Syllabus overview
GATE GG syllabus 2027 with the official PDF, 100-mark exam pattern and complete section-wise topic tables for Geology and Geophysics.
Highlights
GG is the official GATE code for Geology and Geophysics.
The official syllabus contains 3 sections: Common Section; Advanced topics in Geology; Advanced topics in Geophysics.
The paper is a 3-hour Computer-Based Test for 100 marks, including 15 marks of General Aptitude.
Allowed second-paper codes when GG is primary: GE.
The official IIT Madras PDF is available in the download section.
Quick facts
- Exam
- GATE
- Paper / stage
- GG · Geology and Geophysics
- Current cycle
- 2027
- Page type
- Syllabus
- Conducting body
- GATE
- Language
- English
Detailed syllabus
GATE GG Syllabus 2027 Overview
The official GATE GG syllabus 2027 has a common Part A followed by a choice between Part B1 Advanced Topics in Geology and Part B2 Advanced Topics in Geophysics. This page separates all three parts into clear topic tables so candidates can cover the shared foundation and then focus on the specialist section used for their GG score and rank.
How the GATE GG Optional Part Works
- Part A is compulsory for both Geology and Geophysics candidates.
- Choose Part B1 for Advanced Topics in Geology or Part B2 for Advanced Topics in Geophysics.
- GATE calculates separate GG scores and ranks according to the specialist Part B attempted.
How to Prepare from the GATE GG Syllabus
- Create one checklist for every official section and retain the same sequence used in the PDF.
- Start with a diagnostic test, then allocate more study time to weak high-coverage sections instead of dividing time equally.
- Solve previous-year GATE questions immediately after completing each topic and record errors by concept, calculation and time pressure.
- Revise formulas, definitions and frequently confused conditions in short weekly cycles, followed by mixed-section tests.
- Use the official PDF as the final scope document; coaching notes should expand a listed topic, not introduce an unrelated syllabus.
GATE GG Official Source and Internal Links
The syllabus tables were checked against the IIT Madras GATE 2027 GG PDF. Use the download section for the database-hosted copy, the GATE syllabus hub to switch papers, and the notification page for registration dates and policy updates.
Exam pattern
GATE GG Exam Pattern 2027
| Section | Marks | How it applies |
|---|---|---|
| General Aptitude | 15 | Common section |
| GG Part A | 25 | Common Geology and Geophysics section |
| GG Part B1 or B2 | 60 | Geology or Geophysics; selected in the application |
| Total | 100 | 3-hour CBT |
Section: General Aptitude
- Marks
- 15
- How it applies
- Common section
Section: GG Part A
- Marks
- 25
- How it applies
- Common Geology and Geophysics section
Section: GG Part B1 or B2
- Marks
- 60
- How it applies
- Geology or Geophysics; selected in the application
Section: Total
- Marks
- 100
- How it applies
- 3-hour CBT
GATE GG Question and Marking Rules
| Question type | Possible marks | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 1 or 2 | Yes: 1/3 for a wrong 1-mark MCQ; 2/3 for a wrong 2-mark MCQ |
| MSQ | 1 or 2 | No negative marking and no partial marking |
| NAT | 1 or 2 | No negative marking |
Question type: MCQ
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- Yes: 1/3 for a wrong 1-mark MCQ; 2/3 for a wrong 2-mark MCQ
Question type: MSQ
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- No negative marking and no partial marking
Question type: NAT
- Possible marks
- 1 or 2
- Negative marking
- No negative marking
Subject-wise syllabus
GATE GG Syllabus 2027 - Official Section-wise Topics
The tables below preserve the section order and complete topic coverage published by IIT Madras for the GATE 2027 GG paper. Use each table as a study and revision checklist, and verify any later corrigendum against the official PDF.
