UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 Notification: Apply Online for 480 Group A & B Vacancies (Advt. No. 02/2027-ENGG)

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the comprehensive employment notification (Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG) for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027, popularly known as the IES Examination.

This marquee national selection drive aims to recruit qualified engineering graduates into prestigious Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ technical services and posts under various Ministries and Departments of the Government of India. The commission has advertised approximately 480 vacancies (including 19 reservations for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) across four core engineering disciplines.

The online application window opened on 16th September 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications online through the official UPSC portals up to 6th October 2026 (up to 06:00 PM).

Recruitment Overview Matrix

Feature	Details
Conducting Organization	Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
Examination Name	Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 / Indian Engineering Services (IES)
Advertisement Number	Advt. No. 02/2027-ENGG (Dated 16.09.2026)
Post Designations	Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ Officers / Engineers
Total Estimated Openings	480 Vacancies (Inclusive of 19 PwBD posts)
Job Location / Cadre	Pan India (Central Government Departments & Ministries)
Application Mode	Online Only (via official UPSC application portal)
Notification Release Date	16th September 2026
Online Application Start Date	16th September 2026
Last Date to Apply Online	6th October 2026 (Up to 06:00 PM)
Official Website Portals	upsc.gov.in / upsconline.nic.in

Important Schedule & Timeline Matrix

Event Description	Official Dates & Timeline
Notification Publication Date	16th September 2026
Commencement of Online Registration & Application Form	16th September 2026
Closing Date & Time for Online Applications	6th October 2026 (06:00 PM)
Online Fee Payment Last Date (Cash / Online Gateway)	6th October 2026
Application Withdrawal Window	As per standard UPSC guidelines post-registration
Date of Preliminary (Stage-I) Examination	31st January 2027 (Sunday)
Date of Main (Stage-II) Examination	18th June 2027

Engineering Disciplines & Service Categories Matrix

Recruitment through UPSC ESE 2027 is classified into four major engineering branches:

1. Category I – Civil Engineering (Includes Central Engineering Service, Central Engineering Service (Roads), Border Roads Engineering Service, Survey of India, etc.)
2. Category II – Mechanical Engineering (Includes Indian Naval Armament Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Geological Survey of India, AEE in Corps of EME, etc.)
3. Category III – Electrical Engineering (Includes Indian Naval Material Management Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Indian Railway Management Service, etc.)
4. Category IV – Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (Includes Indian Telecommunication Service, AEE in Signal Corps, etc.)

• Total Vacancy Count: 480 Posts across all categories, including horizontal reservations for PwBD candidates.

Eligibility Criteria & Essential Parameters

1. Nationality Guidelines

A candidate must be:

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal, or
• A subject of Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or specified East African countries or Vietnam with the intention of settling permanently in India.

2. Age Limit Parameters (As on 1st January 2027)

• Minimum Age Limit: 21 Years
• Maximum Age Limit: 30 Years (Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2nd January 1997 and not later than 1st January 2006).
• Upper Age Relaxations:
  • Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST): Up to 5 Years
  • Other Backward Classes (OBC): Up to 3 Years
  • Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): Up to 10 Years
  • Domiciled Jammu & Kashmir Residents: Up to 5 Years (during specified periods)
  • Defence Services Personnel / Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 Years as per rules.

3. Educational Qualifications

• Must have obtained a Degree in Engineering from a recognized University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament, OR
• Passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India), OR
• Obtained a Degree/Diploma in Engineering from foreign universities/colleges recognized by the Government of India.
• Note on Professional Degrees: Degrees/certificates obtained from the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India post-admission after 31st May 2013 are not admissible.

Selection Process Structure

The competitive multi-stage selection process is structured into three consecutive phases:

1. Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type – 500 Marks)
   • Paper-I: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (200 Marks | 2 Hours)
   • Paper-II: Engineering Discipline Specific (300 Marks | 3 Hours)
   • Negative Marking: 1/3rd of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for incorrect answers.
2. Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Type – 600 Marks)
   • Paper-I: Engineering Discipline Specific (300 Marks | 3 Hours)
   • Paper-II: Engineering Discipline Specific (300 Marks | 3 Hours)
3. Stage-III: Personality Test / Interview (200 Marks)
   • Conducted for candidates qualifying through the written stages to evaluate mental caliber, leadership traits, and technical aptitude.

Selection Stage	Format / Type	Maximum Marks	Duration
Stage-I: Prelims	Objective (MCQs)	500 Marks	5 Hours Total
Stage-II: Mains	Conventional (Descriptive)	600 Marks	6 Hours Total
Stage-III: Interview	Personality Test	200 Marks	—
Grand Total	Comprehensive Merit Score	1300 Marks	—

Application Fee Structure

• General / OBC / EWS Male Candidates: ₹200/-
• Female / SC / ST / PwBD Candidates: Exempted (Nil Fee)
• Payment Mode: Online fee payment via Net Banking, Visa, Master, RuPay Credit/Debit Cards, UPI, or cash deposition through SBI Bank Challan branches.

Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Online

1. Visit Official Portal: Access the official UPSC registration website at upsconline.nic.in.
2. Complete One-Time Registration (OTR): Register your profile through the Universal Registration / OTR module by filling in personal, academic, and basic details (if not already completed).
3. Access Examination Menu: Log into your profile and navigate to the “Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027” application link.
4. Fill Application Form (Part-I & Part-II): Enter your preferred examination center, engineering discipline, and category details accurately in the Common Application Form (CAF).
5. Upload Scanned Files: Upload digital files of your recent passport-size photograph, signature, live captured photo (if required), and valid photo identity proof as per specified dimension constraints.
6. Pay Application Fee: Remit the ₹200 fee through digital gateways or bank challan (unless exempted).
7. Final Submission & Printout: Submit the completed form before 6th October 2026 (06:00 PM) and save a printed copy of the acknowledgement slip for future reference.

🔗 UPSC Official Website Portal

📄 Download UPSC ESE 2027 Official Notification PDF

🔗 Direct Link to Apply Online via UPSC OTR Portal

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the last date to submit online applications for UPSC ESE 2027?

A: The online application portal closes strictly on 6th October 2026 at 06:00 PM.

Q2: How many total vacancies are announced under ESE Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG?

A: A total of 480 vacancies have been notified across all disciplines, including 19 PwBD slots.

Q3: What is the age limit for UPSC ESE 2027?

A: Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on 1st January 2027 (born between 2nd January 1997 and