Table of Contents
- UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria
- UPSC ESE Reservation Policies
- UPSC ESE Exam Important Dates
- UPSC ESE Services
- UPSC ESE Selection Process
- UPSC ESE Registration Process
- UPSC ESE Application Process
- UPSC ESE Exam Procedure
- UPSC ESE Preliminary Syllabus
- UPSC ESE Mains Syllabus
- UPSC ESE Test Centres
- UPSC ESE Books
- UPSC ESE Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC ESE Mock Test Practice Apps
- UPSC ESE Preparation Strategies
- UPSC ESE Online Practice
- UPSC ESE Youtube Channels
- UPSC ESE Coaching Centres in India
- UPSC ESE Success Stories
- UPSC ESE Interview Preparation
- UPSC ESE Cut Off 2025 Expected
- UPSC ESE Scorecard Analysis
- UPSC ESE FAQs
UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria
Category |
Eligibility |
UPSC ESE Nationality Eligibility |
|
UPSC ESE Educational Qualification |
|
UPSC ESE Age Limit |
|
UPSC ESE Number of Attempts |
|
UPSC ESE Reservation Policies
Category |
UPSC Reservation Quota |
Schedule Caste |
15% |
Schedule Tribes |
7.50% |
Other Backward Classes |
25% |
Economically Weaker Section |
10% |
Persons With Benchmark Disabilities |
4%
|
UPSC ESE Exam Important Dates
Events |
Dates |
UPSC ESE Registration Start |
18/09/2024 |
UPSC ESE Registration End |
22/11/2024 |
UPSC ESE Preliminary Exam |
08/06/2025 (Sunday) |
UPSC ESE Main Exam |
10/08/2025 (Sunday) |
UPSC ESE Interview |
To be announced |
**dates might change**
UPSC ESE Services
Category 1 - Civil Engineering
Group-A Services/Posts
- Central Engineering Service (Civil)
- Central Engineering Service (Roads), Group-A (Civil Engineering Posts).
- Survey of India Group 'A' Service.
- *AEE (Civil) in Border Roads Engineering Service.
- Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
- AEE (QS&C) in MES Surveyor Cadre.
- Indian Skill Development Service.
- Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service
Category 2 - Mechanical Engineering
Group-A/B Services/Posts
- Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
- Indian Naval Armament Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts).
- Central Power Engineering Service Gr 'A'(Mechanical Engineering Posts)
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO-II (Mechanical).
- AEE ( Elect & Mech) in Border Roads Engineering Service.
- Indian Naval Material Management Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts)
- Indian Skill Development Service
Category 3 - Electrical Engineering
Group-A/B Services/Posts
- Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
- Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electrical Engineering Posts)
- Indian Naval Armament Service (Electrical Engineering Posts)
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO-II (Electrical).
- Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Electrical Engineering Posts).
- Indian Skill Development Service.
- IEDS/Assistant Director Grade-I (IEDS) Electrical Trade
- IEDS/Assistant Director Grade-II (IEDS) Electrical Trade
Category 4 - Electronics And Telecommunication Engineering
Group-A/B Services/Posts
- Indian Telecommunication Service Gr ‘A’.
- Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Posts).
- Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics and Telecom Engineering Posts).
- Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electronics and Telecom Engineering Posts)
- Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO-II (Electronics & Tele).
- Indian Skill Development Service.
- Indian Radio Regulatory Service Gr ‘A’
- IEDS/Assistant Director Grade-I(IEDS) Electronics Trade
- IEDS/Assistant Director Grade-II(IEDS) Electronics Trade
UPSC ESE Selection Process
Stage Name |
Nature |
Total Marks |
Purpose |
UPSC ESE Preliminary Examination |
Marks included in the merit list |
500 |
Selected candidates are to appear for UPSC ESE Main Examination. |
UPSC ESE Main Examination |
Marks included in the merit list |
600 |
2 papers of Engineering (conventional type papers) |
UPSC ESE Personality Test |
Scores considered for merit list |
200 |
Evaluation of leadership skills, communication skills, spontaneous decision making etc. |
UPSC ESE Registration Process
- Visit the official website https://upsconline.nic.in or https://upsc.gov.in.
