Physics Wallah is an Indian edtech platform that provides accessible & comprehensive learning experiences to students from Class 6th to postgraduate level. We also provide extensive NCERT solutions, sample paper, NEET, JEE Mains, BITSAT previous year papers & more such resources to students. Physics Wallah also caters to over 3.5 million registered students and over 78 lakh+ Youtube subscribers with 4.8 rating on its app.
We Stand Out because
We provide students with intensive courses with India’s qualified & experienced faculties & mentors. PW strives to make the learning experience comprehensive and accessible for students of all sections of society. We believe in empowering every single student who couldn't dream of a good career in engineering and medical field earlier.
Our Key Focus Areas
Physics Wallah's main focus is to make the learning experience as economical as possible for all students. With our affordable courses like Lakshya, Udaan and Arjuna and many others, we have been able to provide a platform for lakhs of aspirants. From providing Chemistry, Maths, Physics formula to giving e-books of eminent authors like RD Sharma, RS Aggarwal and Lakhmir Singh, PW focuses on every single student's need for preparation.
What Makes Us Different
Physics Wallah strives to develop a comprehensive pedagogical structure for students, where they get a state-of-the-art learning experience with study material and resources. Apart from catering students preparing for JEE Mains and NEET, PW also provides study material for each state board like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and others
Q. Who will release the official GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026?
Ans. The GATE 2026 conducting authority i.e. IIT Guwahati will release the GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 @gate.iitg.ac.in.
Q. What does the GATE GG Syllabus 2026 include?
Ans. The GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus comprises two parts: Part A is mandatory and covers general aptitude and core subjects. Part B allows applicants to choose either Geology (B1) or Geophysics (B2) during the application process.
Q. How can I download the GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus PDF?
Ans. Applicants can use the direct link provided in the article above to download the GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus PDF.
Q. What is the paper code for the GATE Geology and Geophysics subject?
Ans. The GATE Geology and Geophysics subject paper code is GG.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026, Topic-Wise Syllabus
The GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 is outlined here to aid up the preparation of aspirants for the upcoming exam. Find out the topic-wise GATE GG Syllabus now.
Pratibha Bohra16 Apr, 2025
Share
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is a national-level entrance test conducted annually to facilitate M.E./M.Tech. admission and PSU job opportunities to engineering graduates. The exam is conducted for around 30 different disciplines including Geology and Geophysics.
Candidates who are aiming to take the GATE 2026 examination for Geology and Geophysics discipline must understand the syllabus for this subject and start preparation accordingly. IIT Guwahati will host the GATE 2026 examination for all specializations.
The GATE Syllabus for Geology and Geophysics covers 70% of the questions from core subject topics; 15% of the questions from the general aptitude section, followed by 15% from Engineering Mathematics. Candidates are advised to thoroughly review the GATE GG Syllabus 2026 well to prepare in a systematic manner.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026
The GATE Geology and Geophysics (GG) Syllabus covers a wide range of topics from General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics and Core Subjects up to graduation level. The syllabus is divided into two main parts: Part A, which is common to all applicants, covers fundamental topics relevant to both Geology and Geophysics.
Furthermore, Part B is split into two distinct sections: Section 1, which delves into detailed Geology topics, and Section 2, which focuses on advanced Geophysics subjects. This structured approach allows applicants to tailor their preparation according to their specialization, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the topics essential for success in the GATE 2026 exam.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 Overview
Part
Section Name
Part A
Common Section
Part B
Section 1: Geology
Section 2: Geophysics
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude
The GATE General Aptitude section of the Geology and Geophysics (GG) is compulsory as it is designed to assess an applicant's proficiency in both verbal and quantitative skills. This section is integral to evaluating an aspirant's aptitude across several areas vital for success in the GATE examination. Check out the key topics of the GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude here:
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 for General Aptitude
Topics
Sub-Topics
Verbal Aptitude
Tenses, Articles, Adjectives, Prepositions, Conjunctions, Verb-Noun Agreement, and other Parts of Speech Words, Idioms, and Phrases in Context, Reading and Comprehension, and Narrative Sequencing
Quantitative Aptitude
Data Interpretation, Numerical Computation and Estimation, Mensuration and Geometry, and Elementary Statistics and Probability
Analytical Aptitude
Logic, Analogy, Numerical Relations and Reasoning, etc.
