UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026 – 474 Vacancies | Rapido Jobs India

UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026 – Apply for 474 Vacancies Across Four Disciplines

Published on: September 28, 2025

Are you ready to engineer India’s future? The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 with 474 vacancies across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication disciplines. This is your chance to join prestigious Group A and B services in central government departments like Railways, Defence, and Water Commission.

Build the nation with your skills. Apply now and be part of India’s engineering elite.

Table of Contents

Sector

This recruitment is for the Engineering Sector under Government of India services.

Vacancy List of UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026

Discipline	Post	No. of Vacancies
Civil Engineering	Group A Services	120
Mechanical Engineering	Group A/B Services	110
Electrical Engineering	Group A/B Services	120
Electronics & Telecommunication	Group A/B Services	124

Vacancy Breakdown by Category – UPSC ESE 2026

Discipline	GEN	OBC	SC	ST	EWS	PwBD	Total
Civil Engineering	48	32	20	12	8	5	125
Mechanical Engineering	45	30	18	10	7	5	115
Electrical Engineering	50	34	20	12	8	6	130
Electronics & Telecommunication	47	32	22	16	7	5	129
Total	190	128	80	50	30	21	474

Eligibility Criteria

B.E./B.Tech in relevant discipline from a recognized university
For Electronics posts under Naval Armament: M.Sc. in Wireless Communication/Radio Physics/Radio Engineering
Nationality: Indian citizen

Recruitment Age Limit – UPSC ESE 2026

Category	Minimum Age	Maximum Age	Age Relaxation
General (GEN)	21 years	30 years	None
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	21 years	33 years	+3 years
Scheduled Castes (SC)	21 years	35 years	+5 years
Scheduled Tribes (ST)	21 years	35 years	+5 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)	21 years	40 years	+10 years
Ex-Servicemen	21 years	35 years	+5 years
Cut-off date for age calculation: January 1, 2026

Documents Required for UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026

Photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN, Passport, etc.)
Educational Certificates
Category Certificate (if applicable)
Signature and Photograph

Exam Pattern

Stage	Section	Subject	No. of Questions	Max Marks	Duration
Stage I	Preliminary	General Studies + Engineering Discipline	200 + 300	500	5 hrs
Stage II	Main	Engineering Discipline (Paper I & II)	—	600	6 hrs
Stage III	Personality Test	Interview	—	200	—

Application Fee for UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026

General/OBC/EWS: ₹200
Female/SC/ST/PwBD: Exempted

Important Dates for UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026

Event	Date
Application Start	September 26, 2025
Last Date to Apply	October 16, 2025
Cut-off Date for Age	January 1, 2026
Prelims Exam	February 8, 2026
Interview Dates	To be announced

How to Apply

Visit upsconline.nic.in
Create a Universal Registration Number (URN)
Fill Common Application Form (CAF)
Upload documents and photo ID
Pay application fee
Submit and download confirmation

Selection Process – UPSC Engineering Services Exam 2026

The selection process for UPSC ESE 2026 is conducted in three rigorous stages designed to assess both technical knowledge and personality traits essential for engineering roles in central government services.

Stage I – Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
- Paper I: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude – 200 Marks
- Paper II: Discipline-specific Engineering Paper – 300 Marks
- Duration: 5 hours total (2 hrs + 3 hrs)
- Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper)
- Purpose: Screening test for Stage II
Stage II – Main Examination (Conventional Type)
- Paper I: Engineering Discipline – 300 Marks
- Paper II: Engineering Discipline – 300 Marks
- Duration: 6 hours total (3 hrs each)
- Mode: Offline (Descriptive answers)
- Purpose: Deep assessment of technical expertise
Stage III – Personality Test (Interview)
- Marks: 200
- Mode: In-person interview at UPSC centers
- Purpose: Evaluation of leadership, communication, decision-making, and suitability for public service

Final Merit Calculation

The final merit list is prepared based on the combined scores of Stage II (600 marks) and Stage III (200 marks), totaling 800 marks. Stage I is qualifying in nature but essential for progression.

Timeline Overview

Stage	Exam Type	Marks	Duration	Expected Date
Stage I	Preliminary (Objective)	500	5 hours	February 8, 2026
Stage II	Main (Descriptive)	600	6 hours	June 2026 (Tentative)
Stage III	Personality Test	200	—	August–September 2026

Key Notes

Only candidates who qualify Stage I will be eligible for Stage II.
Stage II marks + Interview marks determine final selection.
All stages are conducted by UPSC under strict supervision.
Service allocation depends on merit rank, preference, and medical fitness.

Salary Structure

Basic Pay: ₹56,100/month
DA, HRA, TA: As per central govt norms
Gross Salary: ₹80,000–₹1,00,000/month approx.

Job Locations

Department	Location
Indian Railways	Pan India
Central Water Commission	Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai
Border Roads Organization	North-East, J&K
Defence Services	Various Military Bases

Essential Links

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Frequently Asked Questions – UPSC ESE 2026

What is the UPSC Engineering Services Exam?

The UPSC ESE is a national-level exam conducted to recruit engineers for Group A and B posts in central government departments like Railways, Defence, and Water Commission.

How many vacancies are available in ESE 2026?

There are a total of 474 vacancies across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication disciplines.

What is the age limit for applying?

Applicants must be between 21 and 30 years of age as of January 1, 2026. Age relaxation applies for reserved categories.

What is the educational qualification required?

A B.E./B.Tech degree in the relevant discipline from a recognized university is mandatory. Specific posts may require M.Sc. in related fields.

How do I apply for the exam?

Visit upsconline.nic.in, register, fill the application form, upload documents, pay the fee, and submit.

What is the exam pattern?

The exam consists of three stages: Preliminary (Objective), Main (Conventional), and Personality Test (Interview).

Is there any application fee?

Yes. ₹200 for General/OBC/EWS candidates. Female, SC/ST, and PwBD candidates are exempted.

What documents are required during application?

Photo ID, educational certificates, category certificate (if applicable), and scanned photograph and signature.

Where will I be posted after selection?

Postings are across India in departments like Indian Railways, Border Roads Organization, Defence Services, and Water Commission.

Where can I find the official notification?

You can download the official UPSC ESE 2026 notification from upsc.gov.in or follow updates on Rapido Jobs India.