- Click Apply Online Link on the right-side panel on the home page.
- Click on the Online Application for Various Examinations, then click on Online Application for various examinations of UPSC.
- Click on the registration link, then important instructions to fill the online application form are displayed on the screen.
- After reading the instructions, click ‘Yes’ Then candidates are asked to fill in personal details such as Name, Gender, Date of Birth, Father’s Name, Nationality, Address, etc in registration.
- After filling up the personal details, fill up the educational qualification and contact details.
- As a next step, candidates have to fill in photo identity details, the number of attempts, marks obtained in graduation level, centre for prelims exam details.
- After these details are filled in, the candidates can preview the details and can edit the application at this stage, if needed. Candidates are not allowed to edit the application after the final submission of the application.
- After previewing, click submit. The candidate will get the registration ID after completing the registration. RID is Registration ID, which is generated by the system when the applicant completes registration of his application. Candidates should note down the RID for future references.
UPSC ESE Application Process
- Use the registration ID got after completion of registration and proceed to fill up the application.
- Log on again using the RID, date of birth details to continue the application.
- In this part, the candidates have to pay the application fees of Rs 200/- for General Candidates using online mode or offline mode/ Pay by Cash mode through SBI Challan.
- Select the prelims exam centre.
- Candidates have to upload all the required documents.
- Photograph in JPG format - 20 KB to 300 KB
- Signature in JPG format - 20 KB to 300 KB
- Photo ID in PDF format - 20 KB to 300 KB
- Click Upload after uploading all the documents in the prescribed size format.
- A final declaration appears on the screen after step 6, check the box and submit the application.
- After the final submission, a confirmation message for completion of the application is received on the registered mobile number and email address. This way, the candidates can make sure they have completed and submitted the application.
UPSC ESE Exam Procedure
The UPSC ESE Selection Process involves 3 stages - Preliminary, Mains, and Interview
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Papers)
Stage-1 |
Paper Type |
Duration |
Marks |
Paper-1 |
General Studies And Engineering Aptitude |
02 Hours |
200 |
Paper-2 |
Engineering Discipline (CE/ ME/ EE/ E&T) |
03 Hours |
300 |
Total Marks |
500 |
Stage 2: Main Examination (Conventional Papers)
Stage 2 |
Paper Type |
Duration |
Marks |
Paper 1 |
Engineering Discipline (CE/ ME/ EE/ E&T) |
03 Hours |
300 |
Paper 2 |
Engineering Discipline (CE/ ME/ EE/ E&T) |
03 Hours |
300 |
Total Marks (Main) |
600 |
||
Total Marks (Mains + Prelim) |
1100 |
Stage 3: Personality Test
Stage 3 |
Marks |
Personality Test |
200 |
Stage 1 + Stage 2 + Stage 3 |
1300 |
UPSC ESE Preliminary Syllabus
- Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development.
- Engineering Aptitude covering Logical reasoning and Analytical ability.
- Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis.
- General Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of Safety.
- Standards and Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services.
- Basics of Energy and Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Climate Change, Environmental impact assessment.
- Basics of Project Management.
- Basics of Material Science and Engineering.
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in Engineering such as networking, e-governance and technology based education.
- Ethics and values in the Engineering profession.
UPSC ESE Mains Syllabus
Click here to download the full syllabus of UPSC Engineering Service Examination.
