• Updated on 8 Jul, 2026 by Gazal Arora
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UPSC ESE Application Process 2026 was conducted between September 26 and October 16, 2025, for recruitment to various Group A and Group B technical services under the Central Government. The application process included One-Time Registration (OTR), online application form submission, document upload, and fee payment through the official UPSC website. As per the exam schedule, the UPSC ESE Preliminary Examination was conducted on February 8, 2026, followed by the Mains Examination on June 21, 2026.
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026: Important Events
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026 comprised One-Time Registration, online application submission, document upload, and payment of the prescribed application fee. The important events related to the UPSC ESE 2026 recruitment cycle are provided below:
Check: UPSC ESE Admit Card 2026
How to Apply for the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
UPSC ESE Application Form 2026 details about One-Time Registration (OTR), Form submission, and Payment of the Application fees. Candidates must follow the steps below to apply under the UPSC ESE Application Form 2026:
Step 1: Visit the official UPSC website.
Step 2: Register on the One-Time Registration portal. Fill in the personal information, including the Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Category, and valid government-issued photo ID.
Step 3: Log in using registration details and fill in the necessary details (educational qualification, preferred discipline, department preferences, etc.)
Step 4: Candidates should opt for category reservations if they are eligible for them.
Step 5: Upload the Documents required (signature, photograph, and valid photo ID)
Step 6: Finalise the form by payment of the Application fees (General/OBC/EWS – INR 200 and SC/ST/PwBD/Female – Nil) and submit.
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026: Eligibility Criteria
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026 required candidates to satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions related to nationality, age limit, educational qualification, and medical fitness before submitting the application form.
Check: UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2026
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026: Documents Required
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026 required candidates to upload the prescribed documents in the specified format while submitting the application form. Applicants were required to upload a photograph (not older than 10 days), signature, valid photo ID, educational qualification certificates, and category certificates, wherever applicable.
UPSC ESE Application Process 2026: FAQs
When is the UPSC ESE 2026 mains exam scheduled for?
The commission has conducted the second stage of the mains examination for June 21, 2026.
What are the educational qualifications required for UPSC ESE 2026?
Candidates must have an engineering degree from a recognised institution.
When was the UPSC ESE Admit Card 2026 released?
The UPSC ESE Preliminary Admit Card 2026 was released on January 28, 2026, while the UPSC ESE Mains Admit Card 2026 was released on June 12, 2026. Candidates were able to download their hall tickets from the official UPSC website using their Registration ID or Roll Number and Date of Birth.
What is the age limit requirement for the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years (age relaxations applicable for certain categories) to be eligible for the UPSC ESE examination.
What details are required under OTR registration for the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
OTR registration requires details like Name, Date of Birth, Gender, Category, and a valid government-issued photo ID.
What are the different criteria of eligibility under the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
The Eligibility mentions certain criteria like Nationality/Citizenship, Age Limit Requirement, Educational Qualification, and Medical Fitness Standards.
Are graduates from a non-engineering background also eligible for the UPSC ESE?
Graduates from other disciplines are not allowed to appear for the UPSC ESE exam.
What is the fee for the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
General/OBC/EWS are required to pay INR 200, while SC/ST/PwBD/Female are exempted from any application fee.
How many attempts are required under the UPSC ESE 2026 examination?
There is no fixed limit imposed on the number of attempts required for the UPSC ESE 2026 examination; it depends only on the age criteria.
What are the important instructions for photograph uploading in the UPSC ESE Application Process 2026?
The photograph uploaded by the candidate shouldn’t be more than 10 days old from the date of filling the application form, and the appearance of the photograph should remain the same at all stages of the examination.