• Updated on 16 Oct, 2026 by Simran
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To be eligible for the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) 2027, candidates must be 21 to 30 years old on 1 January 2027, hold an engineering degree or an accepted equivalent qualification, and meet the nationality conditions. The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC and ST candidates, 3 years for OBC candidates and up to 10 years for PwBD candidates.
The notification does not prescribe a minimum percentage in the qualifying degree or a separate limit on the number of attempts; candidates must still meet all other eligibility conditions. Final-year engineering students can also apply provisionally. The eligibility rules below are based on the official UPSC notification, Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG.
Latest Update: UPSC ESE 2027 registration has closed. Candidates must have held all certificates supporting their claims (category, age relaxation, PwBD and others) by the application closing date, 6 October 2026. UPSC verifies these with original documents after the Mains, for candidates called to the Personality Test. For dates and vacancies, see the UPSC ESE 2027 notification page.
UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2027 Highlights
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 January 2027 |
| Date of birth | Between 2 January 1997 and 1 January 2006 |
| Age relaxation | SC/ST: 5 years; OBC: 3 years; PwBD: 10 years; others as listed below |
| Educational qualification | Engineering degree, or an accepted equivalent (AMIE Sections A and B, and others) |
| Minimum percentage | Not prescribed |
| Final-year students | Can apply provisionally |
| Number of attempts | No limit stated in the notice; candidates can apply while within the age limit |
| Nationality | Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or specified Tibetan refugees and persons of Indian origin |
| Engineering categories | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication |
Who is Eligible for the IES Exam?
Candidates are eligible for UPSC ESE 2027 if they meet the nationality criteria (Indian citizens and the other eligible categories listed below), are aged 21 to 30 on 1 January 2027 (older if a relaxation applies), and hold an engineering degree or an accepted equivalent, or are in the final year of one. Age, educational qualification and nationality requirements are the same for all candidates. Female candidates are exempt from the application fee.
UPSC ESE Age Limit 2027
The UPSC ESE (IES) 2027 age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 1 January 2027. Candidates must have been born not earlier than 2 January 1997 and not later than 1 January 2006.
| Particulars | Details |
| Minimum age | 21 years |
| Maximum age (General) | 30 years |
| Age reckoned on | 1 January 2027 |
| Born not earlier than | 2 January 1997 |
| Born not later than | 1 January 2006 |
UPSC accepts only the date of birth recorded in the Matriculation or Secondary School certificate (or an equivalent certificate). Once entered in the application, it cannot be changed at this or any later UPSC exam. Documents such as horoscopes, affidavits and birth extracts are not accepted.
UPSC ESE Age Relaxation 2027
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit | Maximum age |
| SC / ST | 5 years | 35 |
| OBC (eligible for reservation) | 3 years | 33 |
| Defence personnel disabled in operations during hostilities or in a disturbed area, and released as a result | 3 years | 33 |
| Ex-servicemen, including Commissioned Officers and ECOs/SSCOs, with at least 5 years of military service on 1 January 2027 (released on completion of assignment, on physical disability, or on invalidment) | 5 years | 35 |
| ECOs/SSCOs with 5 years of service whose assignment is extended, with a Ministry of Defence certificate | 5 years | 35 |
| PwBD (low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability, specific learning disability, mental illness and other listed categories) | 10 years | 40 |
| Eligible Central Government servants (see below) | Up to 35 years | 35 |
Cumulative relaxation: As per Note I of the age clause, SC, ST and OBC candidates who are also covered as ex-servicemen or PwBD under the relaxation rules are eligible for cumulative relaxation under both categories.
Government servants: The upper age limit is relaxed to 35 years for candidates who hold a permanent post, or have served continuously in a temporary post on a regular basis for at least 3 years on 1 January 2027, in one of the departments listed in the notice (such as CPWD, Railways, Telecom, Military Engineer Services, Border Roads Organisation, Central Water Commission and Central Electricity Authority), and who apply for the services of that department. Their candidature is cancelled if they leave that service after applying.
PwBD candidates: Only the disability categories listed in Annexure I of the notice for each service can apply under the PwBD category, and candidates must meet the physical and medical standards for the service they are allotted.
UPSC ESE Educational Qualification 2027
Candidates must have one of the following qualifications. The notice does not prescribe a minimum percentage of marks.
| No. | Accepted qualification (as per the notice) |
| (a) | Degree in Engineering from a university set up by a Central or State Act, an institution established by an Act of Parliament, or a deemed university under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 |
| (b) | Sections A and B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) (AMIE) |
| (c) | Degree or diploma in Engineering from a foreign university, college or institution recognised by the Government |
| (d) | Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India) (IETE) |
| (e) | Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III / Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India |
| (f) | Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London, held after November 1959 |
M.Sc. Qualification for Two Services
| Service | Additional accepted qualification |
| Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics Engineering posts) | M.Sc. or equivalent with Wireless Communication Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as a special subject |
| Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group A | M.Sc. or equivalent with Wireless Communication Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering as a subject, or a Master's in Science with Physics and Radio Communication or Electronics or Telecommunication as a special subject |
Rule on IETE, Aeronautical Society and AMIE Qualifications
Following a Delhi High Court judgment, degrees or certificates from the IETE and the Aeronautical Society of India obtained by taking admission after 31 May 2013 are not accepted for ESE 2027. For the Institution of Engineers (India), eligibility of candidates who took admission after 31 May 2013 is subject to the Government's decision in a related case.