Spatial Aptitude
Transformation of Shapes, Paper Folding and Cutting, etc.
Applicants can now download the complete GATE General Aptitude Syllabus 2026 PDF from the link provided below.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 for Common Section
As per the official GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus, the common section encompasses topics such as Earth and Planetary System, Weathering and Soil Formation, Basic Structural Geology, Crystallography, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Elements of Hydrogeology, Mineral, Coal and Petroleum Resources of India, among others.
The detailed GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for the common section is outlined in the table below for aspirants convenience.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2026 for Common Section
Earth and Planetary System- Terrestrial Planets and Moons of the Solar System; Size, Shape, Internal Structure and Composition of the Earth; Concept of Isostasy
Plate Tectonics – Relationship With Earthquakes, Volcanism and Mountain Building; Continental Drift; Heat Flow Within the Earth; Gravitational Field of the Earth; Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism
Continental and Oceanic Crust – Composition, Structure and Thickness; Elements of Seismology – Body and Surface Waves, Propagation of Body Waves in the Earth’s Interior.
Weathering and Soil Formation, Landforms Created by River, Wind, Glacier, Ocean and Volcanoes.
Stress, Strain and Material Response; Brittle and Ductile Deformation; Nomenclature and Classification of Folds and Faults.
Basic Crystal Symmetry and Concept of Point Groups.
Silicate Crystal Structure and Determinative Mineralogy of Common Rock-Forming Minerals.
Characteristics and Formation of Common Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic Rocks.
Geological Time Scale, Geochronology and Absolute Time. Stratigraphic Principles; Major Stratigraphic Divisions of India.
Mineral, Coal, and Petroleum Resources of India.
An Introduction to Remote Sensing.
Engineering Properties of Rocks and Soils.
Elements of Hydrogeology.
Introductory Well Logging; Principles and Applications of Gravity, Magnetic, Electrical, Electromagnetic, Seismic, and Radiometric Methods of Prospecting for Oil, Mineral, and Groundwater.
GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for Geology
The GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for Geology covers a wide range of key topics essential for a thorough understanding of the core subject. These cover diverse aspects of the Earth’s structure, processes, and materials. Key topics of the GATE 2026 Geology Syllabus include Geomorphology, Structural Geology, Crystallography and Mineralogy, Geochemistry, Igneous Petrology, and more, as detailed in the table below.
GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for Geology
Topic
Subtopics
Geomorphology
Development and Evolution of Landforms in Continental and Oceanic Settings; Tectonic Geomorphology; Geomorphic Processes and Agents.
Geochemistry
Cosmic Abundance of Elements, Geochemical Evolution of the Earth, Geochemical Cycles, Isotopic Evolution of the Crust and the Mantle, Geochemistry of Water and Water-Rock Interaction
Structural Geology
Interpretation of Geological Maps; Primary and Secondary Structures; Folds, Faults, Joints, and Unconformities; Forces and Mechanisms of Rock Deformation.
Crystallography and Mineralogy
Crystal Chemistry; Classification of Minerals; Elements of Crystal Symmetry, Form, and Twinning; Crystallographic Projection; Physical and Optical Properties of Rock-Forming Minerals.
Paleobiology
Concepts of Ecology/Paleoecology; Diversity of Life Through Time; Mass Extinctions; Taphonomy; Taxonomy and Morphology of Invertebrates, Microfossils, Vertebrates, and Paleobotany.
