UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2026: 474 Posts Apply Now

UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2026: 474 Posts, Online Apply

~~T(caps)~~he Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the prestigious Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026. This examination is conducted for the recruitment of 474 vacancies into Group 'A' and Group 'B' services across various Central Government departments, spanning four core engineering disciplines.

Recruitment Overview

Feature	Details
Recruitment Board	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Name of Exam	Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026
Total Vacancies	474 Posts
Exam Stages	Preliminary, Main, and Personality Test
Application Mode	Online (via UPSC OTR portal)
Application Dates	September 26, 2025 – October 16, 2025 (till 6:00 PM)
Prelims Exam Date	February 8, 2026 (Sunday)
Official Website	upsc.gov.in

Engineering Disciplines

The vacancies are distributed among four main categories. Candidates must choose one discipline for the entire examination process.

Category I: Civil Engineering

Category II: Mechanical Engineering

Category III: Electrical Engineering

Category IV: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 01.01.2026)

Minimum Age: 21 years

Maximum Age: 30 years

Candidates must have been born not earlier than January 2, 1996, and not later than January 1, 2005.(alert-success)

Age Relaxation

Category	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC	3 years
PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability)	10 years
Ex-Servicemen	5 years (as per rules)

Educational Qualification

For admission to the examination, a candidate must have obtained one of the following qualifications:

A degree in Engineering from a University recognized by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India.

Passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India).

Obtained a degree/diploma in Engineering from a recognized Foreign University/Institution.

Passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India) or the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London (held after Nov 1959).

Specialized Posts: For certain posts like Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics) and Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group ‘A’, an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) in related specializations like Wireless Communication Electronics or Radio Engineering is also accepted.

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General/OBC/EWS	Rs. 200/-
Female / SC / ST / PwBD	Nil (Exempted from fee payment)

Payment Mode:

The fee can be paid online using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, UPI, Internet Banking, or by remitting cash in any branch of State Bank of India (SBI).(alert-success)

How to Apply for UPSC ESE 2026

The application process is entirely online via the UPSC's official portal. New applicants must first complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process.
OTR Registration: Visit the official UPSC website and complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process to generate a Universal Registration Number (URN). This is mandatory for all UPSC applications.
Log In and Apply: Log in using your OTR ID and password. Click on the link for the "Engineering Services Examination 2026."
Fill Application Form: Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) with your personal, educational, and professional details.
Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-sized photograph, signature, and other necessary documents in the specified format and size.
Pay Fee: Pay the Rs. 200/- application fee (if applicable to your category) through the online payment gateway.
Submit and Print: Review all details carefully. Submit the final application and download the final confirmation page for your records.

Selection Process and Exam Pattern

The UPSC ESE selection is a rigorous three-stage process totaling 1,300 marks.

Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

Date: February 8, 2026

Negative Marking: Yes, 1/3rd (0.33) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Total Marks: 500

Paper Name	Subject	Marks	Duration	Type
Paper I	General Studies and Engineering Aptitude	200	2 Hours	Objective (MCQ)
Paper II	Engineering Discipline Specific Subject	300	3 Hours	Objective (MCQ)

Stage II: Main Examination (Conventional/Descriptive Type)

Candidates shortlisted from the Prelims exam qualify for the Mains.

The Mains exam consists of two papers, both subjective and focused on the candidate's chosen engineering discipline.

Total Marks: 600

Paper Name	Subject	Marks	Duration	Type
Paper I	Engineering Discipline Specific Subject	300	3 Hours	Conventional (Descriptive)
Paper II	Engineering Discipline Specific Subject	300	3 Hours	Conventional (Descriptive)

Stage III: Personality Test

Candidates shortlisted from the Mains exam will be called for the Interview/Personality Test.

Total Marks: 200

This stage assesses the candidate's character, personality, intellectual curiosity, general awareness, and suitability for the Central Government services.

Syllabus Overview

Prelims Paper I: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Common for All)

Current Issues: National and International importance related to social, economic, and industrial development.

Engineering Aptitude: Logical Reasoning and Analytical Ability.

Engineering Mathematics: Basic Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis.

General Principles: Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of Safety, Standards, and Quality Practices.

Basics of: Project Management, Ethics and Values in the Engineering Profession, and Energy & Environment.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Prelims Paper II & Mains Papers (Engineering Discipline Specific)

The syllabus for the core engineering papers (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, E&T) is highly technical and comprehensive, covering all major topics from the degree level. These topics are common for both Prelims Paper II (Objective) and Mains Papers I & II (Conventional).

Example (Civil Engineering): Building Materials, Structural Analysis, Geotechnical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Fluid Mechanics, etc.

Example (Mechanical Engineering): Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, Machine Design, Theory of Machines, etc.

Example (Electrical Engineering): Electrical Circuits, Electrical Machines, Power Systems, Control Systems, Power Electronics, etc.

Example (Electronics & Telecom Engineering): Electronic Devices, Communication Systems, Control Systems, Digital Circuits, etc.

Important Web-Links for UPSC ESE 2026

Link Description	URL
Online Application Form (OTR Portal)	Click Here
Advertisement Details (Official Notification)	Click Here
Official Website (UPSC)	Click Here

UPSC ESE 2026 FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) ❓

What is the last date to apply?

The last date for online application submission is October 16, 2025, till 6:00 PM.

Is an Engineering Degree mandatory?

Yes, a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government is mandatory. Final year students can also apply but must provide proof of passing before the Mains exam.

Are Prelims marks counted in the final merit list?

Yes, the marks from all three stages—Prelims (500), Mains (600), and Interview (200)—totaling 1,300 marks, are counted for the final merit list.

Is there negative marking in the Mains exam?

No, the Mains exam is descriptive/conventional in nature, so there is no negative marking. Negative marking only applies to the objective papers in the Prelims exam.

Can I apply for more than one engineering discipline?

No, a candidate must choose only one of the four engineering disciplines (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, E&T) for the entire examination process.

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