Part A: Common Section
| Topic area | Official syllabus coverage |
|---|---|
| Official coverage | This section includes various introductory topics related to geology and geophysics. Introduction to Earth and planetary systems: Terrestrial planets and moons of the solar system; Concept of isostasy, Internal structure of Earth – elasticity, body and surface waves, propagation of body waves in the Earth’s interior; Heat flow within the Earth; Gravitational field of the Earth; Continental and oceanic crust – composition, structure and thickness. |
| Plate Tectonics | Type of plate boundaries; Plate motions and driving mechanisms; Processes at plate boundaries - volcanism, seismicity, orogenesis, sea-floor spreading and magnetic anomalies and paleomagnetism, formation of back-arc basins; Continental rifting, mantle plumes, hotspots; Numerical problems related to plate motions. |
| Earth surface processes | Landforms created by hillslopes, rivers, wind, glaciers, oceans, and volcanoes. |
| Basic structural geology | Mohr’s circle, stress, strain, and material response; Brittle and ductile deformation; Nomenclature and classification of folds and faults. |
| Mineralogy | Silicate crystal structure, physical and chemical properties of common rock-forming minerals. |
| Common Igneous | Sedimentary, and metamorphic-rocks: composition, structure, and formation processes. |
| Stratigraphy and Geological time scale | R elative and absolute time, Half -life, decay constant, radioactive equilibrium, stratigraphic principles, and major stratigraphic divisions of India ; Major metallic ores, coal and petroleum resources of India. |
| Introduction to remote sensing | Energy sources and radiation principles, atmospheric absorption, interaction of energy with Earth’s surface; Engineering properties of rocks and soils ; Natural hazards (landslide, volcanic, seismogenic, coastal) and mitigation; Principles of climate change; |
| Elements of hydrogeology | Principles and applications of gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, seismic, and radiometric methods of prospecting for oil, mineral, and groundwater. |
Topic area: Official coverage
- Official syllabus coverage
- This section includes various introductory topics related to geology and geophysics. Introduction to Earth and planetary systems: Terrestrial planets and moons of the solar system; Concept of isostasy, Internal structure of Earth – elasticity, body and surface waves, propagation of body waves in the Earth’s interior; Heat flow within the Earth; Gravitational field of the Earth; Continental and oceanic crust – composition, structure and thickness.
Topic area: Plate Tectonics
- Official syllabus coverage
- Type of plate boundaries; Plate motions and driving mechanisms; Processes at plate boundaries - volcanism, seismicity, orogenesis, sea-floor spreading and magnetic anomalies and paleomagnetism, formation of back-arc basins; Continental rifting, mantle plumes, hotspots; Numerical problems related to plate motions.
Topic area: Earth surface processes
- Official syllabus coverage
- Landforms created by hillslopes, rivers, wind, glaciers, oceans, and volcanoes.
Topic area: Basic structural geology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Mohr’s circle, stress, strain, and material response; Brittle and ductile deformation; Nomenclature and classification of folds and faults.
Topic area: Mineralogy
- Official syllabus coverage
- Silicate crystal structure, physical and chemical properties of common rock-forming minerals.
Topic area: Common Igneous
- Official syllabus coverage
- Sedimentary, and metamorphic-rocks: composition, structure, and formation processes.
Topic area: Stratigraphy and Geological time scale
- Official syllabus coverage
- R elative and absolute time, Half -life, decay constant, radioactive equilibrium, stratigraphic principles, and major stratigraphic divisions of India ; Major metallic ores, coal and petroleum resources of India.
Topic area: Introduction to remote sensing
- Official syllabus coverage
- Energy sources and radiation principles, atmospheric absorption, interaction of energy with Earth’s surface; Engineering properties of rocks and soils ; Natural hazards (landslide, volcanic, seismogenic, coastal) and mitigation; Principles of climate change;
Topic area: Elements of hydrogeology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Principles and applications of gravity, magnetic, electrical, electromagnetic, seismic, and radiometric methods of prospecting for oil, mineral, and groundwater.