Can Final-Year Students Apply for IES?
Yes. Candidates who have appeared, or will appear, in their final degree exam can apply. Their admission is provisional. If they qualify for the Personality Test, they must upload proof of passing within a 10-day window that UPSC opens after the Mains result. Applying provisionally does not waive this deadline: as per the notice, candidates who fail to upload the proof within the window are not allowed to appear in the Personality Test, and their candidature is liable to be cancelled.
In exceptional cases, UPSC may also accept a qualification from another institution whose standard it considers equivalent, or a degree from an unrecognised foreign university, at its discretion.
UPSC ESE Nationality 2027
A candidate must be one of the following:
| Category | Condition |
| Citizen of India | Eligible |
| Subject of Nepal | Needs a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India |
| Subject of Bhutan | Needs a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India |
| Tibetan refugee | Must have come to India before 1 January 1962 to settle permanently; needs a certificate of eligibility |
| Person of Indian origin | Must have migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam to settle permanently in India; needs a certificate of eligibility |
Candidates who need a certificate of eligibility can take the exam, but the offer of appointment is given only after the Government of India issues the certificate.
Reservation Certificates, Medical and Physical Standards
| Requirement | Rule (as per the notice) |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate | Based on income for FY 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26; issued between 1 April 2026 and 6 October 2026 |
| EWS Income and Asset certificate | Based on income for FY 2025-26; issued between 1 April 2026 and 6 October 2026 |
| SC/ST reservation | Only if the caste is in the Central Government's list of reserved communities |
| Change of category | Not allowed after applying (for example, General to reserved, or between reserved categories) |
| PwBD sub-category | Cannot be changed after applying |
| Medical examination | All finally recommended candidates must pass a medical exam conducted as decided by the Department of Telecommunications; its findings are final |
| Physical standards | As per Appendix II of the ESE 2027 Rules, published in the Gazette of India on 16 September 2026 |
All certificates for reservation or relaxation had to be held by the application closing date, 6 October 2026, even though they are verified later. Fee details and the application process are on the UPSC ESE application form page.
FAQs on UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2027
Who is eligible for the IES exam?
Indian citizens (and certain other nationality categories) aged 21 to 30 on 1 January 2027, with relaxations, who hold an engineering degree or an accepted equivalent, or are in the final year of one.
What is the IES age limit for 2027?
21 to 30 years as on 1 January 2027, which means a date of birth between 2 January 1997 and 1 January 2006.
What is the IES age limit for OBC candidates?
33 years. OBC candidates eligible for reservation get 3 years of relaxation in the upper age limit.
What is the IES age limit for SC and ST candidates?
35 years, with 5 years of relaxation in the upper age limit.
Is the eligibility different for female candidates?
No. Age, educational qualification and nationality requirements are the same for all candidates. Female candidates are exempt from the ₹200 application fee.
Is there a minimum percentage required for the IES exam?
No. The notice does not prescribe any minimum percentage of marks in the engineering degree.
Can I give the IES exam in the 4th year of engineering?
Yes. Final-year students can apply provisionally and must upload proof of passing within the 10-day window after the Mains result if they qualify for the Personality Test.
How many attempts are allowed in UPSC ESE?
The notice does not limit the number of attempts. Candidates can apply as long as they meet the age limit and other conditions.
Is a diploma holder eligible for IES?
A diploma alone does not generally meet the educational-qualification requirement. The notification recognises specified foreign engineering degrees or diplomas, subject to its conditions. Diploma holders who pass Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) examination are eligible, subject to the post-2013 admission rule.
Can M.Sc. graduates apply for UPSC ESE?
Only for two services: the Indian Naval Armament Service (Electronics Engineering posts) and the Indian Radio Regulatory Service Group A, with the specified subjects.
Is IES a Class 1 officer?
Most services filled through ESE are Group A (earlier called Class I) gazetted posts. Junior Telecom Officer (GCS Group B) is the Group B post in the Electronics & Telecommunication list.
Is IES as powerful as IAS?
The two are different services. IES officers handle technical engineering and management work in departments such as Railways, Defence and Telecom, while IAS officers handle general administration. Both are recruited by UPSC: IAS is an All India Service, while most ESE services are Group A central services.
What is the salary of IES?
Group A officers selected through ESE start at Pay Level 10 of the 7th Pay Commission matrix, with a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month, plus allowances.
Where can I download the UPSC IES eligibility PDF?
The eligibility conditions are in paragraph 3 of the official ESE 2027 notification, published on upsc.gov.in.