This test carries negative marking. For every wrong answer, 0.33 marks will be deducted.
 The 'submit' button would be activated automatically after the expiry of 2 hours from the start of
the Examination.
 You will be automatically stopped from answering questions when the time of test is over and the
test will auto-submit.
 Candidates should not carry any books, paper, mobile phone Bluetooth device or any other
electronic item to the test venue. UPSC will not be responsible for the safekeeping of such item.
 Impersonation (to assume the identity of another with intent to deceive) and Plagiarism (the use
and submission of other people's work for assessment as though it were one's own) is forbidden.
 Candidates must not, on any pretext whatsoever speak to or have any communication with any
other Candidates; such communication will be regarded as a breach of the Test regulations.
 Candidates in the Test venue, who is found to have unauthorized materials in his/her
possession, shall be deemed to be in breach of the test regulations. All breaches of test
regulations shall be considered to constitute unfair practice. In case any candidate is found to be
indulging in unfair practice, he will be debarred from this and future exams of UPSC and/or
liable for disciplinary action.
 At the conclusion of the test, candidates must remain quietly seated and must not communicate
with one another till the entire test time has elapsed.
 No candidate shall be permitted to leave Test Lab till expiry of the allotted time.
 No candidate shall be allowed to go to the toilet during the last 30 minutes of the Test.
 The candidate must abide by the instructions and such further instructions as may be given by
Supervisor/Invigilator of the Test. If the candidate fails to do so or indulges in disorderly or
improper conduct, he/she will render himself/herself liable to expulsion from the Test and/or
such other punishment as the Commission may deem fit to impose.
 The candidate will furnish such necessary and correct information as may be required from
him/her in the Test Lab by the Invigilator/Assistant Supervisor/Supervisor/ other persons so
authorized.
(Part – B)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONVENTIONAL TYPE PAPERS
1. Articles permitted inside Examination Hall
Battery-operated pocket calculators of "non-programmable" type only, mathematical/
engineering/drawing instruments, including a flat rule divided on the edges into inches and tens of an
inch and into centimeters and millimeters, a slide rule, set squares, a protractor and a pair of compasses,
pencils, coloured pencils, mapping pens, eraser, T-square and drawing board for use wherever necessary.
Candidates are not allowed to bring with them any "Tables or Charts" for use in the Examination Hall.
Mobile phones, bluetooth or any other communication devices are not allowed inside the
premises where the Examination is being conducted. Any infringement of these
instructions shall entail disciplinary action including ban from future Examinations.
Candidates are advised in their own interest not to bring any of the banned items
including mobile phones to the venue of the Examination, as arrangements for
safekeeping cannot be assured.
2. Tables to be supplied by UPSC
If it is considered necessary for answering the questions set in any paper, the Commission may supply
any of the following for reference purpose only:-
(i) Mathematical/Physical, Chemical and Engineering Tables (including Logarithmic Tables);
Steam Table (including Mollier Diagrams for Temperature up to 800° C and Pressure up
500 Kgf/Cm);
(ii) National Building Code of India 1970 or 1983 Group 2 Part VI;
(iii) Any other special articles as may be necessary for the candidates to answer the questions set in the
question paper.

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After conclusion of the Examination, return the above items to the Invigilator.
3. Answers to be written in own hand
Write the answers in your own hand in ink. Pencil may be used for maps, mathematical drawings or
rough work.
4. Check Answer Book
The candidate must write his/her roll number (and not his/her name) only in the
space provided for the purpose on every answer book used by him/her. Before writing in the answer book,
please see that it is complete. In case there are any missing pages, it should be got replaced.
Do not tear out any pages from the Answer Book. If you use more than one Answer Book, indicate on the
cover of first Answer Book the total number of Answer Books used. Do not leave any blank, unused
spaces between answers. If such spaces are left, score them out.
5. Answers in excess of prescribed number will be ignored
The candidate must attempt questions strictly in accordance with the directions given on each question
paper. If questions are attempted in excess of the prescribed number only the questions attempted first
upto the prescribed number shall be valued and the remaining answers will be ignored.
6. Questions relating to graph/précis should be attempted only on graph/précis sheets to be supplied
on demand by the Invigilators. All loose sheets such as précis sheet, drawing papers, graph sheets
etc. whether used or not, should be placed inside the answer books and fastened along with the
additional answer book(s), if any. Candidates who fail to observe this instruction will be penalized. Do
not write your roll number on these sheets.
7. Unfair means strictly prohibited
Do not copy from the papers of any other candidate nor allow your papers to be copied nor give nor attempt
to give nor obtain nor attempt to obtain irregular assistance of any description. It will be responsibility
to every candidate to ensure that his/her answers are not copied by another candidate. Failure to do so
will invite penalty, as may be awarded by the Commission for adoption of unfair means.
8. Conduct in Examination Hall
Do not misbehave in any manner or create disorderly scene in the Examination Hall or harass or
bodily harm the staff deployed for the conduct of Examination. You will be severely penalized if you
attempt to do so.
9. Please read carefully and abide by the instructions printed on the Question Paper and on the Answer
Book supplied in the Examination Hall.
Appendix – IV
Certificate regarding physical limitation in an examinee to write

This is to certify that, I have examined Mr./Ms./Mrs………………………….. (name of the

candidate with benchmark disability), a person with ……………………….. (nature and percentage of
disability as mentioned in the certificate of disability), S/o/D/o……………………., a resident of
……………………………….. (Village/District/State) and to state that he/she has physical limitation
which hampers his/her writing capabilities owing to his/her disability.
Signature

Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon /

Medical Superintendent of a Government Healt Care Institution.

Note:Certificate should be given by a specialist of the relevant stream/disability (eg. Visual

Impairment – Ophthalmologist, Locomotor disability – Orthopaedic specialist/PMR).
Appendix - V

Letter of Undertaking for Using Own Scribe

(To be filled by the candidates online to the Commission)

I…………………., a candidate with………………………(name of the disability) appearing

for the …………………. (name of the examination)……………….. bearing Roll No……………….. at
……….. (name of the centre) in the District …………………., ……………… (name of the State). My
qualification is …………..
I do hereby state that …………………………… (name of the scribe) will provide the
service of scribe/reader/lab assistant for the undersighned for taking the aforesaid
examination.
I do hereby undertake that his qualification is …………………… In case, subsequently it
is found that his/her qualification is not as declared by the undersigned and is beyond my
qualification, I shall forfeit my right to the post and claims thereto.

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 (Signature of the candidates with Disability)

Place:

Date:

**********

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