GATE & UPSC ESE Blogs

ESE

UPSC ESE 2026, Mains Exam Schedule 2026 (Out), Preparation Tips

UPSC ESE 2026: The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the UPSC ESE Mains Exam Schedule 2026, bringing clarity for candidates preparing for the next stage. The Mains exam is set to be conducted on 21 June 2026 in offline mode with descriptive papers across two shifts. Candidates who qualified the Preliminary Examination can now gear up for this crucial phase. Along with the schedule, important details regarding exam pattern, eligibility, and key dates help aspirants streamline their preparation effectively. UPSC ESE Mains Exam Schedule 2026 (Out) The Union Public Service Commission has officially released the detailed schedule for the UPSC Engineering Services (ESE) Mains Examination 2026. As per the timetable, the exam will be conducted on 21 June 2026 in offline mode with descriptive papers. It will be held in two shifts—9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The Mains includes two papers of 300 marks each. Only prelims-qualified candidates can appear. UPSC ESE Mains Exam Date 2026 Released UPSC ESE 2026 Notification The UPSC ESE Notification 2026 has been made available for engineering graduates seeking central government jobs in Group A and B on 26th September 2025. UPSC ESE Application process has started is 26th September 2025 to 16th October 2025. There are three steps in the selection process: Preliminary, Mains, Personality exam. To effectively organize their preparation, candidates can review all important facts, such as the UPSC IES 2026 exam date, vacancies, eligibility, and application procedure. UPSC ESE 2026 Overview The UPSC ESE 2026 examination will be hosted to appoint suitable candidates for various prestigious roles in the technical disciplines. Candidates with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Technology in the related fields and who falls in the age group 21-30 years are eligible to sit in this examination. The table below features the key highlights of the exam covering all the essential details: PW ESE + GATE Online Courses UPSC ESE 2026 Overview Exam Name UPSC ESE 2026 Conducting Body Union Public Service Commission Posts Offered IES Officers (Grade A) & Managerial Posts Advt. No. 02/2026 Vacancies 540 Disciplines Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Exam Mode Offline Exam Frequency Once a year Notification Release Date 26th September 2025 Online Registration Dates 26th September 2025 TO October 16, 2025 Stages Preliminary Exam (Objective) Mains Exam (Descriptive) Personality Test/Interview Qualification B.E./B.Tech (related disciplines) Age Limit 21-30 years Application Fees Rs. 200/- (for UR/OBC/EWS) Pay Scale Level 10 in the Pay Matrix of 7th CPC Official Website upsc.gov.in UPSC ESE 2026 Notification PDF The UPSC ESE 2026 Notification was released by the Union Public Service Commission on 26th September 2025 at the official website, upsc.gov.in. The notification provides comprehensive details about the exam, including important dates, vacancy break-up, eligibility criteria, selection procedure, etc. UPSC ESE 2026 Notification PDF UPSC ESE 2026 Important Dates All the important dates, including commencement of online registration, deadline for application, exam date, results, etc., will be revealed under the detailed advertisement. Candidates must go through the table below to keep track of all the essential dates: UPSC ESE 2026 Important Dates Events Dates Official Notification Release 26th September 2025 Online Application Starts 26th September 2025 Closing Date of Online Application 16th October 2025 Prelims Admit Card Release 30th January 2026 Prelims Exam Date February 8, 2026 Prelims Answer Key Release February 2026 Prelims Result Declaration To Be Notified Mains Exam Date 21 June 2026 Mains Result Declaration To Be Notified Personality Test To Be Notified UPSC ESE Mains Time Table 2026 The Union Public Service Commission has announced the detailed timetable for the UPSC Engineering Services (ESE) Mains Examination 2026. The exam is scheduled for 21 June 2026 and will be conducted offline in a descriptive format. It will take place in two sessions—9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The Mains stage comprises two papers of 300 marks each, and only candidates who have qualified the Preliminary Examination are eligible to appear. UPSC ESE Time Table 2026 UPSC ESE Exam 2026 The Union Public Service Commission administers the UPSC Engineering Services Examination to recruit Engineers for Grade A (Gazetted) positions in the disciplines of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. The exam serves as a gateway to secure a reputed government job in the technical sector. The exam assesses the candidate's in-depth knowledge across General