Part B1: Advanced topics in Geology
| Topic area | Official syllabus coverage |
|---|---|
| Geomorphology | Basic geomorphic concepts, Geomorphic processes, and agents; Development and evolution of landforms in continental and oceanic settings; Landscape evolution in response to tectonics, climate, and base - level change. Quaternary geomorphology. |
| Structural Geology | Stress and strain analysis, deformation mechanisms, primary and secondary structures; Geometry and genesis of planar and linear structures (bedding, cleavage, schistosity, lineation); Folds, faults, joints, and unconformities; Shear zones, thrusts, and superposed folding; Geological maps -interpretation, measurements, and numerical analysis; Stereographic projection. |
| Crystallography and Mineralogy | Elements of crystal symmetry, form, and twinning; Crystallographic projections; Classification of minerals, physical and optical properties of rock -forming minerals; Mineral nucleation; Mineral chemistry (major, trace, and rare earth elements), cation re-calculations. |
| Geochemistry | Nucleosynthesis and cosmic abundance of elements; Classification and components of meteorites; Geochemical affinities and distribution of major, minor and trace elements in crust, mantle, and core; Planetary differentiation and geochemical evolution of the earth; Radiogenic (long-lived) isotopic evolution (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, U-Th-Pb) of the crust and the mantle, mantle reservoirs; Stable isotope geochemistry (H, O, C), isotope fractionation; geochemical cycles; Elements of high -temperature and low -temperature geochemical thermodynamics; Geochemical and isotopic (C -O, Sr isotopes) composition of river water, groundwater and |
| Official coverage | seawater, residence time, and water -rock interaction; Principles of environmental geochemistry (pH, Salinity, TDS, BOD, COD). |
| Igneous Petrology | Classification and textures of common igneous rocks; Mantle melting; Magmatic differentiation; Role of major, trace, and rare earth elements in igneous petrogenesis; Magma evolution, modeling crystallization and melting processes, plate margin volcanism; Intra-plate volcanism and large igneous provinces. |
| Thermodynamics | Equilibrium, Gibbs free energy; enthalpy, entropy, energy, Clapeyron Equation, Mineral stability and Phase equilibria, Schreinmakers rules; Phase rule; Phase diagrams, Activity-composition; Mineral solid solutions; Enthalpy and entropy of magma crystallization, Binary and ternary phase diagrams in igneous systems; Chemical speciation and equilibrium in natural waters, solubility and precipitation of minerals - saturation index calculations, Eh-pH diagrams and redox equilibria. |
| Sedimentology | Texture, structure, sedimentary processes, physical principles related to fluid flow; Statistical analysis in sedimentology; Petrology of common sedimentary rocks; Sedimentary facies and environments, cyclicities in sedimentary succession; Provenance and basin analysis. |
| Metamorphic Petrology | Structures and textures of metamorphic rocks; Extreme metamorphism; Metamorphic facies and grades; Paired metamorphic belts; Mineral reactions and chemographic projections; Metamorphism of pelitic, mafic and impure carbonate rocks; role of bulk compositions and fluids in metamorphism; Thermobarometry; Timing of metamorphism. |
| Paleontology | Diversity of life through time, mass extinctions - causes and effects; Taphonomy - processes of fossilization. functional morphology of invertebrates (bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, echinoids, ammonites) and microfossils - (foraminifera, Ostracoda, conodonts, bryozoa); Statistical analysis of morphology; Vertebrate paleontology. Basic concepts of paleoecology; Fossils and paleoenvironments. |
| Stratigraphy | Principles of stratigraphy, concepts of correlation and their applications in Indian stratigraphy; Quantitative Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and chronostratigraphy - statistical and probabilistic approaches; Isotope stratigraphy; Principles of sequence stratigraphy and applications; Boundary problems in Indian stratigraphy. |
| Resource Geology | Ore-mineralogy; Ore forming processes - magmatic, hydrothermal, sedimentary, supergene, and metamorphogenic ores; Fluid inclusions in ore genesis; Coal and petroleum geology; Marine mineral resources; Prospecting and exploration of economic mineral deposits - sampling, ore reserve estimation, geostatistics, and mining methods ; Distribution of strategic, essential, and critical minerals and fossil fuel deposits in India. |
| Engineering Geology | Physico-mechanical properties of rocks and soils; rock index tests; Rock failure criteria (Mohr-Coulomb, Griffith, and Hoek -Brown criteria); Shear strength of rock discontinuities; Rock mass classifications (RMR and Q Systems); in -situ stresses; Geological factors in the construction of engineering structures including dams, tunnels, and excavation sites; Analysis of slope stability. |
| Hydrogeology | Porosity and permeability; Groundwater storage and aquifer properties; Darcy’s law; Hydraulic conductivity and groundwater flow dynamics; Groundwater exploration, well hydraulics. |
| Remote Sensing | EM spectrum, multispectral remote sensing in visible, infrared, thermal IR and microwave regions including hyperspectral; Digital processing of satellite images. GIS – basic concepts, raster and vector mode operations; Applications of remote sensing tools and techniques in geology. |
Topic area: Geomorphology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Basic geomorphic concepts, Geomorphic processes, and agents; Development and evolution of landforms in continental and oceanic settings; Landscape evolution in response to tectonics, climate, and base - level change. Quaternary geomorphology.
