The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the official notification for the Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 (ESE 2027) vide Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. dated 16 September 2026. A total of approximately 480 vacancies are on offer across four engineering disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. The online application window is open now and closes on 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM. The Preliminary (Stage-I) Examination is scheduled for 31 January 2027 and the Main (Stage-II) Examination for 18 June 2027. Candidates with a Degree in Engineering from a recognised University or equivalent qualification are eligible to apply at upsconline.nic.in.
Important Note: Four things every applicant must know before submitting. First, the application deadline is 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM – just 10 days away. Do not wait until the last day as the UPSC portal experiences heavy traffic near deadlines. Second, the OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate must be based on income for FY 2025-26, 2024-25 and 2023-24 and must be issued on or after 1 April 2026. The EWS certificate must be based on income for FY 2025-26 and issued on or after 1 April 2026 but not later than 6 October 2026. Third, application withdrawal is not allowed after submission. Verify every field before clicking Submit. Fourth, exam centre allotment for most cities is on a first-apply-first-allot basis. Apply early to secure your preferred centre.
UPSC ESE 2027: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Examination Name | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 |
| Examination Notice No. | 02/2027-ENGG. |
| Notification Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | Approximately 480 (including 19 PwBD) |
| Engineering Categories | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years (as on 01.01.2027) |
| Application Mode | Online at upsconline.nic.in |
| Application Last Date | 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 31 January 2027 |
| Main Exam Date | 18 June 2027 |
| Application Fee | Rs. 200 (Male General/OBC/EWS) |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC ESE 2027: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM |
| Stage-I: Preliminary Examination | 31 January 2027 |
| Stage-II: Main Examination | 18 June 2027 |
UPSC ESE 2027: Vacancies
The total approximate vacancies are 480 (including 19 for PwBD candidates) across four engineering categories. The detailed post-wise and service-wise vacancy split will be published by UPSC in a separate vacancy list.
| Engineering Category | Status |
|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (Category-I) | Part of approximately 480 total |
| Mechanical Engineering (Category-II) | Part of approximately 480 total |
| Electrical Engineering (Category-III) | Part of approximately 480 total |
| Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (Category-IV) | Part of approximately 480 total |
PwBD Vacancies Breakdown
| Disability Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Locomotor Disability/Leprosy Cured/Dwarfism/Acid Attack/Muscular Dystrophy | 11 |
| Hard of Hearing | 06 |
| Low Vision | 01 |
| Specific Learning Disability and Multiple Disabilities | 01 |
| Total PwBD | 19 |
Note: Persons with Blindness are not eligible as no vacancies are earmarked for them.
UPSC ESE 2027: Eligibility
Educational Qualification
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Engineering Degree | Degree in Engineering from a recognised University or Institution in the relevant discipline (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Electronics and Telecommunication) |
| Alternative (1) | Passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) |
| Alternative (2) | Equivalent qualifications as specified in the official UPSC notification |
Candidates must verify specific service-wise qualification requirements from the official notification PDF at upsc.gov.in as different services under each category may have slightly varying requirements.
Age Limit (as on 01 January 2027)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 21 years |
| Maximum Age (General/EWS) | 30 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 33 years (3 years relaxation) |
| SC / ST | 35 years (5 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (General/EWS) | 40 years (10 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (OBC) | 43 years (13 years relaxation) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 45 years (15 years relaxation) |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per Central Government rules |
| Government Servants | Up to 35 years (40 for SC/ST) subject to 3 continuous years of service |
UPSC ESE 2027: Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Male – General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 200 |
| Female (all categories) | Nil (exempt) |
| SC / ST | Nil (exempt) |
| PwBD | Nil (exempt) |
Payment mode: Online only via Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Credit or Debit Card, or UPI. No hard copy or offline payment is accepted.
UPSC ESE 2027: Exam Pattern and Selection Process
UPSC ESE 2027 is a three-stage selection process.
Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 200 | 2 hours |
| Paper-II | Engineering Discipline Specific (Civil/Mech/Elec/E&T) | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 500 |
- Negative marking: 1/3 of marks deducted per wrong answer
- Candidates qualifying Stage-I proceed to Stage-II
Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Type)
| Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I (Discipline Specific) | 300 | 3 hours |
| Paper-II (Discipline Specific) | 300 | 3 hours |
| Total | 600 |
- Papers must be answered in English only
- Candidates qualifying Stage-II are called for Stage-III
Stage-III: Personality Test (Interview)
| Component | Marks |
|---|---|
| Personality Test / Interview | 200 |
Final merit and service/post allotment is based on aggregate of Stage-I + Stage-II + Stage-III marks and candidate’s stated preferences.
