UPSC Engineering Services (ESE):

Indian Engineering Services remains the most sought-after career for the engineering graduates in India. An all India level competitive examination, called Engineering Services Examination (ESE) is conducted every year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the Indian Engineering Services. The examination constitutes a two stage written examination and followed by an interview. ESE is considered as one of the toughest examination in India due to the difficulty related to the examination and the selection procedure. Also there are less number of posts and more number of aspirants.

The candidates who get selected for ESE, enjoy a very high respect and stature in the society. Candidates who are selected for ESE are appointed as Assistant Executive Engineer in various departments under central government for Group A and Group B posts. The various services in which recruitment is made through ESE include Indian Railways, Central Engineering, Central Water Engineering, Border Roads Engineering, Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Indian Ordinance Factories, Central Power Engineering, Indian Naval Armament Service, Central Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering, Indian Telecommunication Service, Wireless Planning & Co-ordination Wing etc.

ESE 2024: An Overview

  • Date of Notification: To be Notified
  • Last Date for Receipt of Applications : To be Notified
  • Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination : To be Notified
  • Engineering Services (Main) Examination : To be Notified
  • ESE Examination is conducted in following Engineering Streams:
    1. Civil Engineering
    2. Mechanical Engineering
    3. Electrical Engineering
    4. Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering

AGE LIMIT: 21 to 30 years (01st January 2023 of Examination Year)

(However certain categories of persons (SC, ST & OBC) and certain departmental candidates are eligible for age relaxation).

Educational qualifications: A degree in Engineering from a recognized university or equivalent. M.Sc. degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communications, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as special subjects are also eligible. Candidates appearing their final year engineering degree examination or equivalent are also eligible.

Engineering Service Examination
Year Vacancies (Approximately)
CE ME EE E & T TOTAL
2009 205 130 59 75 469
2010 178 134 102 170 584
2011 248 170 112 163 693
2012 269 169 103 94 635
2013 233 150 181 138 702
2014 242 125 104 118 589
2015 151 99 86 98 434
2016 225 179 106 94 604
2017 258 135 59 48 500
2018 161 136 108 106 511
2019 252 133 95 101 581
2020 193 86 100 116 495
2021 86 32 58 39 215
2022 127 39 25 55 246
2023 211 57 80 138 486
2024 113 23 29 86 251

Scheme Of Examination
UPSC announced 3 Stage Pattern from ESE – 2017

STAGE – I ENGINEERING SERVICES (PRELIMINARY/STAGE – 1)
EXAMINATION (OBJECTIVE TYPE PAPERS)		 MARKS DURATION
Paper I
(Common for All Candidates)		 General Studies and Engineering Aptitude Paper. Duration: 2 hours
Marks : 200 (Max)
Paper II Engineering discipline – Specific Paper (CE/ME/EE/E&T) Duration: 3 hours
Marks : 300 (Max)
STAGE – I Sub – Total 500 Marks (Max)
  • Minimum Qualifying Marks for each Paper will be at the discretion of the commission.
  • Only those candidates qualifying at this Stage to be permitted to appear for Stage – II examination.
STAGE – II EXAMINATION (MAINS/STAGE – II)
EXAMINATION (CONVENTIONAL TYPE PAPERS)
 MARKS DURATION
Paper I Engineering discipline – Specific Paper – I (CE/ME/EE/E&T Duration: 3 hours
Marks : 300 (Max)
Paper II Engineering discipline – Specific Paper – II (CE/ME/EE/E&T) Duration: 3 hours
Marks : 300 (Max)
STAGE – II Sub – Total 600 Marks (Max)
STAGE – I + STAGE – II Total 1100 Marks (Max)
  • Only those Candidates qualifying at this stage (i.e. Stage – I + Stage – II) to be permitted to appear for Stage – III examination
STAGE III MARKS
STAGE – III Personality Test Marks : 200 (Max)
STAGE -I + II + III Grand Test Marks : 1300 (Max)
  • Only those Candidates qualifying at this Stage ( i.e, Stage I + Stage II + Stage III) to be included in the Final Merit List of Engg. Services Exam.

General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Common for all streams)
The questions in Paper-I of Stage – I will be from the following Topics :

1. Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development
2. Engineering Aptitude covering Logical reasoning and Analytical ability
3. Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis
4. General Principles of Design, Drawing, Importance of Safety
5. Standards and Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services
6. Basics of Energy and Environment : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, Climate Change, Environmental impact assessment
7. Basics of Project Management
8. Basics of Material Science and Engineering
9. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in Engineering such as networking, e-governance and technology based education.
10. Ethics and values in Engineering profession

Note: The paper in General Studies and Engineering Aptitude will include knowledge of relevant topics as may be expected from an engineering graduate, without special study. Marks for each Topic may range from 5% to 15% of the total marks in the paper.

Cut Off Marks For ESE-2023

The candidate should secure minimum qualifying marks in each paper and also in aggregate of the three objective papers.The total marks of the last candidate finally selected for appointment are given below.
Marks Secured by the last recommended candidate (out of 1300 Marks)
Discipline Category
General OBC SC ST PH-1 PH-3
Civil Engg. 783 752 659 688 513 376
Mech. Engg. 661 623 555 593 376 404
Electrical Engg. 666 633 562 586 357 —
Electronics & Telecom Engg. 594 566 463 490 323 —
The All India 1st Ranker in ESE-2023 secured following marks
(Written Exam: 1100 Marks; Interview: 200 Marks; Total: 1300 Marks)
AIR Discipline(Engg.) Written Exam Marks Interview Total
1 Civil Engg. 748 130 878
1 Mechanical Engg. 668 140 808
1 Electrical Engg. 634 140 774
1 Electronics & Telecom Engg. 360 125 755

In view of the mammoth syllabus and tough competition in ESE, only a few candidates can get good ranks in their very first attempt. Majority of the candidates get good ranks in their 2nd or 3rd or higher attempts. A proper guidance and good coaching will help a lot in the preparation for ESE to secure a good rank. ACE Engineering Academy with its vast experience in the coaching for competitive exams in engineering, good track record and its honesty in declaring the results, is the best choice for the aspirants.