• Updated on 16 Oct, 2026 by Simran
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The UPSC ESE (IES) 2027 syllabus has one common paper, General Studies and Engineering Aptitude, with 10 topics, plus a separate technical syllabus for each of the four branches: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication (E&T). Each branch syllabus is split into two parts, which make up Mains Paper I and Paper II, while Prelims Paper II covers both parts together.
The syllabus below is taken from the official UPSC ESE 2027 notification (Examination Notice No. 02/2027-ENGG). The Prelims is on 31 January 2027 and the Mains on 18 June 2027.
Latest Update: UPSC has published the ESE 2027 syllabus in Section III of the official notification dated 16 September 2026. Registration closed on 6 October 2026, so candidates who applied should now prepare for the Prelims on 31 January 2027.
- What is the UPSC ESE (IES) Exam?
- UPSC ESE Syllabus 2027 Highlights
- How the ESE Syllabus Maps to Each Paper
- UPSC ESE General Studies and Engineering Aptitude Syllabus 2027
- UPSC ESE Civil Engineering Syllabus 2027
- UPSC ESE Mechanical Engineering Syllabus 2027
- UPSC ESE Electrical Engineering Syllabus 2027
- UPSC ESE Electronics and Telecommunication Syllabus 2027
- Exam Rules Linked to the ESE Syllabus
- UPSC IES Preparation Tips Based on the Syllabus
- FAQs on UPSC ESE Syllabus 2027
What is the UPSC ESE (IES) Exam?
The Engineering Services Examination (ESE), widely known as the IES exam, is UPSC's national recruitment exam for Group A and Group B engineering posts in central government departments such as Railways, Defence, Telecom and Central Water Engineering. It is held in three stages: Prelims (objective), Mains (descriptive) and Personality Test (interview), for a total of 1,300 marks. ESE 2027 has approximately 480 vacancies. Full exam details are on the UPSC ESE 2027 notification page.
UPSC ESE Syllabus 2027 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam | Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2027, also called IES 2027 |
| Conducting body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Common paper | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Prelims Paper I), 10 topics |
| Branch syllabi | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication |
| Parts per branch | 2 (Paper I and Paper II), 6 subject areas each |
| Standard of General Studies paper | Expected of an engineering or science graduate |
| Standard of branch papers | Approximately that of an engineering degree exam of an Indian university |
| Practical exam | None |
| Prelims | 31 January 2027 |
| Mains | 18 June 2027 |
How the ESE Syllabus Maps to Each Paper
The same branch syllabus is tested at both written stages, in different ways.
| Stage | Paper | Syllabus covered | Type | Duration | Marks |
| Prelims | Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (common to all branches) | Objective | 2 hours | 200 |
| Prelims | Paper II | Branch syllabus, Paper I and Paper II parts together | Objective | 3 hours | 300 |
| Mains | Paper I | Branch syllabus, Paper I part | Conventional | 3 hours | 300 |
| Mains | Paper II | Branch syllabus, Paper II part | Conventional | 3 hours | 300 |
| Personality Test | Interview | No prescribed syllabus | Interview | – | 200 |
The engineering discipline accounts for 900 of the 1,100 combined Prelims and Mains marks (82%): 300 in Prelims Paper II and 600 across the two Mains papers. General Studies and Engineering Aptitude carries the remaining 200, and appears only in the Prelims.
UPSC ESE General Studies and Engineering Aptitude Syllabus 2027
Prelims Paper I (200 marks, 2 hours) is common to all four branches. As per the notice, questions are set from all 10 topics, and each topic carries 5% to 15% of the paper's marks, which works out to 10 to 30 marks per topic.
| No. | Topic (as in the notice) | Marks range |
| 1 | Current issues of national and international importance relating to social, economic and industrial development | 10–30 |
| 2 | Engineering aptitude covering logical reasoning and analytical ability | 10–30 |
| 3 | Engineering mathematics and numerical analysis | 10–30 |
| 4 | General principles of design, drawing, importance of safety | 10–30 |
| 5 | Standards and quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services | 10–30 |
| 6 | Basics of energy and environment: conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, climate change, environmental impact assessment | 10–30 |
| 7 | Basics of project management | 10–30 |
| 8 | Basics of material science and engineering | 10–30 |
| 9 | Information and communication technologies (ICT) based tools and their applications in engineering, such as networking, e-governance and technology-based education | 10–30 |
| 10 | Ethics and values in the engineering profession | 10–30 |
The notice says this paper tests knowledge expected of an engineering graduate "without special study". Because every topic carries at least 5% of the marks (10 marks), skipping any one of them costs marks.
