Optional
Geology
UPSC Civil Services Mains, optional subject
Syllabus
Paper I
- General Geology
- The Solar System, meteorites, origin and interior of the earth and age of earth
- Volcanoes—causes and products, Volcanic belts.
- Earthquakes—causes, effects, seismic of zone of India
- Island arcs, trenches and mid-ocean ridges
- Continental drift
- Seafloor spreading, plate tectonics.
- Isostasy.
- Geomorphology and Remote Sensing
- Basic concepts of geomorphology.
- Weathering and soil formations
- Landforms, slopes and drainage.
- Geomorphic cycles and their interpretation.
- Morphology and its relation to structures and lithology
- Coastal geomorphology
- Applications of geomorphology in mineral prospecting, civil engineering
- hydrology and environmental studies
- Geomorphology of Indian sub-continent.
- Aerial photographs and their interpretation—merits and limitations
- The Electromagnetic spectrum.
- Orbiting Satellites and Sensor Systems.
- Indian Remote Sensing Satellites.
- Satellite data products
- Applications of remote sensing in geology
- The Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS)—its applications.
- Structural Geology
- Principles of geologic mapping and map reading, projection diagrams, Stress and strain ellipsoid and stress-strain relationships of elastic, plastic and viscous materials
- Strain markers in deformed rocks.
- Behaviour of minerals and rocks under deformation conditions.
- Folds and faults classification and mechanics
- Structural analysis of folds, foliations, lineations, joints and faults, unconformities
- Time-relationship between crystallization and deformation.
- Paleontology
- Species—definition and nomenclature
- Megafossils and Microfossils.
- Modes of preservation of fossils
- Different kinds of microfossils
- Application of microfossils in correlation, petroleum exploration, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic studies
- Evolutionary trend in Hominidae, Equidae and Proboscidae.
- Siwalik fauna.
- Gondwana flora and fauna and its importance
- Index fossils and their significance.
- Indian Stratigraphy
- Classification of stratigraphic sequences: lithostrati-graphic, biostratigraphic, chrono-stratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic and their interrelationships
- Distribution and classification of Precambrian rocks of India
- Study of stratigraphic distribution and lithology of Phanerozoic rocks of India with reference to fauna, flora and economic importance.
- Major boundary problems—Cambrian/ Precambrian, Permian/Triassic, Cretaceous/Tertiary and Pliocene/Pleistocene
- Study of climatic conditions, paleogeography and igneous activity in the Indian sub-continent in the geological past.
- Tectonic framework of India.
- Evolution of the Himalayas.
- Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology
- Hydrologic cycle and genetic classification of water
- Movement of subsurface water
- Springs
- Porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient, classification of aquifers
- Water-bearing characteristics of rocks
- Groundwater chemistry.
- Salt water intrusion.
- Types of wells.
- Drainage basin morphometry
- Exploration for groundwater
- Groundwater recharge
- Problems and management of groundwater
- Rainwater harvesting
- Engineering properties of rocks
- Geological investigations for dams, tunnels highways, railway and bridges
- Rock as construction material
- Landslides causes, prevention and rehabilitation
- Earthquake-resistant structures.
Paper II
- Mineralogy
- Classification of crystals into systems and classes of symmetry
- International system of crystallographic notation
- Use of projection diagrams to represent crystal symmetry
- Elements of X-ray crystallography.
- Physical and chemical characters of rock forming silicate mineral groups
- Structural classification of silicates
- Common minerals of igneous and metamorphic rocks
- Minerals of the carbonate, phosphate, sulphide and halide groups
- Clay minerals.
- Optical properties of common rock forming minerals
- Pleochroism, extinction angle, double refraction, birefringence, twinning and dispersion in minerals.
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
- Generation and crystallisation of magmas.
- Crystallisation of albite—anorthite, diopside—anorthite and diopside—wollastonite—silica systems.
- Bowen's Reaction Principle
- Magmatic differentiation and assimilation.
- Petrogenetic significance of the textures and structures of igneous rocks.
- Petrography and petrogenesis of granite, syenite, diorite, basic and ultrabasic groups, charnockite, anorthosite and alkaline rocks.
- Carbonatites.
- Deccan volcanic province.
- Types and agents of metamorphism.
- Metamorphic grades and zones
- Phase rule.
- Facies of regional and contact metamorphism
- ACF and AKF diagrams
- Textures and structures of metamorphic rocks.
- Metamorphism of arenaceous, argillaceous and basic rocks
- Minerals assemblages.
- Retrograde metamorphism
- Metasomatism and granitisation, migmatites.
- Granulite terrains of India.
- Sedimentary Petrology
- Sedimentas and Sedimentary rocks: Processes of formation
- digenesis and lithification
- Clastic and non-clastic rocks-their classification, petrography and depositional environment
- Sedimentary facies and provenance.
- Sedimentary structures and their significance.
- Heavy minerals and their significance.
- Sedimentary basins of India.
- Economic Geology
- Ore, ore mineral and gangue, tenor of ore.
- Classification of ore deposits
- Processes of formation of mineral deposits
- Controls of ore localisation
- Ore textures and structures
- Metallogenic epochs and provinces
- Geology of the important Indian deposits of aluminium, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, zinc, manganese, titanium, uranium and thorium and industrial minerals
- Deposits of coal and petroleum in India, National Mineral Policy
- Conservation and utilization of mineral resources.
- Marine mineral resources and Law of Sea.
- Mining Geology
- Methods of prospecting—geological, geophysical, geochemical and geobotanical
- Techniques of sampling.
- Estimation of reserves of ore
- Methods of exploration and mining-metallic ores, industrial minerals, marine mineral resources and building stones.
- Mineral beneficiation and ore dressing.
- Geochemistry and Environmental Geology
- Cosmic abundance of elements.
- Composition of the planets and meteorites.
- Structure and composition of earth and distribution of elements.
- Trace elements.
- Elements of crystal chemistry-types of chemical bonds, coordination number.
- Isomorphism and polymorphism.
- Elementary thermodynamics.
- Natural hazards—floods, mass wasting, costal hazards, earthquakes and volcanic activity and mitigation
- Environmental impact of urbanization, mining, industrial and radioactive waste disposal, use of fertilizers, dumping of mine waste and fly-ash.
- Pollution of ground and surface water, marine pollution.
- Environment protection—legislative measures in India
- Sea level changes: causes and impact.
Syllabus as published by UPSC in the Civil Services Examination 2026 notification.