UPSC ESE 2027 — Engineering Services Preliminary, 480 posts (6 Oct)
Union Public Service Commission
- Location
- All India
- Last date
- 6 Oct 2026
- Qualification
- Degree in Engineering (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical / E&T) or equivalent as in the notice
- Age limit
- 21–30 years as on 01.01.2027 (born 02.01.1997 to 01.01.2006); relaxations as printed
- Vacancies
- About 480 including 19 PwBD (liable to change)
- Pay / stipend
- Group A / Group B engineering services as allotted after the exam
- Experience
- Fresh engineering graduates eligible if the degree rule is met
- Application fee
- ₹200; women, SC, ST and PwBD exempt
- Selection
- Prelims (31 Jan 2027) + Mains (18 Jun 2027) + Personality Test
Official Details
UPSC ESE 2027 (Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG., dated 16 September 2026) is the combined Engineering Services exam for Group A and Group B posts. Last date to submit the online form is 6 October 2026, 6:00 pm. Apply only on upsconline.nic.in. Official calendar and notice sit on upsc.gov.in examination notifications.
What UPSC ESE 2027 actually is
ESE is the old IES route. One exam, four engineering streams, and a list of central services that need engineers — roads, railways, defence production, telecommunications, survey, and other listed cadres. You pick one category. You do not pick a ministry on day one. Allotment comes after the rank list and medicals.
This is not campus placement. It is a three-stage national exam. Most people who fill the form never reach Mains. That is normal. Treat the last date as a form deadline, not an exam date.
What kind of role this is
Regular Group A / Group B posts in participating services. Work is all-India. Physical standards in Appendix-II of the Rules apply. Bond or service rules, if any, are of the cadre you join later, not of the form.
Who should apply — and who should skip
Apply if you already have, or will have in time, a recognised engineering degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication (or an equivalent listed in the notice), you will be 21–30 years on 1 January 2027, and you can sit Prelims on 31 January 2027.
Skip if your degree is outside the four categories, if you took an IETE / AeSI admission after 31 May 2013 (the 2026 notice already flagged that those certificates are not admissible; the 2027 PDF is the last word), or if you cannot travel for a pen-and-paper exam. Also skip coaching posters that invent a higher vacancy number than the notice.
Dates and fee
| Item | On the official notice |
|---|---|
| Notification | 16 September 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 6 October 2026, 6:00 pm |
| Prelims (Stage-I) | 31 January 2027 (one day) |
| Mains (Stage-II) | 18 June 2027 |
| Fee | ₹200 for male UR/OBC/EWS. Women, SC, ST and PwBD: nil. Pay on the UPSC portal (card / UPI / net banking / SBI). |
Available positions
1. Engineering Services — four categories ~480 vacancies
Eligibility criteria
A candidate must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 30 years on 1 January 2027 — born not earlier than 2 January 1997 and not later than 1 January 2006. Upper age is relaxable as printed (SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwBD +10, and the listed government-servant clause).
Degree in Engineering from a recognised university/institution, or other equivalents printed in the notice (including specified Institution of Engineers routes, subject to the post-31 May 2013 restriction). Final-year students: only if the notice allows appearance subject to producing proof later. Read that paragraph on the PDF before you pay.
No category-wise vacancy split by UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS is printed as a single roster table in the summary notice. Total expected vacancies are approximately 480 including 19 PwBD (11 locomotor including leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid-attack victims and muscular dystrophy; 6 hard of hearing; 1 low vision; 1 SLD and MD). The number is liable to alteration.
Total vacancies — about 480 (liable to change).
Educational qualifications
| Post family | Degree / marks | Experience / extras |
|---|---|---|
| Category I Civil | BE/B.Tech Civil or equivalent as listed | No prior job years required for the exam |
| Category II Mechanical | BE/B.Tech Mechanical or equivalent | Same |
| Category III Electrical | BE/B.Tech Electrical or equivalent | Same |
| Category IV Electronics & Telecommunication | BE/B.Tech E&T or equivalent; some services also list specified M.Sc. radio/electronics routes | Check the service-wise note in the PDF |
Selection
- Stage-I Preliminary — two objective papers (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude + Engineering paper). Screening for Mains.
- Stage-II Main — conventional papers in the chosen engineering discipline.
- Stage-III Personality Test / interview.
- Medical fitness and document check. Final rank uses Mains + interview marks as printed in the Rules.
How to prepare (free, official)
- UPSC examination notifications page — download the 2027 notice from here, not a coaching mirror.
- UPSC online application — URN + Common Application Form + exam-specific form.
How to apply without getting played
- Create or reuse your Universal Registration Number on upsconline.nic.in. One URN for life.
- Finish the Common Application Form, then the ESE 2027 exam-specific card.
- Pay ₹200 only if you are not exempt. Save the acknowledgement PDF.
- Ignore WhatsApp links that ask for extra “form fees”. UPSC does not collect money on private domains.
FAQs
What is the last date?
6 October 2026, 6:00 pm.
Who can apply?
Engineering graduates in the four listed streams, age 21–30 on 1 January 2027, plus printed relaxations.
How many vacancies?
About 480 including 19 PwBD. The figure can change.
Where do I apply?
upsconline.nic.in.
What is the fee?
₹200. Women, SC, ST and PwBD pay nothing.
Can final-year students apply?
Only under the exact appearing-candidate rule in the 2027 PDF. If that line is silent for your case, do not assume you can sit.
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