The UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also known as the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam, is a prestigious national-level competitive examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit engineers for technical and managerial positions in various Government of India departments. It is one of the most sought-after exams for engineering graduates aspiring to serve in core sectors such as Railways, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Central Water Engineering, Defence Services, and Telecommunications. The examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (objective type), Main (conventional written examination), and Personality Test (Interview).
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Candidates from disciplines including Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering are eligible to apply. The ESE is known for its rigorous selection process, testing candidates’ technical knowledge, analytical ability, and leadership qualities. Successful candidates play a crucial role in planning, designing, and executing key infrastructure and development projects across the country, contributing significantly to national growth and public welfare.
UPSC ESE 2026 : Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Notification Date | 26th September 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 16th October 2025 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Application Mode | upsconline.nic.in |
| Examination Date | 8th February 2026 (Preliminary) |
| Total Vacancies | Approximately 474 |
| Application Fee | ₹200 (Exempted for Female/SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years (as of 1st January 2026) |
| Qualification | Degree in Engineering or equivalent |
UPSC ESE 2026 : Exam Pattern and Detailed Syllabus
The recruitment process follows a three-stage plan designed to filter candidates based on technical knowledge and personality.
Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) :
This stage consists of two papers, both conducted on the same day.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 2 Hours | 200 |
| Paper II | Engineering Discipline Specific | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 5 Hours | 500 |
Note: There is a penalty for wrong answers. One-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect response.
Stage II: Main Examination (Conventional Type)
Only candidates who qualify Stage I are admitted to the Main Examination, which involves descriptive answers.
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I | Engineering Discipline Paper-I | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper II | Engineering Discipline Paper-II | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 6 Hours | 600 |
Stage III: Personality Test
Candidates qualifying the written stages are summoned for an interview carrying 200 marks. There are no minimum qualifying marks for this stage; however, it is vital for final ranking.
UPSC ESE 2026 : Syllabus
Stage-I: Paper I
This paper is objective and focuses on general aptitude and foundational engineering principles.
| Topic No. | Subject Area | Key Coverage Areas |
| 1 | Current Issues | National and international importance related to social, economic, and industrial development. |
| 2 | Engineering Aptitude | Logical reasoning and analytical ability. |
| 3 | Engineering Mathematics | Numerical Analysis and general mathematical principles. |
| 4 | Design and Drawing | General principles of design, drawing, and the importance of safety. |
| 5 | Standards and Quality | Practices in production, construction, maintenance, and services. |
| 6 | Energy and Environment | Conservation, pollution, climate change, and environmental impact assessment. |
| 7 | Project Management | Basics and principles of managing engineering projects. |
| 8 | Material Science | Basics of material science and engineering. |
| 9 | ICT Tools | Networking, e-governance, and technology-based education. |
| 10 | Ethics and Values | Professional ethics in the engineering profession. |
Category I: Civil Engineering Syllabus
The following subjects are covered across Preliminary Paper-II and Main Paper-I & II.
Paper I (Structural Engineering focus)
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Building Materials | Stone, Lime, Glass, Plastics, Steel, FRP, Ceramics, Aluminum, Fly Ash, Timber, Bricks, Aggregates, Cement, and Concrete Mix Design. |
| Solid Mechanics | Elastic constants, Stress/Strain, Mohr’s circle, Failure theories, Bending, Shear, and Torsion. |
| Structural Analysis | Determinate/Indeterminate structures, Trusses, Frames, Rolling loads, Influence Lines, Vibrations, and Computer Aided Design. |
| Steel Structures | Working Stress methods, Tension/Compression members, Beams, Connections, Girders, and Ultimate load design. |
| Concrete & Masonry | Limit state design, Slabs, Foundations, Retaining walls, Pre-stressed concrete, and Earthquake resistant design. |
| Construction Mgmt. | Planning, Equipment, Site investigation, Tendering, Contract management, and Labour safety. |
Paper II (Water Resources, Environmental & Transportation)
