What is UPSC ESE (IES)?
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts the Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) annually to recruit Group A/Class‑I engineers into central government organizations such as Indian Railways, CPWD, MES, CWC, BRO, Telecom/DoT, and other technical services. Recruitment is through three stages—Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test—across four branches: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication.
IES Exam Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit & Category-wise Relaxation
Reference date: For ESE 2026, age is reckoned as on 1 January 2026.
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/UR | 21 | 30 | — |
| OBC (Non‑Creamy Layer) | 21 | 33 | +3 years |
| SC/ST | 21 | 35 | +5 years |
| PwBD | 21 | 40 | +10 years (service‑specific applicability) |
| Certain Govt/Defence categories | — | Varies | As per UPSC rules/notification |
DOB tip: If you turn 31 on/before 1 Jan 2026, you’re outside UR unless you qualify for relaxation.
Nationality
You must be either:
• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 Jan 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or
• A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) from notified countries, subject to a certificate of eligibility issued by Government of India.
Educational Qualifications
- B.E./B.Tech from a recognized University/Institution OR
- Passed Sections A & B of the Institution of Engineers (India) OR
- Other memberships/qualifications recognized as equivalent by UPSC for ESE.
Final‑year status: Final‑year students may apply, but must produce proof of qualification by the stage/timeframe specified in the year’s notification.
Physical/Medical Standards
- Candidates must satisfy medical fitness and vision standards listed in the ESE notification (Appendix).
- Vision/physical norms can vary by service (e.g., Railways vs CPWD).
- Conditions like significant color vision deficiency, uncorrected high myopia, or specific physical limitations may be disqualifying under certain services.
- Get a pre‑emptive eye and medical check‑up and review the Appendix before the Mains/Personality Test stages.
Number of Attempts
There is no fixed attempt cap for ESE. Your attempts are effectively capped by the age eligibility window.
Important Dates (2026 Cycle)
UPSC usually publishes the ESE notification in late September, keeps applications open for ~2–3 weeks, and conducts Prelims in February. Always confirm against the official UPSC calendar/notice.
| Milestone | 2026 Cycle (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Notification publication | Late September 2025 |
| Application window | September–October 2025 |
| Prelims (Stage‑I) | February 2026 |
| Mains (Stage‑II) | Mid‑year (as notified) |
| Personality Test | Post‑Mains |
IES Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
Stage I – Preliminary Examination (Objective)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper‑I | General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (GS & EA) | 2 hours | 200 |
| Paper‑II | Discipline‑specific (CE/ME/EE/E&T) | 3 hours | 300 |
| Total | 500 |
- Negative marking applies for wrong answers in objective papers.
- GS & EA covers: engineering mathematics & reasoning, standards & quality, project management (PERT/CPM), basics of design/drawing, safety, ICT, ethics in engineering, energy/environment.
Stage II – Mains (Descriptive)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper‑I | Discipline‑specific | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper‑II | Discipline‑specific | 3 hours | 300 |
| Total | 600 |
Stage III – Personality Test
- Interview/Personality Test: 200 marks
- Grand total: 1300 marks (Prelims 500 + Mains 600 + PT 200)
Syllabus Overview & High‑Yield Topics
Branches: Civil (CE) • Mechanical (ME) • Electrical (EE) • Electronics & Telecommunication (E&T)
GS & Engineering Aptitude (Paper‑I)
- Engineering mathematics, logical reasoning & data interpretation
- Project management, PERT/CPM, cost/time trade‑offs
- Quality, reliability, safety; standards, ISO
- Basics of design/drawing; engineering materials
- ICT, e‑governance, cybersecurity basics
- Environment & sustainable development, energy
- Ethics, values, case‑study situations for engineers
Discipline Papers (Paper‑II & Mains)
- Civil: Structural analysis, RCC/Steel, geotech, fluid mechanics, hydrology, highway, environmental, surveying.