Topic area: Structural Geology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Stress and strain analysis, deformation mechanisms, primary and secondary structures; Geometry and genesis of planar and linear structures (bedding, cleavage, schistosity, lineation); Folds, faults, joints, and unconformities; Shear zones, thrusts, and superposed folding; Geological maps -interpretation, measurements, and numerical analysis; Stereographic projection.
Topic area: Crystallography and Mineralogy
- Official syllabus coverage
- Elements of crystal symmetry, form, and twinning; Crystallographic projections; Classification of minerals, physical and optical properties of rock -forming minerals; Mineral nucleation; Mineral chemistry (major, trace, and rare earth elements), cation re-calculations.
Topic area: Geochemistry
- Official syllabus coverage
- Nucleosynthesis and cosmic abundance of elements; Classification and components of meteorites; Geochemical affinities and distribution of major, minor and trace elements in crust, mantle, and core; Planetary differentiation and geochemical evolution of the earth; Radiogenic (long-lived) isotopic evolution (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, U-Th-Pb) of the crust and the mantle, mantle reservoirs; Stable isotope geochemistry (H, O, C), isotope fractionation; geochemical cycles; Elements of high -temperature and low -temperature geochemical thermodynamics; Geochemical and isotopic (C -O, Sr isotopes) composition of river water, groundwater and
Topic area: Official coverage
- Official syllabus coverage
- seawater, residence time, and water -rock interaction; Principles of environmental geochemistry (pH, Salinity, TDS, BOD, COD).
Topic area: Igneous Petrology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Classification and textures of common igneous rocks; Mantle melting; Magmatic differentiation; Role of major, trace, and rare earth elements in igneous petrogenesis; Magma evolution, modeling crystallization and melting processes, plate margin volcanism; Intra-plate volcanism and large igneous provinces.
Topic area: Thermodynamics
- Official syllabus coverage
- Equilibrium, Gibbs free energy; enthalpy, entropy, energy, Clapeyron Equation, Mineral stability and Phase equilibria, Schreinmakers rules; Phase rule; Phase diagrams, Activity-composition; Mineral solid solutions; Enthalpy and entropy of magma crystallization, Binary and ternary phase diagrams in igneous systems; Chemical speciation and equilibrium in natural waters, solubility and precipitation of minerals - saturation index calculations, Eh-pH diagrams and redox equilibria.
Topic area: Sedimentology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Texture, structure, sedimentary processes, physical principles related to fluid flow; Statistical analysis in sedimentology; Petrology of common sedimentary rocks; Sedimentary facies and environments, cyclicities in sedimentary succession; Provenance and basin analysis.
Topic area: Metamorphic Petrology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Structures and textures of metamorphic rocks; Extreme metamorphism; Metamorphic facies and grades; Paired metamorphic belts; Mineral reactions and chemographic projections; Metamorphism of pelitic, mafic and impure carbonate rocks; role of bulk compositions and fluids in metamorphism; Thermobarometry; Timing of metamorphism.
Topic area: Paleontology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Diversity of life through time, mass extinctions - causes and effects; Taphonomy - processes of fossilization. functional morphology of invertebrates (bivalves, brachiopods, gastropods, echinoids, ammonites) and microfossils - (foraminifera, Ostracoda, conodonts, bryozoa); Statistical analysis of morphology; Vertebrate paleontology. Basic concepts of paleoecology; Fossils and paleoenvironments.
Topic area: Stratigraphy
- Official syllabus coverage
- Principles of stratigraphy, concepts of correlation and their applications in Indian stratigraphy; Quantitative Lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and chronostratigraphy - statistical and probabilistic approaches; Isotope stratigraphy; Principles of sequence stratigraphy and applications; Boundary problems in Indian stratigraphy.
