UPSC Geo-Scientist Preparation 2022 – How to Prepare for Geoscientist & Geologist Exam

UPSC Geo-Scientist Exam Preparation 2022: UPSC Geo-Scientist and Geologist is a national level exam that requires extremely hard work and dedication. It is organized to recruit eligible candidates in the post of Geologist, Geophysicist and Chemist Group ‘A’ in GSI(Geographical Survey of India) and Junior Hydro-geologist (Scientist ‘B’), Group ‘A’ for Central Ground Water Board. Aspirants appearing for the exam should complete the prescribed syllabus in time and should also focus on giving mocks and solving previous years questions. Consistency in study and determination is the only key to cracking any government exams. There is no shortcut to pass the UPSC Geo-Scientist examinations. Candidates with full dedication can crack the examination in one attempt. Candidates can follow this article to get some useful UPSC Geo-Scientist Preparation Strategy, tips and tricks, important books and useful resources.

Appearing for UPSC Geoscientist Exam? Get Preparation Sources Here
> UPSC Geoscientist Syllabus
> UPSC Geoscientist Exam Pattern
> Best Books for UPSC Geoscientist

UPSC Geo-Scientist Preparation Strategy

One must go through and comprehend the basic pattern and syllabus of UPSC Geo-Scientist exam and then prepare a strategy for their preparation. It will help them to analyze the pattern of the exam, difficulty level, topic asked and other aspects. So, candidates can follow this article to get information about the official UPSC Geo-Scientist exam pattern and syllabus below.

General Studies and English

• This paper is common for all the streams of Prelims exams.
• The paper contains essay type and comprehensive questions of English, questions of current national and international events, history of India & Indian National Movement, Indian and World Geography, Indian Polity & Governance, India’s Economic & Social Development, Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity, and Climate Change  and General Science.
• For the general studies paper, candidates should work on their vocabulary, keep themselves aware of current affairs.

Hydrogeology

• It contains questions from groundwater and hydraulics.
• The Key topics of the paper include water wells, water tables, purifying processes, and conservation techniques, groundwater quality techniques, and aquifer parameters.

Geology

• The important topics of this paper include magmas, minerals, metamorphism, sedimentary textures, and natural hazards caused by pollution.
• Paper 1 covers the introductory topics such as the formation, evolution, and history of Earth which includes geomorphic concepts and natural phenomenons.
• Paper 2 drives  deeper into the subjects of composition and conservation of Earth.
• Paper 3 tests the overall knowledge of geography, its components (minerals) and its features.

Geophysics

•  Magnetic Fields, laws and formulas of geophysics, Seismology, solar system, arithmetic calculations, Ampere’s Law, complex variables in potential theory, vector algebra, and analytical equations have to be covered for this paper.
• Paper 1 asks about the physics of the Earth.
• Paper 2 asks more about definitions and laws.
• Paper 3 also includes questions from ocean and radar systems.

Chemistry

• Topics which should be covered include all the elements from the periodic table, their properties, presence, atomic structure, and basic reactions, some theories like Arrhenius Concept, redox reactions, metal clusters and nucleus models.
• Paper 1 contains basic Chemistry.
• Paper 2 asks mostly theories.
• Paper 3 is mainly about organic and inorganic chemistry.

 UPSC Geoscientist Preparation Tips:

1. Candidates should study their master’s subject properly as the syllabus focuses mainly on the same.
2. The preliminary exam is of objective type, therefore candidates must know the topics in depth properly.
3. The main examination is of the descriptive type, all essential points must be given and thus basic concepts should be clear-it helps in understanding and solving tricky questions.
4. For the general studies paper, candidates should work on their vocabulary, keep themselves aware of current affairs.
5. Candidates should regularly read newspapers and follow news.
6. Good author books must be selected and syllabus must be completed in time.
7. Solving the previous year questions plays a major role in exam preparation. It helps in identifying and focussing on the weaker sections. 
8. Emphasis on important topics which carry heavy weightage of marks in the question paper. 
9. Attempt easy questions first- It helps to fetch a few marks quickly.
10. Make a proper timetable -time management is very  necessary.

UPSC Geo-Scientist Exam Pattern 2022

The UPSC Geo-Scientist recruitment is conducted in three stages i.e the preliminary round, the written exam and the personality test. The preliminary round is a Computer Based Test  consisting of Objective Type Questions. The main examination is conducted in Descriptive Type papers. The final round is the personality test. Aspirants can refer to the detailed UPSC Geo-Scientist exam pattern from below.

