The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 Notification vide Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG, dated 16 September 2026. The recruitment is for Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ engineering posts under various central government departments, including Indian Railways, Military Engineer Services, Central Water Commission and Telecom Services. Online applications are open from 16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026 (6:00 PM). This article explains the vacancy details, eligibility conditions, age limit, application fee, selection process, exam pattern and the step-by-step application procedure based on the official notification.
UPSC ESE 2027 Recruitment Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Name of Examination | Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 |
| Examination Notice Number | 02/2027-ENGG |
| Notification Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Total Vacancies | Approximately 480 (including 19 for PwBD category) |
| Categories/Branches | Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
| Mode of Application | Online only, through upsconline.nic.in |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Personality Test/Interview |
| Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
UPSC ESE 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 16 September 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 6 October 2026 (up to 6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary Examination Date | 31 January 2027 |
| Main Examination Date | 18 June 2027 |
| e-Admit Card Release | Last working day of the week preceding the exam |
Note: Personality Test/Interview dates will be announced later on the official website after declaration of the Main Examination result. Candidates should keep checking upsc.gov.in for any corrigendum or revised schedule.
UPSC ESE 2027 Vacancy Details
The examination aims to fill approximately 480 vacancies across four engineering disciplines. This includes 19 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) — 11 for Locomotor Disability (including Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims and Muscular Dystrophy), 6 for Hard of Hearing, 1 for Low Vision, and 1 for Specific Learning Disability and Multiple Disability. The notification clearly states that the number of vacancies is liable to alteration.
| Category | Engineering Discipline |
|---|---|
| Category I | Civil Engineering |
| Category II | Mechanical Engineering |
| Category III | Electrical Engineering |
| Category IV | Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
Post-wise and category-wise (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) vacancy break-up has not been given in the Preliminary notice; it is generally released along with the Main Examination result once the number of qualified candidates is finalised. This detail is not mentioned in the official notification at this stage.
UPSC ESE 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of settling permanently, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India (subject to an eligibility certificate from the Government of India where required).
Educational Qualification
Candidates must hold an engineering degree from a university/institution recognised by an Act of Parliament or a State Legislature, or an equivalent qualification such as Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination, or a recognised foreign engineering degree/diploma. Certain posts (Indian Naval Armament Service–Electronics and Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group ‘A’) accept an equivalent M.Sc. qualification as specified in the notification. Candidates awaiting their final results may also apply, subject to producing proof of qualification within the window given after the Main Examination result.
Important: Degrees/certificates from the Institution of Engineers (India), the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India), and the Aeronautical Society of India obtained after admission post 31.05.2013 are subject to specific court-related conditions mentioned in the notification. Candidates holding such qualifications should read this clause carefully in the official PDF.
UPSC ESE 2027 Age Limit and Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| General | 21 to 30 years as on 1 January 2027 (born between 2 January 1997 and 1 January 2006) |
| Government servants in specified departments (e.g., CPWD, Railways, MES, DoT) | Relaxable up to 35 years, subject to conditions |
| SC/ST | Up to 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | Up to 3 years |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations | Up to 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen (including ECOs/SSCOs) | Up to 5 years |
| PwBD candidates | Up to 10 years |
The age cut-off date is 1 January 2027. Candidates eligible under multiple categories (for example SC/ST plus PwBD, or SC/ST plus Ex-servicemen) can get cumulative relaxation under both categories, as stated in the notification.
UPSC ESE 2027 Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS (Male) | Rs. 200 |
| Female candidates (all categories) | Exempted |
| SC/ST candidates | Exempted |
| PwBD candidates | Exempted |
Fee can be paid online through net banking, or Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card, or UPI. Fee once paid is not refundable under any circumstances. OBC and EWS candidates are not exempted and must pay the full fee.
Salary and Pay Level
This detail is not mentioned in the official notification. Selected candidates are appointed to Group ‘A’ or Group ‘B’ engineering services/posts, and the applicable pay level will be as prescribed for the specific service/cadre they are allotted to. Candidates should refer to the individual service rules or contact the concerned cadre-controlling department for exact pay-level information.
