UPSC ESE recruits engineers for central engineering services through preliminary, main and personality-test stages.
CategoryEngineering
TypeRecruitment
Conducting authorityUnion Public Service Commission
Department / parent organisationGovernment of India engineering services
Qualification levelGraduate
Exam modeoffline
UPSC ESEUPSC Engineering Services Examinationengineeringrecruitmentnational examUnion Public Service Commission
Editorial update
UPSC notified Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 26 September 2025, with commencement on 8 February 2026.
UPSC notified Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 26 September 2025, with commencement on 8 February 2026.
Latest Updates
UPSC notified Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026 on 26 September 2025, with commencement on 8 February 2026.
| Date | Event | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 2025 | ESE Preliminary 2026 notification | upsc.gov.in |
| 08 Feb 2026 | ESE Preliminary 2026 exam date | upsc.gov.in |
| 2026 | ESE Main 2026 listed in active examinations | upsc.gov.in |
Important Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | UPSC ESE |
| Full Form | Engineering Services Examination |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Category | UPSC recruitment examination |
| Purpose | Recruitment to engineering services/posts notified by UPSC |
| Frequency | Usually annual |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Offline written papers and/or computer-based examination as notified |
| Question Type | Objective, descriptive and/or interview stages as notified |
| Exam Stages/Tiers | Preliminary examination, Main examination, Personality Test, Final merit |
| Exam Duration | Prelims one day; Main paper-wise |
| Total Marks | Prelims, Main and Personality Test marks as notified |
| Negative Marking | Objective preliminary papers carry negative marking as per UPSC rules. |
| Languages/Medium | English and Hindi or other notified language rules depending on paper |
| Official Website | https://www.upsc.gov.in/ |
Important Dates
Date-sensitive entries are labelled with the content year and official source status. Do not treat unannounced future events as confirmed dates.
| Event | Status / Date |
|---|---|
| Prelims notification | 26 Sep 2025 |
| Application last date | 16 Oct 2025, 6:00 pm |
| Prelims exam | 08 Feb 2026 |
| Main exam | Listed by UPSC for 2026 |
Eligibility
- Engineering degree or equivalent qualification as specified.
- Discipline must match notified engineering category requirements.
- Age and relaxation follow the current notice.
Exam Pattern
The table is written for future MCQ and mock-test mapping. Always verify the latest official notice before launching a scored assessment.
| Stage / Tier | Paper / Section | Questions | Marks | Duration | Question type | Negative marking | Qualifying / merit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | Objective | As notified | As notified | Objective MCQ | Applies | Screening/merit |
| Prelims Paper II | Engineering discipline | Objective | As notified | As notified | Objective MCQ | Applies | Screening/merit |
| Main | Engineering discipline papers | Descriptive | As notified | Paper-wise | Written | Not applicable | Merit |
| Personality Test | Interview | Not applicable | As notified | Interview | Interview | Not applicable | Final merit |
Syllabus
General Studies and Aptitude
- Engineering aptitude, project management, ethics, ICT, design and safety
Engineering Discipline
- Civil, mechanical, electrical or electronics and telecommunication topics as notified
Application, Admit Card, Answer Key and Result
Application process
- Register or sign in only on the official application portal.
- Complete the application form, upload required documents, preview carefully and pay the notified fee where applicable.
- Use correction windows only when the official authority opens them.
- Save the application confirmation and official payment acknowledgement.
Admit card
- Download the admit card from the official portal when released.
- Check name, exam city, reporting time, photograph, signature and instructions.
- Carry the printed admit card, valid photo identity proof and any documents listed in the notice.
Answer key
- Use only the provisional and final answer key process published by the exam authority.
- Submit objections, if allowed, within the official window and with the required fee or proof.
- Final scores are based on the authoritys final answer key and normalization rules where applicable.
Result
- Results may be issued as scorecards, roll-number lists, merit lists or stage-wise shortlists.
- Qualified candidates should follow the next stage instructions exactly as published.
- Cutoff and marks should be treated as official only when published by the authority.
Selection Process
- Preliminary examination
- Main examination
- Personality Test
- Final merit
Posts, Services or Courses
- Central engineering services/posts listed in the ESE notification.
Preparation Strategy
- Study the official discipline syllabus deeply.
- Use previous UPSC ESE papers for standard and topic weightage.
- Separate objective-prelims practice from descriptive-main answer writing.
MCQ, Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers
Use the available SaralStudy practice hubs only where the content is reviewed and relevant: MCQ Practice, Mock Tests, and Previous Year Papers.
| Product area | Current state |
|---|---|
| MCQ practice | Exam entity is mapped for future MCQ classification; no dedicated verified SaralStudy MCQ set is claimed. |
| Mock tests | No live verified SaralStudy mock test is enabled for this exam yet. |
| Previous-year papers | UPSC publishes previous-year question papers for many examinations on its official website. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC ESE?
UPSC ESE is recruitment to engineering services/posts notified by upsc.
Who conducts UPSC ESE?
UPSC ESE is conducted by Union Public Service Commission.
How often is UPSC ESE held?
The usual frequency is usually annual, subject to official notification.
What is the selection process?
The selection process includes Preliminary examination, Main examination, Personality Test, Final merit.
Is there negative marking?
Objective preliminary papers carry negative marking as per UPSC rules.
Where should I check official updates?
Use the official source links listed on this page before acting on dates, fees, vacancies or application instructions.
Are SaralStudy MCQs available for this exam?
Exam entity is mapped for future MCQ classification; no dedicated verified SaralStudy MCQ set is claimed.
Are SaralStudy mock tests available for this exam?
No live verified SaralStudy mock test is enabled for this exam yet.
Official Source References
Last verified: 2026-09-08. Content year: 2026.
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