UPSC ESE 2026 - Notification (September 17), Application form, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus

UPSC ESE 2026 - Notification (September 17), Application form, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus

Edited By Meghana Mohana Krishnan | Updated on May 21, 2025 12:28 PM IST | #UPSC ESE
Upcoming Event
UPSC ESE  Exam Date : 08 Jun' 2025 - 08 Jun' 2025

Union Public Service Commission announced the UPSC ESE notification date 2026 in the Annual Calendar. The UPSC ESE 2026 notification and the application form will be released on September 17, 2025. Candidates will be able to fill the UPSC ESE application form 2026 until October 7, 2025.

The UPSC ESE 2026 exam is scheduled to be conducted on February 8, 2026. The commission will also conduct the UPSC ESE exam for mains on June 21, 2026. The UPSC ESE exam 2026 is conducted to recruit potential candidates for various Group A and B posts. The below article gives all the basic details related to the UPSC ESE recruitment.

This Story also Contains
  1. UPSC ESE 2026 - Overview
  2. UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Dates
  3. UPSC ESE 2026 Notification
  4. UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form
  5. UPSC ESE 2026 Eligibility Criteria
  6. UPSC ESE 2026 Syllabus
  7. UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Pattern
  8. UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Centres
  9. UPSC ESE 2026 Admit Card
  10. UPSC ESE 2026 Preparation Tips
  11. UPSC ESE 2026 Question Paper
  12. UPSC ESE 2026 Result
  13. UPSC ESE 2026 Cut Off
  14. UPSC ESE 2026 Answer Key
  15. UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy
  16. UPSC ESE 2026 Salary
UPSC ESE 2026 - Notification (September 17), Application form, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus
UPSC ESE 2026 - Notification (September 17), Application form, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus

UPSC ESE 2026 - Overview

Exam Name

UPSC Engineering Services Examination

Short form

UPSC ESE

Conducting Body

Union Public Service Commission

Exam mode

Offline

Application mode

Online

Number of Vacancies

TBA

Exam Level

National

Stages in the UPSC ESE exam

  • Prelims.

  • Mains.

  • Interview/ Personality test

Website

upsc.gov.in

Name of the post

Various Group A and Group B posts under engineering branches like Civil, Mechanical, ESE, Electrical, etc.

Application fee

200

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Dates

The UPSC ESE exam dates 2026 will be 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

Event

Date

UPSC ESE Notification Date

September 17, 2025

UPSC ESE application form date 2026

September 17, 2025

UPSC ESE application form last date

October 7, 2025

UPSC ESE application correction window

To be announced

UPSC ESE admit card date 2026

To be announced

UPSC ESE exam date 2026

February 8, 2026

UPSC ESE result date

To be announced

UPSC ESE Mains exam date 2026

June 21, 2026

UPSC ESE Mains result date

To be announced

UPSC ESE Interview date

To be announced

Final Result date

To be announced

UPSC ESE 2026 Notification

The UPSC ESE notification 2026 is going to be released on September 17, 2025. The UPSC ESE notification will be released on the official website. Candidates will be able to 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 2026 notification thoroughly.

UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form

UPSC will release the UPSC ESE application form 2026 on September 17, 2025 on the official website. Candidates will be able to submit the UPSC ESE 2026 application form until October 7, 2025. Candidates 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 will be 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

Factors

Eligibility criteria

Nationality

  1. Applicant must be a citizen of India

  2. A subject of Bhutan or Nepal

  3. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1st, 1962 with the intention of settling in the country

  4. A person of Indian origin migrating from a neighbouring country with the plan to settle in India permanently.

Educational Qualification

  1. An Engineering degree from a University listed under the Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other Educational Institutions listed under the Act of Parliament. (or)

  2. A degree/diploma in Engineering from such a foreign University/College and recognised by the Government. (or)

  3. Cleared Sections A and B of the Exams of the Institution of Engineers in India.

Age limit

21-30 Years

UPSC ESE 2026 Syllabus

The detailed UPSC ESE syllabus will be available in the official notification. Candidates will be able to 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 familiarize 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:

Exam

Prelims

Mains

Mode of exam

Offline(Objective Type Multiple Choice Questions)

Offline (Descriptive Type Questions)

Marks per paper

Paper 1 - 200 marks

Paper 2 - 300 marks

Paper 1 - 300 marks

Paper 2 - 300 marks

Number of questions per paper

Paper 1 - 100 questions

Paper 2 - 150 questions

Paper 1 - 8 questions

Paper 2 - 8 questions

UPSC ESE 2026 Exam Centres

The list of the UPSC ESE exam centre 2026 will be 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 will be conducted in 37 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

Candidates will be able to 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 will release the UPSC ESE results 2026 on the official website, upsc.gov.in. Candidates will be able to 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 will be determined by the commission. The UPSC ESE vacancy will be 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

Level

Pay Scale

Junior Time Scale (JTS)

Rs 56,100 - Rs 1,77,500

Senior Time Scale (STS)

Rs 67,700 - Rs 2,08,700

Junior Administrative Grade (JAG)

Rs 1,23,100 - Rs 2,15,900

Senior Administrative Grade (SAG)

Rs 1,44,200 - Rs 2,18,200

Higher Administrative Grade (HAG)

Rs 1,82,200 - Rs 2,24,100

HAG+

Rs 2,05,400 - Rs 2,24,400

Apex Scale

Rs 2,25,000

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it possible to crack ESE in 3 months?