Note: The branch tables below are a topic-wise summary of Section III of the official notification. The notice lists further sub-topics under each subject, so use it as the final reference while preparing.
UPSC ESE Civil Engineering Syllabus 2027
Civil Engineering Paper I
| Subject | Topics |
| Building materials | Stone, lime, glass, plastics, steel, FRP, ceramics, aluminium, fly ash, admixtures, timber, bricks and aggregates; cement types and tests; mortars and concrete; concrete mix design |
| Solid mechanics | Elastic constants, stress and strain, Mohr's circle, theories of failure, principal stresses, bending, shear and torsion |
| Structural analysis | Bending moment and shear force; determinate and indeterminate structures; trusses, beams, plane frames; rolling loads and influence lines; vibrations of single and multi degree freedom systems; suspended cables; computer-aided design |
| Design of steel structures | Working stress method, tension and compression members, beams and connections, built-up sections, girders, industrial roofs, ultimate load design |
| Design of concrete and masonry structures | Limit state design; beams, slabs, lintels, foundations, retaining walls, tanks, staircases; prestressed concrete; earthquake-resistant design; masonry design |
| Construction practice, planning and management | Planning, equipment, site investigation, estimation, network analysis, rate analysis, tendering and contracts, quality control, land acquisition, labour safety |
Civil Engineering Paper II
| Subject | Topics |
| Flow of fluids, hydraulic machines and hydro power | Fluid properties, dimensional analysis, flow kinematics, boundary layer, open channel and pipe flow, hydraulic jump, pipe networks; pumps, turbines, power house layout |
| Hydrology and water resources engineering | Hydrological cycle, groundwater and well hydrology, river morphology, floods and droughts, reservoirs; irrigation, canal and drainage design, dams, weirs, cross drainage works, river training |
| Environmental engineering | Water supply and treatment, wastewater and sewerage, sludge management, solid waste management, air and noise pollution |
| Geotechnical and foundation engineering | Soil exploration and properties, permeability, consolidation, shear strength, earth pressure; foundations, bearing capacity, settlement, slope stability, ground improvement |
| Surveying and geology | Surveying methods and instruments, GPS, photogrammetry, remote sensing, setting out of curves; basics of engineering geology |
| Transportation engineering | Highway planning and geometric design, traffic, pavement design; tunnelling; railways; harbours; airports |
UPSC ESE Mechanical Engineering Syllabus 2027
Mechanical Engineering Paper I
| Subject | Topics |
| Fluid mechanics | Properties of fluids, manometry, fluid statics, buoyancy, equations of motion, Bernoulli's equation, viscous flow, laminar and turbulent flow, flow through pipes and head losses |
| Thermodynamics and heat transfer | Systems and processes, laws of thermodynamics, entropy and availability, Rankine, Otto, Diesel and Dual cycles, gas mixtures; conduction, convection, radiation, boiling and condensation, heat exchangers |
| IC engines, refrigeration and air conditioning | SI and CI engines, performance and testing, fuels and emissions; vapour compression and other refrigeration systems; psychrometry, air conditioning, load calculations, heat pumps |
| Turbo machinery | Pumps, Pelton, Kaplan and Francis turbines, velocity diagrams, steam and gas turbines, jet propulsion, compressors |
| Power plant engineering | Rankine and Brayton cycles with regeneration and reheat, fuels, flue gas analysis, boilers, condensers, electrostatic precipitators, cooling towers |
| Renewable sources of energy | Solar thermal collection and storage, solar photovoltaics, wind, biomass and tidal energy, fuel cells |
Mechanical Engineering Paper II
| Subject | Topics |
| Engineering mechanics | Systems of forces, friction, centroid, dynamics; stresses and strains, bending moment and shear force diagrams, deflection, torsion, thin and thick cylinders |
| Engineering materials | Crystallography, alloys and phase diagrams, heat treatment, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, nano-materials, mechanical testing, corrosion |
| Mechanisms and machines | Kinematic analysis, cams, vibrations, critical speed of shafts, gears and gear trains, balancing, gyroscopes, governors |
| Design of machine elements | Static and dynamic loading, failure theories, fatigue; joints, shafts, spur gears, bearings, brakes, clutches, flywheels |
| Manufacturing, industrial and maintenance engineering | Casting, forming, joining, machining, metrology, CIM and FMS, production planning, inventory, CPM-PERT; reliability, condition monitoring and NDT |
| Mechatronics and robotics | Microprocessors and microcontrollers, PLC, sensors and actuators, control systems; robot classification, kinematics, SCARA robot arm equation |
UPSC ESE Electrical Engineering Syllabus 2027
Electrical Engineering Paper I
| Subject | Topics |
| Engineering mathematics | Matrix theory, eigenvalues, numerical methods, calculus, Fourier series, differential equations, complex variables, probability and statistics, sampling theorem, distributions, regression |
| Electrical materials | Crystal structures, ceramic, insulating and magnetic materials, ferrites, solid state physics basics, photoconductivity, nano materials, superconductors |
