Engineering Services Examination commonly known as ESE is conducted annually by UPSC to recruit engineers in four domains namely Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunications for the techno-managerial posts. This exam follows a three-stage pattern i.e. prelims , then Mains (which has 2 Discipline-specific Papers )followed by Interview. These candidates after the final selection are posted in various Ministries and Departments of GOI such as Railways, Telecom, Border Roads, CPWD, CWC, CPES, NHAI, Naval Armaments, IDSE, MES, Ordnance Factories etc with the benefit of moving to any cadre, organization, agency, department, ministry, and PSU of the Government of India. All these final selected candidates are designated as class-1 officers. the Following detail will guide Aspirants to get a clear idea about the whole examination process
Categories and details of the Posts
| Category | Name of posts |
|---|
| Category I‐Civil Engineering. (Group‐A Services/Posts ) | 1. Central Engineering Service 2. Central Engineering Service (Roads) 3. Group‐A (Civil Engineering Posts) 4.Survey of India Group ‘A’ Service. 5. AEE(Civil) in Border Road Engineering Service. 6. Indian Defence Service of Engineers. 7. AEE(QS&C) in MES Surveyor Cadre. 8. Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service. 9. Indian Skill Development Service |
| Category II‐Mechanical Engineering (Group‐A/B Services/Posts). | 1. AEE in GSI Engineering Service Gr ‘A’. 2. Indian Defence Service of Engineers. 3. Indian Naval Armament Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts). 4. Indian Naval Material Management Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts) 5. Central Water Engineering (Group ‘A’) Service. 6. Indian Skill Development Service. 7. Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO‐II (Mechanical). 8. Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service (Mechanical Engg.) 9. Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Mechanical Engineering Posts) 10. AEE (Electrical and Mechanical) in Border Roads Engineering Service (Mechanical Engineering Posts) |
| Category III‐ Electrical Engineering (Group‐A/B Services/Posts) | 1. Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Service (Electrical Engineering Posts). 2. Indian Defence Service of Engineers. 3. Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electrical Engineering Posts) 4. Central Power Engineering Service Gr ‘A’ (Electrical Engineering Posts). 5. Indian Naval Armament Service 6. Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO‐II (Electrical). 7. Indian Skill Development Service. |
| Category IV‐ Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering (Group‐A/B Services/Posts) | 1. Indian Radio Regulatory Service Gr ‘A’. 2. Indian Telecommunication Service Gr ‘A’. 3. Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics and Telecom Engineering Posts). 4. Indian Naval Material Management Service (Electronics and Telecom Engineering Posts) 5. Junior Telecom Officer Gr ‘B’. 6. Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service/SSO‐II (Electronics & Tele). 7. Central Power Engineering Gr ‘A’ (Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering Posts).8. Indian Skill Development Service. |
Eligibility Criteria
- Essential Qualification: Candidates who possess any of the following eligibility can apply-
- Degree in Engineering from a University or other Educational Institutions or deemed Universities.
- Passed Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India); or obtained a degree/diploma in Engineering from a foreign University/College/Institution (recognized by Indian Government for the purpose from time to time).
- Passed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India)
- Passed Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India
- Passed Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London held after November 1959
(II)Eligibility specific to Posts
- For Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics Engg. Posts) - M.Sc. degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communication Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as a special subject.
- For Indian Radio Regulatory Service – M.Sc. degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communication Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as a subject or Master’s Degree in Science with Physics and Radio Communication or Electronics or Telecommunication as a special subject.
(III) Nationality:
A candidate must be either:
A citizen of India or
A subject of Nepal or
A subject of Bhutan or
A Tibetan refugee migrated before January 1 1962 in India.
A person of Indian origin*
(IV) Age Limit
Candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not have attained the age of 30 years on the 1st January of present month. For example if a candidate wish to give the exam in the year 2020 He/She must be born after 2nd Jan 1990 and before 2nd Jan 1999.
Relaxation in Age
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|
| General | Not applicable |
| Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe; | Upto 5 years |
| OBC | Upto 3 years |
| Ex-servicemen Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOswith at least 5 years of service | Upto 5 years |
| Candidates working for Defence Services Of India | Upto 3years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities * | Upto 10 years |
| Government Servants employed in a Department* | Upto 5 years |
| Cumulative Age Relaxation | Available (for SC, ST and OBC candidates also falling under any additional category viz Ex-serviceman or PwBD*) |
Note:
Government servants employed in any of the authorities mentioned in column 1 can apply for admission to the examination for Post mentioned in column 2, for which they are otherwise eligible.
This relaxation will not be admissible to a probationer appointed against a permanent post in the Department/Office during the period of his probation. However, this relaxation will be admissible to a probationer so appointed provided he/she already retains a lien on a permanent post in a Department/Office under the control of any of the authorities mentioned in column 1.
