The examination and recruitment of engineers of the A & B group in the various central government departments are taken by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). As the UPSC CGS Exam is knocking at the door, we are bringing you with the UPSC Combined GEO Scientist Important Questions 2020 in this article that will help you to decide what topics to give more emphasis on. Go through the complete article to know all the important topics and all-important questions that might come in the upcoming 2020 exam.

UPSC Combined Geo Scientist Important Questions PDF Download

The UPSC is an abbreviated form of the Union Public Service Commission, which is responsible for recruiting and conducting examinations for several Central Government A group and B group of central services. The UPSC CGS exams are conducted for hiring various A & B group officers like Geologist, Geophysicist, Chemist and Junior Hydrologist across multiple government departments of India. The aspirants need to practice the UPSC CGS Important Topics to clear the Prelims and Mains exam. The UPSC CGS Prelims and Mains serve as an important gateway for candidates preparing for different scientific positions. 

• The UPSC CGS is a three-tier examination consisting of the Prelims, Mains and Personal Interview, and by qualifying all the stages, a candidate can secure a job in various government departments
• The UPSC CGS Prelims exam is an online multiple-choice question and answer format. The UPSC CGS Mains exam is an offline subjective test with a descriptive question and answer format
• Go through all the UPSC CGS Important Topics that you need to prepare in order to clear the exam
• The Prelims has two papers the General Studies & topics of the relevant stream like Geology/Hydrology, Geophysics and Chemistry
• The Mains incorporates three papers from the relevant streams of Geology and Hydrology, Geophysics and Chemistry
• Aspirants preparing for UPSC CGS exams need to follow and practice the important questions to score good marks

UPSC Combined GEO Scientist Important Questions 2020 from General Studies

The UPSC CGS Prelims Important Questions from General Studies mainly focuses on the General Knowledge and Current Affairs questions and are discussed in detail below.

1. Who has been appointed as the new chairman of the Central Board of Indirect taxes and Customs (CBIC)?

Ans. S. Ramesh.

2. Which country’s women's cricket team has clinched the Asia Cup Twenty-20 tournament 2018?

Ans: Bangladesh.

3. Shantaram Laxman Naik, who passed away recently, was the former Congress chief of which state?

Ans: Goa.

4. Which of the following personalities is considered to be the originator of Sankhya philosophy?

(A) Adi Shankaracharya

(B) Bharat Muni

(C) Kapil Muni

(D) Agastya Rishi

Ans: (C) Kapil Muni. 

5. Mahatma Gandhi founded the ______ newspaper in 1903 in South Africa.

Ans: Indian Opinion. 

UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for General Studies

The UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for General Studies Section are as follows-

• General Science
• History of India and Indian National Movement
• Current events of national and international importance
• Indian Polity and Governance
• Economic and Social Development
• General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change
• Indian and World Geography

UPSC Combined GEO Scientist Important Questions 2020 for Geology/Hydrogeology

The UPSC CGS Important Questions for Geology and Hydrology includes basic concepts theories about evolution, formation, and history of the earth. Other topics incorporate Sedimentology, Palaeontology, Mineralogy and Metamorphic Petrology. Precious metals and elements are important topics that candidates must focus on Paper III from Geology. If aspirants are preparing for Hydrology then for Paper III vital chapters consist of Groundwater and Hydraulics. The questions are given in details below. 

1. (a) Outline the palaeogeography of India near the Precambrian or Cambrian boundary? 

(b) Discuss the salient events of the fragmentation of the Gondwanaland during the Premium Cretaceous interval? 

2. (a) describe the concept of equilibrium in the context of textual, mineralogical and chemical changes in metamorphic rocks?

(b) Comment on the Ultra High-Pressure metamorphism.

3. (a) Describe the geological characteristics and distribution of iron-ore deposits in India.

(b) Write about the distribution of some of the important gemstones in India.

(c.) Describe the evolution of mineral legislation in India. 

4. (a) Explain how the hydrogeomorphic map is prepared and how it is used in delineating the groundwater potential zones. 

(b) Describe the seismic refraction method of prospecting and how it is useful in groundwater exploration.

(c.) Discuss the different methods of interpretation of resistivity data with special reference to the curve matching techniques. 

5. (a) Write about the buckling mechanism of folding. How does it explain the association of folds of different wavelengths and amplitudes? 

(b) Draw a 3D diagram for normal, thrust and slip faults show the orientation of 𝞼1, 𝞼2, and 𝞼3 responsible for the generation of the faults. 

 UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for Geology/Hydrogeology

The UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for Geology/Hydrogeology are as follows-

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

UPSC CGS Mains Important Topics for Geology and Hydrology

Geology/Hydrology Paper I

• Stratigraphy.
• Paleontology.
• Sedimentology.
• Structural geology.
• Physical geology and remote sensing.

Geology/Hydrology Paper II

• Mineralogy.
• Igneous petrology.
• Metamorphic petrology.
• Geodynamics.
• Geochemistry and isotope geology.

Geology Paper III

• Economic geology.
• Mineral exploration.
• Fuel geology and Engineering geology.
• Environmental geology and Natural hazards.
• Indian mineral deposits and mineral economics.

Hydrology Paper III

• Groundwater exploration.
• Water wells and groundwater levels.
• Groundwater quality and management.
• Occurrence and distribution of groundwater.
• Groundwater movement and well hydraulics.

UPSC Combined GEO Scientist Important Questions 2020 for Geophysics

The UPSC CGS Important Questions for Geophysics revolves around topics like Seismology, Mathematical Calculations and Different Laws in physics, Magnetic Fields, Nuclear Particles, Ocean and Radar System. The questions are provided below. 

1. (A) Write Maxwell's equations in free space and obtain a wave equation for the electric field vector. Hence, it show that light is an e.m wave factor. 

(B) What is ionization potential? The ionization potentials of most of the gases in Earth’s atmosphere are around 15 eV. Will green light (𝞴=550mm) ionize these gases? Take ( 1J = 6.24x1018eV)

(C.) Verify Caley Hamilton theorem for the matrix 

A=Also, calculate its eigenvalues and corresponding to any of these values, calculate the eigenvector.

(D) What is Brownian motion? State its three observed characteristics?

Sedimentation is a familiar example of Brownian motion. Obtain an expression for the variation of number density with the height under the influence of gravity and motion. 

1. Plot specific Gibbs energy and its first-order derivatives as a function of temperature for first and second-order phase transition. 

1. (A) Explain the concept of ‘zero-length spring’. Discuss the principle of operation of the astatic type of gravimeter. 

(B) Draw a neat sketch explaining the elements of Earth’s magnetic field. Express the magnetic potential V at any point on the surface of the Earth in its spherical coordinate system, signifying its internal and external origins. 

1. (Ai) Discuss the longitudinal mode of resonators.

(Aii) If a radar of 1 MW peak power and the antenna gain of 1000 irradiates a 1m2 target with a 10 𝞵sec pulse at 1000 km range, what energy density arrives at the radar and at how much elapsed time? 

(Bi) Distinguish between active and passive satellites.

(Bii) What do you understand by an orbit, apogee, and perigee of a satellite?

(Ci) Explain the design and working principle of an optical fiber?

(Cii) A communication system uses 10km of an optical fibre having a loss of 2.3dB/km. Calculate the outpower of the receiving end, if the power at the input is 400𝞵W. 

1. (Ai)What is the energy of a photon with a wavelength of 400 nm?

(Aii) List the four elements of the weather?

(Aiii) Explain the Stefan Boltzmann law of radiation?

(Bi)Describe the ghost and peg-leg in seismic data with a neat sketch diagram.

(Bii) Explain the principle of seismic reflection data acquisition in a marine environment with a neat sketch diagram. 

(Ci) Discuss ocean basin, ocean ridge and ocean trench with suitable examples. 

(Cii) What is radiometric age dating? How can you calculate the absolute age of a rock? 

UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for Geophysics

• Solid Earth Geophysics.
• Geophysical Prospecting.
• Electromagnetism.
• Mathematical Methods in Geophysics.
• Remote Sensing and Thermodynamics.
• Nuclear Physics and Radiometry.

UPSC CGS Mains Important Topics for Geophysics

Geophysics Paper I (Part-A)

• Solid Earth Geophysics.
• Earthquake Seismology.
• Geophysical Inversion.
• Mathematical methods in Geophysics.

Geophysics Paper I (Part-B)

• Electrodynamics.
• Electromagnetic Theory.
• Mathematical Methods of Physics.
• Introductory Atmospheric and Space Physics.

Geophysics Paper-II (Part-A)

• Potential Field (Gravity and Magnetic) Methods.
• Electrical and Electromagnetic methods.
• Seismic Prospecting.
• Borehole Geophysics.

Geophysics Paper-II (Part-B)

• Classical Mechanics.
• Nuclear and Particle Physics.
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics.
• Atomic and Molecular Physics and Characterization of materials.

