If you are doing B.E. or B.Tech and want a top central government job as an engineer, the Engineering Services Examination (ESE) is the exam to know. Most people still call it the IES exam. This page starts with the ies exam eligibility rules, because that is the first thing you need to check, and then covers posts, salary, exam pattern, syllabus, training and preparation.
Salary at a glance
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ESE is conducted by UPSC every year. It fills Group A (and a few Group B) engineering posts in Railways, Central Public Works, Military Engineering, Telecom, Defence, Water Resources, Skill Development and other central departments.
What is IES exam (ESE)
IES stands for Indian Engineering Services. The official name is the Engineering Services Examination (the Indian Engineering Services exam in common use), so "what is ese exam" and "what is ies exam" have the same answer. It is one of the toughest UPSC exams because only engineering graduates sit for it and the number of posts is small compared to the number of candidates. UPSC does not publish a fixed figure for how many students give the IES exam each year, but a very large number of engineers apply for a few hundred posts.
You apply in one of four engineering categories and compete only with others in that category:
- Category I: Civil Engineering
- Category II: Mechanical Engineering
- Category III: Electrical Engineering
- Category IV: Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
IES exam eligibility (ESE exam eligibility): qualification and age limit
| Rule | What the UPSC notice says |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Degree in Engineering from a recognised university, or an equivalent such as Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers (India) exams |
| M.Sc route | M.Sc with Wireless Communication, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio Engineering is accepted only for a few E&T posts |
| Final year students | Can apply. You must show proof of passing within the window given after the Mains result. |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years on 1 January of the exam year |
| Category choice | Only one category per candidate |
| Attempts | The notice does not set a limit on attempts; only the age limit applies |
Age relaxation (on the upper limit of 30 years):
- SC and ST: up to 5 years
- OBC (non creamy layer): up to 3 years
- Persons with Benchmark Disability: up to 10 years
- Ex servicemen and commissioned officers with qualifying service: up to 5 years, as per conditions
- Defence personnel disabled in operations: up to 3 years
- Central government servants in listed engineering departments: upper limit up to 35 years
So the age limit for IES exam is 21 to 30 for the general category, 21 to 33 for OBC and 21 to 35 for SC and ST. Check your own date of birth here:
The application fee is ₹200. Women, SC, ST and PwBD candidates do not pay any fee.
IES posts and services by branch
Your rank and your service preferences decide which service you join. Some of the main services in each branch are:
| Branch | Main services and posts |
|---|---|
| Civil | Central Engineering Service, Central Engineering Service (Roads), Survey of India, Indian Defence Service of Engineers, AEE (QS&C) in Military Engineer Services, Border Roads, Central Water Engineering, Indian Railway Management Service (Civil), Indian Skill Development Service |
| Mechanical | Indian Railway Management Service (Mechanical), Indian Naval Armament Service, Indian Naval Material Management Service, Defence Aeronautical Quality Assurance Service, Central Water Engineering, Indian Defence Service of Engineers, Geological Survey of India (AEE) |
| Electrical | Indian Railway Management Service (Electrical), Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Service, Central Power Engineering Service, Indian Naval Armament Service, Indian Defence Service of Engineers |
| Electronics and Telecom | Indian Telecommunications Service, Indian Radio Regulatory Service, Indian Railway Management Service (Signal and Telecom), Indian Naval Armament Service, Junior Telecom Officer (Group B) |
The list of posts and the approximate number of vacancies change every cycle. Read them in the latest notice before you fill the service preference form.
IES salary: Indian Engineering Services salary and pay level
Most Group A services filled through ESE start in the Junior Time Scale at Level 10 of the 7th CPC pay matrix, with a basic pay of ₹56,100. That is the same starting level as an IAS officer. The salary box above gives the monthly breakup with DA, HRA and transport allowance.
Here is how the ies officer salary grows with promotions, using the grade structure of the Indian Skill Development Service (one of the ESE services) as an example:
| Grade | Pay level | Starting basic | Usual service needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Time Scale | Level 10 | ₹56,100 | Entry |
| Senior Time Scale | Level 11 | ₹67,700 | 5 years in Junior Time Scale |
| Non Functional Second Grade | Level 12 | ₹78,800 | 5 years in Senior Time Scale |
| Junior Administrative Grade | Level 13 | ₹1,23,100 | 10 years in Senior Time Scale and above |
| Senior Administrative Grade | Level 14 | ₹1,44,200 | 3 years in Junior Administrative Grade |
Promotion timelines differ between services and depend on vacancies, so treat this as a guide. On ies salary after 5 years and ies salary after 10 years: by then most officers have moved to Level 11 and then Level 12 or 13, and annual increments of about 3 percent add up as well. The maximum salary of an IES officer depends on how high you rise. A few officers reach the top grades of their service, which are on the highest levels of the pay matrix.