Reference Table for Government Employees in Specific departments who wish to apply for the Exam
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|
| Central Public Works Department | C.E.S. Group ‘A’, CE&MES Gr ‘A’ |
| Ministry of Road Transport and Highways | Central Engineering Service (Roads) Gr. ‘A’ |
| Ministry of Communication, Deptt. of Telecommunication | Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group ‘A’ Indian Telecommunication Service Group ‘A’, J.T.O. (G.C.S. Gr. ‘B’) |
| Ministry of Defence, Deptt. of Defence Production, Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance | Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service(DAQAS)Gr ‘A’ |
| Ministry of Science and Technology, Deptt. of Science and Technology | Survey of India Gr ‘A’ Service |
| Geological Survey of India | Assistant Executive Engineer Gr ‘A’ |
| Border Roads Organisation | BRES Gr. ‘A’ |
| Indian Navy | Indian Naval Armament Service, Asstt. Naval Store Officer Grade-I |
| Military Engineer Services | Indian Defence Service of Engineers (lDSE) Group ‘A’ AEE(QS&C) in Military Engineer Service (MES) Surveyor Cadre |
| Ministry of Jal Shakti, Deptt. of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Central Water Commission | Central Water Engineering Group-A Service. |
| Central Electricity Authority | CPES Gr ‘A’ & CPES Gr ‘B’. |
| Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship | Indian Skill Development Service |
Fee
| General /EWS and OBC Candidates | Rs. 200/‐ |
|---|
| Female/SC/ST/PwBD candidates | Exempted |
| Modes of Payment (a)Cash deposit at any SBI Branch ( next day) (b)Online Mode | Any Branch of State Bank of India (one should generate Pay-in-slip during part II of registration Using Visa/Master/RuPay Credit/Debit Card or Internet Banking of SBI |
How to Apply
Candidate must fill both Part I and II of Registration
Candidates are required to apply Online at www.upsconline.nic.in with a two step registration process.Candidates must ensure to provide their active email id and number.
If multiple applications are submitted by mistake, candidates must ensure that application with the higher Registration ID is complete in all respects like applicant details, examination centre, photograph, signature, fee etc.
Candidates must be ready with a scanned photograph(max 300 KB size) and signature(max.20 KB size), any one photo ID issued by Central or State Government before registering for Part II.
After Final Submission candidates will get a message on the screen, mentioning their name and email that they have been registered and your password has been sent to your e-mail address. Please note down the password
Scheme of Exam
The examination shall be conducted in 3 stages with the scheme mentioned below-
| Stages | Exam Type | Max.Marks and Nature |
|---|
| Stage‐I: Preliminary Exam (Objective Type) | Examination will consist of two objective type papers i.e. Paper I and Paper II of 2 hours and 3 hours respectively (conducted on the same day) | Paper 1 – 200 Marks & Paper II – 300 Marks Marks obtained will be counted for determining final order of merit |
| Stage‐II Mains Exam (2 Conventional Type Papers) | 2 papers of Subjective Type Papers conducted in 2 sessions 3 hours each. Paper 1 will be the same for every Candidate while Paper II will be according to the discipline chosen. | 300 Marks in each paper and The Marks obtained will be counted for determining their final order of merit |
| Stage‐III: Personality Test | | 200 Marks. |
Syllabus:
Prelims
The standard of paper in General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Preliminary Exam) will be of an Engineering/Science Graduate level. The standard of papers in other subjects will approximately be that of an Engineering Degree Examination of an Indian University. There will be no practical examination in any of the subjects. Topics of General Studies and Engineering Aptitude asked in the Prelims Paper 1 are as follows-
| | |
|---|
| Engineering Aptitude covering Logical reasoning and Analytical ability | Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis | General Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of Safety |
| Basics of Energy and Environment: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Climate Change, Environmental impact assessment | Basics of Project Management and and Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services Standards | Basics of Material Science and Engineering and Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services |
| Ethics and values in Engineering profession. | Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development | Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in Engineering |
Mains Syllabus Please refer to the official notification for Detailed Syllabus.
Scheme of Prelims Exam
| Subject |
|---|
| Paper‐I General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (common for all Disciplines) |
| Paper II of Specific discipline chosen (i.e Civil/ Mechanical/ Electrical/ Electronics & Telecom Engineering) |
There will be Negative Marking of .33% for wrong answer in Objective Paper
Scheme of Mains Exam
| Subject | Duration | Maximum Marks |
|---|
| Paper 1 of Engineering Discipline | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper 2 of Engineering Discipline. | 3 hours | 300 |
Points to Remember
- Candidates must possess all the requisite certificates dated earlier than the closing date of the application. Also, If the result of the Qualifying Exam is awaited, they must make sure they produce proof of having passed the examination at the time of filling DAF.
- The EWS candidate applying for Examination, must produce an Income and Asset Certificate for Financial Year (FY) 2019-2020.
- For Mains the venue shall be closed 10 minutes before the scheduled commencement of the Examination. Remember to bring Black Ball Point Pen.
- Carry at least 2 passport size photographs if the candidate’s photograph on the Admit Card is blurred or missing.
- Candidates who cleared Mains Stage of the Exam must ensure to Keep the scanned copies ready to be submitted along with the DAF after the declaration of Mains result.
- Candidates must possess Age Certificate, Educational Qualification documents while Caste Certificate,Certificate in support of claim for age/ fee concession, Certificate in support of being persons with benchmark disability, wherever applicable, when submitting the DAF*.
- Originals will have to be produced at the time of Personality Test/Interview.
- The interview letter to the candidates will also be issued electronically.
- The number of candidates to be admitted to the Main/Stage‐II Examination will be about six to seven time the total approximate number of vacancies to be filled in the year through this examination
- If any irrelevant matter/signages/marks etc. are found written in the answer sheet, which would not be related to any question/answer and has potential to disclose the candidate’s identity, the Commission will impose a penalty of deduction of marks from the total marks otherwise accruing to the candidate or will not evaluate the sheet.
- Candidates finally recommended by the Commission on the basis of Engineering Services Examination, 2021 shall be required to undergo medical examination*.