Studies, Engineering Aptitude, and Core Engineering Subjects of the respective engineering disciplines. Selected candidates are placed on the competitive salary of the pay scale Level 10 in the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. Candidates who are aspiring to secure a prestigious government job position must go through all the pertinent details, such as notification, exam dates, application procedure, eligibility criteria, selection process, etc. We have attached a direct link to access the latest UPSC Exam Calendar 2026 for your reference: UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has officially announced a total of 540 vacancies for the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026. These positions are distributed across various technical disciplines including Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication to recruit Group ‘A’ and ‘B’ officers for central government services. UPSC ESE 2026 Vacancy Engineering Discipline Number of Vacancies Civil Engineering 257 Mechanical Engineering 89 Electrical Engineering 73 Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering 121 Total Vacancies 540 UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form The UPSC ESE Application Form 2026 was available on the official website, following the issuance of the notification, which was released on September 26, 2025. The application form was made available to eligible candidates from 26th September 2025 to 16th October 2025 through the official website, upsc.gov.in. The UPSC ESE Application Form 2025 closes on 16th October, candidates make sure to complete your application before the deadline. The application process is entirely online. Candidates need to apply online within the specific timeline; after the last date, the link will be deactivated. UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form Link Steps to Fill the UPSC ESE 2026 Application Form Here is the step-by-step process to fill out the UPSC ESE Application Form 2026: Step 1: Visit the UPSC official website, upsc.gov.in. Step 2: Click on the 'Apply Online' link against Engineering Services Examination 2026 under the 'Recruitment / What's New'. Step 3: Enter your basic details to complete the Online Registration on the 'One Time Registration' (OTR) portal. Step 4: Log in with your OTR ID and Password to access the online application page. Step 5: Provide your personal information, educational qualification, experience, and other details. Step 6: Upload the scanned copies of passport-size photographs, signature, and other relevant documents in the required dimensions. Step 7: Pay the online application fee (depending on your category). Step 8: Ensure all the details are accurate and submit your application form. Step 9: Download the submitted application form and take a printout for future use. UPSC ESE 2026 Application Fees Candidates belonging to UR/OBC/EWS categories need to pay an application fee of Rs. 200 using debit/credit card, net banking, UPI wallet, etc. While SC/ST/PWD/Ex-Servicemen/Female candidates are exempt from paying the application fee: UPSC ESE Application Fees 2026 Category Amount UR/OBC/EWS Rs. 200/- SC/ST/PWD/Ex-Servicemen/Female NIL UPSC ESE 2026 Eligibility Criteria Candidates willing to apply for UPSC ESE 2026 must satisfy the eligibility requirements outlined below. Candidates failing to meet the eligibility norms will not be entertained for the examination. UPSC ESE 2026 Educational Qualification Candidates must possess one of the following qualifications: B.E./B.Tech degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication branches from a recognized university or institution. Passed Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) Examination. Obtained a degree/diploma in engineering from a foreign university/institution recognized by the Government of India. Passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India). Passed the Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India. Passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London (after November 1959). UPSC ESE 2026 Age Limit To be eligible for UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2026, candidates must have completed a minimum age of 21 years, and their upper age should not be above 30 years as on the age recognition date mentioned in the notification. Minimum Age: 21 years Maximum Age: 30 years However, age relaxation applies to reserved categories, as tabulated below: UPSC ESE Age Relaxations Category Age Relaxation Unreserved No Relaxation OBC 3 Years SC/ST 5 Years Ex‐Servicemen 5 Years ECOs/ SSCOs 5 Years Defence Services Personnel (disabled in operations during hostilities) 3 Years Handicapped Persons 10 Years UPSC ESE 2026 Nationality To be eligible for UPSC ESE 2026, candidates 