Igneous Petrology
Classification, Forms, Textures, and Genesis of Common Igneous Rocks, Magmatic Differentiation, Phase Diagrams, Mantle Plumes, Hotspots, and Large Igneous Provinces
Sedimentology
Texture, Structure, and Sedimentary Processes, Petrology of Common Sedimentary Rocks, Sedimentary Facies and Environments, Provenance and Basin Analysis
Applied Geology
Physico-Mechanical Properties of Rocks and Soils, Rock Index Tests and Failure Criteria, Rock Mass Classifications, Geological Factors in Construction, Analysis of Slope Stability, Natural Hazards and Mitigation, Principles of Climate Change
Basic Principles of Remote Sensing
Energy Sources and Radiation Principles, Atmospheric Absorption, Aerial-Photo Interpretation, Multispectral Remote Sensing, Digital Processing of Satellite Images, GIS Concepts and Operations
Hydrogeology
Groundwater Flow and Exploration, Well Hydraulics and Water Quality
Metamorphic Petrology
Metamorphism of Different Rock Types; Structures and Textures of Metamorphic Rocks; Thermobarometry and Metamorphic P-T-t Paths; Physico-Chemical Conditions of Metamorphism.
Resource Geology
Ore Mineralogy and Ore Forming Processes, Coal and Petroleum Geology, Marine Mineral Resources, Prospecting and Exploration of Economic Mineral Deposits, Ore Dressing and Mineral Economics
Global Tectonics
Plate Motions and Boundaries, Supercontinent Cycles
Stratigraphy
Principles and Concepts of Stratigraphy and Correlation, Lithostratigraphy, Biostratigraphy, and Chronostratigraphy, Sequence Stratigraphy, Stratigraphy of India
GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for Geophysics
The Geophysics section of the GATE GG Syllabus 2026 emphasize on important topics such as Seismic Methods, Geophysical Signal Processing, Electrical Methods, Earthquake Seismology, Geodesy, Potential and Time Varying Fields, Magnetic Methods, Electromagnetic Methods, Geophysical Inversion, among many others. Check out the important topics of the GATE 2026 Geophysics Syllabus presented in the table below.
GATE GG Syllabus 2026 for Geophysics
Topics
Sub-Topics
Solid-Earth Geophysics
Geothermics and Heat Flow, The Earth as a Planet; Different Motions of the Earth; Gravity Field of the Earth, Clairaut’s Theorem, Size and Shape of Earth, Paleomagnetism; Seismology and Interior of the Earth; Variation of Density, Velocity, Pressure, Temperature, Geomagnetic Field, Electrical and Magnetic Properties of the Earth.
Geodesy
Leveling and Surveying; Gravitational Field of the Earth; Geoid; Ellipsoid; Geodetic Reference Systems; Everest (1830) and WGS 84 (1984) Systems; GPS and DGPS, Datum
Potential and Time Varying Fields
Integral Equations in Potential and Time-Varying Field Theory; Scalar and Vector Potential Fields; Laplace, Maxwell, and Helmholtz Equations for Solution of Different Types of Boundary Value Problems in Cartesian, Cylindrical, and Spherical Polar Coordinates; Green’s Theorem; Image Theory.
Elements of Elasticity Theory
Digital Seismographs, Earthquake Statistics, Reflection and Refraction of Elastic Waves, Rotational, Dilatational, Irrational, and Equivoluminal Waves, Elements of Seismic Tomography, Earthquake Causes and Measurements, Magnitude and Intensity, Focal Mechanisms, Earthquake Quantification, Source Characteristics, Seismotectonics, and Seismic Hazards, Wave Propagation in Elastic Media, Quantifying Earthquake Source from Seismological Data, Inhomogeneous and Evanescent Waves and Bounded Waves, Elements of Elasticity Theory - Stress and Strain Tensors, Generalized Hooke’s Law, Eikonal Equation and Ray Theory
Magnetic Methods
Various Corrections Applied to Magnetic Data, Magnetic Anomalies Due to Geometrical and Irregular Shaped Bodies, Units of Measurement, Magnetic Susceptibility of Rocks and Measurements, Magnetometers and Magnetic Gradiometers, Upward and Downward Continuation, Preparation of Magnetic Maps, Poisson’s Relation of Gravity and Magnetic Potential Field, Derivative, Analytic Signal, and Euler Depth Solutions, Image Processing Concepts in Processing of Magnetic Anomaly Maps, Elements of Earth’s Magnetic Field, Land, Airborne and Marine Magnetic and Magnetic Gradiometer Surveys, IGRF, Reduction to Pole Transformation, Depth Rules, Interpretation of Processed Magnetic Anomaly Data, Applications of Gravity and Magnetic Methods for Mineral and Oil Exploration.
