UPSC ESE Civil 2027: Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Cut Off & Free Mock Tests
UPSC Engineering Services Examination (Civil)
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- UPSC ESE Civil Test Series250 tests · 2 free · ₹151/yrStart practising
- Exam GuidePattern, eligibility, salary, cut off and FAQsRead guide
- Free Mock Test2 free testsAttempt free
- Study Notes192 chapters of notes, exam-wiseRead notes
- Previous Year Papers16 papers with solutionsSolve papers
- Syllabus22 subjects, chapter-wiseSee syllabus
- Study PlanDay-by-day plan from the real testsMake my plan
- Latest UpdatesInterview / DV: Interview Schedule: Engineering Services (Main) Examinati…See all 2
UPSC ESE Civil — Official Notification PDF
The board's own notification. Read it fully before you apply.
📄 UPSC Engineering Services Examination 2027 — Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG
Notified 16.09.2026 · applications closed 06.10.2026
Preliminary exam 31.01.2027 · Main exam 18.06.2027
🔔 UPSC ESE Civil Latest Updates
Notifications, admit cards, answer keys and results — each linked to the official source.
- Interview / DV
Interview Schedule: Engineering Services (Main) Examination, 2026
- Notification
Exam Notification: Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination, 2027
The Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES), conducted by UPSC, recruits Class-1 officers for India's premier engineering services — CES (Roads), Central Water Engineering, Indian Railways establishments, MES, CPES and more. It is the most prestigious exam a civil engineer can write in India.
UPSC issued the ESE 2027 notice (No. 02/2027-ENGG.) on 16 September 2026 for about 480 vacancies across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication, including 19 for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities. Online applications run from 16 September to 6 October 2026 (6:00 PM) at upsconline.nic.in. Prelims is on 31 January 2027 and Mains on 18 June 2027.
Selection is a three-stage marathon: objective Prelims, conventional (descriptive) Mains, and Personality Test. The descriptive mains — where derivations, design steps and diagrams earn marks — separates ESE preparation from every other objective-only exam.
UPSC ESE Civil 2027 — Overview
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Post | Group-A/B officer — Engineering Services (Category I: Civil) |
| Notification | Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG., 16 September 2026 |
| Application window | 16 September – 6 October 2026 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Prelims (Stage-I) date | 31 January 2027 |
| Mains (Stage-II) date | 18 June 2027 |
| Vacancies (ESE 2027) | ~480 across all four disciplines (incl. 19 PwBD) |
| Application fee | ₹200; Female, SC, ST and PwBD candidates exempt |
| Stages | Prelims (objective) → Mains (conventional) → Interview |
| Total marks | 1,300 (500 + 600 + 200) |
| Eligibility | Degree in Engineering (or equivalent listed in the notice) |
| Age limit | 21–30 years on 1 January 2027 (with relaxations) |
| Exam centres | 48 for Prelims, 24 for Mains |
UPSC ESE Civil Exam Date 2027
The UPSC ESE Civil exam is scheduled for 31 Jan 2027 (UPSC ESE 2027 Prelims · 31 Jan 2027). This date is taken from the official schedule.
| Notification | Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG., 16 September 2026 |
| Application window | 16 September – 6 October 2026 (till 6:00 PM) |
| Prelims (Stage-I) date | 31 January 2027 |
| Mains (Stage-II) date | 18 June 2027 |
UPSC ESE Civil Exam Pattern 2027
Stage I — Prelims (objective)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: General Studies & Engineering Aptitude | 100 | 200 |
| Paper-II: Civil Engineering | 150 | 300 |
Duration: 2 hours (Paper-I) + 3 hours (Paper-II)
Negative marking: 1/3 of the marks assigned per wrong answer
ℹ️ Prelims marks count in the final merit. About six to seven times the number of vacancies are admitted to Mains, based on minimum qualifying marks in both papers.
Stage II — Mains (conventional/descriptive)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Civil Engineering (descriptive) | — | 300 |
| Paper-II: Civil Engineering (descriptive) | — | 300 |
Duration: 3 hours per paper
Negative marking: Not applicable
Stage III — Personality Test
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | — | 200 |
Duration: —
Negative marking: Not applicable
ℹ️ About twice the number of vacancies are called for the Personality Test. It carries 200 marks with no minimum qualifying marks.