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 January 1, 1962, to permanently settle in India, or A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam, intending to permanently settle in India. Check: UPSC ESE Syllabus UPSC ESE Exam Pattern 2026 The UPSC ESE Exam comprises Prelims, Mains, and Personality Test to select the desirable applicants for the Indian Engineering Services. Candidates must have an in-depth understanding of the exam pattern to know the exam format to be followed by the authorities. Below is the comprehensive exam pattern for all phases: UPSC ESE Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 The UPSC ESE Prelims is an offline, objective-based examination that consists of two papers, i.e., Paper I (General Studies and Engineering Aptitude) and Paper II (Specific Discipline). Paper I is worth 200 marks while Paper II is worth 300 marks, totalling 500 marks for the exam. The time duration for both papers is 2 hours and 3 hours, respectively. Moreover, the exam involves a negative marking of 1/3 mark for every wrong answer. UPSC ESE Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 Paper Name Subjects Marks Duration Paper I General Studies & Engineering Aptitude 200 2 Hours Paper II Specific Engineering Discipline (Civil/Electrical/Mechanical/Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering) 300 3 Hours Total 500 UPSC ESE Mains Exam Pattern 2026 The main exam is a descriptive test that includes two papers from the concerned discipline chosen by the applicant. Each paper is worth 300 marks with a time duration of 3 hours. UPSC ESE Mains Exam Pattern 2026 Paper Name Discipline Marks Duration Paper I Civil/Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics & Telecommunication 300 3 Hours Paper II Civil/Electrical/ Mechanical/ Electronics & Telecommunication 300 3 Hours Total 600 6 Hours UPSC ESE Personality Test Pattern 2026 Candidates who clear the Prelims and Mains examination are called for the Personality Test, which aims to assess their technical knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for engineering services. The Interview, worth 200 marks, contributes a significant weightage for final merit list preparation. UPSC Result 2026 The Union Public Service Commission announced the UPSC Final Result 2025 on 6 March 2026. 958 candidates have been recommended for top civil services including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Foreign Service. Anuj Agnihotri topped the exam with AIR 1. The final merit list is available online, and candidates can check their selection status through the official UPSC result PDF. UPSC ESE Salary 2026 Candidates selected for Engineering Services positions through the UPSC ESE examination receive a handsome salary as per the 7th CPC Pay Matrix. The pay scale for UPSC ESE Officers falls in the Level 10 and the basic pay ranges from Rs. 15,600 - Rs. 39,100/- subject to various allowances. UPSC ESE Salary 2026 Particulars Details Pay Scale Rs. 15,600 - Rs. 39,100/- Pay Level Level 10 Grade Pay Rs. 5,400 Entry-Level Pay Rs. 56,100 UPSC ESE 2026 Preparation Tips The UPSC ESE is a highly competitive examination that tests a comprehensive conceptual knowledge of specific fields as well as general studies. Candidates must have a realistic and well-structured study plan to ace this examination. Following the tips outlined below can aid the aspirant's preparation for the upcoming UPSC ESE 2026: Start Early Preparation: The UPSC ESE exam covers an extensive syllabus from non-technical and core technical subjects and typically requires 8 to 12 months to thoroughly cover the syllabus. Understand the Syllabus & Exam Format: Familiarize yourself with the detailed syllabus and exam pattern to align your preparation accordingly. Create an Effective Study Plan: Curate an effective study plan to allocate specific time to maintain a good balance between the technical and non-technical sections. Focus On Core Subjects: The exam tests the thorough technical knowledge of aspirants across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication. Candidates must focus on reinforcing the core subjects to maximize their score. Use Relevant Resources: Select the exam-oriented textbooks, online coaching, and study notes to prepare as per the revised syllabus. Solve PYQs: Solve previous year questions to gain insights into the difficulty level and trends of questions that are often asked in the exam. Revision: Set a weekly target of revision to recall the concepts that you have learnt. The revision is crucial to ensure retention and quick recall of topics during the examination. Excel your UPSC ESE 2026 preparation journey with PW’s UPSC ESE Online Coaching. The Physics Wallah offers well-structured study material, mock tests, e-books, and more to scale up the aspirant's preparation.