UPSC ESE Test Centres
UPSC ESE Preliminary Exam Centres:
Agartala |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Panaji (Goa) |
Jammu |
Dehradun |
Aizawl |
Nagpur |
Srinagar |
Jaipur |
Cuttack |
Ahmedabad |
Shimla |
Mumbai |
Itanagar |
Chennai |
Vishakhapatnam |
Aligarh |
Raipur |
Kohima |
Dispur (Guwahati) |
Bangalore |
Udaipur |
Port Blair |
Tirupati |
Kochi (Cochin) |
Dharwad |
Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
Patna |
Jorhat |
Delhi |
Bhopal |
Ranchi |
Bareilly |
Hyderabad |
Lucknow |
Sambalpur |
Chandigarh |
Imphal |
Madurai |
Shillong |
Gangtok |
Kolkata |
UPSC ESE Mains Exam Centre:
Ahmedabad |
Chandigarh |
Dispur(Guwahati) |
Lucknow |
Shillong |
Aizawl |
Chennai |
Hyderabad |
Mumbai |
Shimla |
Prayagraj (Allahabad) |
Cuttack |
Jaipur |
Patna |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Bangalore |
Dehradun |
Jammu |
Raipur |
Vishakhapatnam |
Bhopal |
Delhi |
Kolkata |
Ranchi |
UPSC ESE Books
Engineering Specific books for UPSC ESE:
A Textbook of Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulic Machines by R.K Bansal |
Thermodynamics - An Engineering Approach by Cengel and Boles |
|
Other Books for UPSC ESE Preparation:
A Brief History of Modern India (2018-2019) Book by Rajiv Ahir |
|
- |
UPSC ESE Previous Year Question Papers
UPSC ESE Mock Test Practice Apps
- 'IES or ESE Exam Preparation'
- Unacademy
- GATE/ESE-Online Test Series app offered by Made Easy
- Kreatryx
- EduGorilla
UPSC ESE Preparation Strategies
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
- Exam Pattern: 2 papers of Prelims Exam, 2 Exams for Mains and Interview.
- Types of questions: Objective in prelims and Conventional in Mains.
- Create a Study Plan
- Allocate specific times for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals.
- Include regular breaks to avoid burnout.
- Use Quality Study Material
- Refer to B.Tech Books.
- Use online resources and apps like BYJU'S, Unacademy, and Adda 24/7
- Practice with previous years’ UPSC papers and mock tests.
- Refer to standard books
- Use online resources and apps like BYJU'S, Made Easy, Kreatryx, EduGorilla.
- Practice with previous years’ UPSC papers and mock tests.
- Join Coaching Classes (if needed)
- Consider joining reputed coaching institutes.
- Regular Practice and Mock Tests
- Take regular mock tests to simulate exam conditions.
- Analyse your performance in each mock test to identify areas of improvement.
- Practise sectional tests to strengthen specific areas.
- Time Management
- Practice managing time effectively during your study sessions and mock tests.
- Focus on speed and accuracy.
- Develop strategies for time allocation in each section during the exam.
- Work on Weak Areas
- Identify and focus on your weak areas.
- Seek help from mentors, teachers, or peers if you find certain topics challenging.
- Stay Updated
- Keep yourself updated with current affairs.
- Read newspapers, magazines, and online articles regularly.
- Best Coaching Centres in India for UPSC ESE
- Made Easy
- Engineers Institute of India (EII)
- The GATE Academy
- Vajiram and Ravi
- IES Master
- Testbook
UPSC ESE Online Practice
The following are the online website which give online mock test, coaching and materials for UPSC preparation:
- Made Easy
- Engineers Institute of India (EII)
- The GATE Academy
- Vajiram and Ravi
- IES Master
- Testbook
UPSC ESE Youtube Channels
UPSC ESE Coaching Centres in India
The Following are the best coaching centres for UPSC in India:
- Made Easy
- Engineers Institute of India (EII)
- The GATE Academy
- Vajiram and Ravi
- IES Master
- Testbook
UPSC ESE Success Stories
Shivam Dwivedi resides in Mahta Village, Bhanda district, Uttar Pradesh. His father works as a farmer, and his mother is a housewife. He studied hard and pursued engineering after graduating from Class 12 with honours. He aimed to pass the IIT JEE exam, but he could not. However, he received enough scores to pass the National Institute of Technology (NIT). After graduating from college, Shivam took the power department's recruiting exam. He passed the exam and was selected for the position of SDO. But he intended to reach for the stars and improve his standing. Shivam decided to take the UPSC ESE Exam while still working in his current profession and taking a leave of absence. He used to spend 8 hours per day studying. He devised a study strategy and diligently followed it. He also focused on time management. His hard work and perseverance paid off when he was selected for the UPSC ESE 2023. Shivam owed his accomplishments to both his parents and God.