UPSC ESE Civil Syllabus 2027 — Key Subjects
See the full chapter-wise syllabus, with the weightage each subject got in real previous papers: UPSC ESE Civil syllabus 2027 →
UPSC ESE Civil Detailed Syllabus 2027
The complete official syllabus, section by section — Prelims: 200 + 300 | Mains: 300 + 300 | Personality Test: 200 = Total 1300 marks in Prelims Paper-I 2 hours, Paper-II 3 hours · Mains 3 hours per paper. Pattern source: upsc.gov.in — ESE 2027 Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG..
Prelims Paper-I — General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (200 marks, common to all)
- 1. Current Issues
- Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development
- 2. Engineering Aptitude
- Logical reasoning and analytical ability
- 3. Engineering Mathematics & Numerical Analysis
- Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis
- 4. Design, Drawing & Safety
- General principles of design, drawing, importance of safety
- 5. Standards & Quality
- Standards and quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services
- 6. Energy & Environment
- Basics of energy and environment: conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, climate change, environmental impact assessment
- 7. Project Management
- Basics of project management
- 8. Material Science
- Basics of material science and engineering
- 9. ICT
- Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in engineering such as networking, e-governance and technology based education
- 10. Ethics
- Ethics and values in engineering profession
Civil Engineering — Paper-I topics
- Building Materials
- Stone, lime, glass, plastics, steel, FRP, ceramics, aluminium, fly ash, basic admixtures, timber, bricks and aggregates: classification, properties and selection criteria · cement: types, composition, properties, uses, specifications and various tests · lime & cement mortars and concrete: properties and various tests · design of concrete mixes: proportioning of aggregates and methods of mix design
- Solid Mechanics
- Elastic constants, stress, plane stress, strains, plane strain, Mohr's circle of stress and strain, elastic theories of failure, principal stresses, bending, shear and torsion
- Structural Analysis
- Basics of strength of materials, types of stresses and strains, bending moments and shear force, concept of bending and shear stresses · analysis of determinate and indeterminate structures; trusses, beams, plane frames · rolling loads, influence lines, unit load method & other methods · free and forced vibrations of single degree and multi degree freedom system · suspended cables · concepts and use of Computer Aided Design
- Design of Steel Structures
- Principles of working stress methods, design of tension and compression members, design of beams and beam column connections, built-up sections, girders, industrial roofs, principles of ultimate load design
- Design of Concrete & Masonry Structures
- Limit state design for bending, shear, axial compression and combined forces · design of beams, slabs, lintels, foundations, retaining walls, tanks, staircases · principles of pre-stressed concrete design including materials and methods · earthquake resistant design of structures · design of masonry structure
- Construction Practice, Planning & Management
- Construction — planning, equipment, site investigation and management including estimation with latest project management tools and network analysis for different types of works · analysis of rates of various types of works · tendering process and contract management, quality control, productivity, operation cost · land acquisition · labour safety and welfare
Civil Engineering — Paper-II topics
- Flow of Fluids, Hydraulic Machines & Hydro Power
- (a) Fluid mechanics, open channel flow, pipe flow: fluid properties; dimensional analysis and modeling; fluid dynamics including flow kinematics and measurements; flow net; viscosity, boundary layer and control, drag, lift; principles in open channel flow, flow controls; hydraulic jump; surges; pipe networks · (b) Hydraulic machines and hydro power: various pumps, air vessels, hydraulic turbines — types, classifications & performance parameters; power house — classification and layout, storage, pondage, control of supply
- Hydrology & Water Resources Engineering
- Hydrological cycle, ground water hydrology, well hydrology and related data analysis; streams and their gauging; river morphology; flood, drought and their management; capacity of reservoirs · water resources engineering: multipurpose uses of water, river basins and their potential; irrigation systems, water demand assessment; resources — storages and their yields; water logging, canal and drainage design, gravity dams, falls, weirs, energy dissipaters, barrage, distribution works, cross drainage works and head-works and their design; concepts in canal design, construction & maintenance; river training, measurement and analysis of rainfall
- Environmental Engineering