Topic area: Resource Geology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Ore-mineralogy; Ore forming processes - magmatic, hydrothermal, sedimentary, supergene, and metamorphogenic ores; Fluid inclusions in ore genesis; Coal and petroleum geology; Marine mineral resources; Prospecting and exploration of economic mineral deposits - sampling, ore reserve estimation, geostatistics, and mining methods ; Distribution of strategic, essential, and critical minerals and fossil fuel deposits in India.
Topic area: Engineering Geology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Physico-mechanical properties of rocks and soils; rock index tests; Rock failure criteria (Mohr-Coulomb, Griffith, and Hoek -Brown criteria); Shear strength of rock discontinuities; Rock mass classifications (RMR and Q Systems); in -situ stresses; Geological factors in the construction of engineering structures including dams, tunnels, and excavation sites; Analysis of slope stability.
Topic area: Hydrogeology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Porosity and permeability; Groundwater storage and aquifer properties; Darcy’s law; Hydraulic conductivity and groundwater flow dynamics; Groundwater exploration, well hydraulics.
Topic area: Remote Sensing
- Official syllabus coverage
- EM spectrum, multispectral remote sensing in visible, infrared, thermal IR and microwave regions including hyperspectral; Digital processing of satellite images. GIS – basic concepts, raster and vector mode operations; Applications of remote sensing tools and techniques in geology.
Part B2: Advanced topics in Geophysics
| Topic area | Official syllabus coverage |
|---|---|
| Heat flow | Elements of conduction and convection within the mantle and the core, Half-space cooling, calculation of simple geotherms, geothermal gradient, equilibrium geotherms, thermal models in plate tectonics, adiabat, and melting in the mantle. |
| Geodesy | Gravitational Field of the Earth; Clairaut’s theorem, size and shape of Earth; Geoid; Ellipsoid; Geodetic Reference Systems; Datum; GPS. |
| Seismology and Interior of the Earth | Variation of density, velocity, pressure, temperature, electrical and magnetic properties of the Earth ; Conservation laws, Newton’s law of viscosity, elements of laminar and turbulent flow; Elements of elasticity theory - stress and strain tensors, Generalized Hooke’s Law; Body and Surface Waves; Rotational, dilatational, irrotational, and equivoluminal wave s; Reflection and refraction of elastic waves; Inhomogeneous and evanescent waves and bounded waves; Eikonal Equation and Ray theory; Wave propagation in elastic media, Seismic Tomography. |
| Earthquake Seismology | Earthquakes-causes and measurements, magnitude and intensity, focal mechanisms; Earthquake quantification, source characteristics, seismotectonics and seismic hazards; Digital seismographs, Earthquake statistics, quantifying earthquake source from seismological data ; Uniqueness Theorem, Representation Theorems of correlation and convolution type, Reciprocity. |
| Potential and Time Varying Fields | 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; integral equations in potential and time-varying field theory. |
| Gravity | The earth as a planet; Absolute and relative gravity measurements; The various corrections for gravity data reduction – free air, Bouguer and isostatic anomalies; density estimates of rocks; Regional and residual gravity separation; Principle of equivalent stratum; Upward and downward continuation; Wavelength filtering; Gravity anomalies and their interpretation – anomalies due to geometrical and irregular shaped bodies, depth rules, calculation of mass. |
| Magnetic Methods | Geomagnetic field, paleomagnetism; Inclination, declination; Magnetic induction equation – convection, diffusion, Ohm’s law for a moving conductor, frozen flux theorem, magnetic fields of planets in the Solar System, Geodynamo and origin of Earth’s Magnetic field, magnetic susceptibility of rocks and measurements; Various corrections applied to magnetic data, IGRF, Poisson’s relation of gravity and magnetic potential field, upward and downward continuation, magnetic anomalies due to geometrical and irregular shaped bodies; Interpretation of processed magnetic anomaly data; Derivative, analytic signal and Euler Depth Solutions. |
| Electrical Methods | Conduction of electricity through rocks, electrical conductivities of metals, non-metals, rock-forming minerals and different rocks, concepts of D.C. resistivity measurement and depth of investigation; Apparent Resistivity and Apparent Chargeability, Theo ry of Reciprocity, Sounding and Profiling, Various electrode arrangements, application of linear filter theory, Sounding curves over multi-layered earth, interpretation of resistivity field data, Principles of equivalence and suppression. |
