UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027: Apply Online for 480 Vacancies

UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027. The examination will be conducted for recruitment to various engineering services/posts under four engineering categories — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.

According to the official notification, the number of vacancies is expected to be approximately 480, including 19 vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The number of vacancies is liable to alteration.

UPSC ESE 2027 – Overview

UPSC ESE 2027 Vacancy Details

The UPSC notification states that approximately 480 vacancies are expected to be filled through Engineering Services Examination 2027. The vacancy figure may be altered by the Government. Of these, 19 vacancies are indicated for PwBD candidates.

Note: The notification gives an approximate total vacancy figure rather than a final discipline-wise vacancy breakup at this stage.

Engineering Services Under ESE 2027

Recruitment through ESE 2027 is proposed under four categories:

• Category I: Civil Engineering
• Category II: Mechanical Engineering
• Category III: Electrical Engineering
• Category IV: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

The notification lists services/posts such as Central Engineering Service, Survey of India Group 'A' Service, Central Water Engineering Group 'A' Service, Indian Railway Management Service, Indian Defence Service of Engineers and other engineering services under the respective categories.

UPSC ESE 2027 Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

A candidate must be a citizen of India, or fall within the other nationality categories specified in the notification, including subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, certain Tibetan refugees, and specified persons of Indian origin who have migrated from the countries mentioned in the notice. Candidates falling under the specified non-Indian categories require the prescribed certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

Age Limit

Candidates must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 30 years as on 1 January 2027. Accordingly, the candidate must have been born not earlier than 2 January 1997 and not later than 1 January 2006.

The notification also provides specified age relaxations for eligible Government servants, SC/ST, OBC, certain defence personnel, Ex-servicemen/ECOs/SSCOs and PwBD candidates. For example, the upper age limit is relaxable up to five years for SC/ST candidates, three years for eligible OBC candidates and up to 10 years for specified PwBD categories.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must possess the prescribed engineering qualification. The notification primarily requires an Engineering Degree from a recognised university or institution established under the applicable Indian law. Certain alternative qualifications recognised under the notification are also accepted, including specified Institution of Engineers (India), Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, Aeronautical Society of India and Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers qualifications.

For certain posts, specified M.Sc. qualifications in areas such as Wireless Communication Electronics, Radio Physics, Radio Engineering, Physics, Radio Communication, Electronics or Telecommunication are also mentioned in the notification.

UPSC ESE 2027 Application Fee

The examination fee is ₹200. Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST and PwBD categories are exempted from payment of the fee. OBC and EWS candidates are required to pay the prescribed fee in full.

The fee can be paid through net banking or Visa/Master/RuPay credit/debit card or UPI. Fee once paid is not refundable.

UPSC ESE 2027 Selection Process

The Engineering Services Examination consists of three stages:

1. Stage-I: Engineering Services Preliminary Examination
2. Stage-II: Engineering Services Main Examination
3. Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview

Stage-I is an objective-type examination used for selection to Stage-II. Stage-II consists of conventional-type engineering papers, followed by the Personality Test/Interview.

UPSC ESE 2027 Exam Pattern

Stage-I: Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Examination consists of two objective-type papers carrying a total of 500 marks.

The same 500-mark structure applies to Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication candidates, with Paper-II corresponding to their chosen engineering discipline.

Stage-II: Main Examination

The Main Examination consists of two conventional-type engineering papers, each carrying 300 marks and having a duration of three hours. The total is 600 marks.

Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview

The Personality Test/Interview carries 200 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks.

Negative Marking in UPSC ESE 2027

There is negative marking in the objective-type papers of the Preliminary Examination. For every wrong answer, one-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. If more than one answer is marked, it is treated as a wrong answer. No penalty is imposed for a question left unanswered.

UPSC ESE 2027 Syllabus

General Studies & Engineering Aptitude

Paper-I covers the following broad areas:

1. Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development
2. Engineering Aptitude, including logical reasoning and analytical ability
3. Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis
4. General principles of design, drawing and importance of safety
5. Standards and quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services
6. Energy and Environment, including conservation, pollution, climate change and environmental impact assessment
7. Basics of Project Management
8. Basics of Material Science and Engineering
9. ICT-based tools and applications in engineering
10. Ethics and values in engineering profession

Questions are set from all ten topics, with the marks for an individual topic potentially ranging from 5% to 15% of the total marks in the paper.

