The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 Notification on September 26, 2025. This prestigious exam—also known as IES (Indian Engineering Services)—recruits engineers for top Group-A and Group-B posts across Central Government departments.
Important Dates
- Notification Release Date: 26th September 2025
- Last Date to Apply: 16th October 2025 (till 6 PM)
- ESE 2026 Preliminary Exam Date: 8th February 2026
- E-Admit Card Release: Last week before exam
- Official Website: www.upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in
🧭 Key Highlights of ESE 2026
- Total Vacancies: Approximately 474 (including 26 PwBD vacancies)
- Categories:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
- Application Fee: ₹200 (Women, SC, ST, and PwBD candidates exempted)
- Application Mode: Online only through the new UPSC Online Application Portal
🧩 What’s New in ESE 2026?
Introduction of a new online application portal featuring:
- Account creation
- Universal Registration Number (URN)
- Common Application Form (CAF)
- Exam-specific module
- Old OTR system discontinued.
- Aadhaar Card recommended for seamless ID verification.
- Candidates must upload a recent photograph (not older than 10 days).
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit: 21 to 30 years as of 1st January 2026
(Born between 2nd January 1996 and 1st January 2005)
- Age relaxation: SC/ST – 5 years, OBC – 3 years, Govt. Employees – up to 35 years, PwBD – up to 10 years
- Educational Qualification:
Degree in Engineering (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/E&T) from a recognized university or equivalent.
(Certain M.Sc. degrees with specialization in Wireless Communication/Electronics/Radio Physics also eligible.)
📚 ESE 2026 Exam Pattern
Stage I – Preliminary Examination
Objective type
Paper I (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude): 200 marks
Paper II (Engineering Discipline-specific): 300 marks
Stage II – Main Examination
Conventional type (Written): 600 marks (2 Papers)
Stage III – Personality Test
Interview: 200 marks
- Final merit is based on Stage I + II + III (total 1300 marks).
🏢 Services and Departments Recruiting Through ESE 2026
Some of the key Group-A and Group-B posts include:
- Central Engineering Service
- Central Water Engineering Service
- Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS)
- Border Roads Engineering Service (AEE)
- Indian Skill Development Service
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service
- Indian Radio Regulatory Service
- Junior Telecom Officer (Group-B)
⚠️ Important Instructions
- Use Black Ball Pen for marking OMR answers.
- No mobile phones, smartwatches, or electronic devices allowed in exam halls.
- Applications cannot be withdrawn once submitted.
- Negative marking applicable for wrong answers in objective papers.
- Candidates must maintain same appearance as in uploaded photo across all exam stages.
☎️ UPSC ESE 2026 Helpline
Candidates can contact the UPSC helpline at 011-24041001 between 10:00 AM and 5:30 PM (working days) for any application-related queries.
Conclusion
The UPSC ESE 2026 offers a golden opportunity for engineering graduates to join India’s most prestigious technical services. With 474 posts across multiple engineering disciplines, aspirants are advised to start preparing early and apply well before October 16, 2025.
Stay tuned for updates on ESE 2026 Admit Card, syllabus, and cut-off analysis.