| Electromagnetic Methods | Geo-electromagnetic spectrum; Biot Savart’s Law; Maxwell’s Equation, Helmholtz Equation, Basic concept of EM induction in the earth, Skin -depth, elliptic polarization, in-phase and quadrature components, phasor diagrams; Response function and respo nse parameters; Measurements in different source receiver configurations; Earth’s natural electromagnetic methods - tellurics, geomagnetic depth sounding and magnetotellurics; Electromagnetic profiling and Sounding, Time domain EM method; EM scale modelling, processing of EM data and interpretation; Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Methods; Effect of conducting overburden. |
| Seismic Methods | Elastic properties of earth materials; Reflection, refraction, generation, and propagation of elastic waves, velocity – depth models, seismic noise and noise profile analysis, processing, and interpretation; CDP stacking charts, binning, filtering, static and dynamic corrections, Digital seismic data processing, seismic deconvolution and migration methods, attribute analysis, bright and dim spots, seismic stratigraphy, high - resolution seismics, VSP, AVO, multi -component seismics, and seismic interferomet ry; Kirchhoff migration, Time Reversal, Time -Reversal imaging, Reverse -Time Migration; Representation theorem of cross -correlation |
| Official coverage | and convolution type. |
| Reservoir Geophysics | Rock Physics and Petrophysics, Failure Criteria, stress concentration, Linear elasticity fracture mechanics, Elastic -Plastic Fracture mechanics; Griffith’s criterion, dynamic fracture mechanics; Lithology and Porosity Estimation; Saturation and Permeability Estimation; application of borehole geophysics in groundwater, mineral, and oil exploration. |
| Geophysical Signal Processing | Sampling theorem, Nyquist frequency, aliasing, Fourier series, periodic waveform, Fourier and Hilbert transform, Z -transform and wavelet transform; power spectrum, delta function, auto-correlation, cross-correlation, convolution, deconvolution, principles o f digital filters, windows, poles, and zeros, Basics of Time-frequency analysis. |
| Geophysical Well Logging | Principles and techniques of geophysical well -logging, SP, resistivity, induction, gamma ray, neutron, density, sonic, temperature, dip meter, caliper, nuclear magnetic resonance-longitudinal and transverse relaxation, CPMG sequence, porosity characterization, cement bond logging, micro-logs, Quantitative evaluation of formations from well logs. |
| Geophysical Inversion | Basic concepts of forward and inverse problems, Ill -posedness of inverse problems, condition number, non -uniqueness and stability of solutions; L1, L2, and Lp norms, overdetermined, underdetermined and mixed determined inverse problems, quasi -linear and non -linear methods including Tikhonov’s regularization method, Singular Value Decomposition, Backus-Gilbert method, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms, swarm intelligence, Statistics of misfit and likelihood, Random Variables and Processes, Probability distribution functions - Gaussian, Poissonian , log -normal; Spatial analysis, Hypothesis testing ; Bayesian construction of posterior probabilities, sparsity promoting L1 optimization ; Ambiguity and uncertainty in geophysical interpretation; PDE constrained optimization, Adjoint-state method. |
Topic area: Heat flow
- Official syllabus coverage
- Elements of conduction and convection within the mantle and the core, Half-space cooling, calculation of simple geotherms, geothermal gradient, equilibrium geotherms, thermal models in plate tectonics, adiabat, and melting in the mantle.
Topic area: Geodesy
- Official syllabus coverage
- Gravitational Field of the Earth; Clairaut’s theorem, size and shape of Earth; Geoid; Ellipsoid; Geodetic Reference Systems; Datum; GPS.
Topic area: Seismology and Interior of the Earth
- Official syllabus coverage
- Variation of density, velocity, pressure, temperature, electrical and magnetic properties of the Earth ; Conservation laws, Newton’s law of viscosity, elements of laminar and turbulent flow; Elements of elasticity theory - stress and strain tensors, Generalized Hooke’s Law; Body and Surface Waves; Rotational, dilatational, irrotational, and equivoluminal wave s; Reflection and refraction of elastic waves; Inhomogeneous and evanescent waves and bounded waves; Eikonal Equation and Ray theory; Wave propagation in elastic media, Seismic Tomography.
