1. UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027: Recruitment Overview & Scope
The Union Public Service Commission has released the examination notice for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 under Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. The examination is conducted to select officers for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ engineering cadres across central government departments and technical services. The commission estimates approximately 480 vacancies (including 19 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities), liable to alteration as stated in the examination notice. Online applications opened on 16 September 2026 and close on 06 October 2026 at 18:00 Hours (6:00 PM) on the official portal, upsconline.nic.in.
Recruitment is conducted across four categories: Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. Appointees join central departments such as Central Engineering Service (CPWD), Central Water Engineering Service, Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE), Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS), Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES), Central Power Engineering Service, and Indian Naval services.
Candidates holding a recognized engineering degree or those appearing in the final year of their qualifying engineering program (provisional admission) can apply. The selection comprises a three-stage competitive process: the Preliminary Objective Examination on 31 January 2027, the Mains Conventional Written Examination on 18 June 2027, and the Personality Test (Interview) to be conducted at UPSC Dholpur House, New Delhi on dates to be notified by the commission.
The UPSC application system operates on a four-module framework. Candidates must first complete account creation, Universal Registration Number (URN), and the Common Application Form (CAF) before filling out the Examination Specific Form. This process mandates live web-camera photograph capture and uploading a triple-signature image.
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Engineering Services Exam (ESE 2027)
Approx. 480 (incl. 19 PwBD)
16 Sept 2026 – 06 Oct 2026 (18:00)
2. Important Dates & Official Schedule
The examination schedule and deadlines announced by UPSC in Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG are structured as follows:
| Recruitment Event | Official Date / Timeline | Procedural Details |
|---|---|---|
| Notification Publication Date | 16 September 2026 | Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG issued by UPSC |
| Online Registration Start Date | 16 September 2026 | Portal opens on upsconline.nic.in |
| Online Application Closing Deadline | 06 October 2026 at 18:00 Hours (6:00 PM) | Applications close strictly at 18:00 hrs; link disabled |
| Fee Payment Deadline | 06 October 2026 (18:00 Hours) | Online payment via Net Banking, Cards, or UPI |
| Stage-I: Preliminary Examination | 31 January 2027 | Objective OMR test (Paper 1: 200 marks, Paper 2: 300 marks) |
| Stage-II: Main Examination | 18 June 2027 | Conventional technical papers (300 marks each; total 600) |
| Stage-III: Personality Test (Interview) | Date to be notified by UPSC | Conducted at UPSC Office, Dholpur House, New Delhi (200 Marks) |
3. Vacancy Details & Participating Central Services Matrix
The number of vacancies to be filled on the basis of ESE 2027 is approximately 480, including 19 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The notification clarifies that the vacancy count is an estimate and is liable to alteration.
The 19 PwBD vacancies are allocated as follows:
- Locomotor Disability (including Leprosy cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack victims, and Muscular Dystrophy): 11 vacancies
- Hard of Hearing: 06 vacancies
- Low Vision: 01 vacancy (Note: Candidates with Blindness are not eligible for ESE 2027 posts)
- Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and Multiple Disabilities (MD): 01 vacancy
Recruitment is organized across four distinct engineering categories. The comprehensive list of participating services and cadres under each category is outlined below:
| Discipline / Category | Participating Services & Posts Included in ESE 2027 Rules |
|---|---|
|
Category I: Civil Engineering |
• Central Engineering Service (Group ‘A’) • Central Engineering Service (Roads), Group ‘A’ (Civil Engineering Posts) • Survey of India Group ‘A’ Service • Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil) in Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) • Assistant Executive Engineer (QS&C) in Military Engineer Services (MES) Surveyor Cadre • Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service • Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) • Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS – Civil) • Indian Railway Management Service (Stores) – Civil Engineering Posts • Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) |
|
Category II: Mechanical Engineering |
• AEE in Geological Survey of India (GSI) Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ • Indian Naval Material Management Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts) • Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQAS) / SSO-II (Mechanical) • Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical & Mechanical) in Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) • Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) • Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS – Mechanical) • Indian Railway Management Service (Stores) – Mechanical Engineering Posts • Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) • Indian Naval Armament Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts) • Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service • Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts) • Central Power Engineering Service (CPES) Gr ‘A’ (Mechanical Engineering Posts) |
|
Category III: Electrical Engineering |
• Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (Electrical Engineering Posts) • Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electrical Engineering Posts) • Central Power Engineering Service (CPES) Gr ‘A’ (Electrical Engineering Posts) • Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service (DAQAS) / SSO-II (Electrical) • Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) • Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS – Electrical) • Indian Railway Management Service (Stores) – Electrical Engineering Posts • Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) • Indian Naval Armament Service (Electrical Engineering Posts) |
|
Category IV: Electronics & Telecommunication |
• Indian Radio Regulatory Service (IRRS) Gr ‘A’ • Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS) Gr ‘A’ • Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electronics & Telecom Engineering Posts) • Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics & Telecom Engineering Posts) • Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS) • Junior Telecom Officer (JTO) Group ‘B’ (General Central Service) • Indian Railway Management Service (Signal & Telecommunication) • Indian Railway Management Service (Stores) – S&T Engineering Posts • Central Power Engineering Service (CPES) Gr ‘A’ (Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Posts) |
4. UPSC ESE 2027 Salary Structure & Applicable Allowances
Candidates appointed through the Engineering Services Examination are inducted into the applicable pay level of their allotted service or cadre. Under the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC) framework, induction at the Junior Time Scale (JTS) corresponds to Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500), with pre-revised Grade Pay of ₹5,400 in Pay Band 3. As officers advance in service, they progress through the Senior Time Scale (Pay Level 11), Junior Administrative Grade (Pay Level 12), Selection Grade (Pay Level 13), and Higher Administrative Grade levels.
