Geology is the scientific study of the Earth. The field of geology encompasses the study of the composition, structure, physical properties, dynamics, and history of Earth and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed. The field is a major academic discipline and is also important for mineral and hydrocarbon exploration and extraction, knowledge about and mitigation of natural hazards, some engineering fields, and understanding past climates and environments.
The application of geology is seen in everyday life. All around of us we see hills and valleys, rivers, seas and coastlines, rocks and soils . Geology tells why these things are there and how they are formed.
Some of the branches of Geology are:
Physical Geology (Study of Physical forms, physical processes of earth)
Mineralogy (Study of Minerals)
Petrology (Study of Rocks)
Structural Geology (Study of structure of the earth)
Palaeontology ( Study of fossils)
Stratigraphy (Study of geological strata and establishing order of superposition)
Geochronology (Measurement of geological time)
Mining Geology
Petroleum Geology
Geochemistry
Geophysics
Hydrogeology (Study of ground water)
Seismology (Study of earthquakes)
Volcanolgy (Study of Volanoes)
Marine Geology
Specialisation can be done in any of the above fields.
Now there is a scarcity for geologists. Recently the Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Government of India stated that there is a requirement of 300 geologists a year but the availability is less than 100. The Central Government has plans to introduce reforms in mining sector to attract huge investments. The job prospects for geologists in the private sector is going to increase when the New National Mineral Policy is implemented. The Secretary General of Federation of Indian Mineral Industries has stated that the shortage of geologists is not only in India but also world-wide. Hence there is good scope for geologists in the country as well as in other countries.
Job opportunities in Geology
Post Graduates (M Sc/M Tech) in Geology or Applied Geology have openings in Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Universities and Private companies some of which are described below:
- 1. Geological Survey of India, GSI, (Under Ministry of Mines):
Recruits Geologists in the grade of Junior Geologist (Group A, Gazetted) and Assistant Geologist (Group B, Gazetted) through Geologist’s Exam conducted by UPSC.
- 2. Central Ground Water Board, CGWB, (Under Ministry of Agriculture):
Recruits Hydrogeologists in the grade of Junior Hydrogeologist (Group A, Gazetted) and Assistant Hydrogeologist (Group B, Gazetted) through Geologist’s Exam conducted by UPSC.
- 3. Atomic Minerals Division, AMD, (Under Department of Atomic Energy):
Recruits Geologists in the grade of Geologists (Group A, Gazetted) through their own recruitment examinations.
- Postgraduates in Geo informatics can be absorbed in NRSA(National Remote Sensing Agency), Hyderabad and Remote Sensing Departments of State Governments.
- Students with specialization in Marine Geology (MSc) can opt a career in NIO (National Institute of Oceanography), Goa.
Pay Scale: Group A posts carry the pay scale of Rs.15600-39100 with grade pay Rs.5400 (Pay band -3) at the entry level.
Group B posts carry the pay scale of Rs.9300-34800 with grade pay Rs.4800 (Pay band -2) in the beginning.
Government undertakings like ONGC, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Coal India Limited (CIL) recruit Geologists through their own examinations.
Department of Mines and Geology and Ground Water departments of State Governments recruit Geologists / Hydro-geologists through State PSC examinations.
Private Companies engaged in mineral exploration, oil exploration and mining industry recruit geologists.
Geologists who are interested in environmental sciences can work as consultants in the field of environmental compliance.
The students interested in teaching and research can join Universities or IITs. A doctorate degree in Geology or Applied Geology is essential for teaching posts in Universities and IITs.
Author,
K.Kumaran
Director,
Marine & Coastal Surveys Division,
Geological Survey of India
Geology Study and Job Opportunities,
Sir,
I m a geologist working in a hydro-geological and geo-technical related consultant firm in india. I just wanted to know the current openings for me. I m having an ewperience of around 2 years.
Hi Ashish,
Thanks for writing to us. You have not written about your qualification, so I am guessing you have the relevant qualifications needed for the job in this field.There are good opportunities available in the hydro-geological and geo-technical front. On hydro geological front – If you are looking for govt jobs in India , do check out the UPSC website for Geologists exam , Posts can be found for Central Ground water board and others.
Different available positions in this are :
Senior Hydrogeologists
Hydrographic Surveyor
Conservation Hydrologist
Hydraulic Engineer
Field Operations Coordinator
Field Hydrogeologist
Design Team Leaders – Water
Senior hydrogeologist/Project Manager
Groundwater Modeller
Principal Mining Hydrogeologist
Research Professor Position in Hydrology
Geo-technical front:
Again to clear Geologist’s exam, you would be recruited as a geologist in Geological Survey of India. After a few years, based on interest and performance, you may get a post in Geo Technical wing.
