UPSC ESE Notification 2026 Out, Exam Date, Apply Online, Vacancy, Syllabus

UPSC ESE Exam 2026

The UPSC organises the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) to recruit engineers for prestigious Grade A (Gazetted) posts in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. This exam is designed to test a candidate’s complete understanding of General Studies, Engineering Aptitude, and their core engineering subjects. Anyone who dreams of building a career in these top government positions should carefully check all the important details like the official notification, exam schedule, application process, eligibility rules, and the stages of selection.

UPSC ESE 2026 Important Dates

All important dates, such as the start date of applying online, the last date to apply, the exam schedule, the result announcement, and more, are mentioned in the detailed notification. Candidates should check carefully the table below to stay updated with all the important events.

UPSC ESE Vacancy 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced 474 vacancies for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 in its official notification. To get an idea about the openings, candidates can find the breakdown of these vacancies by branch and category in the table below.

UPSC ESE Application Form 2026

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has opened the online application process for the ESE 2026 exam from 26 September 2025. Eligible candidates can fill out and submit their application forms only through the official website at www.upsc.gov.in. Applications sent in any other way will not be accepted. The last date to apply is 16 October 2025, after which the online link will be deactivated. Candidates are advised to apply on time and carefully check all their details before submitting the form. The official link to apply online is given below.

UPSC ESE 2026 Apply Online Link

Steps To Apply Online for UPSC ESE Exam 2026

To apply online for UPSC ESE 2026, candidates need to follow the steps given below:

• Visit the UPSC official website of UPSC i.e., www.upsc.gov.in
• Go to the What’s New section on the home page and click on the ‘Indian Engineering Services Examination 2026’ link.
• A new window will be opened on the screen with the ESE Notification 2026.
• Download the UPSC ESE 2026 Notification PDF and read it carefully.
• Now, click on the ‘New Registration’ tab to complete your One Time Registration (OTR).
• Enter all the essential details and upload the required documents (photograph, signature, etc.) in the prescribed format and size.
• Go for online payment of application fees. After paying the application fees, click on the final submit button.
• Take a printout of the application form for future reference.

UPSC ESE Application Fees 2026

To complete the UPSC ESE 2026 application process, candidates need to pay the application fees online using a debit card/credit card, internet banking, UPI wallet, etc. The category-wise application fees required to apply for UPSC ESE 2026 are as follows:

UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2026

The Union Public Service Commission outlines specific eligibility criteria for the ESE Exam 2026. Candidates must understand that the eligibility standards include nationality, educational qualifications, and age limits. We have explained the complete UPSC ESE eligibility criteria for 2026 in this section to make it easier for applicants to understand.

Educational Qualification

As per the official notification and the UPSC ESE 2026 Eligibility Criteria, candidates are required to possess a degree in Engineering/Technology (BE/B. Tech) or an equivalent qualification in disciplines such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication from a recognized government Institution/University.

UPSC ESE 2026: Age Limit

The age limit for applicants to apply for UPSC ESE 2026 should be as follows.

• Minimum Age Limit: 21 Years
• Maximum Age Limit: 30 Years

The relaxation in the upper age limit for reserved categories will be applicable as per the Govt. Norms are prescribed here.

Nationality

As per the UPSC ESE 2026 Eligibility Criteria, an Applicant must be either:
(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 01 January 1962 to permanently settle in India, or
(e) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam to permanently settle in India.