In addition to the entry basic pay of ₹56,100, officers receive central government allowances governed by the Department of Expenditure (DoE), Ministry of Finance:
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Revised by the Government of India to 60% of Basic Pay with effect from 1 January 2026.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): In accordance with DoE OM No. 2/5/2017-E.II(B), HRA rates stand revised to 30% for Class ‘X’ (metro) cities, 20% for Class ‘Y’ cities, and 10% for Class ‘Z’ areas upon DA crossing the 50% threshold. If government residential quarters are allotted, HRA is not drawn.
- Transport Allowance (TPTA): Paid as per city classification (₹7,200 per month in higher TPTA cities and ₹3,600 in other locations) plus prevailing DA thereon.
- Additional Benefits: Entitlements include Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) medical coverage, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), Children Education Allowance (CEA), and retirement coverage under the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) / National Pension System (NPS).
A fixed universal “in-hand salary” cannot be assigned to all appointees. Actual gross and net take-home pay varies according to the allotted cadre and service, place of posting (Class X, Y, or Z city), entitlement or occupation of government quarters, statutory deductions (such as pension contribution and CGEGIS), income tax slab choices, and prevailing allowance rates at the time of appointment.
5. Critical Application Rules: Compliance Mandates & Procedural Restrictions
Candidates must carefully note the procedural rules detailed in the notification to prevent errors that may lead to rejection:
- The Mandatory 3-Signature Requirement: UPSC Note 3 specifies that applicants must sign three times (one below the other) on a plain white sheet using black ink before scanning and uploading during the Common Application Form (CAF) phase.
- Photograph and Signature Requirements: Candidates must follow the photograph and signature specifications prescribed by UPSC during the application process, including the required live photograph capture and specimen-signature submission.
- Application Submission and URN Update: Candidates should verify the application carefully before final submission. Changes made later to the URN profile do not automatically modify an application that has already been submitted. UPSC provides a one-time profile update facility for the Universal Registration Number (URN); however, changes in the URN profile do not alter already-submitted applications and will apply only to subsequent application forms. Furthermore, the application withdrawal facility is no longer provided.
- OMR Sheet Instructions (Black Ballpoint Pen Mandatory): Candidates must use a black ballpoint pen exclusively for marking answers and encoding details on OMR sheets. Using any other pen or pencil, or committing errors in encoding the Roll Number or Test Booklet Series Code, renders the answer sheet liable for rejection.
6. Eligibility Criteria & Age Relaxation Structure (As on 01 January 2027)
Candidates must fulfill the statutory criteria regarding nationality, age, and academic qualifications as prescribed under Rule 5 and Rule 6 of the examination circular:
A. Nationality Conditions
A candidate 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 to India before 01 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India; or
- (e) A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, and Ethiopia) or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.
Note: Candidates falling under categories (b), (c), (d), and (e) must possess an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India. An offer of appointment will be issued only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been verified.
B. Age Limits & Date of Birth Cut-off
Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on 01 January 2027. That is, applicants must have been born not earlier than 02 January 1997 and not later than 01 January 2006.