Different available positions in this are :
Principal Design Geotechnical Engineer
Senior Geotech Engineer
GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
Geotechnical Design Engineer
Principal Environmental Consultant
Senior Contaminated Land Consultant
Tunnel / Grouting Engineers (Sewage / Infrastructure)
Geologist (Roads)
4D Geophysical Monitoring of Landslide Processes
Geotechnical Engineer – Rail Industry
Senior Catastrophe Risk Modeler
Senior Tailings Engineer
Landfill Engineers
Let me know if you need any other info.
Warm Regards,
sir,
do i have a 100% guaranteed job in field of geology after doing msc in geology.
if yes thn wht is the minimum beginners salary..(per month)
Hi,
Well, No one can say you will get 100% guaranteed job in any field. If you really work hard and shine what you do, you can easily get a job.
Salary depends on field in geology you choose. It ranges from 15-25k per month for beginners.
Hi, my name is Muthuraman I’m from Tamilnadu compeleted UG Degree in Mk university& Pg degree in Pondicherry university I’ve attended and cleared the UPSC written examination cönducted on dec5,6,7 2009 now i want to know when the interview is going to be conducted
Hi all
I study in University of Mongolia. Geology mining menegment Senior. il do my best. gies! cheer UP!!!
Hello,
Thank you for your comments.
GSG Team wishes you the very best in your career.
hi i am ayushi. I have passed my 10th standard and i am doing my intermediate. i am so much interested in becoming geologist. can i please know what subjects should i take presently and about my further studies (that include degree and all)
sir my name is abrar from mysore am studieng bsc geology1st year after msc in geology what work may i get and what will be the pay scala and in which city may i get
Sir,
My daughter has finished her 10th, now she says that she is interested in geology. And i am not aware about any diploma or any courses of this field. i stay near pune.
please guide me which side she should take …..
its urgent…
Dear Mr Manoj,
Thanks for writing to us. Its heartening to know that your daughter is interested in geology. To start off I would propose she takes up Geology as one of her subjects in her higher secondary education. Subsequently she can take up BSc in Geology . She can then plan for the masters course from Pune University later on – http://www.unipune.ac.in/dept/science/geology/geo_webfiles/academic.htm .However there are other avenues as I mentioned in my article. Geoinformatics is also a new area which is gaining huge demand.
The alternate route is applying for Specialized courses offered by Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur. After XII (with PCM) IIT Kharagpur admits students through JEE to 5 year Integrated programme in Exploration Geophysics. After BTech/BE/MSc adn Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) admission is made to the 3 semester M Tech in Geology and Geophysics.http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/departments/home.php?deptcode=MG
Lastly, not to mention , lot of this depends on the student’s interest and passion and hardwork.
I hope this information will be useful for you.Do write to us for additional questions.
Best Regards,
Editorial Team GSG
sir, i have done m.sc in geology from jnvu jodhpur (rajasthan) with the 62.58%. now i wanna join job in geology field. so what can i do for it. so plz tell me is there any vacany for me……..
Thanks Kuldeep for writing to us . At the moment there are loads of vacancies , we as policy, dont recommend any specific job sites to search for jobs. However , assuming that your communication skills are as per industry standards , you can opt for the following job roles a) Geologist : the responsibilites include Documentation and preparations of reports and adherence to various statutory and certfication requirements, Responsible to maintain audit standards for various statutory requirements, etc. Try the manufacturing inductry and govt jobs. Another new area to explore is building some GIS skills and applying for a entry level job as tester or developer in IT companies.
Hope this info helps. Do write to us if you need more info.
Best Regards,
Editorial Team GSG.
sir i am studying in iit roorkee and doing M TECH in geological engineering.
sir please tell me what are the job opportunities in govt sectors and private sectors.
also can u tell me what is the salary in some companies like gsi, cgwb(central ground water board) after doing m tech programme in geological engineering?
Hi Harshit,
Thanks for writing to us. There are various job opportunities for you as mentioned in the article above. However it depends on your interest level and what you want to pursue in future .
If you want to take up a job as a geologist then your job will include the following : Geological survey with proper sampling and test reports, The application process along with Tope sheets and proper Maps,Field work after getting PL Agreement execution,Detailed prospecting preparation of Mining Plant, application to IBM and obtaining all the requisite approvals form IBM and other relevant authorities.In the case of Forest area preparation of requisite plant and applications and meeting all the requirements of the forest department for obtaining the approval, Network with consultants wherever consultants services are required,Working knowledge and awareness of procedural requirement and legal provisions relating to RP / PL / ML / MOEF / FOREST and IBM, Ability to prepare reports and other submission to various Governments authorities particularly relating to Geology and Mining, Knowledge of safety requirement for operating the mines. The Govt Agencies will be recruiting you in this position . The salary structure is reasonably well as a Class 1 Officer in Govt Organizations.
Another popular career path today is GIS which you can also join as a developer or tester , in such case your skill sets needed will be as follows : Geographic Information System (GIS),Database, RDBMS, Oracle, SQLite, XML, Strong PL/SQL skills,JAVA is an added advantage,Working knowledge on Unix/Linux, Navigation data knowledge,Having experience working with GE small world tool suite, Good understanding of Geographical data file(GDF) formats and navigation system etc. Most of the IT companies will recruit you , even as a fresher in this position , The salary structure for a talented individual is as per industry standards and can range from Rs 3 to 8 lakhs per annum.
