1. Overview

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE), 2027, notified under Rules published by the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary) dated 16th September, 2026. Recruitment through this examination will be made to Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ engineering Services/Posts across four disciplines — Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering — in departments such as Indian Railways, Border Roads Organisation, Military Engineer Services, Indian Navy, Central Water Commission, Geological Survey of India, and more. The examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (Stage-I), Main (Stage-II), and Personality Test/Interview (Stage-III). Online applications can be submitted at upsconline.nic.in from 16.09.2026 to 06.10.2026.

Source: PDF, Page 1

Source: PDF, Page 5

2. Important Dates

Source: PDF, Pages 1, 3, 21

3. Vacancy Details

The number of vacancies to be filled on the basis of this examination is expected to be approximately 480, including 19 vacancies reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The number of vacancies is liable to alteration.

Source: PDF, Page 6

Source: PDF, Page 6Recruitment is made to Services/Posts including Central Engineering Service, Indian Railway Management Service (Civil/Mechanical/Electrical/Signal & Telecommunication/Stores), Indian Defence Service of Engineers, AEE in Border Roads Engineering Service, Survey of India Group ‘A’ Service, Central Water Engineering Service, Indian Skill Development Service, Indian Naval Material Management/Armament Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Indian Radio Regulatory Service, Indian Telecommunications Service, Junior Telecom Officer Gr ‘B’, and AEE in GSI Engineering Service, among others.

Source: PDF, Pages 6-8

4. Eligibility Criteria

Nationality

A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came 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, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Source: PDF, Pages 9-10

Age Limit

A candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years as on 1st January, 2027, i.e., must be born not earlier than 2nd January, 1997 and not later than 1st January, 2006.

Source: PDF, Pages 10-12

Educational Qualification

A candidate must have obtained a degree in Engineering from a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India, or an institution established by an Act of Parliament or deemed to be a University under the UGC Act, 1956; or passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India); or obtained a degree/diploma in Engineering from a recognised foreign University/College/Institution; or passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India); or passed Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India; or passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London (held after November 1959). Candidates in the final year of their qualifying degree may also apply, subject to producing proof of passing within the prescribed timeline.

Source: PDF, Pages 15-16

5. Application Fee

Fee can be paid through net banking of any bank or via Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card/UPI. Fee once paid is not refundable under any circumstances.

Source: PDF, Page 17

6. Selection Process / Exam Pattern

The examination is conducted in three stages: Preliminary (objective type), Main (conventional/written type), and Personality Test/Interview.

Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) — 500 Marks

Source: PDF, Page 38

Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Type) — 600 Marks

Source: PDF, Page 39

Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview — 200 Marks

Candidates who qualify Stage-I and Stage-II as per the Commission’s cut-offs are called for the Personality Test/Interview (no minimum qualifying marks). Final merit is based on the combined marks of Stage-II (Main) and Stage-III (Interview); Stage-I (Preliminary) marks are used only to shortlist candidates for the Main exam and do not count towards final merit beyond that.

Source: PDF, Pages 36-40

Source: PDF, Page 36

7. Exam Centres

The Preliminary Examination will be held at 48 centres and the Main Examination at 24 centres across India, including Dispur (Guwahati). Allotment of centres is on a first-apply-first-allot basis with a ceiling per centre (except Chennai, Dispur, Kolkata and Nagpur), so candidates are advised to apply early to get a centre of their choice. No request for change of centre will be entertained.

Source: PDF, Pages 8-9

8. How to Apply

1. 1. Register/create an account and generate a Universal Registration Number (URN) — a one-time, lifetime registration.
   2. Complete the Common Application Form (CAF), uploading photograph (with live photo capture), signature, and required documents.
   3. Fill the Examination Specific Module for Engineering Services Examination, 2027, choosing the preferred Engineering discipline and Examination Centre.
   4. Pay the examination fee (if applicable) through net banking/Visa/Master/RuPay/UPI.
   5. Submit the application before 06.10.2026, 6:00 PM. No correction/withdrawal is allowed after submission.

Source: PDF, Pages 1-2, 17-18

9. Documents Required

1. 1. • Certificate of Age (Matriculation/Secondary Examination Certificate)
      • Certificate of Educational Qualification (Engineering degree/equivalent)
      • Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-Non-Creamy Layer, as applicable)
      • Economically Weaker Section (EWS) Certificate, if claiming EWS reservation (based on FY 2025-26 income, issued on/after 01.04.2026)
      • Certificate for age/fee concession, wherever applicable
      • Certificate of Disability (in prescribed Form V/VI/VII), for PwBD candidates
      • One Government-issued Photo ID (Aadhaar Card strongly advised for verification)

Source: PDF, Pages 12-13, 19

10. Important Instructions

1. 1. • No Admit Card will be sent by post — e-Admit Card must be downloaded from upsconline.nic.in.
      • Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices and any other electronic/communication devices are strictly banned inside the examination venue.
      • Candidates must undergo mandatory face authentication at the examination venue.
      • Entry into the examination venue closes 30 minutes before commencement of the exam in each session.
      • Only black ball pen should be used for the OMR Answer Sheet; battery-operated pocket calculators are allowed only for the Main (conventional) papers, not for objective papers.

Source: PDF, Pages 3-5, 41

11. Important Links

12. FAQs