Engineering Discipline Syllabus

The discipline-specific syllabus is prescribed separately for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. The notification specifies that the standard of these papers is approximately that of an Engineering Degree Examination of an Indian University.

UPSC ESE 2027 Important Dates

The notification confirms that applications can be submitted from 16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026 up to 6:00 PM.

How to Apply for UPSC ESE 2027?

Candidates are required to submit their applications online only through the UPSC Online Application portal.

1. Visit the UPSC Online Application portal.
2. Create an account, if required.
3. Generate the Universal Registration Number (URN).
4. Complete the Common Application Form (CAF).
5. Select the Engineering Services Examination 2027 examination-specific module.
6. Select the appropriate engineering discipline and examination centre.
7. Enter the required personal, educational and category details.
8. Upload the photograph, live photograph and signature as instructed.
9. Pay the applicable examination fee.
10. Submit the application and retain the Application Number and URN for future reference.

UPSC states that the application system uses Account Creation, Universal Registration, Common Application Form and the examination-specific module. A URN is generated for registration and remains common across examinations, while the Application Number is examination-specific.

Documents Required for UPSC ESE 2027

• Matriculation / Secondary Examination Certificate
• Engineering Educational Qualification Certificate
• Category Certificate, wherever applicable
• EWS Income & Asset Certificate, wherever applicable
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer Certificate, wherever applicable
• PwBD Certificate, wherever applicable
• Age/Fee Concession documents, wherever applicable
• Valid Photo ID
• Photograph and Signature

The notification specifically asks candidates to keep scanned copies of age, educational qualification, reservation/category and applicable concession documents ready for submission.

UPSC ESE 2027 Examination Centres

The Preliminary Examination is scheduled across numerous centres including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cuttack, Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar/Sambalpur region as specified by UPSC, and other listed cities.

UPSC states that allotment of centres is subject to a ceiling at most centres and is on a first-apply-first-allot basis until capacity is reached. Candidates are therefore advised to apply early if they have a preferred centre.

Important Examination Instructions

• Black ball pen must be used for writing and marking answers in the OMR sheet.
• Negative marking applies to objective-type papers.
• Mobile phones, smart watches, AI-enabled glasses and other prohibited electronic devices are not allowed in the examination hall.
• Entry to the examination venue closes 30 minutes before commencement of each session.
• Face authentication at the examination venue is mandatory.
• Candidates must carry the prescribed Photo ID used in their application.

These instructions are specifically provided in the ESE 2027 examination notice.

UPSC ESE 2027 – Key Points for Candidates

Frequently Asked Questions – UPSC ESE 2027

Q1. When was the UPSC ESE 2027 notification released?

The Engineering Services Examination 2027 notification was issued on 16 September 2026.

Q2. How many vacancies are available in UPSC ESE 2027?

Approximately 480 vacancies are expected to be filled. The vacancy figure is liable to alteration.

Q3. Which engineering disciplines are covered?

Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering are covered under ESE 2027.

Q4. What is the age limit for UPSC ESE 2027?

Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years as on 1 January 2027, subject to the applicable age relaxations.

Q5. What is the educational qualification for ESE 2027?

The primary qualification is an eligible Engineering Degree from a recognised institution, along with certain alternative qualifications specified in the notification.

Q6. What is the application fee?

The prescribed fee is ₹200. Female, SC, ST and eligible PwBD candidates are exempted from payment.

Q7. What is the last date to apply for UPSC ESE 2027?

The last date for online application is 6 October 2026 up to 6:00 PM.

Q8. When will the UPSC ESE Preliminary Examination 2027 be held?

The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 31 January 2027.

Q9. When will the UPSC ESE Main Examination 2027 be held?

The Main Examination is scheduled for 18 June 2027.

Q10. Is there negative marking in UPSC ESE 2027?

Yes. In the objective-type papers, one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for an incorrect answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.

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