- (a) Water supply: sources, estimation, quality standards and testing of water and their treatment; rural, institutional and industrial water supply; physical, chemical and biological characteristics and sources of water, pollutants in water and its effects, estimation of water demand; drinking water standards, water treatment plants, water distribution networks · (b) Waste water: planning & design of domestic waste water, sewage collection and disposal; plumbing systems; components and layout of sewerage system; planning & design of domestic waste-water disposal system; sludge management including treatment, disposal and re-use of treated effluents; industrial waste waters and effluent treatment plants including institutional and industrial sewage management · (c) Solid waste management: sources & classification of solid wastes along with planning & design of its management system; disposal system, beneficial aspects of wastes and utilization by civil engineers · (d) Air, noise pollution and ecology: concepts & general methodology
- Geo-technical & Foundation Engineering
- (a) Geo-technical: soil exploration — planning & methods, properties of soil, classification, various tests and inter-relationships; permeability & seepage, compressibility, consolidation and shearing resistance, earth pressure theories and stress distribution in soil; properties and uses of geo-synthetics · (b) Foundation: types of foundations & selection criteria, bearing capacity, settlement analysis, design and testing of shallow & deep foundations; slope stability analysis, earthen embankments, dams and earth retaining structures: types, analysis and design, principles of ground modifications
- Surveying & Geology
- (a) Surveying: classification of surveys, various methodologies, instruments & analysis of measurement of distances, elevation and directions; field astronomy, Global Positioning System; map preparation; photogrammetry; remote sensing concepts; survey layout for culverts, canals, bridges, road/railway alignment and buildings, setting out of curves · (b) Geology: basic knowledge of engineering geology & its application in projects
- Transportation Engineering
- Highways — planning & construction methodology, alignment and geometric design; traffic surveys and controls; principles of flexible and rigid pavements design · Tunneling — alignment, methods of construction, disposal of muck, drainage, lighting and ventilation · Railways systems — terminology, planning, designs and maintenance practices; track modernization · Harbours — terminology, layouts and planning · Airports — layout, planning & design
Note: Prelims Paper-I (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude) is common to all four disciplines; questions come from all 10 topics, each worth 5%–15% of the paper. A wrong answer in the objective papers costs one-third of that question's marks. The Civil Paper-I and Paper-II topics below are asked together in Prelims Paper-II and separately in Mains Paper-I and Paper-II.
UPSC ESE Civil Eligibility 2027: Qualification & Age Limit
- ✓A degree in Engineering from a recognised university, or Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination, or another equivalent listed in the notice. You apply for one category only — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or E&T.
- ✓Final-year students can apply provisionally, but must prove they have passed within 10 days of the Mains result if they qualify for the interview.
- ✓IETE and Aeronautical Society of India qualifications taken with admission after 31.05.2013 are not accepted for ESE 2027; Institution of Engineers (India) admissions after that date are subject to a pending Government decision.
- ✓Age 21–30 years on 1 January 2027 — born between 2 January 1997 and 1 January 2006.
- ✓Upper age relaxation: SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years, PwBD 10 years, eligible ex-servicemen 5 years, and up to 35 years for eligible Government servants of the participating departments.
- ✓Physical and medical standards as per the ESE 2027 Rules (Gazette of 16.09.2026).
UPSC ESE Civil Salary 2027
ESE officers start at Pay Level-10 (₹56,100 basic) as Assistant Executive Engineer / Assistant Director. In-hand salary is typically ₹80,000–₹95,000 per month with allowances, with career progression to Chief Engineer / Managing Director levels.
UPSC ESE Civil Cut Off: Previous Years
ESE cutoffs are published stage-wise by UPSC. Prelims CE cutoffs (out of 500) have recently ranged around 200–240 for General; final cutoffs (out of 1,300) around 640–700. Verify the current year's official cutoff sheet.
| Recent trend | Prelims UR (CE) — roughly 200–240 / 500; Final UR — roughly 640–700 / 1300 |
UPSC ESE Civil Vacancies
| ESE 2027 | ~480 in total across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and E&T (incl. 19 PwBD); the notice does not split them by discipline |
| Typical year | ~90–130 civil engineering posts (varies with service indents) |
UPSC ESE Civil Previous Year Papers — Attempt Online
Every paper comes with detailed solutions, all-India comparison and chapter-wise analytics. All UPSC ESE Civil previous papers with subject-wise weightage →
How to Prepare for UPSC ESE Civil 2027
- 1GS & Engineering Aptitude (Paper-I, 200 marks) covers current affairs, ethics, standards and basic engineering — it decides prelims for candidates whose technical marks bunch at the same level.
- 2Start descriptive answer-writing practice at least 6 months before mains: derivations, neat diagrams and design steps earn marks that MCQ practice never trains.
- 3ESE technical questions demand IS-code familiarity (IS 456, IS 800 etc.) beyond what GATE requires.
- 4With ~1/3 negative marking on 2-mark prelims questions, mock-calibrated attempt discipline is worth 20+ marks.
