Union Public Service Commission releases the UPSC ESE cut off 2026 in online mode on the official website - upsc.gov.in. The commission releases the ESE cut off category-wise and post-wise. The UPSC ESE cut off 2026 will be released in PDF format for the UPSC ESE exam. UPSC ESE 2026 cut off is the minimum qualifying marks that each candidate will be required to score in order to qualify in the UPSC ESE 2026. It is to be noted that the minimum qualifying UPSC ESE cut off percentile for prelims and mains exam is fixed by the authorities.
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To keep track of the release date of the cut offs for UPSC ESE 2026, candidates can check the important dates mentioned in the table below.
Events | Dates |
UPSC ESE Prelims exam | February 8, 2026 |
Result of ESE Prelims exam | To be announced |
Mains Exam | June 21, 2026 |
UPSC ESE Mains result | To be announced |
UPSC ESE Final Cut off | To be announced |
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The factors that are analysed while making the UPSC ESE cut off are given below.
Number of candidates appearing for the exam
Total number of ESE 2026 vacancies.
The difficulty level of the exam
The cut off for UPSC ESE 2026 will be released for three stages: prelims, mains and final stage. Those who secure the UPSC ESE prelims cut off 2026 will be eligible to appear in the mains exam and similarly for the final stage of recruitment. Aspirants can check the detailed bifurcation of all stages below.
The cut off for UPSC ESE 2026 prelims exam is calculated out of 500 marks. As per previous years’ UPSC ESE cut off trend, candidates are required to secure the qualifying cut off as per their category in the preliminary exam which is 15% (for General, OBC, ST and SC) while it is 10% for PH.
This means, candidates belonging to general category, OBC, ST and SC candidates have to secure 75 marks and PH category candidates have to score 60 marks. However, candidates are required to score the overall ESE prelims cut off declared by the commission discipline wise as per categories.
The cut off of UPSC ESE 2026 for the mains exam is calculated based on prelims and mains exam and is determined out of 1100 marks. Out of which. 500 are for the preliminary exam and 600 are for the mains exam respectively. As per previous years’ UPSC ESE 2026 analysis, the minimum qualifying marks for General, OBC, SC and ST candidates is 20% while for physically handicapped candidates is 10%.
This means, candidates belonging to general category OBC, ST and SC candidates have to secure 120 marks and PH category candidates have to score 60. However, the candidates have to score the overall UPSC ESE Cut off 2026 released by the commission discipline wise for the different categories.
The final cut off of UPSC ESE is based on the marks secured by the candidates for selection and is calculated out of 1300 marks (500 marks for prelims, 600 for mains and 200 for interview). All India Merit list to select suitable candidates for the exam is prepared based on the final allotment. Candidates are allotted to different posts as per their rank in the merit list and preferences of branches and posts.
Final cut off marks (1300) = Preliminary exam (500) + Mains exam (600) + Personality test (200).
UPSC ESE Cut off 2024 - Civil Engineering
Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
General | 174 | 510 | 691 |
EWS | 167 | 478 | 641 |
OBC | 172 | 480 | 667 |
SC | 151 | 411 | 576 |
ST | 160 | 437 | 626 |
UPSC ESE 2024 Cut off - Mechanical Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
| General | 217 | 537 | 725 |
| EWS | 202 | 519 | 702 |
| OBC | 217 | 521 | 701 |
| SC | 184 | 450 | 658 |
| ST | 153 | 348 | 491 |
UPSC ESE Cut off 2024 - Electrical Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage (Out of 1300) |
| General | 199 | 489 | 655 |
| EWS | 180 | 432 | 632 |
| OBC | 198 | 444 | 625 |
| SC | 178 | 415 | 601 |
| ST | 159 | 407 | 568 |
UPSC ESE 2024 Cut off - Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
| General | 129 | 343 | 546 |
| EWS | 82 | 280 | 461 |
| OBC | 129 | 343 | 545 |
| SC | 76 | 225 | 426 |
| ST | 76 | 230 | 389 |
UPSC ESE Cut off 2023 - Civil Engineering
Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
General | 218 | 590 | 783 |
EWS | 204 | 537 | 726 |
OBC | 213 | 551 | 752 |
SC | 167 | 464 | 659 |
ST | 189 | 505 | 688 |
Total |
UPSC ESE 2023 Cut off - Mechanical Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
| General | 173 | 445 | 661 |
| EWS | 173 | 367 | 640 |
| OBC | 173 | 445 | 623 |
| SC | 153 | 362 | 555 |
| ST | 138 | 382 | 593 |
| Total |
UPSC ESE Cut off 2023 - Electrical Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage (Out of 1300) |
| General | 173 | 458 | 666 |
| EWS | 173 | 447 | 653 |
| OBC | 173 | 458 | 633 |
| SC | 151 | 346 | 562 |
| ST | 168 | 435 | 586 |
| Total |
UPSC ESE 2023 Cut off - Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Standards * [ESE(P)] (Out of 500) | Minimum Qualifying Standards [Written Exam] (Out of 1100) | Marks secured by the last recommended Candidate [Final Stage] (Out of 1300) |
| General | 124 | 372 | 594 |
| EWS | 77 | 258 | 534 |
| OBC | 118 | 360 | 566 |
| SC | 77 | 241 | 463 |
| ST | 77 | 241 | 490 |
| Total |
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The Commission will declare the prelims result on its official website - upsc.gov.in. The UPSC ESE 2026 result is released in PDF format and includes the roll number and names of all qualified candidates for the prelims exam. To download the UPSC ESE 2026 result, candidates have to download the PDF and search for their roll numbers. Those candidates who have qualified for the preliminary exam are eligible to appear in the main exam.
Also, check the cutoffs of other UPSC exams:
Leading coaching institutes like Made Easy and IES Master will release the UPSC ESE answer key. With the help of the UPSC ESE 2026 answer key, aspirants can calculate their expected scores. UPSC will release the official UPSC ESE answer key in the form of a PDF later.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If you meet the UPSC ESE final cut off, you have passed the Engineering services exam. The final allotment list will be released after the document verification process.
The UPSC ESE 2026 prelims exam date is not postponed. It is scheduled on February 8, 2026..
UPSC ESE cut off 2026 will be released after the conclusion of the ESE selection process.
Candidates can check the ESE cut off year wise from the official website of UPSC.
Based on previous years UPSC ESE cut off, the cut off is as follows - General: 249, 617, 804 (Prelims, Mains, Final) , SC- Not available, 484, 642.
Yes, the UPSC ESE exam is considered one of the toughest exams in India.
Yes, but these 6 months must have all your efforts. The ESE exam is one of the toughest, so candidates need to prepare well in advance.
If compared on the basis of the difficulty level, both these exams are of the same difficulty level.
No, the cut off for both stages will be different.
On Question asked by student community
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,
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)
Hello,
You cannot give the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) with a BSc Engineering degree . Here are the eligibility criteria :
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
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
Apply for Online M.Com from Manipal University