The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) 2026 to recruit engineers into central government engineering cadres. A total of 474 vacancies are available across four core engineering disciplines. Candidates interested in senior government engineering roles can view the examination details, branch eligibility, critical dates, and selection workflow below.
Eligible Engineering Branches
Candidates holding an engineering degree or equivalent qualification in the following branches are eligible to apply:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
No GATE score is required for UPSC ESE/IES selection. Selection is based entirely on the dedicated examination process conducted by UPSC.
If you are exploring other graduate-level technical opportunities, check out recent updates on Engineering Jobs or review details for the ISRO Scientist Engineer Recruitment.
UPSC ESE/IES 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Form Release | 26th September 2025 |
| Application Closing Date | 16th October 2025 |
| Preliminary Examination | 8th February 2026 |
| Mains Examination | 21st June 2026 |
Application Fee Matrix
| Category | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS (Male) | ₹200 |
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | Exempted |
Age Limits & Relaxations
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age. Category-specific upper age relaxations apply as detailed below:
- SC / ST: 5 years
- OBC: 3 years
- Jammu and Kashmir Domicile: 5 years
- Defence Services Personnel (Disabled in Operations): 3 years
- ECOs / SSCOs (5 years in Military Service): 5 years
- Deaf / Mute and Orthopedically Handicapped (PwD): 10 years
Selection Process & Remuneration
The UPSC ESE selection process is divided into three distinct stages:
- Preliminary Examination: Objective type paper testing general studies and engineering aptitude alongside technical subjects.
- Mains Examination: Conventional/descriptive paper focusing on core engineering discipline depth.
- Personality Test / Interview: Final evaluation assessing suitability for administrative and technical responsibilities.
Selected candidates receive an approximate starting basic pay of ₹56,100 per month along with standard central government allowances.
You can track further notifications under UPSC Recruitment updates.
How to Apply
- Visit the official portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Complete your One Time Registration (OTR) if you have not registered previously.
- Fill out the ESE 2026 online application form carefully with personal and academic details.
- Upload the required documents, photograph, and signature according to the official specifications.
- Pay the application fee of ₹200 (if applicable) through online payment modes.
- Submit the final application form and save a printout of the confirmation page for future reference.