UPSC ESE 2027: Exam Centres
The Preliminary Examination will be held at 48 centres across India including:
Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Bangalore, Bareilly, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Cuttack, Dehradun, Delhi, Dharwad, Dispur, Gangtok, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Imphal, Itanagar, Jaipur, Jammu, Jorhat, Kochi, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Madurai, Gaya, Mumbai, Nagpur, Panaji, Patna, Port Blair, Raipur, Ranchi, Sambalpur, Shillong, Shimla, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, Udaipur, Varanasi and Visakhapatnam.
The Main Examination will be held at 24 centres. Centre allotment is on a first-apply-first-allot basis (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur which have no ceiling on applications).
How to Apply for UPSC ESE 2027
- Visit the UPSC online portal at upsconline.nic.in.
- Create an account and generate your Universal Registration Number (URN). Existing registered users can log in directly.
- Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal details, upload photograph and capture live photograph.
- Sign three times on plain white paper using black ink and upload the signature.
- Fill in the Examination Specific Module (Parts I to IV), including centre selection and fee payment.
- Pay the fee of Rs. 200 (if applicable) online via Net Banking, Visa/Master/RuPay Card or UPI.
- Review all details carefully. No withdrawal is permitted after submission.
- Submit before 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM.
- No hard copy or printout needs to be sent to UPSC.
Important Conditions and Rules
- Candidates must note that Aadhaar Card is strongly advised as identity proof for verification at exam centres.
- Face authentication is mandatory at the examination venue for all candidates.
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices and any electronic device are strictly banned inside the examination hall, even in switched-off mode.
- Entry to examination venues closes 30 minutes before the start of the examination.
- OBC NCL certificate must be for income of FY 2025-26, 2024-25 and 2023-24, issued on or after 1 April 2026.
- EWS certificate must be for income of FY 2025-26, issued on or after 1 April 2026 but not later than 6 October 2026.
- Scribe facility is available for Low Vision PwBD candidates and for candidates with locomotor disability (dominant writing extremity affected, minimum 40% impairment).
- Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour is provided for Low Vision PwBD candidates.
- Persons with Blindness are not eligible as no vacancies are reserved for them.
- Non-recommended candidates who appear in the Personality Test may opt-in for the Pratibha Setu Portal, allowing their details to be shared with registered organisations for employment opportunities.
- For queries: UPSC Helpdesk: 011-24041001 / 011-40303444 or upscsoap@nic.in (10:00 AM to 5:30 PM on working days during the application window).
UPSC ESE 2027: Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Official Notification PDF (Advt. No. 02/2027-ENGG.) | Click Here |
| UPSC Official Website | Click Here |
UPSC ESE 2027: FAQs
Q1. What is UPSC ESE 2027?
UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 is a competitive examination conducted by UPSC for recruitment to Group A and Group B technical posts in Central Government services across four engineering disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
Q2. How many vacancies are there in UPSC ESE 2027?
Approximately 480 vacancies including 19 reserved for PwBD candidates across all four engineering categories.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for UPSC ESE 2027?
6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM through the online portal at upsconline.nic.in.
Q4. What is the age limit for UPSC ESE 2027?
21 to 30 years as on 1 January 2027 for General/EWS candidates. Relaxation: OBC 3 years, SC/ST 5 years, PwBD 10-15 years, Ex-Servicemen and Government Servants as per rules.
Q5. What is the application fee for UPSC ESE 2027?
Rs. 200 for male General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female candidates, SC, ST and PwBD candidates are exempt.
Q6. When is the UPSC ESE 2027 Preliminary Examination?
The Stage-I Preliminary Examination is scheduled on 31 January 2027.
Q7. What is the selection process for UPSC ESE 2027?
Three stages: Stage-I Preliminary Examination (500 marks, objective), Stage-II Main Examination (600 marks, conventional) and Stage-III Personality Test/Interview (200 marks). Final merit is based on the aggregate of all three stages.
Q8. Can candidates answer UPSC ESE Main papers in Hindi?
No. Conventional papers in Stage-II (Main Examination) must be answered in English only.
Q9. Is there negative marking in UPSC ESE 2027?
Yes, 1/3 of marks are deducted for each wrong answer in the objective type papers of Stage-I (Preliminary Examination). Stage-II (Main) is conventional type with no negative marking.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on the official Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. dated 16 September 2026 published by the Union Public Service Commission on upsc.gov.in. The total vacancy count of approximately 480 is tentative and the final detailed vacancy list will be published by UPSC separately. Candidates must read the complete official notification carefully before applying at upsconline.nic.in. JobShouter is not associated with UPSC. This article is for informational purposes only.
