BPSC Geology Syllabus 2026: Section-Wise Topics

Section I: General Geology, Geomorphology, Structural Geology, Palaeontology and Stratigraphy

Topic

Key Areas Covered

General Geology

Energy related to geodynamic activities, origin and interior of the Earth, age of the Earth and rock dating methods, volcanoes, earthquakes, geosynclines, island arcs, deep-sea trenches, mid-ocean ridges, sea-floor spreading, plate tectonics, isostasy, mountain building, continental drift, origin of continents and oceans, radioactivity and its geological applications.

Geomorphology

Basic concepts, geomorphic processes, geomorphic cycles, landforms, relief features, topography, drainage patterns, relationship between landforms and geological structures, geomorphic features of the Indian subcontinent and Chotanagpur Plateau.

Structural Geology

Stress and strain, rock deformation, folding and faulting, linear and planar structures, petrofabric analysis, graphical representation, tectonic framework of India.

Palaeontology

Microfossils and macrofossils, fossil preservation, classification and nomenclature, organic evolution, study of brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, ammonoids, trilobites, echinoids, corals, vertebrate evolution, dinosaurs, Siwalik vertebrates, evolution of horses, elephants and humans, Gondwana flora, microfossils in petroleum exploration.

Stratigraphy

Principles of stratigraphy, stratigraphic classification and nomenclature, standard stratigraphic scale, geological systems of the Indian subcontinent, boundary problems in Indian stratigraphy, type-area stratigraphy, palaeogeographic reconstruction, climatic changes and igneous activities during geological periods.

Section II: Crystallography, Mineralogy, Petrology, Economic Geology and Applied Geology

Topic

Key Areas Covered

Crystallography

Crystalline and non-crystalline substances, space groups, lattice symmetry, 32 crystal classes, crystallographic notation, stereographic projections, twinning, crystal irregularities, X-ray applications in crystal studies.

Optical Mineralogy

Principles of optics, isotropic and anisotropic minerals, optical indicatrix, pleochroism, interference colours, extinction, optic orientation, dispersion, optical accessories.

Mineralogy

Crystal chemistry, chemical bonding, ionic radius, coordination number, isomorphism, polymorphism, pseudomorphism, silicate classification, physical, chemical and optical properties of rock-forming minerals, alteration products and uses.

Petrology

Origin and composition of magma, phase diagrams, Bowen's Reaction Principle, magmatic differentiation, textures and structures, classification of igneous rocks, petrography and petrogenesis of Indian rock types, granite, charnockite, anorthosite and alkaline rocks, sedimentary rock formation, diagenesis, lithification, sedimentary facies, heavy minerals, depositional environments, metamorphism, metamorphic grades, facies, ACF, AKF and AFM diagrams, metamorphic rock textures and petrogenesis.

Economic Geology

Ore minerals and gangue, ore deposits, mineral exploration, classification of ore deposits, metallogenic epochs, metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits, oil and natural gas fields, coalfields of India, mineral resources of Bihar, mineral economics, National Mineral Policy, conservation and utilisation of minerals.

Applied Geology

Prospecting and exploration techniques, mining methods, sampling, ore dressing and beneficiation, engineering geology, soil geology, groundwater geology, groundwater provinces of Bihar, aerial photograph interpretation and geological exploration techniques.

Recommended Books for the BPSC Geology Syllabus 2026

Book/Resource

Author/Publisher

Purpose

A Textbook of Geology

P. K. Mukherjee

Covers the fundamentals of general geology and serves as a good starting point for the syllabus.

Textbook of Physical Geology

Mahapatra

Useful for understanding Earth's structure, geological processes, volcanoes, earthquakes, and geomorphology.

Structural Geology

Marland P. Billings

Standard reference for folds, faults, stress, strain, and structural analysis.

Geomorphology

Richard J. Chorley, Stanley A. Schumm & David E. Sugden / Thornbury

Comprehensive coverage of landforms, geomorphic processes, and landscape evolution.

Manual of Mineral Science

Cornelis Klein & Barbara Dutrow

Excellent resource for mineralogy, crystallography, and optical properties of minerals.

Principles of Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

John D. Winter

Covers magma, igneous processes, metamorphism, and petrogenesis in detail.

Sedimentology and Stratigraphy

Sam Boggs Jr.

Helpful for understanding sedimentary rocks, depositional environments, and stratigraphy.

Palaeontology: An Introduction

P. S. Bansal

Covers fossils, evolution, palaeontology, and geological history.

Economic Geology

Umeshwar Prasad

Recommended for ore deposits, mineral resources, mining, and economic geology.

Engineering and General Geology

Parbin Singh

Useful for applied geology, engineering geology, groundwater, and geological investigations.

Geology of India

M. Ramakrishnan & R. Vaidyanadhan

Covers the geology, tectonics, and mineral resources of India.

Previous Years' BPSC & UPSC Geology Optional Papers

BPSC/UPSC

Helps you understand the exam pattern, important topics, and descriptive answer-writing techniques.