It is quite difficult to crack the UPSC ESE exam 2026 within 3 months as it is a competitive exam. 

2. When will the UPSC ESE exam be conducted?

The UPSC ESE prelims exam 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on February 8, 2026. 

3. Can I give ESE in my 4th year of Bachelor's?

Yes, a 4th year student can appear in the UPSC ESE exam 2026.

4. What is the UPSC ESE notification date?

The UPSC ESE 2026 notification will be released on September 17, 2025. 

5. Who is eligible for ESE 2026?

Those between the age 21 to 30 with an engineering degree are eligible for the UPSC ESE 2026 exam. 

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Questions related to UPSC ESE

Have a question related to UPSC ESE ?
  • Student Preparation for UPSC and GATE:

    • Many B.Tech students at Gautam Buddha University (GBU), Noida , prepare for competitive exams like UPSC Civil Services (CSE), Engineering Services (ESE), and GATE alongside their studies.

    • The university does not have dedicated coaching for UPSC CSE or ESE, but students rely on self-study, coaching institutes, and online platforms .

    • GATE preparation is more common among students from branches like ECE, EE, and ME , and some faculty members guide students for technical exams.

  • Library and Study Support:

    • GBU has a well-equipped library where students access study materials for UPSC, GATE, and other government exams.

    • Some student groups and societies organize discussions and peer-study groups for civil services aspirants.

  • Placement Scenario at GBU Noida:

    • Placement opportunities at GBU vary based on the branch and industry demand.

    • Companies like TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Capgemini, HCL, and Cognizant visit the campus for IT and engineering-related roles.

    • The average salary package ranges from 3 LPA to 6 LPA , depending on the branch and student performance.

    • Core branches (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical) have relatively lower placement percentages in comparison to CSE and IT , but students opt for government exam preparation.

  • Higher Studies and Research:

    • Some students prefer higher education options such as M.Tech through GATE or MBA through CAT/XAT .

    • A few students also explore research opportunities in IITs and NITs through GATE scores.

  • Conclusion:

    • While GBU Noida does not provide dedicated coaching for UPSC or GATE , students prepare for these exams independently.

    • Placement opportunities are available but highly dependent on skills, internships, and individual efforts.

    • Students interested in government jobs or public sector roles should actively participate in self-study groups, online coaching, and mock tests .

At Gautam Buddha University (GBU), Greater Noida, students pursuing B.Tech in various disciplines do prepare for government examinations like UPSC CSE, UPSC ESE, and GATE. Here's a general scenario:


Preparation for Government Exams

- *UPSC CSE*: Some students prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services Examination (CSE) alongside their B.Tech studies. However, this requires dedicated effort and time management.

- *UPSC ESE*: Students from engineering disciplines like Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering often prepare for the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE). GBU's engineering programs can provide a strong foundation for this exam.

- *GATE*: GATE preparation is common among B.Tech students, as it can lead to postgraduate opportunities, PSU jobs, or further education. GBU students often prepare for GATE exams relevant to their disciplines.


University Support

- *Career Counseling*: GBU's career counseling services might offer guidance on competitive exams, resume building, and interview preparation.

- *Academic Foundation*: The university's B.Tech programs provide a solid academic foundation, which can help students prepare for government exams.


Student Initiatives

- *Self-study and online resources*: Many students utilize online resources, study groups, and coaching institutes to prepare for government exams.

- *Time management*: Balancing B.Tech studies with government exam preparation requires effective time management and prioritization.


While GBU doesn't guarantee success in government exams, the university's academic environment and resources can support students in their preparation. Students' dedication, hard work, and strategic planning are crucial to achieving their goals.

Hello,

You cannot give the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) with a BSc Engineering degree . Here are the eligibility criteria :

  • Educational Qualification: A degree in Engineering (B.E./B.Tech) from a recognized university is mandatory.
  • Eligible Streams: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering are accepted.
  • BSc Engineering: This degree is not equivalent to a B.E./B.Tech. You would need to pursue an M.E./M.Tech or equivalent in a relevant field to become eligible.
  • Consider checking UPSC's official notification for detailed eligibility.

Hope it helps !

Hello aspirant,

Hope you are doing absolutely great.

So with regard to your query, YES for the ESE (Engineering Service Examination) exam any student who is a graduate of engineering can apply for this exam. If you had graduated from Btech course, then you are eligible for the exam.

Hope this helps you!!

Hello Aspirant,

Eligibility criteria for IES or ESE are

Candidate must have received a degree in Engineering from a university integrated by an act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or acknowledged as deemed to be universities under section-3 of the university grants commission act.

As NMIMS Mumbai is a private deemed university, you are eligible for this exam.

It came to be a deemed university organized under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956.

I hope it helps.


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