C. Category-Wise Upper Age Relaxation Table
| Category / Cadre Status | Upper Age Relaxation | Statutory Conditions as per Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Up to 5 Years (Max 35 Years) | Applicable to castes/tribes included in the central list. |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC – Non-Creamy Layer) | Up to 3 Years (Max 33 Years) | Valid non-creamy layer central certificate required. |
| Defence Services Personnel | Up to 3 Years | Disabled in operations during hostilities with any foreign country or in disturbed areas. |
| Ex-Servicemen (including ECOs / SSCOs) | Up to 5 Years | Minimum 5 years military service as on 01 January 2027 and released on completion of assignment or medical invalidment. |
| Departmental Candidates (Rule 5(b)) | Up to 35 Years of Age | Must hold substantively a permanent post or have at least 3 years continuous temporary service on regular basis in specified participating departments. |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | Up to 10 Years | Cumulative with community relaxation (SC/ST/OBC) and Ex-Servicemen benefits. |
D. Educational Qualifications & Status of Appearing Candidates
Candidates must hold a degree in engineering from an incorporated university or institution recognized by the Government of India, or have passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India), or hold equivalent qualifications recognized for recruitment to superior engineering services.
Provisional Admission for Final-Year Students: Candidates who have appeared or are appearing at their final qualifying examination may apply for admission to the Preliminary Examination. Such candidates are admitted purely provisionally. Proof of acquiring the qualifying engineering degree must be submitted during the Detailed Application Form (DAF) stage prior to the Main Examination.
7. Examination Pattern & Scheme of Evaluation (1,300 Marks Total)
The Engineering Services Examination is conducted across three sequential stages totaling 1,300 marks for final merit compilation:
| Stage / Paper | Subject Syllabus | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage-I: Paper 1 (Objective) | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 2 Hours | 200 Marks |
| Stage-I: Paper 2 (Objective) | Engineering Discipline Specific Paper | 3 Hours | 300 Marks |
| Stage-II: Paper 1 (Conventional) | Discipline Paper 1 (Written Subjective) | 3 Hours | 300 Marks |
| Stage-II: Paper 2 (Conventional) | Discipline Paper 2 (Written Subjective) | 3 Hours | 300 Marks |
| Stage-III: Personality Test | Interview & Board Viva-Voce | — | 200 Marks |
| Total Marks for Final Merit Ranking | 1,300 Marks | ||
Penalty for Wrong Answers (Negative Marking): In the Stage-I Objective papers, penalty is deducted at the rate of one-third (0.33) of the marks assigned to that question for every incorrect answer. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
8. How to Apply Online: Application Procedure & Fee Details
Eligible applicants must submit their forms exclusively via the official portal. Follow these sequential steps:
-
Access Portal: Visit
upsconline.nic.inand click on the registration module. - Universal Registration Number (URN): Complete one-time account registration using demographic details, email ID, and mobile number. Enter photo ID credentials (Aadhaar is recommended).
- Complete Common Application Form (CAF): Fill academic qualifications, upload the triple-signature image in black ink, and capture the real-time webcam photograph.
- Fill Examination Specific Module: Select Engineering Services Examination 2027, designate your engineering discipline category, and select your preferred Preliminary Examination centre.
- Fee Remittance: Pay the examination fee of ₹200 through Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit or Debit Card, or UPI. All female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories are exempt from fee payment.
- Submit & Print: Verify all details on the preview screen before final submission. Download and print the completed confirmation slip bearing your dynamic Application Number.
9. Verified Official Links & Rulebook
| Official Resource | Direct Access Link |
|---|---|
| UPSC Online Application Portal (Apply Online) | upsconline.nic.in |
| Official ESE 2027 Notification PDF (Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG) | Download Notification PDF |
| UPSC Official Website (Active Examinations) | upsc.gov.in |
| UPSC Candidate Facilitation Helpline | 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 (10:00 AM – 5:30 PM) |
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The commission has notified approximately 480 vacancies, including 19 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The notification clarifies that this number is approximate and liable to alteration based on requirements submitted by participating cadres.
Officers are appointed in the applicable pay level of their allotted service, with entry at Junior Time Scale (JTS) in Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500). Along with basic pay, officers receive central allowances including Dearness Allowance (revised to 60% w.e.f. 01.01.2026), House Rent Allowance (30%/20%/10% based on city category), and Transport Allowance. In-hand pay varies by post, city of posting, quarters allotment, and statutory deductions.
Yes. Candidates appearing in their final qualifying engineering examination are eligible for provisional admission to the Preliminary Examination. They must submit documentary proof of passing the qualifying examination at the time of Detailed Application Form (DAF) submission for the Main Examination.
Online applications on upsconline.nic.in close on 06 October 2026 at 18:00 Hours (6:00 PM). No late applications or field changes in submitted forms are accepted after this time.
The ₹200 fee can be paid through Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit or Debit Card, or UPI. Offline modes like cash or challans are not accepted. Female, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempt from paying the fee.
No. UPSC provides a one-time edit facility for the Universal Registration Number (URN) profile, but changes made in the profile apply only to subsequent examinations and will not be reflected in applications already submitted.