Official Notification & Source
The official notification (Examination Notice No. 02/2026 ENGG) was released on 26 September 2025.
You can download the PDF of the notification from job alert / freejobalert mirror links or UPSC website mirrors.
UPSC’s official examination page lists “Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2026.”
UPSC
Vacancies & Branches
Total vacancies: 474 posts.
Branches / disciplines covered:
Civil Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
The detailed branch-wise & category-wise breakup is in the official PDF.
Important Dates
Event Date
Notification Release 26 September 2025
Start of Online Application 26 September 2025
Last Date to Apply 16 October 2025
Preliminary Exam Date 8 February 2026
Mains Exam Date (tentative) 21 June 2026
Eligibility Criteria
From the notification and supporting sources, eligibility involves:
Educational Qualification
A degree in Engineering / Technology in relevant disciplines (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, E&TC) from a recognized university or equivalent.
In some cases, equivalent qualifications (e.g. Sections A & B of Institution of Engineers, or certain M.Sc. degrees) may be acceptable per UPSC norms.
Age Limit
Minimum: 21 years (as of a specific cut-off date)
Maximum: 30 years
Age relaxations for SC / ST, OBC, Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) etc., as per government / UPSC rules.
Nationality / Citizenship
Must be a citizen of India (or other categories as permitted by UPSC)
Other qualifying criteria (like physical fitness, medical standards, etc.) may also apply in specific services; check the notification’s “conditions of service” section.
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
Stages of Examination
Preliminary (Stage I)
Objective type (multiple choice) papers
Paper 1: General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (200 marks)
Paper 2: Engineering Discipline (300 marks)
Total = 500 marks
There is negative marking (typically one-third marks deducted for wrong answers) in objective papers.
Main (Stage II)
Descriptive / conventional papers in the candidate’s engineering discipline
Two papers, each 300 marks; total = 600 marks
Personality Test / Interview (Stage III)
Marks: 200
Evaluates candidate’s overall suitability for service (communication, leadership, decision making, etc.)
Final Merit List
Based on aggregate marks from Prelims + Mains + Interview (total out of 1300)
Syllabus
The preliminary stage includes topics in General Studies & Engineering Aptitude plus discipline-specific engineering subjects.
The mains stage covers deeper domain subjects, design, calculation, problem solving in the chosen engineering branch.
The syllabus is detailed in the notification document, with topic-wise breakdowns for each branch.
Application Process & Fees
The application is fully online via the UPSC / UPSC Online portal.
Applicants need to upload scanned photograph, signature, and other required documents.
Fee: ₹200 for General / OBC / EWS candidates; SC / ST / PwBD / Female candidates are generally exempt.
It is very important to read the “Instructions to Candidates” part of the official notification carefully (format of photos/signatures, choice of exam centers, declarations, etc.).