UPSC ESE 2026 - Prelims Result (Out), Cutoff

UPSC ESE 2026 - Overview

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Dates

The UPSC ESE exam dates 2026 are given in the official notification. Candidates may also check the table below for a simplified version to know all the UPSC ESE exam dates that are important -

UPSC ESE Exam Dates 2026

UPSC ESE 2026 Notification

The UPSC ESE notification 2026 released on September 26, 2025. The UPSC ESE notification has been released on the official website. Candidates can know all the essential details regarding the UPSC ESE 2026 exam through the official notification. Before starting with the application process, candidates are advised to go through the UPSC ESE notification 2026 thoroughly.

UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form

UPSC released the UPSC ESE application form 2026 on September 26, 2025 on the official website. Candidates were able to submit the UPSC ESE 2026 application form until October 16, 2025. They are also required to upload scanned copies of their photos and signatures for the successful submission of the UPSC ESE application. Female applicants and reserved categories are exempted from paying the UPSC ESE application fee.

UPSC ESE 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The UPSC ESE 2026 eligibility criteria is mentioned in the official notification. Candidates are advised to check the UPSC ESE eligibility before filling the application form. The UPSC ESE eligibility criteria mainly consist of three factors ,including nationality, educational qualification and age limit. The UPSC ESE eligibility criteria 2026 is given in the table below -

Eligibility Criteria of UPSC ESE 2026

UPSC ESE 2026 Syllabus

The detailed UPSC ESE syllabus is available in the official notification. Candidates can find the UPSC ESE syllabus 2026 for all the engineering branches in the notification. The UPSC ESE 2026 syllabus varies and candidates are required to go through the entire syllabus before planning their preparation.

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates must familiarise themselves with the UPSC ESE 2026 exam pattern prior to appearing for the exam as it will help them plan properly on how to write the exam and the time they will allot to each question. The nature of the UPSC ESE exam differs according to the stage of the exam. The prelims exam consists of MCQs, while the Mains exam consists of descriptive type questions.

UPSC ESE Prelims and Mains Exam Pattern:

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Centres

The list of the UPSC ESE exam centre 2026 is available in the official notification. The UPSC ESE exam centre list is viable to change at any point of the recruitment process. Candidates are advised to choose the nearest UPSC ESE 2026 exam centre while filling the application form.

The prelims exam is conducted in 50 cities across India and the UPSC ESE Mains exam will be conducted in about 24 cities. The allotment of the UPSC ESE exam centre 2026 will be purely based on a ‘first-apply-first-allot’ basis.

UPSC ESE 2026 Admit Card

The UPSC ESE admit card was issued on January 30, 2026. Candidates can get their UPSC ESE admit card 2026 a week before the examination. After downloading the UPSC ESE admit card, they are required to go through and check if all the details are correct. If there is a discrepancy, candidates are required to contact the commission as soon as possible.

Helpline -. 011-23381125/011-23385271/011-23098543.

UPSC ESE 2026 Preparation Tips

The first step to cracking the UPSC ESE exam is to go through the exam pattern and syllabus. Understanding the UPSC ESE 2026 exam pattern aids in a comprehensive understanding about the nature of the examination and formulating an effective study plan.

The UPSC ESE Preparation Tips also stresses on crafting a study plan which focuses on building a strong foundation around the core subjects. The UPSC ESE study plan must meticulously be followed and tested by mock tests and previous year question papers.

UPSC ESE 2026 Question Paper

UPSC will release the UPSC ESE question paper 2026 on the official website. Candidates can refer to the UPSC ESE previous year question papers and practice them regularly to sharpen their knowledge. The UPSC ESE question papers can be directly downloaded from the official website in its PDF form.

The UPSC ESE question papers for diverse engineering disciplines such as Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Engineering are available online for both the Prelims and Mains examination which can be utilised by candidates to complement their preparation for the upcoming exam.

UPSC ESE 2026 Result

The Commission has released the UPSC ESE results 2026 on February 26, 2026 on the official website, upsc.gov.in. Candidates can check the UPSC ESE 2026 results in the form of a PDF. Those who clear one stage of the selection process will qualify to the next stage. The final UPSC ESE merit list will be drafted taking into account the candidate's performance in the Main examination and the personality test interview.

UPSC ESE 2026 Cut Off

The UPSC ESE 2026 cut offs are declared in three stages - Prelims, Mains and Interview. The UPSC ESE cut offs are based on the category of the applicant. The UPSC ESE cut offs 2026 for the prelims are out of 500. The UPSC ESE mains cut off is determined by adding the prelims marks (out of 500) to the Mains marks (out of 600). The final interview is out of 200 marks and the final UPSC ESE cut off is calculated for 1300 marks.

UPSC ESE 2026 Answer Key

The Commission will release the UPSC ESE 2026 answer key on the official website upsc.gov.in. The UPSC ESE answer key 2026 will be released many weeks after the exam is over. The UPSC ESE answer key will be released in PDF format.

The marks for the UPSC ESE prelims will be calculated by adding two marks per correct answer and deducting one third of the total for incorrect markings. Descriptive type questions are free from negative marking

UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy

The UPSC ESE vacancy 2026 is determined by the commission. The UPSC ESE vacancy has been mentioned in the official notification. Candidates can check the UPSC ESE 2026 vacancy to determine the competition level of the examination.

UPSC ESE 2026 Salary

The UPSC ESE 2026 salaries vary, especially according to the experience. A Junior officer at the time of joining, receives a pay of Rs 56,100. However, a senior officer after 3-5 years of experience will be given a UPSC ESE salary Rs 67,700 - Rs 2,08,700. Officers get to further expand their UPSC ESE salary packages after 10-15 years placing them under Junior Administrative Grade and Senior Administrative Grade respectively.

UPSC ESE Salary Structure 2026