UPSC ESE Interview Preparation
- Understand the Interview Format:
- The UPSC interview will analyse your personality, leadership skills, and analytical abilities.
- It is not a retest of your knowledge; the interview panel has reviewed your written exam results.
- The interview typically lasts 20-30 minutes, and you will be asked questions about your background, Hobbies, Current Events, and Engineering.
- Engineering and General Knowledge:
- Keep up with current events, particularly those relating to your optional subject and home state.
- Read newspapers and magazines and watch news shows regularly.
- Brush up your engineering skills and concepts.
- Develop Clear Communication Skills:
- Practise speaking fluently and clearly.
- Pay attention to your body language and keep eye contact with the panel.
- Answer enquiries politely and respectfully.
- Interview Etiquette:
- Dress adequately in formal clothing.
- Be on time; arrive at the place well in advance.
- Please greet the panel pleasantly and wait for them to welcome you to sit.
- Maintain a pleasant attitude during the interview.
- Prepare for Common Questions:
- Prepare to answer questions about your abilities, shortcomings, accomplishments, failures, and motivations for joining the civil service.
- Prepare a well-thought-out response to the query, "Tell me about yourself."
- Optional Subject Knowledge:
- Brush your knowledge of your optional subject and be prepared for questions in that area.
- Stay Calm and Composed:
- It's expected to be worried before an interview, but try to remain composed.
- If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath and pay close attention to the panellists' questions.
- Be yourself. The interview panel is interested in getting to know you as an individual, so be honest and trustworthy with yourself.
UPSC ESE Cut Off 2025 Expected
UPSC ESE Final Cut Off 2024 |
||
Branch |
Category |
Cut Off Marks [Out of 1300] |
Civil Engineering |
General |
691 |
EWS |
641 |
|
OBC |
667 |
|
SC |
576 |
|
ST |
626 |
|
Mechanical Engineering |
General |
725 |
EWS |
702 |
|
OBC |
701 |
|
SC |
658 |
|
ST |
491 |
|
Electrical Engineering |
General |
655 |
EWS |
632 |
|
OBC |
625 |
|
SC |
601 |
|
ST |
568 |
|
Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
General |
546 |
EWS |
461 |
|
OBC |
545 |
|
SC |
426 |
|
ST |
389 |
UPSC ESE Scorecard Analysis
UPSC ESE FAQs
- Is ESE and UPSC the same?
The UPSC Engineering Services Exam (ESE), also known as UPSC IES (Indian Engineering Services), recruits officers to meet the country's technical and engineering needs.
- What is the ESE exam salary?
Indian Engineering Officers join as Assistant Executive Engineers or Assistant Directors at the Junior Time Scale, with a basic salary of Rs. 56,100/—per month and a net salary of around Rs. 85,000/—per month.
- Who is eligible for UPSC ESE?
A degree in Engineering from a recognised university or institution. Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years old. Age relaxation is applicable for specific categories as per government norms.
- Is ESE tougher than GATE?
ESE is more complex than GATE due to its vast syllabus and level of competition.
- How many attempts are there in ESE?
There are NO attempt limits for the ESE exam.
- Is there a negative marking in ESE?
Yes, there will be a negative marking of 1/3 Mark for each wrong answer.
- Is ESE a class 1 officer?
Yes, ESE is a class 1 officer rank.
- What is the highest post of ESE?
The highest rank in the ESE is Managing Director or Chairperson. An officer is promoted to managing director after 34 years of service.