The Odisha Public Service Commission has released Advertisement No. 10 of 2026-27 for recruitment to the post of Geologist in the Directorate of Ground Water Development under the Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha. This is a Group-A (Junior Branch) post governed by the Odisha Ground Water Geologist Service (Ground Water Development) (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2020. Here’s the full, easy-to-understand breakdown.
OPSC Geologist Recruitment 2026 Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) |
| Advertisement No. | 10 of 2026-27 (DR-IV)(2PW-01-2026/27) |
| Post Name | Geologist, Group-A (JB), Odisha Ground Water Geologist Service |
| Department | Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha |
| Total Vacancies | 5 (01-W) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 56,100/- (Level 12, Cell-1 of Pay Matrix, ORSP Rules 2017) + DA and other allowances |
| Mode of Application | Online only |
| Official Website | https://www.opsc.gov.in |
| Selection Mode | Written Examination (450 marks) + Personality Test/Interview (50 marks) |
Vacancy Details (Category-wise)
| Category | Vacancy |
|---|---|
| UR (includes 01-W, i.e., 1 post reserved for Women) | 4 |
| SC | 1 |
| Total | 5 |
PwD Sub-Category (adjusted against the category the candidate belongs to, not an additional post):
| Sub-Category | No. of Posts |
|---|---|
| Persons with Disabilities — Hard of Hearing (HH) (with suitable aid) | 1 |
Note: Only a permanent disability of 40% or more is considered for PwD reservation; candidates with temporary disability will not be considered under this category.
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: Minimum 21 years, maximum 42 years, as on 1st January 2026 — i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January 1984 and not later than 1st January 2005.
Age Relaxation:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC, Women, Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (40% or more permanent disability) | 10 years |
| PwD belonging to SC category | Cumulative 15 years |
A candidate covered under more than one category will get only one relaxation benefit — whichever is most beneficial.
Educational Qualification: At least a Second-Class Master’s Degree in Geology, Applied Geology, or Earth Science from any recognized University in India.
Knowledge in Odia (Language Requirement): A candidate must be able to speak, read, and write Odia, and must satisfy at least one of the following:
- Passed M.E. School or higher examination with Odia as a language subject; or
- Passed Matriculation or equivalent examination with Odia as the medium of examination in a non-language subject; or
- Passed Odia as a language subject in the Class VII final examination from a school recognized by the Government of Odisha or Central Government; or
- Passed a test in Odia at Middle English School standard, conducted by the School & Mass Education Department, Government of Odisha, or the Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.
Other Eligibility Conditions:
- Must be a citizen of India.
- Must be of sound health, free from any physical defect likely to interfere with service duties.
- If married, must not have more than one spouse living (subject to exemptions under applicable personal law).
- Serving Government servants may apply but must inform their Head of Office in writing and produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of document verification — candidates are advised to obtain this well in advance.
Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration & Fee Payment Link Available | 08.09.2026 to 08.10.2026 (up to 5:00 PM) |
| Last Date for Submission of Registered Online Application | 08.10.2026 (5:00 PM) |
| Date of Written Examination | 15.11.2026 (Sunday) |
| Personality Test / Interview | Not Yet Announced — schedule to be notified separately |
Note: Only the Written Examination date is fixed at this stage. The date, schedule, and centre for the Personality Test/Interview have not been announced in either the short notice or the long advertisement.
Salary / Pay Details
| Post | Pay Scale |
|---|---|
| Geologist, Group-A (JB) | Rs. 56,100/- (Level 12, Cell-1 of Pay Matrix under Rule-3 of ORSP Rules, 2017) + usual Dearness Allowance and other allowances as sanctioned by the Government of Odisha from time to time |
Pension Note: All persons appointed under the Government of Odisha on or after 1st January 2005 are not eligible for the old pension scheme and will be covered under the Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS). Submission of the NPS application is mandatory for all recommended candidates at the time of joining.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/UR, OBC, EWS | Rs. 700/- |
| SC, ST, PwD | Exempted (Nil) |
- Fee is payable online (Credit Card, Debit Card, UPI, Net Banking, or Wallet) as per the Odisha Payment of Recruitment Examination Fees and Refund Rules, 2025 (Notification No. 34124-GAD-SC-rules-0020/2025/Gen. dated 10.10.2025).
- Fee is refunded only to candidates who actually appear in both Paper-I and Paper-II of the Written Examination, processed to the original mode of payment after completion of the exam.
- Candidates must also furnish bank account details (Account Number, IFSC Code, Account Holder Name, Bank Branch) in the application, to be used only if refund via the original payment mode fails due to technical issues.
- Applications submitted without fee payment (except exempted categories) will be treated as incomplete and rejected outright.
How to Apply (Step by Step)
- Visit the official OPSC website: https://www.opsc.gov.in
- To apply directly, use the Apply Online link provided in the Important Links section.
- Register and complete the online application form — a unique Permanent Public Service Account Number (PPSAN) will be generated on successful registration.
- Fill in personal, educational, and category details carefully — accuracy is the candidate’s responsibility, and community/category once entered cannot be changed later under any circumstances.
- Upload a scanned recent passport-size photograph (taken within the last six months), your full signature, and a scanned image of your Left-Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) — all must be clearly identifiable.
- Pay the applicable examination fee online (if not exempted).
- Verify the submitted copy of the online application after submission. To modify any information, the application must be cancelled and re-submitted before the closing date.
- Take a printout of the finally submitted Registration and Application forms, sign the declaration, and retain it for submission to OPSC along with certificates as and when asked.
- Submit well in advance of the closing date to avoid last-hour rush; the Commission is not responsible for failures caused by heavy website traffic near the deadline.
Note: Applications received through any mode other than the OPSC online portal will not be accepted and will be summarily rejected.
