UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027: Apply Online for 480 Engineering Posts

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially released the notification for UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 (Engineering Services Examination 2027) on 16th September 2026. This is one of the most sought-after national-level exams for engineering graduates who dream of joining prestigious Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ government services under disciplines like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.

Through UPSC ESE 2027, the Commission plans to fill approximately 480 vacancies, including seats reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official UPSC website from 16th September 2026 to 6th October 2026. Below, you will find every detail you need — dates, fee, eligibility, exam pattern, and the complete application process — explained in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Overview Table

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Important Dates

Candidates planning to appear for this exam should mark these dates on their calendar so they don’t miss any stage of the recruitment process.

Key Dates to Remember

• Notification Release Date: 16 September 2026
• Online Application Start Date: 16 September 2026
• Last Date to Submit Application: 6 October 2026 (up to 6:00 PM)
• One-Time URN Profile Correction Window: Available after registration (as per portal instructions)
• Preliminary (Stage-I) Exam Date: 31 January 2027
• Main (Stage-II) Exam Date: 18 June 2027
• e-Admit Card Release: Usually issued during the last working week before the exam date

Since the application window is open for less than a month, candidates are strongly advised to complete their registration well before the deadline instead of waiting for the last day, as heavy traffic on the portal near the closing date is common.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Application Fee

The application fee for UPSC ESE 2027 is minimal compared to many other competitive exams, and several categories of candidates are fully exempted from paying it.

Category-Wise Fee Structure

• General / OBC / EWS Candidates: Rs. 200/-
• Female Candidates (All Categories): No Fee
• SC / ST Candidates: No Fee
• PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disability) Candidates: No Fee

Mode of Payment

The fee can be paid online only, using:

• Net banking of any bank
• Visa / Master / RuPay Credit or Debit Card
• UPI Payment

Candidates should note that the fee, once paid, is non-refundable under any circumstances and cannot be adjusted or carried forward to any other examination.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Age Limit

Age eligibility is one of the most important criteria that candidates must check carefully before applying, as UPSC does not entertain age-related corrections after submission.

A candidate must be at least 21 years old and must not have crossed 30 years of age as on 1st January 2027. In simple terms, your date of birth should fall between 2nd January 1997 and 1st January 2006 (both dates inclusive).

Age Relaxation Details

• Government servants in specified departments (as per eligible cadre list): Relaxation up to 35 years
• SC / ST Candidates: 5 years relaxation
• OBC Candidates: 3 years relaxation
• Ex-Servicemen: Up to 5 years relaxation (subject to conditions)
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): Up to 10 years relaxation
• Defence personnel disabled in operations: Up to 3 years relaxation

Candidates eligible for more than one relaxation category (for example, SC candidates who are also Ex-Servicemen) can claim cumulative age relaxation as permitted under the rules.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Vacancy Details (Category Wise)

UPSC ESE 2027 offers opportunities across four major engineering disciplines, each leading into multiple prestigious central government services.

• Total Approximate Vacancies: 480
• Vacancies Reserved for PwBD Candidates: 19

Discipline-Wise Categories

• Category I – Civil Engineering: Recruits into services such as Central Engineering Service, Indian Railway Management Service (Civil), Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Survey of India Group ‘A’ Service, and more.
• Category II – Mechanical Engineering: Covers services like Central Power Engineering Service, Indian Naval Material Management Service, Indian Railway Management Service (Mechanical), and Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
• Category III – Electrical Engineering: Includes Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service, Central Power Engineering Service (Electrical), Indian Naval Armament Service, and Indian Railway Management Service (Electrical).
• Category IV – Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering: Leads to services such as Indian Telecommunication Service, Indian Radio Regulatory Service, Junior Telecom Officer, and Indian Railway Management Service (Signal & Telecommunication).

Note: The final vacancy count is provisional and subject to revision by the Commission before the declaration of the final result.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Educational Qualification

Only candidates holding a recognized engineering qualification are eligible to apply for this examination.

