UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) 2027 – Apply Online for 480 Posts

Vacancies: ~480 (indicative) · Posts: 4 engineering categories · Type: Regular Government Service · Mode: Online · Fee: ₹200 (Female/SC/ST/PwBD: Nil) · Apply: 16 September 2026–06 October 2026 · Salary: Level-10 Group A (indicative) · Selection: Prelims + Mains + Personality Test · Location: All India

Four engineering branches. One UPSC paper trail. The Union Public Service Commission has opened the Engineering Services Examination 2027 for approximately 480 Group A and Group B seats across Railways, CPWD, MES, telecom, power, water resources and defence production.

Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. is dated 16 September 2026. Online applications are accepted only on upsconline.nic.in from 16 September 2026 to 06 October 2026, till 6:00 PM. Prelims are on 31 January 2027. Mains is on 18 June 2027.

This is a central competitive exam, not a campus placement. You pick one category: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication. Final allotment depends on rank, preference and medical fitness. Women candidates are expressly encouraged to apply.

Also Read: UPSC Section Officers’ Grade B and Stenographers LDCE 2026 – Apply Online by 06 October

Who Should Apply?

• B.E./B.Tech (Civil) or equivalent recognised engineering qualification → Category-I Civil Engineering services, including Central Engineering Service, CES (Roads), Survey of India, BRO AEE (Civil), MES Surveyor Cadre, Central Water Engineering, Indian Skill Development Service, IRMS (Civil), IRMS (Stores-Civil) and Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
• B.E./B.Tech (Mechanical) or equivalent → Category-II Mechanical services, including AEE in GSI, INMMS (Mechanical), DAQAS/SSO-II (Mechanical), BRO AEE (E&M), ISDS, IRMS (Mechanical), IRMS (Stores-Mechanical), IDSE, INAS (Mechanical), Central Water Engineering, CEMES (Mechanical) and CPES (Mechanical).
• B.E./B.Tech (Electrical) or equivalent → Category-III Electrical services, including CEMES (Electrical), INMMS (Electrical), CPES (Electrical), DAQAS/SSO-II (Electrical), ISDS, IRMS (Electrical), IRMS (Stores-Electrical), IDSE and INAS (Electrical).
• B.E./B.Tech (Electronics & Telecommunication) or equivalent → Category-IV E&T services, including Indian Radio Regulatory Service, Indian Telecommunications Service, INMMS (E&T), INAS (E&T), ISDS, Junior Telecom Officer Group B, IRMS (S&T), IRMS (Stores-S&T) and CPES (E&T).
• M.Sc. with Wireless Communication / Radio Physics / Radio Engineering (alternative route) → Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics) and Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group A only.
• Final-year / result-awaited engineering students → may apply provisionally. Proof of passing must be uploaded within 10 days after the Mains result if you are called for the Personality Test.
• PwBD candidates in identified categories → 19 indicative reserved vacancies (LD 11, Hard of Hearing 6, Low Vision 1, SLD & MD 1). Check Functional Classification in Annexure-I of the ESE 2027 Rules before choosing a service.

Who cannot apply: candidates outside the four notified branches (for example, Computer Science or Chemical as standalone ESE categories); candidates who have attained 30 years on 01 January 2027 without a notified relaxation; IETE / Aeronautical Society qualifications obtained after admission post 31 May 2013.

Important Dates

Quick Overview – UPSC ESE 2027

• Organisation: Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Exam / Post: Engineering Services Examination (ESE / IES) 2027
• Notification Number: Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG.
• Sector: Central engineering services and public infrastructure
• Job Type: Regular Government Service (Group A / Group B)
• Vacancies: Approximately 480 (indicative), including 19 PwBD; liable to alteration
• Job Location: All India (service and cadre decide posting)
• Qualification: B.E./B. Tech or notified equivalent in the chosen branch
• Age: 21–30 years as on 01 January 2027
• Application Mode: Online only
• Official Website: UPSC official website
• Apply Online: Apply online for UPSC ESE 2027 on upsconline.nic.in
• Notification PDF: Download UPSC ESE 2027 Examination Notice PDF
• Last Date: 06 October 2026, 6:00 PM
• Selection Basis: Prelims + Mains + Personality Test (marks of all three stages count)

What Posts Are Available? – Vacancy & Eligibility 2027

Vacancy numbers in this cycle are indicative. Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG states approximately 480 vacancies, including 19 PwBD seats. Discipline-wise integers are not printed in the notice. Do not treat coaching-site branch splits as official.