Topic area: Earthquake Seismology
- Official syllabus coverage
- Earthquakes-causes and measurements, magnitude and intensity, focal mechanisms; Earthquake quantification, source characteristics, seismotectonics and seismic hazards; Digital seismographs, Earthquake statistics, quantifying earthquake source from seismological data ; Uniqueness Theorem, Representation Theorems of correlation and convolution type, Reciprocity.
Topic area: Potential and Time Varying Fields
- Official syllabus coverage
- 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; integral equations in potential and time-varying field theory.
Topic area: Gravity
- Official syllabus coverage
- The earth as a planet; Absolute and relative gravity measurements; The various corrections for gravity data reduction – free air, Bouguer and isostatic anomalies; density estimates of rocks; Regional and residual gravity separation; Principle of equivalent stratum; Upward and downward continuation; Wavelength filtering; Gravity anomalies and their interpretation – anomalies due to geometrical and irregular shaped bodies, depth rules, calculation of mass.
Topic area: Magnetic Methods
- Official syllabus coverage
- Geomagnetic field, paleomagnetism; Inclination, declination; Magnetic induction equation – convection, diffusion, Ohm’s law for a moving conductor, frozen flux theorem, magnetic fields of planets in the Solar System, Geodynamo and origin of Earth’s Magnetic field, magnetic susceptibility of rocks and measurements; Various corrections applied to magnetic data, IGRF, Poisson’s relation of gravity and magnetic potential field, upward and downward continuation, magnetic anomalies due to geometrical and irregular shaped bodies; Interpretation of processed magnetic anomaly data; Derivative, analytic signal and Euler Depth Solutions.
Topic area: Electrical Methods
- Official syllabus coverage
- Conduction of electricity through rocks, electrical conductivities of metals, non-metals, rock-forming minerals and different rocks, concepts of D.C. resistivity measurement and depth of investigation; Apparent Resistivity and Apparent Chargeability, Theo ry of Reciprocity, Sounding and Profiling, Various electrode arrangements, application of linear filter theory, Sounding curves over multi-layered earth, interpretation of resistivity field data, Principles of equivalence and suppression.
Topic area: Electromagnetic Methods
- Official syllabus coverage
- Geo-electromagnetic spectrum; Biot Savart’s Law; Maxwell’s Equation, Helmholtz Equation, Basic concept of EM induction in the earth, Skin -depth, elliptic polarization, in-phase and quadrature components, phasor diagrams; Response function and respo nse parameters; Measurements in different source receiver configurations; Earth’s natural electromagnetic methods - tellurics, geomagnetic depth sounding and magnetotellurics; Electromagnetic profiling and Sounding, Time domain EM method; EM scale modelling, processing of EM data and interpretation; Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Methods; Effect of conducting overburden.
Topic area: Seismic Methods
- Official syllabus coverage
- Elastic properties of earth materials; Reflection, refraction, generation, and propagation of elastic waves, velocity – depth models, seismic noise and noise profile analysis, processing, and interpretation; CDP stacking charts, binning, filtering, static and dynamic corrections, Digital seismic data processing, seismic deconvolution and migration methods, attribute analysis, bright and dim spots, seismic stratigraphy, high - resolution seismics, VSP, AVO, multi -component seismics, and seismic interferomet ry; Kirchhoff migration, Time Reversal, Time -Reversal imaging, Reverse -Time Migration; Representation theorem of cross -correlation
Topic area: Official coverage
- Official syllabus coverage
- and convolution type.
Topic area: Reservoir Geophysics
- Official syllabus coverage
- Rock Physics and Petrophysics, Failure Criteria, stress concentration, Linear elasticity fracture mechanics, Elastic -Plastic Fracture mechanics; Griffith’s criterion, dynamic fracture mechanics; Lithology and Porosity Estimation; Saturation and Permeability Estimation; application of borehole geophysics in groundwater, mineral, and oil exploration.
Topic area: Geophysical Signal Processing
- Official syllabus coverage
- Sampling theorem, Nyquist frequency, aliasing, Fourier series, periodic waveform, Fourier and Hilbert transform, Z -transform and wavelet transform; power spectrum, delta function, auto-correlation, cross-correlation, convolution, deconvolution, principles o f digital filters, windows, poles, and zeros, Basics of Time-frequency analysis.
