UPSC ESE 2026 (IES) – Vacancy Branch-wise,
Interview & Complete Guide
India's most prestigious exam for engineers. About 474 vacancies for Group A & B posts across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecom. The Mains result came on 24 July 2026 and 1,336 candidates are facing interviews from 21 September to 30 October 2026. Starting salary: ₹56,100/month (Level 10, 7th CPC).
1What is UPSC ESE (IES) 2026?
The UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE), popularly known as IES (Indian Engineering Services), is conducted annually by the Union Public Service Commission. It is one of the most competitive and prestigious exams for engineering graduates in India, recruiting officers for technical roles in central government departments.
Selected candidates are posted as Assistant Executive Engineers or equivalent in departments like CPWD, Indian Railways (IRMS), Border Roads Organisation, ISRO, DRDO, CWC, and more. These are Group A Gazetted posts with structured career progression to the highest technical posts in the Government of India.
The ESE 2026 notification announced about 474 vacancies (26 for PwBD), up from about 232 in the ESE 2025 notification. UPSC can revise the number before the final result; for ESE 2025, it finally recommended 458 candidates. The exam is open to graduates in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
2Current Status – ESE 2026 Interview and ESE 2027 (October 2026)
Prelims, Mains & Mains Result Done
Prelims held 8 February 2026 (result 26 February — 1,443 qualified: 578 Civil · 420 Mechanical · 278 Electrical · 167 Electronics & Telecom). Mains held 21 June 2026. Mains result declared 24 July 2026: 1,336 candidates qualified for the Personality Test.
Personality Test — 21 September to 30 October 2026 (ongoing)
Interviews are held at UPSC, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi. Reporting time is 9:00 AM (forenoon) or 1:00 PM (afternoon). Download your e-summon letter from upsconline.nic.in; UPSC does not accept requests to change the date or time.
Final Result — TBN
UPSC has not announced the final result date. Interviews end on 30 October 2026; for ESE 2025, the final result came in December 2025. Marks and cut-offs are published after the final result.
ESE 2027 — Applications Open till 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM
Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG (16 September 2026): about 480 vacancies including 19 for PwBD. Age 21–30 as on 1 January 2027 (born 2 January 1997 – 1 January 2006). Fee ₹200; women, SC/ST and PwBD pay nothing. Prelims 31 January 2027 · Mains 18 June 2027.
3Important Dates – UPSC ESE 2026
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification Released | 📅 26 September 2025 | Done |
| Online Application Opens | 📅 26 September 2025 | Done |
| Application Last Date | 📅 16 October 2025 | Done |
| Prelims Admit Card Released | 📅 30 January 2026 | Done |
| ESE Prelims Examination | 📅 8 February 2026 (Sunday) | Done |
| ESE Prelims Result Declared | 📅 26 February 2026 | Done |
| Mains Timetable Released | 📅 8 April 2026 | Done |
| Mains Admit Card Released | 📅 June 2026 | Done |
| ESE Mains — Paper I (All Branches) | 📅 21 June 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12 Noon | Done |
| ESE Mains — Paper II (All Branches) | 📅 21 June 2026 · 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM | Done |
| ESE Mains Result (1,336 qualified for interview) | 📅 24 July 2026 | Done |
| Personality Test / Interview | 📅 21 September – 30 October 2026 | Ongoing |
| Final Result & Recommendations | 📅 TBN ⚠️ (ESE 2025 final result came in December 2025) | TBN |
| ESE 2027 Notification (No. 02/2027-ENGG) | 📅 16 September 2026 | Done |
| ESE 2027 Online Application | 📅 16 Sep – 6 Oct 2026 (till 6:00 PM) | Open |
| ESE 2027 Prelims | 📅 31 January 2027 | Upcoming |
| ESE 2027 Mains | 📅 18 June 2027 | Upcoming |
4Eligibility Criteria
🪪 Nationality
- Indian Citizen
- Subject of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1 Jan 1962
- Person of Indian Origin from specified countries
📋 Age Limit (as on 1 Jan 2026)
| Category | Age |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 21–30 years |
| OBC | 21–33 years (+3) |
| SC / ST | 21–35 years (+5) |
| PwBD | Up to 40 years (+10) |
🎓 Educational Qualification
Must hold a B.E. / B.Tech or equivalent degree from a recognised university in one of:
💡 Final-year students can apply provisionally. Degree certificate required at document verification.
5UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy Branch-wise
| Branch (Category) | ESE 2026 Vacancies | Cleared ESE 2026 Prelims | ESE 2025 Final Selections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (Cat. I) | TBN ⚠️ | 578 | 202 |
| Mechanical Engineering (Cat. II) | TBN ⚠️ | 420 | 61 |
| Electrical Engineering (Cat. III) | TBN ⚠️ | 278 | 79 |
| Electronics & Telecom (Cat. IV) | TBN ⚠️ | 167 | 116 |
| Total | ~474 (26 PwBD) | 1,443 | 458 |
The ESE 2025 final selections show how posts usually split between branches: Civil gets the most, followed by Electronics & Telecom. 1,336 candidates (all branches) are now in the ESE 2026 interview round.
