SSCUsual cycle
SSC JE
Junior Engineer (Civil, Mechanical & Electrical) Examination
- Age
- 18–32
- Qualification
- Diploma / ITI (Engineering)
- Usually
- Notified around June–July
Engineering Services Examination
UPSC ESE · also known as IES exam (engineering), ESE
Overview
Recruits engineers for Group A technical services such as Indian Railway services, Central Engineering Service, Indian Ordnance Factories and Central Water Engineering.
Posts: Group A engineering services in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecom.
Important dates
| What | Date | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 16 Sept 2026 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 |
| Last date to apply | 6 Oct 2026 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 |
| Exam | 31 Jan 2027 | Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027 |
| Exam | 18 Jun 2027 | Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2027 |
From the UPSC calendar (source). Dates can change.
Usual yearly cycle
| Notification | September |
|---|---|
| Applications | September–October |
| Exam | January–February (Prelims), June (Mains) |
| Result | Around a year after the Prelims |
Eligibility
Age
21–30 years. Counted on 1 January of the exam year.
| Category | Upper age limit | Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| General | 30 years | No limit |
| EWS | 30 years | No limit |
| OBC | 33 years (+3) | No limit |
| SC | 35 years (+5) | No limit |
| ST | 35 years (+5) | No limit |
| PwBD (General) | 40 years (+10) | No limit |
PwBD candidates from OBC/SC/ST get their category relaxation on top (central government rules). Ex-servicemen and some departmental candidates get further relaxation as per the notice.
Qualification
A degree in Engineering (B.E./B.Tech) or an equivalent, or an M.Sc. in Wireless Communication, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering for some posts.
Nationality
Citizen of India (some posts also accept subjects of Nepal or Bhutan and certain persons of Indian origin, as the notice states).
Exam pattern
1. Preliminary exam
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Studies & Engineering Aptitude | — | 200 | 2 hours | ⅓ |
| Engineering discipline | — | 300 | 3 hours | ⅓ |
2. Main exam
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering discipline, Paper I | — | 300 | 3 hours | — |
| Engineering discipline, Paper II | — | 300 | 3 hours | — |
3. Personality test
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Time | Negative marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | — | 200 | — | — |
Syllabus
An outline of the main topics. The official notification has the full syllabus.
General Studies & Engineering Aptitude
- Current affairs
- Engineering aptitude: logical reasoning and analytical ability
- Engineering mathematics and numerical analysis
- General principles of design, drawing, safety
- Standards and quality practices
- Basics of energy and environment
- Basics of project management
- Basics of materials science
- Information and communication technologies
- Ethics and values in engineering
Discipline papers
- Full technical syllabus of your branch: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication
Selection process
Prelims (500) → Mains (600) → Interview (200). Merit out of 1,300.
Salary and vacancies
Pay: Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 basic) at the start (approx.).
Vacancies: About 150–450 posts a year.
Latest notices
No recent notices found for this exam. Check the official website.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a limit on attempts?
No, only the age limit.
This page summarises the most recent official notification and is approximate: age limits, pattern, fees and vacancies change from year to year. Always read the official notification on upsc.gov.in before applying.