Practical takeaway: Civil usually carries the largest service basket. E&T includes both Group A telecom/radio services and Junior Telecom Officer Group B. You can apply in only one category.

Category-I: Civil Engineering

Category-II: Mechanical Engineering

Category-III: Electrical Engineering

Category-IV: Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

Transgender eligibility for BRO AEE (Civil) and BRO AEE (E&M Mechanical posts) will follow a separate Government decision.

PwBD split (indicative, within ~480)

Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD will follow vacancies fixed by the Government of India. Category-wise UR/OBC/SC/ST/EWS integers are not printed in this notice.

Eligibility – Education, Age & Nationality

Nationality: Citizen of India; or subject of Nepal/Bhutan; or Tibetan refugee who arrived before 01 January 1962 intending to settle permanently; or person of Indian origin from the notified countries. Non-citizens in the listed categories need a Government of India eligibility certificate before appointment.

Education (any one route):

• B.E./B.Tech from a university established by Central/State Act, or an Institution of National Importance / deemed university under UGC Act Section 3; or
• Institution of Engineers (India) Sections A and B; or
• Recognised foreign engineering degree/diploma; or
• Graduate Membership of IETE (India); or
• Associate Membership of the Aeronautical Society of India (Parts II & III / Sections A & B); or
• Graduate Membership of IERE London held after November 1959.

Restriction: Degrees from IETE (India) and the Aeronautical Society of India after admission post 31 May 2013 are not admissible. Institution of Engineers (India) qualifications after admission post 31 May 2013 remain subject to a pending Government decision after the Delhi High Court matter cited in the notice.

What Is the Age Limit for ESE Recruitment?

Age is reckoned on 01 January 2027. You must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 30 years. Permitted dates of birth for the unreserved band: not earlier than 02 January 1997 and not later than 01 January 2006.

Cumulative relaxation is available where the notice allows both community and ESM/PwBD benefits. Age cannot be relaxed beyond what the notice lists.

Examples:
✅ A 29-year-old UR candidate born on 02 January 1998 — eligible (within the 30-year limit as on 01 January 2027).
❌ A 31-year-old UR candidate born on 01 January 1996 — not eligible (exceeds the maximum age by 1 year).

Use our Age Eligibility Calculator to check instantly.

Serving Central/State Government employees should keep an NOC ready for document verification or joining if the allotted service asks for it. The notice does not treat missing NOC at the application-click as an automatic bar.

What Is the IES Officer Salary in Central Government?

Most Group A ESE services start at Level-10 of the 7th CPC pay matrix. Basic pay is ₹56,100. Junior Telecom Officer is a Group B post; pay follows the allotted service rules, not a blanket Level-10 claim.

Indicative monthly estimate for a Level-10 officer in an X-class city (DA taken at about 55% of basic, HRA 30%, TA extra):

Y-class cities drop HRA to 20%. Z-class cities drop it to 10%. Tax depends on your total income. This is an illustrative estimate based on the current 7th CPC structure, not a figure printed in Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. Verify from the appointment order of the allotted service.

Calculate a working estimate with the 7th CPC Salary Calculator. This calculator provides an indicative estimate. The official formula in service rules prevails.

Typical progression in many engineering cadres: Assistant Executive Engineer (Level-10) → Executive Engineer (Level-11) → Superintending Engineer / JAG → Chief Engineer. Timelines differ by cadre.

What Is the Application Fee?

Pay only through net banking of any bank, or Visa / Mastercard / RuPay credit or debit card, or UPI. Any other mode is invalid. The fee, once paid, is not refunded and cannot be adjusted against another exam. OBC and EWS male candidates do not get a fee waiver.

How to Apply?

Applications are accepted only at upsconline.nic.in. No offline form, no email.

1. Open the UPSC Online Application Portal. Create an account if you do not have one.
2. Complete Universal Registration (URN) if not already done. URN is lifetime and common to all UPSC exams.
3. Fill the Common Application Form (CAF). Upload a photograph, capture the live photo, and upload three signatures on white paper in black ink as specified on the portal.
4. Open the Examination Specific Module for Engineering Services Examination 2027. Choose one category only. Select Prelims centre. Pay the fee if applicable.
5. Submit before 6:00 PM on 06 October 2026. Note both the URN and the examination-specific Application Number.
6. Resize photo and signature first with the Photo & Signature Resizer so the portal does not reject the file.