ESE Vacancy Trend
| Cycle | Vacancies in Notification | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| ESE 2025 | About 232 | 458 candidates finally recommended (Dec 2025) |
| ESE 2026 | About 474 (26 PwBD) | Interviews 21 Sep – 30 Oct 2026; final result TBN |
| ESE 2027 | About 480 (19 PwBD) | Applications open till 6 Oct 2026; Prelims 31 Jan 2027 |
5BServices & Posts Filled Through ESE
| Service / Organisation | Branch | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Central Engineering Service | Civil | Group A |
| Central Water Engineering (CWE) | Civil / Mechanical | Group A |
| Border Roads Engineering Service | Civil / Elect / Mech | Group A |
| Indian Railway Management Service (IRMS) | Civil / Mech / Elect. | Group A |
| Indian Telecommunication Service (ITS) | Electronics & Telecom | Group A |
| Central Power Engineering Service | Electrical | Group A & B |
| Indian Naval Armament Service (INAS) | Elect / Mechanical | Group A |
| Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE) | Civil / Elect / Mech | Group A |
| Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS) | All Four Branches | Group A |
| Indian Skill Development Service | All Four Branches | Group A & B |
6Exam Pattern – Three Stages (1,300 Marks)
Stage I — Preliminary Exam (500 Marks)
| Paper | Subject | Qs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies & Engineering Aptitude | 100 | 200 | 2 hrs |
| Paper II | Engineering Discipline-specific (Civil / Mech / Elect / E&T) | 150 | 300 | 3 hrs |
⚠️ Negative marking: 1/3 mark deducted per wrong answer in Prelims. Prelims marks count in the final merit list.
Stage II — Mains Exam (600 Marks) — Held 21 June 2026
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Time | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Engg. Discipline – Conventional (Shift 1: 9AM–12Noon) | 300 | 3 hrs | Descriptive |
| Paper II | Engg. Discipline – Conventional (Shift 2: 2:30–5:30PM) | 300 | 3 hrs | Descriptive |
| Interview | Personality Test | 200 | — | Verbal |
7Detailed Syllabus – All Branches
Tap a section to expand. Mains (Stage II) covers the same discipline topics in deeper conventional/descriptive format.
📋 Paper I – General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (Common for All Branches)
- Current Issues of National and International Importance
- Engineering Aptitude – Logical reasoning, Analytical ability, Data interpretation
- Engineering Mathematics – Linear algebra, Calculus, Numerical methods, Probability
- General Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of Safety
- Standards and Quality Practices in Production, Construction, Maintenance
- Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) – Cloud computing, GPS, networking
- Ethics and Values in Engineering Profession
- Environmental Engineering – Pollution, Climate change, Renewable energy
🏗️ Paper II – Civil Engineering (Branch-Specific)
- Structural Analysis – Statically determinate/indeterminate structures, influence lines
- Concrete Structures – RCC design, limit state method, pre-stressed concrete
- Steel Structures – Design of beams, columns, connections
- Soil Mechanics & Foundation Engineering – Shear strength, consolidation, bearing capacity
- Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulics – Flow through pipes, open channels, hydraulic machines
- Water Resources Engineering – Irrigation, dams, canals, groundwater
- Environmental Engineering – Water supply, sewerage treatment, air pollution
- Transportation Engineering – Highway design, railway engineering, surveying
⚙️ Paper II – Mechanical Engineering (Branch-Specific)
- Engineering Mechanics & Strength of Materials
- Theory of Machines – Kinematics, dynamics, vibrations
- Design of Machine Elements – Shafts, bearings, gears, springs
- Manufacturing Science – Metal cutting, machining, welding, casting
- Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer – Laws, cycles, conduction, convection, radiation
- Fluid Mechanics & Turbo Machinery – Pumps, compressors, turbines
- Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
- Industrial & Production Engineering – Operations Research, inventory control
⚡ Paper II – Electrical Engineering (Branch-Specific)
- Electric Circuits & Fields – Network theorems, transient analysis, electromagnetic fields
- Electrical Machines – DC, synchronous and induction machines
- Power Systems – Generation, transmission, distribution, protection
- Control Systems – Transfer functions, Bode plots, stability analysis
- Electronics & Instrumentation – Amplifiers, oscillators, transducers
- Digital Electronics – Logic gates, flip-flops, microprocessors
- Measurements & Measuring Instruments
📡 Paper II – Electronics & Telecommunication (Branch-Specific)
- Electronic Circuits & Components – Diodes, transistors, op-amps, feedback
- Signals & Systems – Fourier, Laplace, and Z-transforms
- Digital Electronics & Microprocessors
- Communication Systems – Modulation, satellite & mobile communications
- Electromagnetics – Maxwell equations, wave propagation, antennas
- Networks & Control Systems – Network analysis, Bode plots, stability
- Instrumentation & Measurement
Full official syllabus PDF: upsc.gov.in
8Salary & Career Growth
Starting Salary Breakdown (Level 10, X-class city)
| Basic Pay | ₹56,100 |
| Dearness Allowance (60% of basic) | ₹33,660 |
| HRA (30% of basic, X city) | ₹16,830 |
| Transport Allowance (₹7,200 + 60% DA on it) | ₹11,520 |
| Gross monthly pay | ₹1,18,110 |
| Less: NPS (10% of basic + DA) | − ₹8,976 |
| Less: CGEGIS + CGHS (where applicable) | − ₹770 |
| Approx. in-hand (before income tax) | ₹1,08,364 |
In Y cities (HRA 20%, TA ₹3,600 + DA) in-hand is about ₹97,000; in Z cities (HRA 10%) about ₹91,400. Officers given government quarters do not get HRA.