- Mechanical: Thermodynamics, heat transfer, FM, manufacturing, SOM, design, power plant, I.C. engines, industrial engineering.
- Electrical: Networks, machines, power systems, control, measurements, power electronics, analog/digital electronics.
- E&T: EMFT, communication systems, signal processing, networks, devices & circuits, control, microprocessors.
High‑yield strategy: Map PYQs to the syllabus; prioritize recurring subtopics (e.g., structures & geotech in CE, power systems in EE, thermo + manufacturing in ME, communications + DSP in E&T).
Documents & Reservation Compliance
- Identity: Aadhaar/Passport/Driving Licence as per exam instructions.
- Category certificates:
- OBC‑NCL: Use the current format and within validity; ensure NCL status proof.
- EWS: Income & asset criteria per Govt. norms; keep original + photocopies.
- SC/ST/PwBD: Certificates in required format; PwBD requires medical board documentation.
- Engineering degree proof: Degree/provisional + mark sheets; final‑year to furnish by the stage specified.
- Photo/signature: As per pixel/size specs.
How to Self‑Check Your Eligibility (fast)
- DOB math: On 1 Jan 2026, you’re 21–30 (apply relaxation if eligible).
- Qualification: You have B.E./B.Tech or an accepted equivalent (IEI Sections A & B, etc.).
- Medical: You can meet the vision/physical standards in the Appendix (service‑wise norms).
- Reservation docs: Your OBC‑NCL/EWS/SC/ST/PwBD certificates match format + validity requirements.
- Compliance: You agree to negative marking rules and exam code of conduct; understand the three‑stage process.
Study Plan & Preparation Strategy for UPSC IES Exam
- Start with GS & Aptitude (fastest ROI): 30–40 min daily; weekly full‑length GS mock; build a 2‑page formula sheet.
- PYQ‑first approach: Categorize errors by concept vs careless; revisit the top 20% topics causing 80% errors.
- Mains answer‑writing: 2 structured answers/week per paper—use clear diagrams, units, assumptions, and stepwise derivations.
- Timed discipline tests: 2 topic tests/week plus 1 full mock/fortnight; focus on time management and accuracy under pressure.
- Health & logistics: OMR practice with black ball‑point; maintain sleep/exercise; align spectacles/vision with medical norms early.
- Resources: Standard NCERT textbooks + PYQs + one reliable concise notes source per subject (avoid resource sprawl).
FAQs
1) What is the IES age limit for 2026?
21–30 years as on 1 January 2026; relaxations for OBC (+3), SC/ST (+5), PwBD (+10), and specified Govt/Defence categories per rules.
2) Is there a limit on the number of attempts?
No fixed attempt cap; attempts are bounded by the age window.
3) Are final‑year engineering students eligible?
Yes, subject to producing the qualifying degree by the timeline specified in the year’s notification.
4) What degrees are accepted for IES?
B.E./B.Tech or recognized equivalents such as IEI (India) Sections A & B; certain memberships recognized by UPSC.
5) Is there negative marking in IES Prelims?
Yes. Penalty applies for wrong answers in objective papers.
6) Which branches can apply for ESE?
Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication.
7) What are the key dates for the 2026 cycle?
Typically: Notification in late September; applications ~2–3 weeks; Prelims in February. Check the official UPSC calendar/notice for exact dates.
8) Do I need OBC‑NCL/EWS certificates in a specific format?
Yes. Use UPSC‑prescribed formats and ensure validity windows; keep originals and photocopies.
9) What are the medical/vision standards?
You must meet service‑wise medical fitness and vision criteria listed in the Appendix of the ESE notice.
10) Can spectacles/contact lenses be used?
Generally yes within limits; specifics depend on service‑wise vision norms. Review the Appendix and get a pre‑exam eye check‑up.
11) How should I balance Prelims vs Mains prep?
Run them in parallel: PYQ‑led topic cycles for Prelims, and weekly answer‑writing for Mains; ramp up mocks 8–10 weeks pre‑Prelims.