Education and Employment Opportunities in Geology

 

Dr. Anup Kumar

 

Geology (Geo means earth and logos means science) is the science of study of earth. It is an interdisciplinary science related to physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. There are many branches of geology such as physical geology-study of work of natural processes which bring changes upon the earth's surface; petrology-study of different kinds of rocks; mineralogy-study of different kinds of minerals; palaeontology-study of fossils; geomorphology-study of morphology of earth's surface; stratigraphy or historical geology- study of rock in relation to their deposition and age; structural geology-study of structures of rocks; volcanology-study of volcanoes; environmental geology-study of environment in relation to living and non-living, hydrogeology-study of water bearing capacity of rocks; economic geology-study of mineral deposits and fossil fuels; seismology-study of earthquakes; engineering geology- study of applications of geology to civil engineering works; mining geology-study of applications of geology to mining engineering; geophysics-applications of physics in geological study; rock mechanics- study of rocks under different civil engineering properties; geochemistry-study of different kinds of elements and their compounds in the earth.

Education in Geology

There are number of universities and institutes offering bachelor, master and doctorate degree in geology. For admission to B.Sc. general or honour's, 10+2 with science either in non-medical or medical subjects with at least 50% marks. For master degree, a bachelor degree with geology as one of the subject is required with minimum 50% marks and for Ph.D. there is requirement of at least 55% marks in master degree. However, the rules for admission to bachelor, masters and research degree vary from university to university/institutes.

In the country, many universities/institutes are offering courses in geology/earth sciences. Following is the list of universities/institutes offering the education in geology:

Name of University/Institute	Course
Haryana
Kurukshetra University , Kurukshetra www.kukinfo.com ; w ww.kuk.edu.tripod.com	B.Sc., M.Sc.(Applied Geology), M.Tech. (Applied Geology) Integrated after 10+2, Ph.D.
Maharshi Dayanand University , Rohtak, ( Govt. P.G. College , Narnaul) www.mdurohtak.org	B.Sc., M.Sc.(Geology)
Chandigarh
Panjab University , Chandigarh www.puchd.ac.in	B.Sc.(Hon), M.Sc.(Hon), M.Sc.(Petroleum Geology), Ph.D.
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh University , Shimla www.hpuniv.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Uttrakhand
H.N.B.University, Srinagar , Garhwal www.hnbgu.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
D.A.V. College , Dehradun	B.Sc., M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Indian Institute of Technology , Roorkee www.iitr.ac.in	M.Sc.(Applied Geology) , M.Tech.(Applied Geology),Ph.D.
Jammu and Kashmir
Kashmir University, Srinagar www.kashmiruniversity.net	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Jammu University , Jammu www.jammuuniversity.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Delhi
University of Delhi , Delhi (www.du.ac.in)	B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil, Ph.D.
Jawahar Lal Nehru (JNU), New Delhi (www.jnu.ac.in)	M.Sc. (Environmental Science/ Interdisciplinay),M.Phil, Ph.D.
Rajasthan
University of Rajasthan , Jaipur (www.uniraj.ernet.in)	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Mohan Lal Sukhadia University , Udaipur www.mlsu.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Sc.Tech (Applied Geology), Ph.D.
Jai Narain Vyas University , Jodhpur www.jnvu.org	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
MDS University , Ajmer (Govt.P.G.College, Didwana)	B.Sc., M.Sc.
Bikaner University , Bikaner , (Govt.P.G.College, Bikaner )	B.Sc., M.Sc.
Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow University , Lucknow www.lkouniv.ac.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Allahabad University , Allahabad www.allduniv.edu	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi (www.bhu.ac.in)	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Aligarh Muslim University , Aligarh (www.amu.ac.in)	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Bundelkhand University , Jhansi www.bundelkhanduniv.org	B.Sc., M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Bihar
Patna University , Patna www.puonline.bih.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Bhagalpur University , Bhagarlpur	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
West Bengal
Calcutta University , Kolkata www.caluniv.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Jadavpur University , Kolkata www.jadavpur.edu	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
University of Burdwan , Burdwan www.buruniv.ac.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Indian Institute of Technology , Kharagpur www.iitkgp.ernet.in	M.Sc.(Geological Science),Ph.D.
University of North Bengal , Raja Rammohunpur www.nbu.ac.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Pondicherry
Pondicherry University , Pondicherry www.pondiuni.org	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Jharkhand
Ranchi University , Ranchi www.ranchiuniversity.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Vinoba Bhave University , Hazaribag	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.
Indian School of Mines University , Dhanbad www.ismdhanbad.org	B.Sc., M.Sc.Tech.(Applied Geology), Ph.D.
Orissa
Sambalpur University , Burla, Sambhalpur www.sambalpuruniversitypgc.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Utkal University , Bhubaneswar www.utkaluniversity.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Andhra Pradesh
Osmania University , Hyderabad www.osmania.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Andhra University , Visakhapatnam www.andhrauniversity.info	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Tirupati University , Tirupati	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Karnataka
Bangalore University , Bangalore www.bangaloreuniversity.net	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Mysore University , Mysore www.uni-mysore.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Dharwad University , Dharwad	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Tamilnadu
Madras University , Chennai www.unom.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Anna University, Chennai www.annauniv.edu	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Annamalai University , Annamalainagar www.annamalaiuniversity.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Bharathidasan University , Tiruchirappali www.bdu.ac.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University www.tnuniv.ac.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.Ph.D.
Kerala
Kerala University , Trivendrum www.kerlauniversity.edu	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi   www.cusat.edu	B.Sc., M.Sc.(Marine Geology), Ph.D.
Mahatma Gandhi University , Kottayam (www.mguniversity.edu)	B.Sc, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Gujarat
M S University of Baroda , Vadodara www.msubaroda.ac.in	B.Sc, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Maharashtra
Indian Institute of Technology , Bomaby www.iitb.ac.in	M.Sc.(Applied Geology), M.Tech.(Exploration Geology), Ph.D.
Shivaji University , Kolhapur www.unishivaji.ac.in www.shivajiuniversity.com	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Pune University , Pune www.unipune.ernet.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University,Amravati www.amtuni.com	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Nagpur University , Nagpur	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute , Pune   www.deccancollege.edu	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Madhya Pradesh
Jiwaji University , Gwalior www.jiwaji.edu	B.Sc., M.Sc.(Earth Sciences), Ph.D.
Vikram University , Ujjain www.vikramuniversity.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., M.Phil, Ph.D.
Barkatullah University , Bhopal www.bubhopal.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Sc.(Applied Geology), Ph.D.
Dr. Harisingh Gaur University, Sagar www.sagaruniversity.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Tech.(Applied Geology), Ph.D.
Awadhesh Pratap Singh University , Rewa	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Chhatishgarh
Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla University , Raipur www.prsu.ac.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Goa
Goa University , Goa www.goauniversity.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Nagaland
Nagaland University , Kohima www.nagauniv.org	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Mizoram
Mizoram University, Aizawl www.mzu.edu.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Tripura
Tripura University , Suryamaninagar,Tripura	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assam
Assam University , Silchar www.assamuniversity.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Dibrugarh University , Dibrugarhwww.dibru.ernet.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Gauhati University , Guwahati www.gu.nic.in	B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Manipur
Manipur University , Canchipur, Imphal www.manipur.nic.in	B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.