Geophysics Paper III (Part-A)

• Marine Geophysics.
• Radiometric and Airborne Geophysics.
• Geophysical Signal Processing.
• Remote Sensing and Geohydrology.

Geophysics Paper III (Part-B)

• Laser systems.
• Quantum Mechanics.
• Solid State Physics and Basic Electronics.
• Digital electronics, Radar systems, Satellite communications.

UPSC Geo Scientist 2020 Important Questions from Chemistry

The UPSC CGS Important Questions for Chemistry incorporates three papers with topics like Periodic Table, Redox Titrations, Gas Laws, Catalysis Concepts and Electrochemistry, Reactions, Structural Bondings, and Spectroscopy. 

1. (a) Define electron affinity. Define the general trends of electronic affinity in the periodic table. Electron affinity of beryllium, magnesium, calcium, and nitrogen is practically zero. Explain.
2. (b) Explain the basicity of the following acids and justify the answers by drawing the following structures:

• Orthophosphoric acid
• Pyrophosphoric acid
• Metaphosphoric acid

(c ) Write down the products formed from the following reactions: 

• TeO2+ 2SeF4→
• HPO4+ H2O →
• 3PCL3+ SO3→
• 8HI + H2SO4→
• PCl2 + H2O →

100. (a) Find the inter-planar distance between two successive 110-planes of a bcc crystal having a single unit cell edge length as 100.0 pm. 

(b) Write down the expression of the Langmuir absorption isotherm in terms of the fraction of surface site covered (𝚹) and the equilibrium pressure (P) of the absorbed gas at a constant temperature. How would you determine the constant involvement in this equation?

1. Distinguish between the following:

• Co-precipitation and Post-precipitation.
• Iodimetry and Iodometry.
• Gas-liquid chromatography and High-performance liquid chromatography.
• Proximate analysis and Ultimate analysis.
• Aniline point and Cloud point.
• Primary standard and Secondary standard in volumetric analysis. 

2. A spherical water drops of radius 1.0mm is sprayed into millions of droplets of the same size. Find the work done in the process. Given that 𝜸 (surface tension) of water at the experimental temperature in 72.0 dyne cm-1. 

3. (a) What are the characteristics of pericyclic reactions ? Give pi molecular orbital diagram of l,3,5<hexatriene. Indicate

(i) Ground state HOMO and LUMO, and

(ii) Excited state HOMO and LUMO of the system. 

(b) Complete the following reactions :

(i) CH3 - CH2 - Cl
(ii) C6H5CHO

(c ) Arrange Vmax (C=O) of the following compounds in decreasing order. Give reasons in favor of your answer. 
 

UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for Chemistry

The following are the UPSC CGS Prelims Important Topics for Chemistry-

• Chemical periodicity
• Acids and bases
• Electrochemistry
• Stereochemistry
• Solutions of non-electrolytes
• Basic organic chemistry
• Chemical bonding and structure
• Types of organic reactions
• Molecular Rearrangements
• Kinetic theory and the gaseous state
• The theoretical basis of quantitative inorganic analysis
• Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium

UPSC CGS Mains Important Topics for Chemistry

Chemistry Paper I (Inorganic Chemistry)

• Inorganic solids
• Acid-base titrations
• Gravimetric Analysis
• Nuclear chemistry
• Redox Titrations
• Complexometric titrations
• Organometallic compounds
• Chemistry of coordination compounds
• Chemistry of d- and f-block elements

Chemistry Paper II (Physical Chemistry)

• Solids
• Electrochemistry
• Quantum chemistry
• Kinetic theory and the gaseous state
• Chemical thermodynamics and chemical equilibrium
• Chemical kinetics and catalysis
• Basic principles and applications of spectroscopy
• Photochemistry

Chemistry Paper III (Part-A) (Analytical Chemistry)

• Errors in quantitative analysis
• Spectroscopic methods of analysis
• Thermal methods of analysis
• Separation Methods
• X-ray methods of Analysis
• Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy
• Analysis of geological materials

Chemistry Paper III (Part- B) (Organic chemistry)

• Addition reactions
• Electrocyclic Reactions
• Oxidation and Reduction
• Reactions at the carbonyl group
• Unstable, uncharged intermediates
• Spectroscopic methods of analysis

The candidates preparing for the UPSC CGS should clear all the three stages, including Personal Interview, to get a scientific job in Government Departments. If a candidate fails in any paper, then they are disqualified. Thus, aspirants should practice all the Important Questions provided subject-wise for the UPSC CGS exams.