| Electric circuits and fields | Network graphs, KCL and KVL, network theorems, transient and sinusoidal steady-state analysis, two-port networks, three-phase circuits; electrostatics, Ampere's and Biot-Savart laws, Maxwell's equations |
| Electrical and electronic measurements | Bridges, potentiometers, measuring instruments, instrument transformers, digital meters, oscilloscopes, error analysis, transducers, data acquisition |
| Computer fundamentals | Number systems, Boolean algebra, CPU, memory and I/O organisation, operating systems, networking basics, virtual memory, programming languages |
| Basic electronics engineering | Diodes and transistors (BJT, FET, MOSFET), amplifiers, frequency response, oscillators, feedback amplifiers |
Electrical Engineering Paper II
| Subject | Topics |
| Analog and digital electronics | Op-amps, combinational and sequential logic, A/D and D/A converters, active filters, microprocessor basics; analog and digital communication, modulation, multiplexing, power line carrier communication |
| Systems and signal processing | Continuous and discrete-time signals, LTI systems, Fourier, Laplace and Z transforms, DFT and FFT, convolution, FIR and IIR filters |
| Control systems | Transfer functions, block diagrams, Routh-Hurwitz, Nyquist, Bode plots, root loci, compensation, state space models, controllability and observability, PID controllers |
| Electrical machines | Single and three-phase transformers, DC machines, induction motors, synchronous machines, servo and stepper motors |
| Power systems | Generation basics, transmission lines and cables, fault analysis, protection, circuit breakers, load flow, stability, HVDC and FACTS, distributed generation, solar and wind power, smart grid, power economics |
| Power electronics and drives | Power semiconductor devices, controlled rectifiers, choppers and inverters, DC and AC drives, switched mode converters, resonant converters, power supplies |
UPSC ESE Electronics and Telecommunication Syllabus 2027
Electronics and Telecommunication Paper I
| Subject | Topics |
| Basic electronics engineering | Semiconductors, diodes and transistors (BJT, JFET, MOSFET), amplifiers, oscillators, integrated circuits (bipolar, MOS, CMOS), op-amps, optoelectronics |
| Basic electrical engineering | DC circuits, circuit theorems, electromagnetism, single-phase AC circuits, transformers, DC, induction and synchronous machines, power sources, batteries |
| Materials science | Crystal structure and defects, ceramic materials, insulating laminates, magnetic materials, nano materials, superconductivity |
| Electronic measurements and instrumentation | Accuracy and standards, analog and digital measurement systems, errors and statistical analysis, transducers, telemetry, data acquisition |
| Network theory | Network graphs, Wye-Delta transformation, time and frequency domain analysis of RLC circuits, Laplace transforms, two-port parameters, state equations |
| Analog and digital circuits | Small-signal equivalent circuits, biasing, amplifier design, feedback, active filters, A/D and D/A converters, Boolean algebra, logic families, combinational and sequential circuits, microprocessors |
Electronics and Telecommunication Paper II
| Subject | Topics |
| Analog and digital communication systems | Random signals, noise, information theory, AM and FM, PCM and DPCM, multiplexing, ASK, FSK and PSK, TDMA, FDMA and CDMA, optical communication |
| Control systems | Signals and systems, transforms, signal flow graphs, Routh-Hurwitz, root loci, Nyquist and Bode plots, stability, compensators, PID controllers |
| Computer organisation and architecture | CPU, I/O and memory organisation, operating systems, memory management, file systems, databases, transactions and concurrency, programming languages |
| Electromagnetics | Vector calculus, Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, transmission lines, Smith chart, waveguides, antennas |
| Advanced electronics topics | VLSI technology and design, DSP and digital filters, microprocessors and microcontrollers, embedded systems |
| Advanced communication topics | Communication networks and OSI model, cellular networks and protocols, microwave and satellite communication, fibre-optic communication systems |
Exam Rules Linked to the ESE Syllabus
The notice sets these rules for how the syllabus is tested:
| Rule | Details (as per the notice) |
| Language | Mains papers are set in English only and must be answered in English |
| Units | SI units are used wherever required |
| Reference tables | UPSC may supply mathematical, physical, chemical and engineering tables, steam tables (with Mollier diagrams) and the National Building Code (Group 2, Part VI) for the Mains |
| Calculators | Non-programmable battery-operated calculators are allowed in the conventional (Mains) papers only, not in the objective Prelims |
| Marking style | No marks for superficial knowledge; credit for orderly, effective and exact expression |
| Handwriting | Up to 5% of the maximum marks can be deducted for illegible handwriting |
| Negative marking | One-third of the question's marks deducted for a wrong answer in the Prelims |
UPSC IES Preparation Tips Based on the Syllabus
- Plan by marks. The engineering discipline carries 900 of the 1,100 Prelims and Mains marks, so it deserves most of the preparation time. Within General Studies, budget for each of the 10 topics, since each is worth 10 to 30 marks.
