UPSC ESE 2027 Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Prelims on 31 January 2027, Branch-wise Topics from Official Notification
UPSC has released the ESE 2027 syllabus with Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. dated 16 September 2026. Check the stage-wise exam pattern, General Studies topics and branch-wise syllabus for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and E&T.
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UPSC ESE 2027 Syllabus: Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has published the complete syllabus and scheme of the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027 in its official notification, Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. dated 16 September 2026. The exam is held for about 480 vacancies in four engineering disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering. The online application window closed on 6 October 2026, so candidates should now focus fully on preparation. This article explains the stage-wise exam pattern and the topic-wise syllabus exactly as given in the official notification.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam name | Engineering Services Examination (ESE), 2027 |
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Notice number and date | Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG., dated 16.09.2026 |
| Vacancies | About 480 (including 19 for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) |
| Disciplines | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
| Stages | Stage I (Preliminary, objective), Stage II (Main, conventional), Stage III (Personality Test) |
| Total marks | 500 (Prelims) + 600 (Mains) + 200 (Personality Test) |
| Negative marking | One-third (1/3) of the marks of the question in objective papers |
| Official website | upsc.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 16 September 2026 |
| Online application | 16 September 2026 to 6 October 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Preliminary (Stage I) Examination | 31 January 2027 |
| Main (Stage II) Examination | 18 June 2027 |
ESE 2027 Exam Pattern
Stage I: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (common for all disciplines) | 2 hours | 200 |
| Paper II | Engineering discipline-specific paper | 3 hours | 300 |
| Total | 500 | ||
As per the notification, the number of candidates admitted to the Main Examination will be about six to seven times the number of vacancies.
Stage II: Main Examination (Conventional Type)
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Engineering discipline-specific paper | 3 hours | 300 |
| Paper II | Engineering discipline-specific paper | 3 hours | 300 |
| Total | 600 | ||
Stage III: Personality Test
The Personality Test carries 200 marks.
Negative Marking Rule
In the objective-type papers, one-third (1/3) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer. If a candidate marks more than one answer, it is treated as a wrong answer even if one of the marked answers is correct. There is no penalty for a question left blank. The Commission also has discretion to fix minimum qualifying marks in any or all papers.
Paper I Syllabus: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude
This paper is common for all four disciplines. According to the notification, each of the following topics carries 5% to 15% of the total marks of the paper:
- 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 Engineering profession
Discipline-wise Syllabus (Prelims Paper II and Mains Papers I and II)
The notification gives one combined syllabus for each discipline. The contents of both Paper I and Paper II together form the syllabus of the objective-type Preliminary Paper II, while the same contents are tested separately in the conventional Main Paper I and Main Paper II. The main topic headings are listed below; the detailed sub-topics are given in the notification PDF.
Civil Engineering
| Paper I | Paper II |
|---|---|
| 1. Building Materials | 1. Flow of Fluids, Hydraulic Machines and Hydro Power |
| 2. Solid Mechanics | 2. Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering |
| 3. Structural Analysis | 3. Environmental Engineering |
| 4. Design of Steel Structures | 4. Geo-technical Engineering and Foundation Engineering |
| 5. Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures | 5. Surveying and Geology |
| 6. Construction Practice, Planning and Management | 6. Transportation Engineering |
Mechanical Engineering
| Paper I | Paper II |
|---|---|
| 1. Fluid Mechanics | 1. Engineering Mechanics |
| 2. Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer | 2. Engineering Materials |
| 3. IC Engines, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning | 3. Mechanisms and Machines |
| 4. Turbo Machinery | 4. Design of Machine Elements |
| 5. Power Plant Engineering | 5. Manufacturing, Industrial and Maintenance Engineering |
| 6. Renewable Sources of Energy | 6. Mechatronics and Robotics |
Electrical Engineering
| Paper I | Paper II |
|---|---|
| 1. Engineering Mathematics | 1. Analog and Digital Electronics |
| 2. Electrical Materials | 2. Systems and Signal Processing |
| 3. Electric Circuits and Fields | 3. Control Systems |
| 4. Electrical and Electronic Measurements | 4. Electrical Machines |
| 5. Computer Fundamentals | 5. Power Systems |
| 6. Basic Electronics Engineering | 6. Power Electronics and Drives |
Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
Paper I:
- Basic Electronics Engineering
- Basic Electrical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Electronic Measurements and Instrumentation
- Network Theory
- Analog and Digital Circuits
Paper II: The Paper II syllabus begins with (1) Analog and Digital Communication Systems and (2) Control Systems. Candidates should read the full list of Paper II topics and sub-topics in the official notification PDF.
How to Download the ESE 2027 Syllabus PDF
- Visit the official UPSC website upsc.gov.in.
- Open the Examinations section and select Active Examinations.
- Click on Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027.
- Open the examination notification (Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG.).
- Scroll to the Scheme of Examination and Syllabus section, which is part of the notification.
- Download and save the PDF for regular reference during preparation.
Preparation Tips Based on the Official Syllabus
- Give equal attention to all ten topics of Paper I, since each topic carries 5% to 15% of the marks.
- Prelims Paper II covers the whole discipline syllabus (both Paper I and Paper II contents), so complete all twelve main topics of your branch before the prelims.
- Practise answering carefully. Wrong answers cost one-third of the marks of that question, and blank answers carry no penalty.
- Keep writing practice for the conventional Main papers alongside prelims preparation, as the Main exam is scheduled for 18 June 2027.
Important Official Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| ESE 2027 Notification and Syllabus (PDF) | Download here |
| UPSC Active Examinations | Visit here |
| UPSC Official Website | upsc.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where is the official UPSC ESE 2027 syllabus available?
The syllabus is part of the official notification, Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG. dated 16 September 2026, available on upsc.gov.in.
2. What is the total mark of the ESE 2027 exam?
Stage I carries 500 marks, Stage II carries 600 marks and the Personality Test carries 200 marks.
3. Is there negative marking in UPSC ESE 2027?
Yes. In objective papers, one-third of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
4. Is the General Studies paper the same for all branches?
Yes. Prelims Paper I, General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (200 marks, 2 hours), is common for all four disciplines.
5. When will the ESE 2027 Prelims and Mains be held?
As per the notification, the Preliminary exam is on 31 January 2027 and the Main exam is on 18 June 2027.
6. What is the age limit for ESE 2027?
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years on 1 January 2027, that is, born not earlier than 2 January 1997 and not later than 1 January 2006, with relaxations as per rules.
Conclusion
The UPSC ESE 2027 syllabus has a clear structure: a common General Studies and Engineering Aptitude paper, a discipline paper at the prelims stage, two conventional discipline papers in the mains, and a 200-mark Personality Test. With the prelims scheduled for 31 January 2027, candidates should download the official notification, map every topic of their branch, and plan revision accordingly. Always rely on upsc.gov.in for any update.
References
- https://www.upsc.gov.in/sites/default/files/Notif-ESEP-2027-Engl-160926.pdf – UPSC, Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG., Engineering Services Examination, 2027, dated 16 September 2026
- https://www.upsc.gov.in/examinations/active-exams – UPSC Active Examinations page (lists Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027), accessed 7 October 2026