• A degree in Engineering from a university established by an Act of Parliament or State Legislature, or from an institution recognised as a Deemed University
• Passed Sections A & B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination
• An equivalent engineering degree/diploma from a recognised foreign university or institution
• Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India)
• Associate Membership Examination (Parts II & III / Sections A & B) of the Aeronautical Society of India

Special Note for Final-Year Students

Candidates who are in their final year of engineering or awaiting results can also apply provisionally. However, they must submit proof of passing the qualifying exam within the timeline specified after the Mains result, failing which their candidature stands cancelled.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Selection Process

The UPSC ESE selection procedure is conducted in three well-defined stages, testing both technical knowledge and personality traits of the candidate.

Three Stages of Selection

1. Stage-I – Preliminary Examination: Objective-type screening test consisting of two papers.
2. Stage-II – Main Examination: Conventional (descriptive) type papers based on the chosen engineering discipline.
3. Stage-III – Personality Test/Interview: Final stage assessing leadership qualities, communication skills and overall personality, carrying 200 marks.

Only candidates who clear the Preliminary stage move on to the Mains, and only those who clear the Mains are called for the Interview round. Final selection and merit ranking are based on the combined marks of Mains and Interview (Preliminary marks are used only for qualification, not for final ranking).

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Salary & Pay Scale

One of the biggest attractions of UPSC ESE is the pay package and career growth it offers to selected engineers.

Pay Structure Highlights

• Selected candidates are appointed to Group ‘A’ posts under Pay Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission
• Starting basic pay is approximately Rs. 56,100 per month
• The pay scale can progress up to approximately Rs. 1,77,500 per month as officers move up the seniority ladder
• In addition to basic pay, selected candidates receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance (TA), and other government benefits as applicable to their posting location

Career Growth

IES officers typically progress through ranks such as Assistant Executive Engineer, Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer, and eventually Chief Engineer level posts, with corresponding increases in pay level and responsibility.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Exam Pattern

Understanding the exam pattern in advance helps candidates plan their preparation strategy more effectively.

Stage-I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)

Stage-II: Main Examination (Conventional Type)

Stage-III: Personality Test/Interview

• Marks: 200 (No minimum qualifying marks)

Negative Marking Rule

For every wrong answer marked in the objective papers, one-third (1/3rd) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. No penalty is applied for questions left unanswered.

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | Documents Required

Keeping the following documents scanned and ready in advance will make the application process smooth and error-free.

• Recent passport-size photograph (as per specified format and file size)
• Scanned signature (signed three times on plain white paper with black ink)
• Matriculation/Secondary Certificate (for Date of Birth proof)
• Educational Qualification Certificate (Engineering Degree/equivalent)
• Category Certificate – SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/EWS, wherever applicable
• Disability Certificate in the prescribed format, for PwBD candidates
• A valid Photo ID Card (Aadhaar Card recommended, or Voter ID/PAN/Passport/Driving Licence)
• Valid and active email ID and mobile number

UPSC ESE Recruitment 2027 | How to Apply

Follow these steps carefully to complete your UPSC ESE 2027 application without errors.

1. Visit the official UPSC application portal at upsconline.nic.in
2. Complete the “Account Creation” step if you are a first-time applicant
3. Generate your Universal Registration Number (URN) — this is a one-time, lifetime registration
4. Fill in the Common Application Form (CAF) with your personal and educational details
5. Proceed to the Examination Specific Module for UPSC ESE 2027 and select your preferred exam centre and engineering discipline
6. Upload your photograph, live photo capture, and signature as per the given specifications
7. Pay the applicable examination fee online (if not exempted)
8. Review all the entered details carefully, since no correction is allowed after final submission
9. Submit the form and note down your URN and Application Number for future reference

Candidates should apply well before the last date, as the online link will be permanently disabled after 6:00 PM on 6th October 2026

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