The Union Public Service Commission has released the Engineering Services Examination 2027 notification for approximately 480 vacancies across participating government engineering services and posts. The recruitment covers Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering categories. This is a competitive examination leading to service allocation, not an internship or a direct appointment based only on an application.
Online applications opened on 16 September 2026 and must be submitted by 6 October 2026 at 6:00 PM. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 31 January 2027, followed by the Main Examination on 18 June 2027. Candidates should read the official notification before choosing their category and completing the examination-specific form.
UPSC ESE 2027: important details
| Recruiting commission | Union Public Service Commission |
|---|---|
| Examination | Engineering Services Examination 2027 |
| Notice number | 02/2027-ENGG. |
| Expected vacancies | Approximately 480, including 19 PwBD vacancies; subject to change |
| Notification date | 16 September 2026 |
| Application deadline | 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM |
| Preliminary Examination | 31 January 2027 |
| Main Examination | 18 June 2027 |
| Application mode | Online through UPSC's examination application portal |
Vacancies and participating engineering categories
The approximately 480 vacancies include 19 identified for persons with benchmark disabilities. UPSC states that the number may change. Reservations for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD candidates apply as determined under the relevant government provisions.
- Category I: Civil Engineering.
- Category II: Mechanical Engineering.
- Category III: Electrical Engineering.
- Category IV: Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
Participating services include relevant branches of the Indian Railway Management Service, Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Central Water Engineering Service and other engineering cadres listed in the notification. Telecommunications, power, naval and other services appear under the relevant categories. Applicants should consult the complete category-wise list rather than assume every service is available under every discipline.
Allocation depends on merit, service preferences, available vacancies and medical fitness. The notification does not provide one common salary figure covering every participating post, so this article does not advertise an unsupported universal pay package.
Educational qualification and final-year applicants
The principal qualification route is an engineering degree from a recognised university or institution within the conditions specified in the notification. UPSC also lists particular institution-examination and recognised foreign-qualification alternatives. These should not be simplified into a claim that any diploma or professional certificate is automatically accepted.
Special qualification provisions
Specified science qualifications are permitted for Indian Naval Armament Service electronics posts and Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group A under the notice's detailed proviso. Eligibility depends on the precise subject combination and service concerned; an MSc in an unrelated subject is not a general substitute for the engineering qualification.
The notice also contains restrictions affecting certain institution qualifications where admission was taken after 31 May 2013. Candidates relying on qualifications from the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, the Aeronautical Society of India or the Institution of Engineers should read the applicable paragraph carefully. Do not assume that all membership examinations have identical recognition conditions.
Can students awaiting results apply?
Yes, candidates who have appeared in, or intend to appear in, the qualifying examination may apply under the provisional-admission provision if otherwise eligible. This is not an exemption from eventually passing the required qualification.
Candidates qualifying for the Personality Test who lacked the prescribed qualification when applying must update their details and upload proof of passing during the specified ten-day window after declaration of the Main Examination result. Failure to meet that requirement can prevent interview participation and lead to cancellation of candidature.
Age limits, nationality and medical requirements
Under the general age condition, candidates must have attained 21 years and must not have attained 30 years on 1 January 2027. The corresponding birth-date range is 2 January 1997 to 1 January 2006, inclusive. Calculate eligibility using the notified reference date, not the application date or examination date.
- SC and ST candidates: up to five years of upper-age relaxation.
- Eligible OBC candidates: up to three years.
- Eligible PwBD candidates: up to ten years, subject to the applicable conditions.
- Specified government servants and defence or ex-servicemen categories: concessions under the detailed notice provisions.
The notice includes Indian citizens and other specified nationality categories. Where a Government of India eligibility certificate is required, the associated conditions must be satisfied. Applicants in these categories should use the full nationality paragraph rather than assume that appearing in the examination alone establishes appointment eligibility.
Recommended candidates must undergo the prescribed medical examination. PwBD applicants must also check the service-specific functional classifications and physical requirements. A reservation, age concession or fee exemption does not remove the medical and post-suitability requirements.
