What Do You Need for ESE?
ESE 2027 at a Glance
The Engineering Services Examination recruits engineers for the technical services of the Government of India.
Application fee ₹200; women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt. Always confirm details on upsc.gov.in.
ESE 2027 Vacancies
Tentative, as reported from the notification; liable to change.
| Branch | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | 219 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 91 |
| Electrical Engineering | 77 |
| Electronics & Telecommunication | 93 |
| Total | 480 |
Railways
Indian Railway Management Service (engineering).
Defence
Military Engineer Services, Border Roads, Naval Armament and others.
Water & Power
Central Water Engineering Service, Central Engineering Service, power and electrical services.
Telecom
Indian Telecommunication Service and related posts.
The full service-wise list is in the official notification. Includes 19 vacancies for persons with benchmark disabilities, as reported.
Who Is Eligible?
1. Age
21–30 years on 1 January 2027, with relaxation — 5 years SC/ST, 3 years OBC, and others as per rules.
2. Qualification
B.E./B.Tech or equivalent in the relevant branch; some posts accept an M.Sc. in specified subjects.
3. Final-year students
Can apply, but must submit proof of passing by the date set.
4. Nationality
Indian citizens, and certain other categories as defined in the notification.
Selection Process
Three stages — and all three count in the final merit.
Prelims
Two objective papers — 500 marks.
Mains
Two descriptive branch papers — 600 marks.
Personality test
Interview — 200 marks.
Final merit
500 + 600 + 200 = 1300 marks, then service allocation.
Prelims Pattern
Objective papers with negative marking (one-third of a question’s marks).
| Paper | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| I — General Studies & Engineering Aptitude | 200 | 2 h |
| II — Branch paper (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical / E&T) | 300 | 3 h |
| Total | 500 |
Mains and Personality Test
Two descriptive papers in your engineering branch, then the interview.
| Stage | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mains — Paper I (branch) | 300 | 3 h |
| Mains — Paper II (branch) | 300 | 3 h |
| Personality test | 200 | — |
| Final merit (with prelims) | 1300 |
Pattern as per recent notifications.
ESE Syllabus Overview
Tap a paper to see its main areas.
General Studies & Engineering AptitudePrelims Paper I — all branches
- Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development
- Engineering aptitude — logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Engineering mathematics and numerical analysis
- General principles of design, drawing and the importance of safety
- Standards and quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services
- Basics of energy and environment — conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, climate change, environmental impact assessment
- Basics of project management
- Basics of material science and engineering
- Information and communication technologies — e-governance and technology-based education
- Ethics and values in the engineering profession
Civil EngineeringBranch papers
- Building materials, solid mechanics, structural analysis
- Design of steel and concrete structures
- Construction practice, planning and management
- Fluid mechanics, hydraulics and water resources
- Environmental engineering
- Geotechnical and foundation engineering
- Surveying, geology and transportation engineering
Mechanical EngineeringBranch papers
- Fluid mechanics and turbomachinery
- Thermodynamics and heat transfer
- IC engines, refrigeration and air conditioning
- Engineering mechanics, strength of materials, theory of machines
- Machine design and manufacturing
- Industrial engineering and maintenance
- Mechatronics and robotics
Electrical EngineeringBranch papers
- Engineering mathematics and electrical materials
- Electric circuits and fields
- Measurements, electronics and control systems
- Electrical machines
- Power systems and power electronics
- Signals, communication and computer fundamentals
Electronics & TelecommunicationBranch papers
- Basic electronics and electronic devices
- Analog and digital circuits
- Signals and systems, control systems
- Electromagnetics and network theory
- Communication systems and computer organisation
- Microprocessors, advanced communication and VLSI
Free ESE Study Material
Notes for General Studies and each branch.
These resources are being added subject by subject. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
GS & Engineering Aptitude
Notes for Prelims Paper I.
Coming soon →Civil Engineering
Topic notes and solved problems.
Coming soon →Mechanical Engineering
Topic notes and solved problems.
Coming soon →Electrical Engineering
Topic notes and solved problems.
Coming soon →Electronics & Telecom
Topic notes and solved problems.
Coming soon →ESE Mock Tests
Prelims papers in the real pattern and mains answer-writing practice.
Under development. The mock tests below are planned and will open here when ready.
Prelims Paper I
Prelims Paper II
Mains Answer Writing
Previous-Year Papers
How to Prepare
About 15 weeks remain until prelims on 31 January 2027.
Prelims counts
Prelims marks go into the final merit — aim high, not just to qualify.
Don’t skip Paper I
GS & Engineering Aptitude carries 200 marks — study all ten topics.
Practise MCQs
Solve past ESE and GATE questions for speed and accuracy.
Start mains early
Write derivations and numericals neatly with clear steps.
Use standard texts
Revise your B.Tech textbooks and key formulas in each subject.
Prepare for the interview
Know your branch, your final-year project and current infrastructure news.
ESE 2027 Dates
Applications ran from 16 September to 6 October 2026. Prelims: 31 January 2027. Mains: 18 June 2027, as reported. Always check the official website.
ESE FAQs
What is the Engineering Services Examination?
UPSC’s ESE (often called IES — Indian Engineering Services) recruits engineers for Group A and Group B technical services of the Government of India, such as railway, defence, telecom and water engineering services. Official information is on upsc.gov.in.
Who can apply?
Engineering graduates (B.E./B.Tech or equivalent) in the relevant branch, aged 21–30 on 1 January 2027, with relaxation for reserved categories. Final-year students can apply subject to submitting proof later.
Do prelims marks count?
Yes. Unlike most UPSC exams, ESE prelims marks (500) are added to mains (600) and the personality test (200) for the final merit of 1300.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, in the objective prelims papers — one-third of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer.
How many attempts are allowed?
There is no fixed limit on attempts, as long as you meet the age criteria, as reported.
ESE or GATE?
GATE leads to M.Tech admissions and PSU jobs; ESE leads to Group A government engineering services. Many candidates prepare for both, since the technical syllabus overlaps.