Suggested (not a notification rule): finish the form at least two days early. Popular centres freeze on a first-apply-first-allot basis except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Picking the wrong category. You cannot sit Civil Prelims and then seek Electrical allotment. One category only.
2. Assuming a correction window. After submission, the ESE 2027 form cannot be edited or withdrawn. URN profile edits do not change an already submitted application.
3. Using a non-Aadhaar ID carelessly. Any listed photo ID works, but the same ID must be carried to the venue. Face authentication is mandatory at the centre.
4. Paying by an unofficial channel. Only portal net banking/card / UPI is valid.
5. Final-year candidates skipping the post-Mains upload window. If you are called for an interview, proof of passing must be uploaded on the CAF module within 10 days of the Mains result.

यूपीएससी इंजीनियरिंग सेवा परीक्षा (ESE/IES) 2027 – 480 पदों के लिए ऑनलाइन आवेदन

संघ लोक सेवा आयोग ने इंजीनियरिंग सेवा परीक्षा 2027 का नोटिस 16 सितंबर 2026 को जारी किया है। लगभग 480 ग्रुप ए और ग्रुप बी सीटें सिविल, मैकेनिकल, इलेक्ट्रिकल तथा इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स एवं टेलीकम्युनिकेशन शाखाओं में भरी जाएंगी। आवेदन केवल upsconline.nic.in पर 6 अक्टूबर 2026 शाम 6 बजे तक स्वीकार होंगे। प्रीलिम्स 31 जनवरी 2027 को है।

कौन आवेदन कर सकता है?
मान्यता प्राप्त संस्थान से इंजीनियरिंग डिग्री आवश्यक है। आयु 1 जनवरी 2027 को 21 से 30 वर्ष के बीच होनी चाहिए। अंतिम वर्ष के छात्र अनंतिम रूप से आवेदन कर सकते हैं, लेकिन इंटरव्यू से पहले डिग्री का प्रमाण अपलोड करना होगा। कंप्यूटर साइंस या केमिकल जैसी शाखाएँ इस परीक्षा की चार श्रेणियों में शामिल नहीं हैं।

वेतन और चयन क्या है?
अधिकांश ग्रुप ए सेवाएँ 7वें वेतन आयोग के Level-10 से शुरू होती हैं। बेसिक वेतन ₹56,100 है। महानगर में शुरुआती इन-हैंड अनुमान लगभग ₹85,000 से ₹1,00,000 प्रति माह है। चयन प्रीलिम्स (500 अंक), मेन (600 अंक) और पर्सनैलिटी टेस्ट (200 अंक) से होगा। गलत उत्तर पर एक-तिहाई नकारात्मक अंकन है।

आवेदन कैसे करें?
पोर्टल पर अकाउंट, यूनिवर्सल रजिस्ट्रेशन और कॉमन एप्लिकेशन फॉर्म भरें। लाइव फोटो अनिवार्य है। जमा करने के बाद फॉर्म नहीं सुधरेगा। हेल्पलाइन 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 और ईमेल upscsoap@nic.in, सुबह 10:00 से शाम 5:30 तक कार्य दिवसों में उपलब्ध हैं। विस्तृत नियम यूपीएससी की आधिकारिक वेबसाइट पर हैं।

How Are Engineering Services Officers Selected?

Selection is three stages. Marks of all three stages count in the final rank. There is no “Prelims only” appointment.

1. Stage-I Prelims (objective, 500 marks) → about 6–7 times the vacancies go to Mains.
2. Stage-II Mains (conventional, 600 marks) → about twice the vacancies are called for interview.
3. Stage-III Personality Test (200 marks, no separate qualifying cut-off stated) → rank list + preference + medical fitness decide the service.

Conventional papers must be answered in English. Question papers are set in English only.

Prelims pattern

Negative marking: one-third of the marks for that question for every wrong answer. More than one marked answer is treated as wrong. Blank questions carry no penalty. Minimum qualifying marks are applied in both Paper-I and Paper-II.

Mains pattern

Irrelevant writing or identity marks on answer scripts can attract a marks penalty or non-evaluation.

Personality Test looks at leadership, initiative, intellectual curiosity, tact, practical application and integrity. Use the Cut-off Marks Calculator only as a planning aid after UPSC publishes official cut-offs. This notice does not print previous-year cut-offs.

