Latest update — 6 October 2026
ESE 2027 notification is published. The application deadline was 6 October 2026 at 6 pm; treat it as closed after that time unless UPSC issues an extension. Preliminary examination is scheduled for 31 January 2027. ESE 2026 candidates should follow their separate personality-test schedule.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Authority | UPSC |
| Current cycle | Engineering Services Examination 2027 |
| Vacancies | Approximately 480 |
| Preliminary exam | 31 January 2027 |
| Application deadline | 6 October 2026, 6 pm |
What is new for the 2026–27 session?
ESE 2027 is a notified examination, not merely a calendar proposal. Use the approximately 480-post notice, its 1 January 2027 age reference and current application instructions. Preliminary marks count toward ESE final merit; the CSE screening-only rule does not apply.
Notification PDF
Read the official UPSC ESE notification
Important dates
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Notification | 16 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 6 October 2026, 6 pm |
| Prelims | 31 January 2027 |
| Main | 18 June 2027 in the tentative calendar |
Vacancies and posts
Approximately 480 vacancies are notified, including 19 PwBD positions within the total. Figures can change. Engineering discipline, service, disability suitability and medical requirements must match the post-specific conditions.
Eligibility
Vacancies and eligibility overview
The notification estimates approximately 480 vacancies, including 19 PwBD vacancies, subject to alteration.
The ordinary age condition is 21 years attained but 30 years not attained on 1 January 2027: birth dates 2 January 1997 through 1 January 2006 before applicable relaxation. Engineering qualifications and specified alternative routes are detailed in section 3(III); some posts have additional conditions.
Application process and fees
Application requirements and fees
The application fee is ₹200, with exemptions for female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Registration/profile completion and submission of the examination-specific form are separate steps. The notification does not allow withdrawal or correction of the submitted application; verify every field before submission and save the acknowledgment. Follow the portal’s current photograph, signature and ID instructions rather than old screenshots.
Exam pattern
Detailed guide: UPSC CSE Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims, Mains & Interview
Exam pattern, syllabus and selection
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage I: Preliminary | 500 marks: General Studies/Engineering Aptitude 200 and discipline-specific paper 300 |
| Stage II: Main | Two conventional engineering papers, 300 marks and 3 hours each; total 600 |
| Stage III: Personality Test | 200 marks |
| Final maximum | 1,300 marks; Preliminary marks count toward final ranking |
The objective-paper penalty is one-third of the marks assigned to a wrong answer; unanswered questions have no penalty. Main conventional papers are set and answered in English. Use the notification’s discipline-specific syllabus for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. Do not apply the Civil Services rule excluding Preliminary marks to ESE.
Syllabus
Detailed guide: UPSC CSE 2026–27: Notification, Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus & Latest Updates
Stage I includes General Studies and Engineering Aptitude plus the chosen engineering discipline. Stage II has two conventional papers in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. Appendix I contains the full discipline-specific syllabus. Use it to organise core concepts, numerical practice and written solutions rather than relying on a generic engineering topic list.
Selection process
Stage I has 500 marks, Stage II 600 and Personality Test 200, totalling 1,300. Final ranking uses the prescribed stages, with eligibility and medical checks still applicable. The 2026 interview schedule does not announce a result or admission document for the 2027 examination.
Salary
Pay and service conditions depend on the allocated engineering service/post. Read the notice’s service list and the applicable appointment rules rather than assuming one universal take-home figure.
Preparation resources, previous papers and cut-offs
Official UPSC question papers · ESE dates · ESE admit-card guide. Solve branch-specific objective questions and practise conventional answers with units, working and diagrams.
How to plan the 2027 attempt
Work backward from 31 January for Preliminary revision, while retaining weekly conventional-answer practice for Main. Use the official syllabus to track weak topics. Check later timetable and admission notices for candidate-specific instructions.
Official sources
- Current ESE 2027 notification
- ESE Preliminary 2027 official examination page
- ESE Main 2026: results and interview notices
- 2026 personality-test schedule, issued 7 September
- 2027 annual calendar
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest official update?
ESE 2027 notification is published. The application deadline was 6 October 2026 at 6 pm; treat it as closed after that time unless UPSC issues an extension. Preliminary examination is scheduled for 31 January 2027. ESE 2026 candidates should follow their separate personality-test schedule.
Are the 2027 dates guaranteed?
Published calendar dates are subject to change. Where a detailed notification has been issued, read it with any later amendment.
Can I reuse the previous cycle’s eligibility conditions?
Only as preparation context. The notification for your own examination/session determines eligibility and the application rules.