Documents Required (For Verification of Qualifying Candidates)
- 4 recent passport-size photographs (unsigned, unattested, within 6 months) — same as uploaded online
- H.S.C. or equivalent certificate for proof of date of birth
- Master’s Degree Certificate in Geology/Applied Geology/Earth Science
- Mark-lists of all qualifying examinations (H.S.C. to Master’s Degree), including fail marks if any
- Caste Certificate by birth (for SC category claims; women candidates must submit a certificate showing “daughter of…”, not “wife of…”)
- Odia Test Pass Certificate / equivalent certificate as applicable
- Disability Certificate indicating percentage of permanent disability (40% or more), issued by the concerned Medical Board — for PwD candidates
- Release Certificate for Ex-Servicemen claiming age relaxation
- No Objection Certificate (for serving Government servants)
- Proof of identity — Aadhaar / EPIC / Driving Licence / Passport / PAN Card
Note: Master’s Degree Certificate, Caste Certificate, Odia Test Pass Certificate, Permanent Disability Certificate, and Ex-Servicemen Release Certificate must all have been issued on or before the date of submission of the online application.
Selection Process
Selection is made through a two-stage competitive examination — Written Examination and Personality Test/Interview — for a total of 500 marks.
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Written Examination | 450 |
| Personality Test / Interview | 50 |
| Total | 500 |
Written Examination (Objective Type, OMR-based):
| Paper | Subject | Full Marks | Questions | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies & Awareness | 150 | 75 | 1.5 hours |
| Paper-II | Geology (Specialization) | 300 | 150 | 3 hours |
- Each correct answer carries 2 marks; each wrong answer attracts a 25% negative marking deduction; unattempted questions get zero marks.
- Paper-I covers Current Affairs, Sports, History, Geography, General Science, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Astrophysics, and Space Science, at a normal graduate level.
- Paper-II (Geology) covers Geomorphology, Remote Sensing, Structural Geology, Geodynamics, Stratigraphy, Palaeontology, Igneous Petrology, Sedimentology, Metamorphic Petrology, Rock Mechanics, Geographical Information System, and Ground Water Hydrology, at Bachelor’s Degree standard.
- The Commission will fix qualifying marks for each paper and/or the aggregate, category-wise.
- Candidates meeting the qualifying marks will be shortlisted for the Personality Test/Interview in a ratio of about 1:2 of the advertised vacancies per category, subject to a minimum of 5 candidates.
- The final Select List will be based on aggregate marks (Written Examination + Interview, out of 500).
- In case of a tie: higher marks in the Written Examination take precedence; if still tied, the older candidate (by date of birth) is placed higher.
Exam Venue: Cuttack and/or Bhubaneswar (exact centre to be notified with the Admission Certificate).
Key Rules & Important Points
- The Odisha Conduct of Examination Act, 1988 applies to this examination; any malpractice or violation of instructions will lead to disciplinary/criminal action.
- A candidate debarred at any time by OPSC, another State Public Service Commission, or UPSC from appearing in any examination/viva-voce will not be eligible for this recruitment during that debarment period.
- A candidate who has changed their name after passing the High School Certificate examination must furnish a copy of the name-change publication in a local leading daily newspaper as well as the Gazette notification.
- Community/caste status once entered in the online application cannot be changed under any circumstances.
- No request for withdrawal of candidature or change of category will be entertained.
- Admission to the Written Examination/Document Verification is provisional — if found ineligible at any stage, candidature will be rejected even after result declaration.
- Reservation and relaxation meant for SC by birth is admissible only to Scheduled Castes of Odisha.
- Candidates found submitting forged/manipulated documents will be debarred from OPSC examinations for a specific period; those using unfair means will be permanently debarred.
- Every candidate selected for appointment will be examined by a Medical Board; failure to satisfy medical requirements will bar appointment.
- This advertisement does not bind the Government to make an appointment, and the number of vacancies is subject to change without notice.
Grounds for Rejection of Application: Incomplete application or missing document uploads; non-submission of hard copy at verification; unsigned declaration; not passing/furnishing the Odia Test evidence by the closing date; not meeting the age or qualification criteria by the closing date; false or forged documents/information; suppression of eligibility facts; non-payment of fee where applicable; certificates issued after the closing date; and application submitted through any mode other than the OPSC online portal.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Notification PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| More Odisha Govt Jobs | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in OPSC Geologist Recruitment 2026? A total of 5 vacancies (4 UR including 1 reserved for Women, and 1 SC), with 1 post further identified for PwD (Hard of Hearing) candidates adjusted within their respective category.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for OPSC Geologist Recruitment 2026? The online application window closes on 08.10.2026, up to 5:00 PM.
Q3. What is the educational qualification required for this post? A Second-Class Master’s Degree in Geology, Applied Geology, or Earth Science from a recognized Indian University.
Q4. Is knowledge of Odia mandatory for this post? Yes. Candidates must be able to speak, read, and write Odia and meet one of the four qualifying conditions listed in the eligibility section.
Q5. What is the selection process for OPSC Geologist Recruitment? A Written Examination of 450 marks (Paper-I: General Studies, Paper-II: Geology) followed by a Personality Test/Interview of 50 marks, for a total of 500 marks.
Q6. When is the OPSC Geologist Written Examination 2026? The Written Examination is scheduled for 15.11.2026 (Sunday). The Interview date has not yet been announced.
Q7. What is the application fee for OPSC Geologist Recruitment 2026? Rs. 700/- for candidates other than SC, ST, and PwD categories, who are exempted from the fee.
Q8. Is the examination fee refundable? Yes, but only to candidates who actually appear in both Paper-I and Paper-II of the Written Examination.