Hope this info helps, Lets us know if you need more info.
Best Regards,
Editorial Team GSG
Sir,
i’m in B.Sc part 3 (geology).Since i’ve only 6 months remaining to complete my graduation.I want to prepare for IIT-JAM, ISM,BHU entrances for PG.How can i prepare, please help me.
Hi Anil,
Thanks for your question. Preparation of JAM and ISM Entrance Exam needs Basic Knowledge in geology. Try to collect previous year question papers (minimum 5 years) and tune yourself to the question pattern it is the only way to crack those examinations if you have less time. If possible , do inform your juniors to appear in JAM Exam from the B.Sc First year itself so they will get an idea regarding the question pattern and it will be easier for them.
Best Regards,
Editorial Team GSG
i am doing bsc in geology hons.(1st yr), i wanted to know the scope after my graduation and how can i make my way to become a scientist.And which specialisation should i take for my further studies??
Hi Sidhant,
The details are covered in the article, in addition I can say that you need to focus on scoring good marks and overall love the subject and be passionate about it. In general there are the following specializations :
Remote Sensing: The use of radar, sonar, seismology, and aerial photography to locate and analyze the internal and external formations of the earth.
Structural Geology: The study of the deformation of rocks and the forces that cause deformation.
Mineralogy: The examination, classification, and analysis of minerals, gems, and precious stones.
Petrology: The analysis and classification of rocks to learn their origin and history.
Sedimentology: The study of modern and historic depositional environments.
Paleontology: The reconstruction of past environments by studying fossils and other life forms.
Geochemistry: The study of the chemical composition of rocks and minerals for a variety of environmental and economic applications.
Geophysics: The study of gravity, magnetism, and seismic characteristics of the Earth.
Seismology: The study of the location and force of earthquakes to understand their origin and minimize their effects.
Geomorphology: The study of the shape of the surface of the earth and the processes that create those shapes.
Economic Geology: The study of economically valuable earth materials such as ore deposits.
Petroleum Geology: The use of geologic techniques to locate oil reserves and determine methods for profitable extraction.
Hydrogeology: The study of the location, movement, and chemical composition of groundwater.
Oceanography: The study of the physical aspects of oceans such as their currents and their interaction with the atmosphere.
However regarding selecting the specializations , it depends from which University you are applying from and the faculties in that University. Remote Sensing is a newer area which is opening up and more research are being done at the moment. Mineralogy will open different possibilities for you as it is linked with chemistry and materials science, each of these areas have good prospect. That being said , today each of these areas have a huge prospect on its own and you can have a successful career on each path.
Hope this info helps, if you have more questions , do let us know.
Best Regards,
Editorial Team GSG
Hi Sir,
First of all, I would like to thank you for this great effort towards providing us fruitful information about geology. I have just completed my Post-graduation in Geology and I am planning to appear for the UPSC Geologists Examination 2012. It is getting very hard for me to find a concise book on Geology covering all the topics required to crack this exam. As I am having very less time to prepare, I would like to know about any such book available in the market. Kindly let me know the prescribed books to prepare for the competitive examinations like GSI, Coal India, ONGC.
Regards,
M Gupta
Hi Mayank,
Thanks for writing to us. Firstly, since you have done PG in Geology so you should be having GOOD HOLD in your subject.
For UPSC Exam:
Preparation for this examination needs more time and effort. As per my opinion it is not easy to get a concise book which covers the entire UPSC Geologist Examination Syllabus.
What you should do right now is start to prepare for the exam based on the syllabus given. For example if you are taking Geomorphology which is covered in the First Paper, start making gist in white sheets for individual topics covered (Wind- Erosion, Transportation, Deposition and Landform) likewise for the rest of the topics(River, Glaciers, Underground water etc.). Then go for other topics. If you use white sheets it will be easier for developing your notes and it will be handy also. Do the same for second and third paper.
Third paper i.e. economic geology has to be given more importance because when compared to First, Second paper the question will be in depth. Follow Ore Geology and Industrial Minerals An Introduction by Anthony M Evans for Economic Geology it will give enough guidance with respect to the third Paper invariably you have to go through the National Mineral Policy.
For ONGC Exam:
ONGC exam is having 3 parts
1. Geology i.e. Technical (Follow Text Book of Geology by G B Mahapatra and Parbin Singh)
2. General Awareness which includes (Indian Economy, Polity, General Science, History, Geography and Current Affairs).
3. Aptitude Part (As per ONGC Syllabus).
All are multiple choice questions only.
Best wishes for your exam,
Regards,
Editorial Team GSG
Thanks for this valuable information about geology and it’s job opportunity Geology is a magnificent science you study the present to know the bast and to give a try to predict the Future how will be