UPSC ESE

Key Highlights

  • Official Notification: Released on September 26, 2025.
  • Application Period: Concluded on October 16, 2025.
  • Preliminary Exam Date: Scheduled for February 8, 2026.
  • Vacancies: 474 posts have been announced for the 2026 cycle. 

1. Examination Overview
• Exam Name: Engineering Services Examination (ESE)
• Conducting Authority: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Exam Level: National
• Recruitment Year: 2026
• Mode of Examination: Offline (Pen & Paper)
• Total Stages: 3
• Engineering Disciplines Covered: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
• Source Documents Used: Official UPSC Engineering Services Examination, 2026 Notification (No.F. 02/02/2025-E.1B) dated 26.09.2025.

2. Eligibility Criteria
• Nationality Requirements: Candidate must be (a) a citizen of India, or (b) a subject of Nepal, or (c) a subject of Bhutan, or (d) a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January, 1962, or (e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, or Vietnam. Candidates belonging to categories (b), (c), (d), (e) must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
• Age Limits (Minimum & Maximum): A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on 1st January, 2026 (i.e., born not earlier than 2nd January, 1996 and not later than 1st January, 2005).
• Age Relaxation Categories:
(i) Up to 5 years for Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST).
(ii) Up to 3 years for Other Backward Classes (OBC).
(iii) Up to 3 years for Defence Services personnel disabled in operations.
(iv) Up to 5 years for Ex-servicemen.
(v) Up to 5 years for ECOs/SSCOs who have completed 5 years of service.
(vi) Up to 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD).
(vii) Up to 35 years for eligible Government servants.
• Educational Qualification: A degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution; OR Passed Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination; OR equivalent qualifications as specified (e.g., from Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Aeronautical Society of India).
• Number of Attempts: Not specified in the provided document.
• Physical / Medical Standards: Candidates finally recommended shall be required to undergo medical examination as per prescribed physical standards (Appendix-II of Rules).
• Any Other Eligibility Conditions: Candidates must meet the functional classification and physical requirements for the service/post as per Annexure-I.

3. Examination Plan (Stage-wise Structure — Summary Only)
Stage I: Preliminary Examination
• Papers: Paper-I (General Studies and Engineering Aptitude); Paper-II (Engineering Discipline-specific).
• Nature of Papers: Objective Type (Multiple Choice).
• Marks: Paper-I (200 Marks), Paper-II (300 Marks). Total: 500 Marks.
• Duration: Paper-I (2 Hours), Paper-II (3 Hours).
• Qualifying / Merit-counting status: Qualifying for Stage-II. Marks counted for final merit.

Stage II: Main Examination
• Papers: Paper-I & Paper-II (Engineering Discipline-specific).
• Nature of Papers: Conventional / Descriptive Type.
• Marks Distribution: Each paper 300 Marks. Total: 600 Marks.
• Duration: Each paper 3 Hours.

Stage III: Personality Test / Interview
• Nature of Assessment: Personality Test.
• Marks: 200 Marks.

4. Engineering Disciplines / Branches
• Official List: Category I – Civil Engineering; Category II – Mechanical Engineering; Category III – Electrical Engineering; Category IV – Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
• Conditions/Restrictions: A candidate may apply for admission to the examination in respect of any one of the four categories.
• Medium of examination: Conventional papers must be answered in English. Question paper will be set in English only.

5. Examination Marks Summary
• Total Stages: 3
• Total Written Papers: 4 (2 in Stage-I + 2 in Stage-II)
• Objective Papers: 2 (Stage-I, Paper-I & Paper-II)
• Conventional / Descriptive Papers: 2 (Stage-II, Paper-I & Paper-II)
• Interview Marks: 200
• Grand Total Marks: 1300 (Stage-I: 500 + Stage-II: 600 + Stage-III: 200)

For inquiries and support

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Previous Year Question Papers
Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2025
Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2025