Topic area: Geophysical Well Logging
- Official syllabus coverage
- Principles and techniques of geophysical well -logging, SP, resistivity, induction, gamma ray, neutron, density, sonic, temperature, dip meter, caliper, nuclear magnetic resonance-longitudinal and transverse relaxation, CPMG sequence, porosity characterization, cement bond logging, micro-logs, Quantitative evaluation of formations from well logs.
Topic area: Geophysical Inversion
- Official syllabus coverage
- Basic concepts of forward and inverse problems, Ill -posedness of inverse problems, condition number, non -uniqueness and stability of solutions; L1, L2, and Lp norms, overdetermined, underdetermined and mixed determined inverse problems, quasi -linear and non -linear methods including Tikhonov’s regularization method, Singular Value Decomposition, Backus-Gilbert method, simulated annealing, genetic algorithms, swarm intelligence, Statistics of misfit and likelihood, Random Variables and Processes, Probability distribution functions - Gaussian, Poissonian , log -normal; Spatial analysis, Hypothesis testing ; Bayesian construction of posterior probabilities, sparsity promoting L1 optimization ; Ambiguity and uncertainty in geophysical interpretation; PDE constrained optimization, Adjoint-state method.
GATE GG Syllabus 2027: exam pattern and key details
| Detail | Current information |
|---|---|
| Exam | GATE |
| Paper / stage | GG · Geology and Geophysics |
| Current cycle | 2027 |
| Page type | Syllabus |
| Conducting body | GATE |
| Language | English |
Detail: Exam
- Current information
- GATE
Detail: Paper / stage
- Current information
- GG · Geology and Geophysics
Detail: Current cycle
- Current information
- 2027
Detail: Page type
- Current information
- Syllabus
Detail: Conducting body
- Current information
- GATE
Detail: Language
- Current information
- English
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not prepare from an old syllabus without comparing it with the latest official notice and the requirements for your exact exam stage.
Candidates also ask
The official GG syllabus contains 3 sections: Common Section; Advanced topics in Geology; Advanced topics in Geophysics. The complete topic coverage is arranged in section-wise tables on this page.
GATE GG is a 100-mark, 3-hour Computer-Based Test. General Aptitude carries 15 marks and the remaining marks follow the paper-specific distribution shown above.
The initial GATE 2027 combination table permits these secondary codes when GG is primary: GE. Check the official portal for later changes.
Frequently asked questions
Use the featured PDF button on this page. It opens the database-hosted copy of the official IIT Madras GG syllabus.
Yes. General Aptitude is compulsory in every GATE 2027 test paper and carries 15 marks.
The paper uses Multiple Choice Questions, Multiple Select Questions and Numerical Answer Type questions carrying one or two marks.
Negative marking applies only to incorrect MCQs. MSQ and NAT questions have no negative marking, and MSQs have no partial marking.
Follow the official section order, complete topic-level concepts and examples, solve previous-year questions after each unit, and use full-length mock tests only after completing the major sections.
Downloads
Official GATE GG Syllabus 2027 PDF
- Download GATE GG Geology and Geophysics Syllabus 2027 PDFNEWFEATUREDDownload
Official resources
GATE 2027 Syllabus HubOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource GATE 2027 NotificationOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource Official GATE GG Syllabus PDFOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource GATE 2027 Information Brochure PDFOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource IIT Madras Test Papers and SyllabusOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource GATE GE SyllabusOpen the referenced exam resource.
View resource GATE official websiteVisit the conducting body’s official website.
View resource GATE Organising Institute official websiteVerify the latest rules and notices at the official source.
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Topics covered
- GATE GG syllabus 2027
- Geology and Geophysics
- GATE 2027 PDF
- IIT Madras
Research methodology and editorial review
Research methodology
GovtJobsNet editors compare the latest official GATE notice, conducting-body resources and published amendments before updating this page. Where an official 2027 document is pending, the page is marked and reviewed again after release.
- Last updated
- 4 August 2026
- Content cycle
- GATE 2027
Candidate questions and discussion
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