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Fluid Mechanics | Flow of fluids, Hydraulic Machines, Hydro Power, Open Channel Flow, and Pipe networks. |
| Hydrology & Water | Hydrological cycle, Ground water, River morphology, Flood management, Irrigation, and Dams. |
| Environmental Engg. | Water supply (quality/treatment), Waste water (sewerage/sludge mgmt), Solid waste mgmt, and Air/Noise pollution. |
| Geo-technical Engg. | Soil exploration, properties, Seepage, Earth pressure, Foundation types, and Slope stability. |
| Surveying & Geology | Classification, GPS, Remote sensing, Map preparation, and Engineering geology applications. |
| Transportation | Highways (planning/design), Tunneling, Railways systems, Harbours, and Airports. |
Category II: Mechanical Engineering Syllabus
Paper I (Thermal and Fluid Sciences)
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Fluid Mechanics | Statics, Buoyancy, Bernoulli’s equation, Viscous flow, and Laminar/Turbulent flows. |
| Thermodynamics | Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy, Rankine/Otto/Diesel cycles, Heat transfer (Conduction, Convection, Radiation), and Heat exchangers. |
| IC Engines & RAC | Engine systems, Emissions, Vapour compression/absorption refrigeration, and Psychrometrics. |
| Turbo Machinery | Pelton, Kaplan, Francis Turbines, Jet Propulsion, and Compressors. |
| Power Plant Engg. | Regeneration/Reheat cycles, Boilers, and Power plant components. |
| Renewable Energy | Solar radiation, Photovoltaic conversion, Wind, Bio-mass, and Fuel Cells. |
Paper II (Design and Manufacturing)
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Eng Mechanics | Force systems, Friction, Centroid, Stresses/Strains, Bending Moment, and Torsion. |
| Engineering Materials | Crystallography, Alloys, Heat Treatment, Nano-materials, and Corrosion control. |
| Mechanisms & Machines | Velocity/Acceleration analysis, Vibrations, Gears, Gyroscopes, and Governors. |
| Machine Design | Static/Dynamic loading, Fatigue strength, Joints, Shafts, Brakes, and Clutches. |
| Manufacturing & IM | Metal forming/joining, Machining, Metrology, FMS, CPM-PERT, and NDT techniques. |
| Mechatronics/Robotics | Microprocessors, Sensors, Control Systems, and Robot Kinematics. |
Category III: Electrical Engineering Syllabus
Paper I
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Engg. Mathematics | Matrix theory, Calculus, Probability, Statistics, and Complex variables. |
| Electrical Materials | Crystal structures, Insulating/Magnetic materials, and Superconductors. |
| Circuits & Fields | KCL/KVL, Theorems, Three phase circuits, and Maxwell’s equations. |
| Measurements | Bridges, Potentiometers, Digital voltmeters, and Transducers. |
| Computer Fund. | CPU, I/O Organisation, OS, Networking, and Programming languages. |
| Basic Electronics | Diodes, BJTs, FETs, and Oscillators. |
Paper II
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Analog & Digital | Op-amps, Logic circuits, Microprocessors, and Communication basics. |
| Systems/Signal Proc. | Fourier/Laplace transforms, Z-transforms, FFT, and FIR/IIR filters. |
| Control Systems | Transfer functions, Stability (Nyquist/Bode), and PID controllers. |
| Electrical Machines | Transformers, DC machines, Induction/Synchronous motors. |
| Power Systems | Generation, Fault analysis, Protection, Smart grid, and Power economics. |
| Power Electronics | Thyristors, IGBTs, Converters, and Adjustable speed drives. |
Category IV: Electronics & Telecommunication Syllabus
Paper I
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Basic Electronics | Semiconductors, ICs, Op-amps, and Opto-electronics. |
| Basic Electrical | DC/AC circuits, Transformers, and Power sources. |
| Materials Science | Insulating laminates, Magnetic materials, and Nano-optical materials. |
| Measurements | Analog/Digital systems, Telemetry, and Data acquisition. |
| Network Theory | RLC circuits, Laplace transforms, and Sinusoidal analysis. |
| Analog & Digital Ckt. | Amplifiers, Timers, Combinatorial/Sequential circuits, and Microprocessors. |
Paper II
| Subject | Detailed Contents |
| Comm. Systems | AM/FM, PCM, Digital modulation (ASK/FSK/PSK), and Fibre optics. |
| Control Systems | Signal flow graphs, Stability analysis, and Lead/Lag compensation. |
| Computer Org. | Memory mgmt, File systems, Databases, and Transactions. |
| Electro Magnetics | Vector calculus, Transmission lines, Smith’s chart, and Antennas. |
| Advanced Electronics | VLSI technology, DSP, and Embedded systems. |
| Advanced Comm. | OSI model, Satellite communication, and Cellular networks. |
Preparation Tips
| Tip | Actionable Strategy |
| Master General Studies | Marks for each GS topic range from 5% to 15%. Do not ignore basics like ICT or Ethics, as they are high-scoring. |
| Objective Accuracy | Practice OMR marking with a black ball pen only. Ensure Roll Number and Booklet Series are encoded correctly to avoid rejection |
| Conventional Writing | Conventional papers must be answered in English only. Focus on “orderly, effective, and exact expression”. |
| Handwriting Care | Be warned: up to 5% of marks can be deducted for illegible handwriting in conventional papers. |
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