The ies salary per month in hand is gross pay (basic plus DA, HRA and transport allowance) minus NPS, CGHS and income tax. Government housing is given where available, as per the rules of your service. Military engineering services salary works the same way: officers of the Indian Defence Service of Engineers and the MES surveyor cadre are paid on the same civilian pay matrix. Try your own numbers on the salary calculator.
ESE exam pattern: three stages
| Stage | Paper | Type | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage I (Prelims) | Paper I: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | Objective | 2 hours | 200 |
| Stage I (Prelims) | Paper II: Engineering discipline | Objective | 3 hours | 300 |
| Stage II (Mains) | Paper I: Engineering discipline | Conventional (written) | 3 hours | 300 |
| Stage II (Mains) | Paper II: Engineering discipline | Conventional (written) | 3 hours | 300 |
| Stage III | Personality Test | Interview | Not applicable | 200 |
Key points of the ese exam pattern:
- In Prelims, one third of the marks of a question are cut for each wrong answer. Blank questions have no penalty.
- Prelims marks count in the final merit, unlike UPSC Civil Services. The final list uses Prelims, Mains and Personality Test marks together.
- Mains papers are set only in English and must be answered in English.
- Roughly 6 to 7 times the vacancies are called for Mains, and about twice the vacancies for the Personality Test.
- UPSC can set minimum qualifying marks in any or all papers.
IES exam syllabus
Prelims Paper I (common to all branches) covers current issues of national and international importance in social, economic and industrial development, engineering aptitude with logical reasoning, engineering mathematics and numerical analysis, general principles of design, drawing and safety, standards and quality practices, basics of energy and environment, project management, material science, ICT tools in engineering, and ethics and values in the engineering profession.
Prelims Paper II and both Mains papers are on your own branch: the core subjects you studied in B.Tech, such as strength of materials, structures, geotechnical and water resources for Civil; thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, machine design and manufacturing for Mechanical; machines, power systems, control systems and power electronics for Electrical; and analog and digital electronics, communication, networks and electromagnetics for E&T. The full branch wise ies exam syllabus is in the UPSC notice.
Training, probation and posting
After selection, officers join their service and go through foundation and professional training at their service's training institutes, along with field attachments. Probation is usually two years, as in the Indian Skill Development Service rules, and can be extended. Postings are all over India: railway zones and divisions, CPWD circles, defence establishments, telecom circles, and field offices of central water and power bodies.
How to prepare for IES
- Start in third year of B.Tech if you can. Most serious aspirants prepare for 12 to 18 months.
- Prepare for GATE together. The technical syllabus overlaps a lot with the GATE exam, which also opens PSU jobs.
- Do not ignore Paper I. General Studies and Engineering Aptitude carries 200 marks and many engineers lose rank here.
- Practise writing. Mains is conventional, so write full answers with steps, diagrams and units.
- Solve previous papers from the UPSC website for at least the last 10 cycles.
- Plan a backup. Keep options like SSC JE, RRB JE and state engineering services in mind.
For more engineering career paths, read engineer salary in India and B.Tech courses.
Official website
The notice, online form, admit card, results and old papers are all on upsc.gov.in. Vacancy numbers and the schedule are set fresh in each notice, so read the current one there before applying.
Questions students ask
What is the IES exam eligibility?
You need a degree in engineering (or an equivalent like Sections A and B of the Institution of Engineers) and must be 21 to 30 years old on 1 January of the exam year. Final year students can apply. An M.Sc in certain electronics or radio subjects is accepted only for a few E&T posts.
What is the age limit for IES exam?
The age limit is 21 to 30 years for the general category. SC and ST get up to 5 more years, OBC up to 3 more years and PwBD up to 10 more years. Some central government employees in listed departments can apply up to 35.
What is the IES officer salary per month?
Most Group A services start at Level 10 of the 7th CPC pay matrix with a basic pay of ₹56,100. DA, HRA and transport allowance are added on top, and NPS and tax are deducted. The salary box above this section works out the current monthly estimate.
Is there an attempt limit in the ESE exam?
The UPSC notice for ESE does not set a limit on the number of attempts. You can appear as long as you are within the age limit for your category.
What is the ESE exam pattern?
ESE has three stages: Prelims (two objective papers, 500 marks), Mains (two conventional papers in your branch, 600 marks) and a Personality Test of 200 marks. Prelims marks are added to the final merit, and there is one third negative marking in Prelims.
Can a B.Sc or diploma holder give the IES exam?
No. A diploma or B.Sc is not enough. You need an engineering degree or an equivalent recognised in the notice. Diploma holders can look at SSC JE or RRB JE instead.
Is IES better than GATE?
They are different. GATE leads to M.Tech admission and PSU jobs, while ESE leads to Group A central government engineering services. The technical syllabus is similar, so many students prepare for both together.
Sources and official websites
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources. Rules change with each notification, so always read the latest one before you apply.
- UPSC Engineering Services Examination notice (latest)
- UPSC Engineering Services (Preliminary) Examination notification page
- Indian Skill Development Service Rules (grades, pay levels, probation)
- UPSC official website
Last checked on 11 October. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.