The Union Public Service Commission has released the Engineering Services Examination 2027 notification for recruitment to engineering services and posts under Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering disciplines. The notification was issued on September 16, 2026, and approximately 480 vacancies are expected to be filled through the examination.
The online application process has started, and eligible candidates can submit their forms until 6:00 PM on October 6, 2026. The UPSC Engineering Services Preliminary Examination 2027 is scheduled for January 31, 2027, while the Main Examination will be conducted on June 18, 2027.
Candidates planning to apply should carefully review the age limit, educational qualifications, engineering discipline, category requirements, and service-specific conditions before submitting their applications. UPSC has also clarified that no corrections, alterations, or modifications will be permitted to the application form after final submission.
Table of Contents
UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination | Engineering Services Examination 2027 |
| Conducting Authority | Union Public Service Commission |
| Notice Number | 02/2027-ENGG. |
| Notification Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Expected Vacancies | Approximately 480 |
| Application Start Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | January 31, 2027 |
| Main Examination | June 18, 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Fee | Rs. 200 for applicable candidates |
The announced vacancy figure is approximately 480 and is subject to change. Of these, 19 vacancies are indicated for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities, including identified vacancies for locomotor disability, hard of hearing, low vision, specific learning disability, and multiple disability categories.
The examination will be conducted through three successive stages. Marks secured in the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test will all contribute to the final merit ranking.
Vacancy Details
UPSC has stated that approximately 480 vacancies are expected to be filled through the Engineering Services Examination 2027. The final vacancy number may be revised.
The notification identifies 19 vacancies for PwBD candidates, comprising:
| PwBD Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Locomotor Disability and specified related categories | 11 |
| Hard of Hearing | 6 |
| Low Vision | 1 |
| Specific Learning Disability and Multiple Disability | 1 |
| Total | 19 |
Reservation will be provided to eligible SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwBD candidates in accordance with applicable Government of India rules.
Engineering Disciplines Covered
Candidates can apply under one of the following four engineering categories:
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
The services and posts available under these categories include several Group A and Group B engineering positions across central government departments and organizations.
These include posts under the Central Engineering Service, Indian Railway Management Service, Indian Defense Service of Engineers, Indian Telecommunications Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Central Water Engineering Service, Indian Naval Services, Indian Skill Development Service, and other participating organizations.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | September 16, 2026 |
| Online Applications Started | September 16, 2026 |
| Last Date for Application | October 6, 2026 |
| Application Closing Time | 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | January 31, 2027 |
| Main Examination | June 18, 2027 |
Candidates have been advised to complete their applications well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.
Age Limit
Candidates must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years as on January 1, 2027.
Accordingly, candidates should have been born:
- Not earlier than January 2, 1997
- Not later than January 1, 2006
The notification provides age relaxation for eligible categories, including SC, ST, OBC, certain government servants, veterans, defense personnel, and PwBD candidates.
For example, the upper age limit is relaxed by up to 5 years for SC/ST candidates and up to 3 years for eligible OBC candidates. PwBD candidates may receive relaxation of up to 10 years, subject to the conditions specified in the notification.
Educational Qualification
Candidates generally need an engineering qualification recognized under the conditions prescribed by UPSC.
A candidate may be eligible if they have:
- An Engineering degree from a recognized university or institution
- Passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India)
- An eligible engineering degree or diploma from a recognized foreign institution
- Passed certain specified professional engineering membership examinations
The notification also provides specific alternative qualifications for Indian Naval Armament Service Electronics Engineering posts and Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group A.
Candidates awaiting the result of a qualifying examination may also apply provisionally, subject to satisfying the conditions prescribed by UPSC at the subsequent stage.
Application Fee
The application fee for UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027 is Rs. 200.
Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST, and eligible PwBD categories are exempted from payment of the fee.
OBC and EWS candidates do not receive fee exemption and are required to pay the prescribed amount.
Payment can be made using:
- Net banking
- Visa credit or debit card
- MasterCard
- RuPay card
- UPI
The application fee, once paid, will not be refunded.
Selection Process
The Engineering Services Examination will be conducted in three stages:
Stage I: Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination will consist of two objective-type papers carrying a total of 500 marks.
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 2 Hours | 200 |
| Engineering Discipline Paper | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 500 |
The same overall structure applies to candidates in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
There will be negative marking in the objective papers. One-third of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
No penalty will be imposed for unanswered questions.
Stage II: Main Examination
The Main Examination will consist of two conventional engineering discipline papers.
| Paper | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Paper I | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Engineering Paper II | 3 Hours | 300 |
| Total | 600 |
The conventional papers must be answered in English.
Stage III: Personality Test
Candidates who qualify for the Main Examination will be considered for the Personality Test or Interview.
The Personality Test carries 200 marks.
The final ranking will be based on marks obtained across the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Personality Test.
Total Marks in UPSC ESE 2027
The complete examination carries 1,300 marks:
| Stage | Marks |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | 500 |
| Main Examination | 600 |
| Personality Test | 200 |
| Total | 1,300 |
Unlike examinations where the preliminary stage is only qualifying, UPSC has clearly specified that the marks obtained in Stage I by candidates who qualify for the Main Examination will count towards the final merit order.
How to Apply for UPSC ESE 2027
Candidates are required to submit their applications through the UPSC online application system.
The process broadly involves:
- Create or access the UPSC online account.
- Generate or verify the Universal Registration Number.
- Complete the Common Application Form.
- Fill the Engineering Services Examination-specific module.
- Select the engineering discipline and examination center carefully.
- Upload the required photograph, live photograph, and signature.
- Upload or provide the required supporting information and documents.
- Pay the application fee, where applicable.
- Review all details carefully.
- Submit the form before October 6, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
Candidates are not required to send a hard copy or printout of the application to UPSC.
Important Rule on Application Correction
UPSC has specifically stated that candidates cannot withdraw their applications after submission.
No correction, alteration, or modification in any field of the application form will be permitted after final submission.
A one-time edit facility is available for the Universal Registration Number profile, but changes made in the URN profile will not automatically modify applications that have already been submitted.
Candidates should therefore verify every entry before final submission.
Examination Centres
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted across a wide network of cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Patna, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Visakhapatnam, and several others.
The Main Examination will be conducted at a smaller number of centers, including Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, and other notified cities.
UPSC has stated that allotment at several centers will follow a first-come, first-served principle because of capacity limits. Candidates seeking a particular center should therefore consider applying early.