Radioactive Methods
Half-Life, Decay Constant, Radioactive Equilibrium, Application of Radiometric Methods for Exploration, G M Counter, Prospecting and Assaying of Mineral (Radioactive and Non-Radioactive) Deposits, Assaying and Radioactive Waste Disposal, Semiconductor Devices, Scintillation Detector
Geophysical Inversion
Singular Value Decomposition, Non-linear Methods including Tikhonov’s Regularization Method, Swarm Intelligence, Overdetermined, Underdetermined and Mixed Determined Inverse Problems, Statistics of Misfit and Likelihood, Quasi-linear Methods, Ill-posedness of Inverse Problems, L1, L2 and Lp Norms, Bayesian Construction of Posterior Probabilities, Basic Concepts of Forward and Inverse Problems, Condition Number, Ambiguity and Uncertainty in Geophysical Interpretation, Stability of Solutions, Artificial Neural Networks, Sparsity Promoting L1 Optimization, Genetic Algorithms, Machine Learning, Backus-Gilbert Method, Simulated Annealing
GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus PDF
It is strongly advised to download the GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus PDF to check all the in-depth details regarding the topics from which the majority of questions are formed in the final examination.For the reference of applicants, the direct link to download the official GATE Geology and Geophysics Syllabus PDF is provided in this section.
According to the exam pattern, the GATE GG question paper will carry a total of 100 marks, where every question will be worth 1 or 2 marks. It is important to note that every wrong answer will have a negative marking. The detailed GATE Geology & Geophysics (GG) Exam Pattern 2026 is outlined below:
GATE Geology and Geophysics Exam Pattern 2026
Particulars
Details
Mode of Examination
Computer Based Test (CBT) Conducted in English at Selected Exam Centres
Duration
3 Hours
Sections
General Aptitude (GA), Applicant's Selected Subject (Geology or Geophysics)
(a) Recall, (b) Comprehension, (c) Application, (d) Analysis and Synthesis
Distribution of Marks
General Aptitude: 15 Marks, Subject Questions: 85 Marks, Total: 100 Marks
Marking Scheme
Questions carry 1 mark or 2 marks
Negative Marking
For an Incorrect Answer in MCQ: - 1/3 Mark Deduction for 1-Mark MCQ, - 2/3 Mark Deduction for 2-Mark MCQ, No Negative Marking for MSQ or NAT Questions
Partial Marking
No Partial Marking for MSQs
GATE Geology and Geophysics Marking Scheme 2026
Understanding the marking scheme is important for success in the GATE Geology and Geophysics (GG) 2026 examination. This scheme shows how marks are distributed across different sections, ensuring applicants are well-prepared for the test. By comprehending the structure of marks allocated to General Aptitude and subject-specific questions, aspirants can strategically plan their preparations to maximize their scores effectively.
GATE Geology and Geophysics Marking Scheme 2026
Paper Code
General Aptitude (GA) Marks
Common Section Marks
Subject Marks
Total Marks
Total Time
GG
15
25
60
100
180 Minutes
Elevate your GATEreadiness with Physics Wallah’s GATE Online Courses. PW GATE Online Coaching offers comprehensive live sessions tailored to the syllabus, invaluable study materials, practice tests, and much more
Talk to a counsellorHave doubts? Our support team will be happy to assist you!