Application fee and exemptions
The examination fee is ₹200 for candidates who are not exempt. Female candidates and candidates belonging to SC, ST and eligible PwBD categories are exempt from payment. OBC or EWS status alone does not provide a fee exemption.
Payment is permitted through the specified net-banking, credit-card, debit-card or UPI methods. Fees paid are not refundable and cannot be held over for another examination. Review the payment status and retain the acknowledgement; do not assume that starting a payment means the application has been successfully submitted.
Selection stages and marking scheme
| Stage | Structure | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude, plus the discipline-specific objective paper | 500 |
| Main Examination | Two conventional discipline-specific engineering papers | 600 |
| Personality Test / Interview | Assessment under the notified examination scheme | 200 |
The Preliminary Examination comprises a 200-mark general paper and a 300-mark engineering paper. The two Main Examination papers carry 300 marks each. Preliminary marks count towards final merit for candidates progressing through the examination; this stage is not merely an unscored screening test.
Wrong answers in objective papers attract a deduction of one-third of the marks assigned to the question. Multiple answers to a question are treated as incorrect, while an unanswered question has no penalty. The conventional papers must be answered in English, and applicants should consult the official syllabus for their chosen engineering category.
How to apply through the UPSC portal
Start with the official UPSC ESE 2027 notification page. It contains the detailed announcement. Submit the application through UPSC's official online application portal, not through Jobsii or an unofficial form.
- Read the notification and prepare evidence for education, birth date, category and other claims that apply to you.
- Create or access the account on the UPSC application portal.
- Complete Universal Registration and the Common Application Form.
- Complete the Engineering Services Examination 2027 examination-specific module, including required choices and fee payment where applicable.
- Review every entry and attachment, submit before the deadline, and save the confirmation.
The portal uses four modules: account creation, Universal Registration, the Common Application Form and the examination-specific module. The Universal Registration Number, or URN, is distinct from the application number generated for an individual examination. Keep both for future communication.
Photograph, signature and identity requirements
Applicants must upload a photograph and capture a live photograph while completing the Common Application Form. The notice also requires three signatures, one below another, on plain white paper using black ink, uploaded according to the portal instructions. Follow the current image-quality and upload guidance rather than an old examination's checklist.
Provide the required photo-ID details. UPSC strongly recommends Aadhaar for verification, while the notice also lists other acceptable government-issued photo IDs. Keep the relevant ID available for the examination.
Important warnings before final submission
The notice does not permit withdrawal or correction of a submitted application. The separate one-time URN-profile edit facility does not update applications already submitted. Recheck dates, qualification details, category claims, documents and examination choices before the final submission step.
Examination-centre entry closes thirty minutes before each session starts, and mandatory face authentication is specified at the venue. Read the admit-card instructions and allow sufficient time for identity checks and frisking. Electronic and communication devices covered by the prohibition must not be taken into the examination process.
Frequently asked questions
Are all 480 vacancies final?
No. UPSC describes the figure as approximate and subject to alteration. The overall count includes the notified PwBD vacancies; these are not additional vacancies on top of 480.
Can final-year candidates apply?
The provisional provision covers candidates awaiting or planning to take the qualifying examination, subject to all other conditions. Required proof of passing must be submitted within the later window specified by UPSC.
Is the application deadline in 2027?
No. Although this is the 2027 examination cycle, applications close on 6 October 2026 at 6 PM. Do not confuse the examination year with the application year.
Where can applicants get official assistance?
The notice lists 011-24041001, 011-40303444 and upscsoap@nic.in. The application-window helpdesk operates on working days from 10 AM to 5:30 PM. Use official channels for unresolved questions, and check the UPSC website for updates.
Details verified against UPSC Examination Notice 02/2027-ENGG., dated 16 September 2026. The full notification and subsequent official updates govern eligibility, examination arrangements and selection.