- Meet the minimum in every paper. UPSC applies two separate requirements: a minimum qualifying standard in each paper (15% in each Prelims paper and 20% in each paper at the written stage, 10% for PwBD candidates, as stated in UPSC's cutoff documents), and the branch and category cutoff on total marks. Clearing one does not guarantee the other, so no paper can be left weak.
- Set a score target. The General category Prelims cutoff over 2021–2025 ranged from 124 to 249 out of 500, depending on branch and year. Branch-wise figures are on the UPSC ESE cutoff page.
- Use the overlap with GATE. Many core engineering subjects also appear in the branch syllabus of the GATE exam, but ESE adds the General Studies paper and two descriptive Mains papers, which need written-answer practice.
Preparation Plan Based on the Syllabus
The table below is general preparation guidance, not an official UPSC recommendation.
| Preparation step | Recommended action |
| Topic mapping | Mark every official syllabus topic as not started, in progress or revised |
| Prelims | Practise objective questions for both General Studies and the technical branch, keeping negative marking in mind |
| Mains | Practise descriptive answers and numerical solutions under timed conditions |
| Revision | Track weak topics separately for Paper I and Paper II |
| Progress review | Use mock-test results to prioritise revision rather than skipping syllabus topics |
For exam dates, vacancies and eligibility, see the UPSC ESE 2027 notification page.
FAQs on UPSC ESE Syllabus 2027
Where can I download the UPSC ESE 2027 syllabus PDF?
The official syllabus is printed in Section III of the ESE 2027 notification, published on upsc.gov.in on 16 September 2026.
Is the ESE syllabus the same for Prelims and Mains?
The branch syllabus is the same, but it is tested differently. Prelims Paper II covers the whole branch syllabus in objective form, while Mains Paper I and Paper II each cover one part in conventional form.
What is in the ESE General Studies paper?
Ten topics: current issues, engineering aptitude, engineering mathematics, design and drawing with safety, standards and quality, energy and environment, project management, material science, ICT and ethics. Each carries 5% to 15% of the 200 marks.
Is General Studies part of the ESE Mains?
No. General Studies and Engineering Aptitude is only Prelims Paper I. Both Mains papers are on the engineering branch.
How many subjects are there in each ESE branch syllabus?
Twelve: six in Paper I and six in Paper II, for each of Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication.
Is there a practical exam in UPSC ESE?
No. The notice states that there is no practical examination in any subject.
Can I use a calculator in the ESE exam?
Only in the Mains, and only a non-programmable battery-operated calculator. Calculators are not allowed in the Prelims.
What is the level of the ESE syllabus?
The General Studies paper is set at the level of an engineering or science graduate, and the branch papers at about the level of an engineering degree exam of an Indian university.
Is the ESE 2027 syllabus the same as ESE 2026?
The paper structure and marks are the same as in ESE 2026: two objective Prelims papers (200 and 300 marks), two conventional Mains papers (300 marks each) and a 200-mark Personality Test. Candidates who prepared for ESE 2026 should still check the 2027 topic lists on this page against their notes, since UPSC can revise individual topics.
Does UPSC prescribe topic-wise weightage for ESE?
Only for the General Studies and Engineering Aptitude paper, where each of the 10 topics carries 5% to 15% of the marks. UPSC does not prescribe topic-wise weightage for the engineering branch papers.