Higher Education

There are number of universities in the country offering doctorate degree in geology as given in the list. Post-doctoral fellowships are also available for high quality research work. In the country, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducts national level examination for fellowships and lectureship in earth, atmospheric, ocean and meteorological sciences. In this examination, master's degree with 55% marks candidate can appear. After passing out this examination for JRF, one can join for Ph.D. in any university or institutes and get fellowship of Rs.12000+HRA per month and contingency initially up to three years which can be extended up to five years depending on the work performance. The Ph.D. degree candidates can apply to CSIR for research associateship on a suitable research topic and can get fellowship of Rs.18000/- to 20,000/- per month for one year which can further extend to next one year. Institutes like IITs also offers post doctorate fellowships. In foreign countries, universities/institutes offer doctoral and post-doctoral fellowships especially for students of developing countries.

4.0 Job Opportunities

There are good job opportunities in the subject in the fields like teaching, research and organizational work. The entry level post in the teaching is the post of Assistant Professor/Lecturer which requires master degree in geology with 55% marks and NET/SLET/PhD. National level organizations like National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI), Hyderabad; National Antarctica Research Centre, Goa; National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad; Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad; Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS), Dehradun; Central Ground Water Board; Geological Survey of India; National Mineral Development Corporation; Indian Bureau of Mines; Atomic Mineral Development Corporation; Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd; Uranium Corporation of India, Ltd. Requires the geologist for research and exploration work. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi conducts the examination for the post of geologist (junior) in Geological Survey of India, Ministry of Mines, Government of India on the pay scale Rs.15,600-39100 with grade pay 5400/- group-A gazetted post. For this examination, a candidate with master's degree in geology can apply. Selection procedure requires written test and interview on all India basis merit. In the same test, depending on the requirement by Central Ground Water Board, the requirement is also made for the post of Scientist-B and assistant hydrogeologist. ONGC conducts competitive test for the executive trainee (Geology) which after completion of training absorbs in the company. For this examination, a candidate must have 65% marks in M.Sc/M.Tech. in geology/applied geology. Atomic Mineral Development Corporation (AMDC) also recruits scientific officer (geology) on all India competitive examination and prefers candidate with first class bachelor and master's degree. The maximum age for GSI/CGWB is 32 years, ONGC 30 years and AMDC 28 years for general category candidate. The research organization like National Geophysical Research Institute, Space Applications Centre, National Remote Sensing Centre, National Institute of Oceanography recruits scientist-B/scientist-C in the pay scale Rs.15,600-39,100 with grade pay Rs.5400/- and other central government allowances.

Besides above, state government have departments like groundwater department, department of mines and geology, space applications centers and disaster management centers which requires geologist for geological/hydrogeological works.

In private sector, there are good scope of geologist especially in mineral investigation, oil exploration, mining and hydrogeological surveys. There are number of private organizations working in geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological surveys which requires trained geologist. The salary depends on the qualification and experience.

A candidate can run own consultancy in mineral exploration, hydrogeological, remote sensing, GIS, GPS and geotechnical works depending on his expertise and can earn good amount.

From above, it is clear that the scope in geology is vast and job opportunities are good as compared to other subjects.

The Author is Assistant Scientist (Geology/Geophysics)
Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC)
Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of Haryana,
CCS Haryana Agricultural University Campus,
Hisar-125004, Haryana

 

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