Allowances & Benefits
Career Progression
910-Month Study Plan (for ESE 2027)
The ESE 2027 notification came out on 16 September 2026: apply by 6 October 2026 (6:00 PM). Prelims is on 31 January 2027 and Mains on 18 June 2027 — use this roadmap to plan.
Foundation & Basics
- Master Engineering Mathematics — directly tested in Paper I and underpins all technical subjects
- Cover all 8 GS & Aptitude topics for Paper I thoroughly
- Build strong fundamentals in your chosen discipline
- Solve 100+ previous year questions per subject to understand patterns
Core Technical Depth
- Deep-dive into all discipline-specific subjects for Paper II
- Make subject-wise formula sheets and concise revision notes
- Attempt at least 2 full-length Prelims mocks per week
- Join a reputed test series (MADE EASY, IES Master, or ACE Academy)
Revision & Mains Preparation
- Intensive revision of formula sheets and short notes
- Switch to descriptive practice for Mains — write full solutions daily with neat diagrams
- Solve 10 years of Mains conventional papers for your branch
- Focus on structured, well-illustrated answers
Final Sprint
- Daily 2-hour timed Prelims mock tests with detailed error analysis
- Continue Mains answer writing — target 2 full papers per week
- Revise all weak areas identified from mock test analytics
- Prepare for Personality Test: technical topics, current engineering news, final-year project
10Best Books for UPSC ESE 2026
| Book | Author | Subject | Find Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | B.S. Grewal | Mathematics | — |
| General Aptitude: Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal | Aptitude | Find on Amazon |
| A Handbook of Civil Engineering | MADE EASY Publications | Civil | — |
| A Handbook of Mechanical Engineering | MADE EASY Publications | Mechanical | — |
| A Handbook of Electrical Engineering | MADE EASY Publications | Electrical | — |
| ESE Prelims Paper I – GS & Engineering Aptitude | IES Master Editorial Team | Paper I | — |
| Strength of Materials | R.K. Bansal | Civil / Mechanical | — |
| Power Systems | C.L. Wadhwa | Electrical | — |
| Electronic Devices & Circuits | J.B. Gupta | E&T | — |
| ESE Mains Solved Papers (Branch-Wise) | MADE EASY / IES Master | Mains Prep | — |
Links marked (paid link) are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing extra, and books are chosen on merit only — no publisher pays us to recommend a title.
11Free Resources & Preparation Tools
MADE EASY YouTube
Topic-wise lectures for all four ESE branches — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, E&T.
IES Master YouTube
Free ESE Prelims Paper I (GS & Aptitude) series and Mains conventional practice videos.
UPSC Official Website
Official notifications, timetable, admit cards, results, and previous year papers.
ESE Previous Year Papers
Free PDFs of last 10 years of Prelims & Mains papers available on upsc.gov.in.
Telegram: ESE Aspirants
Daily practice questions, study material PDFs, and exam update communities.
TaiyarHo Eligibility Checker
Check if you qualify for ESE and 80+ other government exams instantly.
12Expert Tips to Crack UPSC ESE
13Frequently Asked Questions
What is UPSC ESE 2026 and who conducts it?
What are the total vacancies for UPSC ESE 2026?
What is the UPSC ESE 2026 vacancy branch-wise?
What is the current status of UPSC ESE 2026?
What is the salary of a UPSC IES officer?
Is the UPSC ESE 2027 notification out?
Can a final-year engineering student apply for ESE?
📅 Last Updated: 5 October 2026
Disclaimer: Information provided is for general guidance based on official UPSC notices (ESE 2026 Notice No. 02/2026-ENGG, ESE 2027 Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG, the Mains result and the Personality Test schedule) and trusted education news sources. Salary figures follow the 7th Pay Commission with DA at 60% (w.e.f. 1 January 2026) and HRA at 30/20/10%, and are estimates that may vary by posting. Anything UPSC has not announced, including branch-wise vacancies and the final result date, is marked TBN. Always verify from upsc.gov.in. TaiyarHo.in is not affiliated with UPSC or any government body.