For a UPSC CSE aspirant, the optional subject is also an important subject. In the UPSC mains exam, optional marks have two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper is of 250 marks which makes a total of 500 marks. The UPSC optional subject list contains 48 subjects in total, one of which is Geology.

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Syllabus for Paper I 

1. GENERAL GEOLOGY:

• The Solar System
• Meteorites
• Volcanoes- causes and products, Volcanic belts
• Origin, and interior of the earth and age of the earth  
• Earthquakes- effects, causes
• Island arcs, trenches, and mid-ocean ridges 
• Seismic zones of India
• Continental drifts 
• Isostasy
• Plate tectonics, Seafloor spreading 

2. GEOMORPHOLOGY AND REMOTE SENSING: 

• Basic concepts of geomorphology
• Landforms, drainage, and slopes
• Weathering and soil formations
• Morphology and its relation to structures and lithology
• Geomorphic cycles and their interpretation
• Applications of geomorphology in mineral prospecting 
• Applications of remote sensing in geology
• Geomorphology of the Indian subcontinent
• Coastal geomorphology  
• Civil engineering
• Hydrology and environmental studies  
• Aerial photographs and their interpretation- limitations, and merits 
• The Electromagnetic spectrum 
• Indian Remote Sensing Satellites
• Orbiting satellites and sensor systems
• Satellites data products
• The Global Positioning System (GPS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS)- its applications.

3. STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY: 

• Principles of geologic mapping and map reading
• Projection diagrams
• Strain markers in deformed rocks
• Stress, and strain ellipsoid and stress-strain relationships of elastic, plastic, and viscous materials  
• Classification and mechanics of folds and faults
• The behavior of minerals and rocks under deformation conditions
• Structural analysis of lineations, folds, foliations, joints, and faults, unconformities
• The time relationship between crystallization and deformation.

4. PALEONTOLOGY: 

• Species- definition and nomenclature
• Modes of preservation of fossils
• Megafossils and Microfossils 
• Different kinds of microfossils
• Application of microfossils in correlation, petroleum exploration, paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic studies 
• Siwalik fauna
• Gondwana flora and fauna and its importance 
• The evolutionary trend in Equidae, Hominidae, and Proboscidea
• Index fossils and their significance

5. INDIAN STRATIGRAPHY:

• Classification of stratigraphic sequences: biostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic, chronostratigraphic, and magnetostratigraphic along with their interrelationships
• Study of stratigraphic distribution and lithology of Phanerozoic rocks of India with reference to flora, fauna and economic importance
• Distribution and classification of Precambrian rocks of India 
• Study of climatic conditions, paleogeography, and igneous activity in the Indian subcontinent in the geological past
• Major boundary problems- Permian/Triassic, Cambrian/Precambrian, Cretaceous/Tertiary, and Pliocene/Pleistocene
• Tectonic framework of India
• Evolution of the Himalayas

6. HYDROGEOLOGY AND ENFINEERING GEOLOGY: 

• Hydrologic cycle and genetic classification of water
• Movement of subsurface water
• Porosity, permeability, hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and storage coefficient, classification of aquifers
• Springs  
• Water-bearing characteristics of rocks
• Drainage basin morphometry
• Exploration for groundwater 
• Groundwater recharge
• Problems and management of groundwater
• Ground-water chemistry 
• Rainwater harvesting
• Types of wells
• Saltwater intrusion
• Engineering properties of rocks 
• Rock as a construction material 
• Geological investigations for dams, tunnels highways, railway, and bridges 
• Landslides- prevention, causes, and rehabilitation 
• Earthquake-resistant structures

Syllabus for Paper II 

1. MINERALOGY: 

• The international system of crystallographic notation
• Classification of crystals into systems and classes of symmetry
• Use of projection diagrams to represent crystal symmetry
• Elements of X-ray crystallography
• Structural classification of silicates
• Physical and chemical characters of rock-forming silicate mineral groups
• Minerals of the phosphate, carbonate, sulfide, and halide groups
• Common minerals of igneous and metamorphic rocks
• Optical properties of common rock-forming minerals
• Clay minerals
• Pleochroism, double refraction, extinction angle, birefringence, twinning, and dispersion in minerals

2.Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology: 

• Generation and crystallization of magmas
• Crystallization of albite-anorthite, diopside-anorthite, and diopside-wollastonite-silica systems 
• Magmatic differentiation and assimilation
• Bowen’s Reaction Principle
• Petrogenetic significance of the textures and structures of igneous rocks
• Petrography and petrogenesis of syenite, granite, diorite, basic and ultrabasic groups, anorthosite, charnockite, and alkaline rocks
• Carbonatites
• Deccan volcanic province
• Types and agents of metamorphism
• Metamorphic grades and zones
• Facies of regional and contact metamorphism
• Structures and textures of metamorphic rocks
• Phase rule 
• ACF and AKF diagrams
• Metamorphism of argillaceous, arenaceous, and basic rocks
• Minerals assemblages Retrograde metamorphism
• Metasomatism and granitisation, migmatites, Granulite terrains of India

3.Sedimentary Petrology: 

• Sediments and Sedimentary rocks
• Sedimentary facies and provenance
• Sedimentary basins of India
• Sedimentary structures and their significance
• Processes of formation: lithification and digenesis
• Clastic and non-clastic rocks their classification, petrography, and depositional environment 
• Heavy minerals and their significance

4.Economic Geology: 

• Ore, ore minerals and gangue, the tenor of ore, classification of ore deposits
• Controls of ore localization
• Process of formation of minerals deposits
• Metallogenic epochs and provinces
• Ore textures and structures
• Geology of the important Indian deposits of chromium, aluminum, copper, gold, lead-zinc, manganese, titanium, uranium and thorium and industrial minerals
• Deposits of coal and petroleum in India
• Conservation and utilization of mineral resources
• National Mineral Policy
• Marine mineral resources and Law of Sea

5.Mining Geology: 

• Techniques of sampling 
• Methods of prospecting-geological, geophysical, geochemical, and geobotanical
• Estimation of reserves or ore
• Mineral beneficiation and ore dressing
• Methods of exploration and mining metallic ores, industrial minerals, marine mineral resources, and building stones 

6.Geochemistry and Environmental Geology: 

• Trace elements
• Cosmic abundance of elements
• Composition of the planets and meteorites
• Structure and composition of Earth and distribution of elements
• Elementary thermodynamics
• Elements of crystal chemistry, types of chemical bonds, coordination number
• Natural hazards-floods, mass wasting, coastal hazards, earthquakes, and volcanic activity and mitigation
• Environmental impact of urbanization, mining, industrial and radioactive waste disposal, use of fertilizers, dumping of mine waste and fly ash
• Sea level changes: causes and impact
• Isomorphism and polymorphism
• Pollution of ground and surface water, marine pollution
• Environment protection – legislative measures in India