UPSC ESE is the Engineering Services Examination, also known as IES. It is held by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit engineers as Group A officers in central government departments, such as the Railways, the Central Public Works Department, the Military Engineer Services and the Central Water Commission.
The exam is held in four branches - Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics and Telecommunication engineering. It has three stages: a preliminary exam, a main exam and a personality test.
- UPSC ESE recruits engineers for Group A central services.
- It has prelims (500 marks), mains (600 marks) and a personality test (200 marks) - a total of 1,300.
- Prelims Paper I on General Studies and Engineering Aptitude is common to all branches.
- Services, vacancies and rules change with each notice - confirm them in the current UPSC notification.
Eligibility
| Condition | Recent requirement |
|---|---|
| Education | A degree in engineering from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification listed in the notice; for some services, an M.Sc in specified subjects such as electronics or radio physics |
| Age | 21 to 30 years on the cut-off date, with relaxation for SC/ST, OBC, persons with disabilities and some others |
| Physical standards | Some services, such as those linked to the Railways or defence, have medical and physical standards |
Final-year students can usually apply, but must show proof of passing by the date given in the notice.
Exam pattern
| Stage | Paper | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (objective) | Paper I - General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 2 hours | 200 |
| Paper II - Engineering discipline | 3 hours | 300 | |
| Mains (conventional) | Paper I - Engineering discipline | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper II - Engineering discipline | 3 hours | 300 | |
| Personality Test | Interview | - | 200 |
The prelims has negative marking of one-third of the marks for a wrong answer. Prelims marks are added to the mains and interview in the final merit, which makes ESE different from the Civil Services exam.
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Cover the full General Studies syllabus in a fixed, structured schedule.
Prelims Paper I - General Studies and Engineering Aptitude
This paper is common to all branches. It has covered:
- Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development.
- Engineering aptitude, covering logical reasoning and analytical ability.
- Engineering mathematics and numerical analysis.
- General principles of design, drawing and the importance of safety.
- Standards and quality practices in production, construction and services.
- Basics of energy and environment - conservation, environmental pollution and climate change.
- Basics of project management, material science and ICT-based tools.
- Ethics and values in the engineering profession.
This paper decides many ranks, because technical scores in a branch are often close among good candidates.
Services offered
Services filled through ESE have included, depending on the branch and the year:
- Railway engineering services (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Signal and Telecom, and Stores).
- Central Engineering Service in the CPWD.
- Military Engineer Services and the Border Roads Engineering Service.
- Central Water Engineering Service and Central Power Engineering Service.
- Indian Telecommunication Service and the Indian Naval Armament Service.
- Indian Skill Development Service and the Survey of India Group A service.
The list of services and vacancies is given in each notice. Allotment is made by rank, preference and medical fitness.
Mains and personality test
The mains has two conventional (written answer) papers of the candidate's branch. Questions need derivations, numerical solutions and design steps, so writing practice matters as much as knowledge.
The personality test of 200 marks checks the candidate's suitability for a public engineering service - technical clarity, awareness of projects and policies, decision-making and communication.
ESE vs GATE-based PSU jobs
| Point | UPSC ESE | GATE-based PSU recruitment |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Group A officer in a central government service | Engineer in a public sector company |
| Stages | Prelims, mains and personality test | GATE score, then the PSU's own interview or group discussion |
| Extra syllabus | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude, conventional writing | Mostly technical, as in GATE |
| Nature of work | Public works, policy and administration | Company projects, production and operations |
Both routes value strong technical basics, so preparing for both together is common.
How to apply
- Complete the one-time registration on the UPSC online portal.
- Fill the ESE application, choosing your branch and exam centre.
- Pay the fee (exempt for some categories).
- Fill the detailed application with service preferences if you clear the prelims.
- Download the e-admit card for each stage.
UPSC usually releases the ESE notice in the second half of the year, with the prelims early the next year. Check the UPSC exam calendar.
Pay and career
ESE officers join at the Junior Time Scale of a Group A service, at Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission pay matrix with a starting basic pay of ₹56,100, plus allowances.
With time-bound promotions, officers can rise to senior administrative grades and lead large public projects in railways, roads, water, power and defence works.
A simple study plan
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| Months 1-4 | Core technical subjects of your branch, with short notes and formula sheets |
| Months 5-6 | Prelims Paper I topics and objective practice for both papers |
| Month 7 | Prelims mocks and previous papers |
| After prelims | Mains writing practice - derivations, numericals and timed answers |
Many candidates prepare for GATE and ESE together, since the technical syllabus overlaps a lot. ESE adds Paper I and conventional writing on top.
How to prepare
Previous papers first. Solve at least ten years of ESE papers for your branch to understand the depth and style.
Paper I. Do not leave it for the end. Read standard books for engineering aptitude, environment, project management and ethics, and follow current affairs on infrastructure and energy.
Conventional writing. Write answers by hand in timed conditions every week. Neat diagrams and step-by-step solutions earn marks.
Accuracy. With one-third negative marking in prelims, attempt only when you can rule out at least two options.
Documents to keep ready
- Class 10 certificate for date of birth.
- Marksheets and certificates of Class 12, graduation and engineering degree, year-wise where asked.
- Caste, EWS, non-creamy layer or disability certificate in the format given in the notice, where relevant.
- Photo identity proof, recent photographs and a signature scan for the online form.
Make sure your name and date of birth match across all documents. Mismatches cause trouble at verification.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring Prelims Paper I. It carries 200 marks in the final merit.
- Only reading, not writing, for the mains.
- Too much guessing with negative marking.
- Not filling service preferences carefully.
- Using an old syllabus. Follow the latest UPSC notice.
For other UPSC exams, see the UPSC Civil Services, UPSC CMS and UPSC IFS guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC ESE?
UPSC ESE is the Engineering Services Examination held by the Union Public Service Commission. It recruits engineers as Group A officers in central services such as the Railways, CPWD and the Military Engineer Services.
Which branches are covered in UPSC ESE?
UPSC ESE is held in four branches - Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics and Telecommunication engineering.
What is the UPSC ESE exam pattern?
It has a prelims of 500 marks (Paper I of 200 marks on General Studies and Engineering Aptitude, and Paper II of 300 marks on the branch), a mains of 600 marks with two conventional papers, and a personality test of 200 marks.
Are prelims marks counted in the final merit of ESE?
Yes. Unlike the Civil Services exam, ESE prelims marks are added to the mains and personality test marks for the final merit.
What is the age limit for UPSC ESE?
Recent notices set the age limit at 21 to 30 years on the cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories and others.
Is there negative marking in UPSC ESE?
Yes. In the objective prelims papers, one-third of the marks for a question are cut for each wrong answer.