UPSC ESE GS Exam Analysis 2026 (Out): Check Paper Review & Difficulty Level

The UPSC ESE GS Exam 2026 was successfully concluded on February 8, 2026. This page now features a comprehensive exam analysis, including the Easy to Moderate difficulty level, section-wise weightage, and the latest topic-wise trends for the General Studies and Engineering Aptitude paper. Based on real-time student feedback and reviews, the 2026 paper highlighted significant trends in Material Science (Crystal Structure) and Power Generation, alongside a scoring section in Engineering Mathematics.

UPSC ESE GS Exam Analysis 2026

The UPSC ESE (Engineering Services Examination) GS Exam 2026 was successfully held today, February 8, 2026. Candidates appearing for the Prelims Paper I (General Studies and Engineering Aptitude) are eagerly waiting for the detailed exam analysis to understand the difficulty level, question trends, and overall paper pattern. The UPSC ESE GS Exam Analysis 2026 is available now. This analysis will help aspirants assess their performance and gain clarity on scoring opportunities for the preliminary stage.

UPSC ESE GS Exam Analysis 2026: Overall Paper Analysis

The UPSC ESE GS Exam 2026, conducted on February 8, 2026, followed the standard UPSC Prelims pattern with 100 questions totaling 200 marks. Based on the post-exam review, the overall difficulty level of the paper is rated as Easy to Moderate.

While the paper maintained its reputation for breadth, students who were well-prepared found the questions approachable. A notable feature of this year’s paper was the interdisciplinary overlap between subjects. Key highlights from the examination hall include:

• Difficulty Level: Generally Easy to Moderate, making it a scoring paper for consistent aspirants.

• Engineering Edge: Several questions leaned toward core engineering concepts, such as Power Generation (specifically the calorific value of coal), which provided a slight advantage to Electrical Engineering candidates.

• Core Trends: Material Science was heavily dominated by questions on Crystal Structure, while Engineering Mathematics was reported as Easy for the most part, despite a few tricky calculations.

• Nature of Questions: A balanced mix of theoretical concepts and application-based problems across Ethics, ICT, and Standards.

UPSC ESE GS Subject-Wise Weightage: A 10-Year Trend Analysis (2017–2026)

Understanding the shift in question patterns over the years is crucial for gauging the "predictability" of the Engineering Services Examination. The 2026 paper continued the trend of moving away from heavy Current Affairs reliance toward core analytical subjects like Engineering Mathematics and ICT.

Historically, subjects like Environment and Project Management have maintained a steady presence of 10–12 questions, while Ethics has seen the most volatility (notably dropping to zero in 2021). This year’s data confirms that UPSC is emphasizing technical depth within the GS paper, with Material Science and Standards & Quality becoming more dominant.

UPSC ESE GS 2026 Section-wise Weightage & Difficulty

The UPSC ESE GS paper covers various subjects including Current Issues, Engineering Mathematics, Design, Drawing, and Ethics.  The distribution of questions followed the standard UPSC pattern, but specific topics saw varying levels of complexity this year.

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Watch Detailed Video Analysis

For a question-by-question breakdown and unofficial answer key, watch the live session:

UPSC ESE GS Exam Analysis 2026 – Topic-Wise Trends & Student Feedback

1. Technical Overlap & Engineering Skills

Students reported that the 2026 paper successfully integrated engineering fundamentals into the General Studies portion. For instance, the focus on power generation and material crystallography bridged the gap between Paper I and core technical subjects.

2. Mathematics: The Scoring Pillar

As per the analysis video, Mathematics did not throw many "surprises." Most questions were solvable for those who practiced Previous Year Questions (PYQs). Only a few questions in Numerical Analysis appeared time-consuming.

3. Ethics and Quality Practices

True to UPSC style, Ethics remained the "wild card." Questions were less about direct facts and more about the application of values in engineering scenarios. Quality practices focused heavily on standard industry protocols like Six Sigma and ISO.