UPSC ESE Selection Process 2026

The selection process for UPSC ESE 2026 varies depending on the specific post and discipline. Candidates should refer to the detailed table below to understand the distinct selection stages for each position, as they may include written tests, interviews, or a combination of both. The selection criteria will consist of the following stages for the Engineering Services Examination 2026:

• Prelims Exam (500 Marks) – Offline
• Main Exam (600 Marks) – Offline
• Personality Test/Interview (200 Marks)
• Document Verification
• Medical Examination

UPSC ESE Salary Structure 2026

The candidates appointed as IES (Group A, Gazetted) Officers through UPSC ESE 2026 will receive an attractive salary package along with various perks and benefits as per the rules. The detailed IES Officer Salary Structure is outlined below:

UPSC ESE Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates need to have a good understanding of the UPSC ESE Exam Pattern 2026 to comprehend the structure of the question paper. The exam pattern provides aspirants with an overview of the question paper format. Candidates must have an in-depth understanding of the exam pattern to know the exam format to be followed by the authorities. Please refer to the detailed eligibility criteria for UPSC ESE 2026 mentioned below for the Prelims and Main Examination:

UPSC ESE Stage I: Preliminary Test

The UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Pattern for the Preliminary Test is prescribed below:

UPSC ESE Stage II: Main Exam (Conventional Paper)

The UPSC ESE Main (Stage II) Paper Pattern is tabulated in this section:

UPSC ESE Stage III: Personality Test

The UPSC ESE Personality Test details are given below:

UPSC ESE Syllabus 2026

The syllabus is a crucial component for effective exam preparation. The Union Public Service Commission has released the UPSC ESE Syllabus 2026 along with the official notification. Candidates preparing for the UPSC ESE 2026 Exam must understand the detailed syllabus to plan their preparation strategy. Candidates can check the brief UPSC ESE Syllabus 2026 through the direct link provided here.

UPSC ESE Preparation Tips

The candidates must follow effective tips and preparation strategies to ace the exam. The UPSC ESE 2026 preparation tips are given here to help the aspirants. Follow the preparation tips and tricks given here to crack the UPSC ESE 2026 Exam with a good score:

• Understand the UPSC ESE Syllabus & Exam Pattern
  First, get a clear idea of the syllabus and how the exam is structured. This will help you know what to study and how much time to give each subject.

• Create a Practical Study Timetable
  Plan your daily routine with proper time slots for every subject. Make sure your timetable is realistic and easy to follow.

• Practice All Sections Regularly
  Do not skip any part of the syllabus. Give equal importance to technical, non-technical, and general studies sections.

• Use the Right Study Material
  Choose standard books, coaching notes, and other trusted resources. Avoid too many reference books that may confuse you.

• Revise Consistently
  Revision is the key to remembering concepts. Keep short notes for quick revision before the exam.

• Attempt Mock Tests Frequently
  Solve online and offline mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy. Treat them like the real exam.

• Evaluate Your Strong and Weak Areas
  After every test, analyze your performance. Identify the topics where you score less and focus on improving them.

• Work on Weak Topics
  Don’t ignore your weak areas. Spend extra time understanding concepts and practicing questions from those sections.

• Take Care of Your Health
  Eat healthy, sleep well, and exercise regularly. A fresh mind and a healthy body will help you perform better in the exam.

UPSC ESE Result 2026

The UPSC ESE 2026 Result will be declared after the completion of the exam. The commission will announce the stage-wise results on its official website. The candidates can check their UPSC ESE results through the link provided here. The commission will activate the UPSC ESE 2026 Result Link after the exam.

UPSC ESE 2026 Question Papers PDF

Candidates preparing for the UPSC ESE 2026 Exam should practice the UPSC ESE previous question papers to understand the difficulty level, exam pattern, and important topics. The UPSC ESE Previous Year Question Papers are essential for boosting preparation and familiarizing aspirants with the exam. Below, we have provided a direct link to download the UPSC ESE Previous Year Papers PDF for your convenience.

UPSC ESE Previous Year Cut Off

In the UPSC ESE Exam 2026, candidates must achieve the necessary marks to progress to the next stages. The cutoff marks are the minimum scores required to pass the exam, and the commission will publish category-specific cutoffs for each branch. Candidates can find a direct link here to review UPSC ESE Previous Year cutoff marks and analyze the trends to predict the UPSC ESE 2024 cutoff.