UPSC ESE 2027 Selection Process
The selection process has three stages:
- Stage I – Preliminary Examination (objective type, for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination)
- Stage II – Main Examination (conventional/descriptive type, in the chosen engineering discipline)
- Stage III – Personality Test/Interview
Candidates qualifying the Preliminary Examination (about 6–7 times the number of vacancies) are called for the Main Examination. Those who qualify the Main Examination (about twice the number of vacancies) are called for the Personality Test/Interview. Final merit is based on combined marks of the Main Examination and the Interview; Preliminary marks are used only to shortlist for Main.
UPSC ESE 2027 Exam Pattern
Stage I: Preliminary Examination (500 Marks)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (common to all) | 2 hours | 200 |
| Paper II | Engineering discipline chosen (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/E&T) | 3 hours | 300 |
Stage II: Main Examination (600 Marks)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Engineering discipline chosen | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper II | Engineering discipline chosen | 3 hours | 300 |
Stage III: Personality Test/Interview
Carries 200 marks, with no minimum qualifying marks prescribed.
Negative marking: For every wrong answer in the objective papers, one-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Multiple answers to a question are treated as wrong. There is no penalty for unattempted questions.
UPSC ESE 2027 Syllabus (Overview)
The General Studies and Engineering Aptitude paper (Paper I of Prelims) covers current affairs, engineering aptitude, engineering mathematics, design principles, energy and environment basics, project management, material science, ICT tools and engineering ethics. The discipline-specific papers (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication) cover core subjects of that branch at the level of an engineering degree examination of an Indian university. Because the detailed subject-wise syllabus runs across several pages for each branch, candidates should download and read the full syllabus from the official notification PDF linked below before starting preparation.
Documents Required for UPSC ESE 2027 Application
- Photo ID proof (Aadhaar Card is strongly recommended; Voter ID, PAN, Passport or Driving Licence also accepted)
- Certificate of age (Matriculation/Secondary School certificate)
- Certificate of educational qualification (or proof of appearing, if result is awaited)
- Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL/EWS), where applicable
- PwBD certificate in the prescribed format, where applicable
- Recent photograph and live photo capture, as per portal instructions
- Signature (signed three times on plain white paper in black ink, scanned for upload)
How to Apply for UPSC ESE 2027: Step-by-Step Process
- Visit the official application portal upsconline.nic.in.
- Create an account and generate a Universal Registration Number (URN), if not already registered (this is a one-time, lifetime registration common to all UPSC exams).
- Complete the Common Application Form (CAF) with personal, academic and identity details.
- Upload photograph, capture the live photo, and upload the scanned signature as per the instructions.
- Fill the Examination Specific Module for ESE 2027 — choose your engineering discipline and exam centre carefully.
- Pay the application fee online, if applicable (women, SC/ST and PwBD candidates are exempted).
- Review all entries carefully, since no editing or withdrawal is allowed after final submission.
- Submit the form and save/download the confirmation page for your records.
Important Instructions
- The application form cannot be withdrawn or edited once submitted.
- Choose the exam centre and engineering discipline carefully; appearing at a wrong centre or discipline will lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Mobile phones and other electronic/communication devices are strictly banned inside the exam venue.
- Entry to the exam venue closes 30 minutes before the exam starts.
- Face authentication is mandatory for all candidates at the exam venue.
- e-Admit cards will only be issued online; no admit card will be sent by post.
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities in the Blindness category are advised not to apply, as no vacancies are earmarked for them in this examination.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Entering a date of birth that does not match the Matriculation certificate.
- Selecting the wrong engineering discipline or exam centre.
- Uploading an unclear photograph or signature.
- Choosing a reserved category without holding the required valid certificate by the closing date.
- Waiting until the last day to apply, risking a rejected or incomplete submission due to portal traffic.
- Paying the fee through an unapproved mode, which leads to summary rejection of the application.
Official Notification and Application Links
- Official Notification PDF (Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG)
- Official Application Portal
- Official UPSC Website
Always check the official website for any corrigendum, extension notice or revised schedule before applying. Be cautious of unofficial websites or agents asking for payment in exchange for “guaranteed” selection — UPSC does not authorise any such intermediary, and all communication and payments should be made only through the official portal.
Conclusion
The UPSC ESE 2027 notification is officially out for approximately 480 engineering vacancies across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication disciplines. Eligible engineering graduates aged 21 to 30 years (as on 1 January 2027) can apply online at upsconline.nic.in until 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM. Candidates are advised to read the complete official notification carefully, verify their eligibility, and complete the application well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