Medical and physical standards

Recommended candidates undergo a medical examination arranged by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications. Earlier fitness findings do not bind this cycle. Physical standards follow Appendix-II of the ESE 2027 Rules published in the Gazette dated 16 September 2026. PwBD suitability is service-specific; read Annexure-I before preferring a cadre.

Prelims centres (indicative list)

Agartala, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Gurugram, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharwad, Dispur, Gangtok, Hyderabad, Imphal, Agra, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Gaya, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Port Blair, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Gorakhpur, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, Visakhapatnam, Ghaziabad, Varanasi.

Mains is held in a shorter list of cities. Centre change after allotment is not granted. Entry closes 30 minutes before each session.

Why Does the Union Public Service Commission Matter?

UPSC is the constitutional recruitment body for All India and Central Services. Engineering Services Examination is its dedicated pipeline for technical Group A and selected Group B posts under the Government of India. Rules for ESE 2027 were notified by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, in the Gazette dated 16 September 2026.

Successful candidates join cadres that design, build and maintain national assets: railway systems, national highways, defence estates, irrigation, power and telecom networks. That is why searches such as “UPSC ESE notification”, “IES officer salary” and “engineering services exam date” spike every September.

Candidates also search because ESE is often compared with GATE-based PSU recruitment. The honest downside: first posting can be a project site, a circle office or a non-metro division. You do not pick the city at the application stage. Transfers follow cadre rules, not campus preference.

Read more on the UPSC organisation page and the engineering services sector page.

The SahisarkariJobs.in Analyst’s Take

The closest alternative most serious applicants have open is not SSC JE. It is GATE + Maharatna/Navratna PSU recruitment (NTPC, PGCIL, IOCL and similar) plus, for some, Indian Railways through other technical channels. ESE is slower and more academic. The payoff is a central Group A (or selected Group B) cadre with all-India service identity, not a PSU grade scale alone.

Best fit: B.E./B. Tech holders in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or E&T who want a long government engineering career, can write two conventional papers in English, and accept field or project postings for the first years.

Also Read: SLPRB Andhra Pradesh SI, Constable, Fireman & Warder Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 2,050 Posts

Skip this cycle if you need a joining letter within three months, you hold only a CSE/IT or Chemical degree, or you will not serve outside a metro. ESE is a year-long funnel. Prelims in January, Mains in June, interview later, medical and allocation after that.

Practical tip: Lock your category before you touch the exam-specific module. Then apply early enough to keep your first-choice Prelims centre. A frozen centre plus a wrong branch is the most expensive unforced error in this notice.

Based on similar UPSC technical drives, expect several months from application to joining. There is no published attempt cap; age is the real limiter.

What Documents Are Required for Central Govt Engineering Jobs?

Keep originals ready. UPSC verifies them after you qualify for the Personality Test, not at the application click.

• Matriculation / equivalent certificate for date of birth (only this class of certificate is accepted for age)
• Degree / provisional certificate and marksheets, or IEI / other notified equivalent proof
• Photo ID entered in the URN profile (Aadhaar preferred)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) in the prescribed Central format, issued by the closing date
• EWS Income & Asset Certificate for FY 2025-26, issued on or after 01 April 2026 and not later than the closing date
• PwBD certificate in Form V–VII as applicable
• Ex-servicemen / departmental service proof where relaxation is claimed
• Eligibility certificate from the Government of India if nationality is not Indian citizenship

Document alert: Community or EWS certificates dated after 06 October 2026 will not support reservation claimed in this form. Category change requests after submission are not entertained.

Service Conditions and What Happens After Selection?

Bond, probation length, and transfer rules follow the allotted service, not a single UPSC paragraph. Most Group A engineering services use NPS. Do not assume OPS.

1. Final written + interview merit list is published with service allocation as per rank, preference and vacancies.
2. Department of Telecommunications schedules the medical board. Findings bind allotment.
3. Document verification against originals and category claims.
4. Offer of appointment from the cadre controlling authority.
5. Joining, foundation / departmental training, and probation as per that service.
6. Confirmation and first independent charge after satisfactory probation.

Posting can be anywhere the cadre operates. Railway, BRO, MES and water-resources services are field-heavy. Telecom and radio-regulatory posts are more office-and-circle oriented. You cannot treat “Delhi only” as a right at entry.

