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The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 Notification for recruitment to 474 posts in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering categories. Eligible candidates can apply online from 26 September 2025 to 16 October 2025 at upsconline.nic.in. The Preliminary Exam will be conducted on 8 February 2026.
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UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Vacancy Details
Important Date
- Notification Released: 26 September 2025
- Application Start: 26 September 2025
- Last Date : 16 October 2025 (till 6 PM)
- Prelims Exam Date: 8 February 2026
- Admit Card Release: Last week of January 2026
- Mains Exam Date: To be announced
Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years (as on 1 January 2026)
- Age Relaxation: As per UPSC rules (SC/ST – 5 years, OBC – 3 years, Govt. Employees – up to 35 years)
- Note: Kindly Read Full Official Notification Before Apply.
Application Fees
- General/OBC/EWS: Rs. 200/-
- SC/ST/PwBD/Female: Exempted
Qualification
- Degree in Engineering from a recognized University/Institution in relevant discipline (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics).
- Equivalent qualifications like AMIE, IETE or M.Sc. (specific cases for Electronics/Radio Physics/Radio Engineering) are also accepted
- Candidates must meet medical & physical fitness standards as per UPSC rules
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Full Eligibility
The UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 is open to candidates who meet the prescribed nationality, age and educational qualification requirements. A candidate must be within the age limit of 21–30 years (as on 01-Jan-2026) (born between 2 Jan 1996 and 1 Jan 2005) subject to statutory relaxations. The minimum academic requirement is a recognised Engineering degree (or specified equivalent qualifications). Eligible persons may apply online at upsconline.nic.in between 26 Sep 2025 and 16 Oct 2025. Candidates who are provisionally qualified (appeared for final-year exam) may also apply but must submit proof of passing the qualifying exam within the time-frame specified by the Commission.
| Eligibility Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen / Nepal / Bhutan subject / Tibetan refugee (before 01-01-1962) / PIO from specified countries with Govt. approval. |
| Age Limit | 21–30 years as on 01-01-2026 (born 02-01-1996 to 01-01-2005). |
| Age Relaxation | SC/ST: +5 yrs, OBC: +3 yrs, PwBD: +10 yrs, Ex-Servicemen/others as per rules. |
| Education | Engineering Degree or equivalent (AMIE, IETE, Aeronautical Society, etc.). |
| Provisional | Final-year candidates allowed; proof required later. |
| Medical Standards | Must clear UPSC medical test; PwBD suitability as per rules. |
| PwBD | 26 posts reserved; only specified categories eligible. |
| Application | Apply online at upsconline.nic.in, upload photo, signature, ID, documents. |
| Photo ID | Valid Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Driving Licence etc. Photo ≤10 days old. |
| Fee | ₹200 for Gen/OBC/EWS; SC/ST/Female/PwBD exempted. |
| Other | No form correction. Higher RID valid if multiple forms submitted. |
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Salary
Candidates selected through the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 will be appointed in various Group A and Group B Engineering Services. The initial basic pay is at Level-10 (7th CPC) i.e., Rs. 56,100/- to Rs. 1,77,500/- along with Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance and other Government benefits.
| Service/Post | Pay Level | Basic Pay (7th CPC) |
|---|---|---|
| Group A Engineering Services | Level-10 | Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500/- |
| Group B (if applicable) | Level-8/9 | Rs. 47,600 – Rs. 1,51,100/- |
- Dearness Allowance (DA) as per Central Government rules.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA) based on city classification.
- Transport Allowance (TA) with applicable DA.
- Medical facilities for self and dependents.
- Pension & Retirement benefits under NPS.
- Other allowances as admissible to Central Government officers.
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Selection Process
The UPSC ESE 2026 Selection Process consists of a three-stage examination – Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Personality Test/Interview. Candidates must qualify each stage to be considered for final selection based on merit and medical fitness.
- Stage-I: Preliminary Examination – Objective type papers (500 marks).
- Stage-II: Main Examination – Conventional papers (600 marks).
- Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview – Assessment of personality, leadership & suitability (200 marks).
- Final Merit List – Prepared based on total marks obtained in Stage-I, II & III.
- Document Verification – Verification of eligibility and category certificates.
- Medical Examination – Candidates must meet prescribed physical & medical standards.
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Exam Pattern
The UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Pattern is divided into three stages – Preliminary Exam (Objective type), Main Exam (Conventional type) and Personality Test. Candidates must qualify each stage. The Prelims carries 500 marks, the Mains carries 600 marks and the Interview carries 200 marks. The final merit will be based on marks obtained in all three stages.
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies & Engineering Aptitude | 2 Hours | 200 |
| Paper-II | Engineering Discipline (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/E&T) | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 500 | ||
Stage-II: Main Examination
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | Engineering Discipline | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Paper-II | Engineering Discipline | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 600 | ||
Stage-III: Personality Test
| Interview/Personality Test | 200 Marks |
- Negative Marking is applicable in the Preliminary exam for wrong answers.
- Black Ball Pen must be used for marking answers in OMR sheets.
- Final Merit will be prepared on the basis of total marks from Prelims, Mains & Interview.
- OMR sheet mistakes such as wrong roll number or booklet code can lead to disqualification.
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: Post / Category Wise Vacancy
The UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy includes approximately 474 posts across four major engineering disciplines – Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication. Vacancies are also reserved for SC/ST/OBC/EWS and PwBD candidates as per Government of India rules.
| Engineering Discipline | Total Vacancies | Reserved for PwBD |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | --- | --- |
| Mechanical Engineering | --- | --- |
| Electrical Engineering | --- | --- |
| Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering | --- | --- |
| Total | 474 | 26 |
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: How To Apply
Candidates can apply for the UPSC ESE 2026 only through the online application form available on upsconline.nic.in. The application process includes registration, filling the Common Application Form (CAF), uploading photograph, signature and ID proof, paying the application fee and submitting the form before the last date 16 October 2025.
- Visit the official website www.upsconline.nic.in.
- Click on the link for Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 application.
- Complete the One Time Registration (OTR) process and generate URN (Universal Registration Number).
- Fill the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal, educational and communication details.
- Upload recent photograph (not older than 10 days), signature and valid photo ID proof.
- Pay the application fee online through SBI/Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI (if applicable).
- Preview all details carefully and submit the form.
- Download and keep a printout of the final application form for future reference.
Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| All India Govt Jobs 2025 | Click Here |
| All UPSC Jobs 2025 | Click Here |
UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026: FAQs
Q1. What is the last date to apply for UPSC ESE 2026?
The last date to submit the online application form is 16 October 2025 (till 6 PM).
Q2. How many vacancies are available in UPSC ESE 2026?
The notification announces a total of 474 vacancies including 26 reserved for PwBD candidates.
Q3. What is the exam date of UPSC ESE 2026 Prelims?
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted on 8 February 2026.
Q4. What is the application fee for ESE 2026?
General/OBC/EWS candidates have to pay Rs. 200/-, while SC/ST/PwBD/Female candidates are exempted from fee payment.
Q5. What is the minimum qualification required for UPSC ESE 2026?
Candidates must have a degree in Engineering in relevant disciplines (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics) from a recognised University or equivalent qualification.
Q6. Is there any negative marking in UPSC ESE 2026 Prelims?
Yes, there is negative marking for wrong answers in the Preliminary Examination.
Q7. How is the final merit list prepared?
The final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in the Prelims (500), Mains (600) and Personality Test (200), along with medical fitness.