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Prelims Exam Pattern

Post Name	Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
Geologist & Jr. Hydrogeologist	Paper I- General Studies	2 hours	100
Paper II- Geology/ Hydrology	2 hours	300
Geophysicist	Paper I- General Studies	2 hours	100
Paper II- Geophysics	2 hours	300
Chemist	Paper I- General Studies	2 hours	100
Paper II- Chemistry	2 hours	300

UPSC Combined Geo-Scientist Mains Exam Pattern

Post Name	Subject	Duration	Maximum Marks
Geologist & Jr. Hydrogeologist	Paper I- Geology	3 hours	200
Paper II- Geology	3 hours	200
Paper III- Geology/Hydrology for Hydrogeologist	3 hours	200
Geophysicist	Paper I- Geophysics	3 hours	200
Paper II- Geophysics	3 hours	200
Paper III- Geophysics	3 hours	200
Chemist	Paper I- Chemistry	3 hours	200
Paper II- Chemistry	3 hours	200
Paper III- Chemistry	3 hours	200

UPSC Geo-Scientist 2022 Syllabus

The board prescribes the specific UPSC geoscientist syllabus which can be studied to get the maximum result. It also saves student’s time. Here is the list of the subjects and the topics from which questions are asked in the UPSC Geo-Scientist exam.

The General Studies syllabus is as follows:

• General Science
• Current Affairs of National and International Importance
• Indian and World Geography – Social, Physical & Economic Geography of India and the World
• History of India and Indian National Movement.
• Economic and Social Development of India – Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Social sector initiatives, etc. 
• Indian Polity and Governance – Political System of country, Constitution of India, Public Policy, Panchayati Raj, Right Issues, etc.
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate change.

 Geology/Hydrogeology syllabus is as follows:

• Physical Geology
• Structural Geology
• Mineralogy
• Stratigraphy
• Economic Geology
• Hydrogeology
• Igneous Petrology
• Metamorphic Petrology
• Sedimentology
• Paleontology

Chemistry Syllabus  is as follows:

• Chemical periodicity
• Chemical bonding and structure
• Acids and bases
• Theoretical basis of quantitative inorganic analysis
• Kinetic theory and the gaseous state
• Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium
• Solutions of non-electrolytes
• Electrochemistry

UPSC Geo-Scientist Preparation Books

There are abundant books available in the market which aspirants can refer to for combined Geo-Scientist preparation. Candidates can select the books according to their needs. Here are a few recommendations for the best books to prepare for UPSC Geo-Scientist.

Geology :

• Geology and Evolution of the Indian Plate – S. Mahmood Naqvi
• Amanda K. Coomaraswamy Writings on Geology and Mineralogy: Scientific papers and comments – Ranganathan, A. & Rao, K. Srinivasa
• Dimensions of Himalayan Geology- A.K. Biyani
• Remote Sensing in Geomorphology- S.M. Ramasamy
• Metallogenesis of Manganese Ores of Srikakulam-Visakhapatnam Belt- F.N. Siddiquie
• Early Man in Eastern Himalayas: North-East India and Nepal – A. K. Sharma
• Geological Maps- D.K. Awasthi

Chemistry:

• Chemistry books, NCERT, Class 8-12
• Bonding and shape of organic molecules, Stereochemistry of carbon compound – Reactions and reagents – O.P. Tandon
• A guide to mechanism in Organic chemistry -by  Peter Sykes
• A textbook of organic chemistry – Bahl & Bahl

Hydrology:

• Ocean- Square drop, Johnson and Bliming
• Inland Fisheries: Ecology and Management- R. L. Welcomee
• Underground Hydrology- David Keith Toad
• Text Book of Physical Geology- Mahapatra

About UPSC Geo-Scientist

The exam for UPSC geo-scientist is conducted by Union Public Service Commission. It is a national level exam that takes place once a year. The exam is conducted for Geologist, Geophysicist and Chemist Group ‘A’ in GSI(Geographical Survey of India) and Junior Hydro-geologist (Scientist ‘B’), Group ‘A’ for Central Ground Water Board.

UPSC Geoscientist Preparation Tips 2022 FAQs

UPSC Geo-Scientist