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Exam-pattern mocks, previous-year papers, detailed solutions and chapter-wise analytics — built only for civil engineers, by a civil engineer who cleared these exams.
UPSC ESE Civil 2027 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ESE and GATE?▾
GATE is an entrance/recruitment scoring exam (M.Tech, PSUs); ESE is a direct UPSC recruitment for Class-1 government engineering services. ESE adds general studies, descriptive mains and an interview on top of GATE-level technical depth.
When is UPSC ESE 2027 and what is the last date to apply?▾
The notice came out on 16 September 2026. Apply online at upsconline.nic.in by 6 October 2026, 6:00 PM. Prelims (Stage-I) is on 31 January 2027 and Mains (Stage-II) on 18 June 2027. The e-Admit Card is released on the last working day of the week before the exam.
Which services does ESE 2027 Civil (Category I) recruit for?▾
Central Engineering Service, Central Engineering Service (Roads), Survey of India Group 'A', AEE (Civil) in Border Roads Engineering Service, AEE (QS&C) in the MES Surveyor Cadre, Central Water Engineering (Group 'A') Service, Indian Skill Development Service, Indian Railway Management Service (Civil), IRMS (Stores) civil posts and the Indian Defence Service of Engineers.
How many attempts are allowed in ESE?▾
There is no attempt limit — you can appear as long as you satisfy the age limit (21–30 years with applicable relaxations).
Is coaching necessary for ESE Civil?▾
No — but structured practice is. A disciplined combination of standard books, previous-year papers (both objective and conventional) and regular full-length mocks replicates most of what coaching provides at a fraction of the cost.
Where can I practise ESE Civil prelims mocks?▾
CIVILGYAN TEST SERIES offers ESE-pattern civil engineering objective mocks and previous-year papers with detailed solutions, including separate technical and non-technical practice — with free tests to start.
What is the UPSC ESE Civil exam pattern?▾
UPSC ESE Civil has 3 stages. Stage I — Prelims (objective): Paper-I: General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (100 Q, 200 marks), Paper-II: Civil Engineering (150 Q, 300 marks); duration 2 hours (Paper-I) + 3 hours (Paper-II). Stage II — Mains (conventional/descriptive): Paper-I: Civil Engineering (descriptive) (— Q, 300 marks), Paper-II: Civil Engineering (descriptive) (— Q, 300 marks); duration 3 hours per paper. Stage III — Personality Test: Interview (— Q, 200 marks); duration —.
Is there negative marking in UPSC ESE Civil?▾
Stage I — Prelims (objective): 1/3 of the marks assigned per wrong answer. Stage II — Mains (conventional/descriptive): Not applicable. Stage III — Personality Test: Not applicable.
What is the age limit for UPSC ESE Civil?▾
31 January 2027.
Who is eligible for UPSC ESE Civil?▾
A degree in Engineering from a recognised university, or Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination, or another equivalent listed in the notice. You apply for one category only — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or E&T. Final-year students can apply provisionally, but must prove they have passed within 10 days of the Mains result if they qualify for the interview.
What is the salary after UPSC ESE Civil?▾
ESE officers start at Pay Level-10 (₹56,100 basic) as Assistant Executive Engineer / Assistant Director. In-hand salary is typically ₹80,000–₹95,000 per month with allowances, with career progression to Chief Engineer / Managing Director levels.
What is the UPSC ESE Civil syllabus?▾
The key subjects are Building Materials, Solid Mechanics & Structural Analysis, RCC & Steel Design, Construction Practice, Planning & Management, Flow of Fluids & Hydraulic Machines, Hydrology & Water Resources, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical & Foundation Engineering, Surveying & Geology, Transportation Engineering, GS & Engineering Aptitude (incl. ethics, ICT, standards).
How many vacancies are there in UPSC ESE Civil?▾
ESE 2027: ~480 in total across Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and E&T (incl. 19 PwBD); the notice does not split them by discipline. Typical year: ~90–130 civil engineering posts (varies with service indents).
What was the UPSC ESE Civil cut off?▾
Recent trend: Prelims UR (CE) — roughly 200–240 / 500; Final UR — roughly 640–700 / 1300. Cut-offs change every cycle — check the official result notice.
Explore Other Exam Guides
Disclaimer: Exam patterns, cutoffs, vacancies and eligibility rules change between recruitment cycles. The figures above are compiled for guidance from past cycles — always verify details from the official notification of the conducting body before applying.