Contact & Helpline

• Helpline: 011-24041001 / 011-40303444
• Email: upscsoap@nic.in
• Hours: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days from 16 September 2026 to 06 October 2026
• Use for: application, fee payment and document-upload issues
• Website: upsc.gov.in and upsconline.nic.in
• Commission address (general correspondence): Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi – 110069

Quote URN, Application Number, exam name and year in every email.

⚠️ Contact details sourced from the official notification. Verify before contacting. NEVER pay any money over the phone or to any person claiming to offer job assistance. Report fraud to cybercrime.gov.in.

Important Links – UPSC ESE 2027

FAQs – UPSC ESE 2027

What is the last date to apply for UPSC ESE 2027?

06 October 2026, 6:00 PM. The vacancy figure is indicative. Late forms are not accepted on the portal after the link is disabled. No extension is mentioned in Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. as of 17 September 2026.

What is the age limit for UPSC ESE?

21 to 30 years as on 01 January 2027 for the general band. OBC gets up to 3 extra years, SC/ST up to 5, PwBD up to 10, and specified departmental candidates up to 35 years. Age is calculated only on that cut-off date.

Is there an exam for UPSC ESE, or is it interview-based?

Yes, there is an exam. Prelims (500 marks, objective) is followed by Mains (600 marks, conventional) and a 200-mark Personality Test. Negative marking is one-third in objective papers. The interview alone does not decide the rank.

What is the salary of an IES officer?

Around ₹85,000–₹1,00,000 in hand in an X-class city at Level-10, before tax (basic ₹56,100 plus DA and HRA). Junior Telecom Officer is Group B and may differ. Exact pay is set by the allotted service, not printed as a payslip in this notice.

Can final-year students apply for UPSC ESE 2027?

Yes. You may apply if you have appeared, or will appear, in the qualifying engineering examination. If called for the Personality Test, upload proof of passing within 10 days after the Mains result or the candidature can be cancelled.

Is UPSC ESE a permanent government job?

Yes. Recommended candidates join regular Group A or notified Group B engineering services of the Union. Pension is typically through NPS. Confirmation follows probation in the allotted cadre. It is not a contractual or apprenticeship seat.

Can candidates from other states apply for this recruitment?

Yes. This is an all-India examination. No state domicile is required. Nationality rules in the notice apply. First posting can still be far from your home state.

Where will I be posted if I get selected?

Anywhere the allotted service operates. Railways, BRO, MES and water-resources cadres often start you at a division or project. You do not choose the city on the application form. Preference is for service, not district.

How many times can I attempt the Engineering Services Examination?

The notice does not fix an attempt cap. You may apply in every cycle while you remain inside the age band, including notified relaxations. Age on 01 January of the exam year is the real limit, not a numbered attempt counter.

Is GATE score required for Engineering Services recruitment?

No. UPSC conducts its own Prelims and Mains. GATE is not a shortlisting ticket for ESE 2027. A GATE score helps PSU applications run in parallel; it does not replace this exam.

What are the disadvantages of an IES posting?

Worth knowing before you apply: the calendar is long, conventional Mains is unforgiving if your writing is weak, and the first posting is often a field or circle job rather than a metro headquarters. If you want a negotiated private CTC this year, this is the wrong process.

What is the starting pay of a central government engineering officer?

Most Group A engineering services through ESE start at Level-10, basic ₹56,100. In-hand in metros is commonly estimated near ₹85,000–₹1,00,000 before tax, using current DA and HRA. Group B posts such as JTO follow their own matrix.

Do central engineering officers get posted only in Delhi?

No. Cadres exist to run national infrastructure. Delhi headquarters jobs exist, but new officers are routinely sent to zones, circles, projects and field divisions first. Treat all-India liability as part of the job, not a rare exception.

Final Checklist – Is This the Right Job for You?

• You meet the age and educational criteria as on 01 January 2027.
• Your degree is in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or E&T (or a notified equivalent / M.Sc. route).
• You accept Regular Government Service with all-India posting.
• You can arrange matriculation, degree and category certificates before the interview stage.
• You are prepared for the hardest stage: conventional Mains in English plus a later medical board.
• You understand vacancies are indicative (~480) and service allotment follows rank and preference.

📄 Source: Official notification released by UPSC on 16 September 2026. All details are sourced from Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. (UPSC ESE 2027 official notification PDF).