Books
UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 for Prelims and Mains helps engineering aspirants understand exam pattern, difficulty level, and subject weightage. Conducted by UPSC, the exam includes General Studies and discipline-specific papers for Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics engineering streams.
UPSC ESE Question Paper serves as a critical component in the evaluation and selection process for engineering graduates aspiring to join the Indian Engineering Services. Administered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), the Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also referred to as the IES, is one of the most prestigious competitive exams in India. UPSC conducted the UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2026 on February 8, in two shifts. The preliminary examination was conducted in two papers — Paper 1 (General Studies and Engineering Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Discipline-Specific).
The UPSC ESE Prelims 2026 Question Papers, conducted on February 8, 2026, are now available for download. The papers feature objective-type questions from General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Paper I) and discipline-specific streams (Paper II: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Electronics Engineering). The examination focused strongly on core concepts, blending theoretical knowledge with numerical problem-solving to assess candidates’ technical proficiency across all branches.
This year, UPSC announced various vacancies across four major engineering disciplines:
| UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 Overview | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | UPSC Engineering Services Examination (ESE) 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) |
| Exam Date | Prelims: February 8, 2026 Mains: June 21, 2026 |
| Shifts | Shift 1: Paper 1 (9:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
Shift 2: Paper 2 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM) |
| Papers Conducted | Paper 1: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude
Paper 2: Technical Discipline |
| Question Type | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Disciplines Covered | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering |
| Question Paper Format | PDF (Available for download on the official UPSC website) |
| Difficulty Level (as per analysis) | Moderate |
| Availability of Answer Key | To be released officially in PDF format |
| Result Declaration Mode | Online PDF on upsc.gov.in |
The UPSC ESE Prelims Question Paper 2026 has been released for candidates who appeared in the examination conducted on February 8, 2026. The question papers are available for download and include objective-type questions from General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Paper I) and discipline-specific subjects (Paper II: Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, and Electronics Engineering).
The examination emphasized strong conceptual clarity, core engineering fundamentals, and numerical problem-solving skills. Candidates can use the UPSC ESE Prelims Question Paper 2026 to analyze the exam pattern, understand question trends, and strengthen their preparation strategy for upcoming stages.
| UPSC ESE Prelims Question Paper 2026 | |
| Paper – I General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | Download PDF |
| Paper – II Electrical Engineering | Download PDF |
| Paper – II Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering | Download PDF |
| Paper – II Mechanical Engineering | Download PDF |
| Paper – II Civil Engineering | Download PDF |
UPSC ESE Mains Question Paper 2026
The UPSC ESE Mains Question Paper 2026 will be based on the Mains examination scheduled to be held on 21st June 2026. The exam will consist of two conventional (descriptive) papers in the respective engineering disciplines—Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
The question paper is expected to test candidates’ in-depth technical knowledge, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills through theory-based and numerical questions. Aspirants can refer to the UPSC ESE Mains Question Paper 2026 after the exam to understand the difficulty level, topic distribution, and answer-writing requirements for better preparation.
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2025 PDF for both Paper 1 (General Studies and Engineering Aptitude) and Paper 2 (Discipline-specific) is now available for download. Candidates can access the official PDFs to analyse the question pattern, difficulty level, and prepare better for the upcoming stages of the UPSC ESE Exam 2025.
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 1 PDF includes General Studies and Engineering Aptitude questions, conducted from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM on June 8, 2025. The paper consisted of 100 objective-type questions covering a wide range of topics like current affairs, ethics, ICT, project management, and material science. Candidates can download the paper in PDF format to evaluate the question trends and practice accordingly.
| UPSC ESE Question Paper 1 PDF | |
| General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (Set A) | Click Here |
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2 PDF was discipline-specific. It includes 150 questions related to Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. The PDF provides insight into core engineering topics and is a valuable resource for future preparation and UPSC ESE Question Paper Analysis.
| UPSC ESE Question Paper 2 PDF | |
| Electrical Engineering | Click Here |
| Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering | Click Here |
| Mechanical Engineering | Click Here |
| Civil Engineering | Click Here |
Candidates can download the UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 PDF from the official UPSC website. Follow these steps:
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 Pattern followed the traditional two-paper format:
| UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 Pattern | ||||
| Paper | Subject | Duration | Marks | Type |
| Paper 1 | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | 2 hours | 200 | Objective |
| Paper 2 | Discipline-specific (CE, ME, EE, ECE) | 3 hours | 300 | Objective |
Candidates are assessed based on accuracy, speed, and in-depth conceptual clarity. The total marks for the Prelims are 500.
The UPSC ESE Question Paper Analysis for Paper 1 shows a moderate level of difficulty. According to candidate feedback:
| Subject-Wise Distribution | ||
| Subject | No. of Questions | Difficulty |
| Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Analysis | 9 | Easy-Moderate |
| Engineering Aptitude | 12 | Easy |
| General Principles of Design & Safety | 10 | Moderate |
| ICT | 10 | Moderate |
| Energy & Environment | 12 | Moderate |
| Project Management | 12 | Moderate |
| Ethics in Engineering | 10 | Moderate |
| Current Affairs | 7 | Moderate |
Topics like dislocation theory, metal properties, biodiversity, and polymers were also seen in the paper, highlighting the need for wide coverage during preparation.
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2025 Paper 2 will be discipline-specific and is expected to include both theoretical and numerical questions. The overall difficulty level is anticipated to be moderate. Questions are likely to focus on conceptual understanding, testing candidates’ core knowledge rather than rote memorization.
A few notable topics asked in various disciplines included:
This balanced mix indicates that UPSC is emphasising practical engineering knowledge alongside theoretical understanding.
Solving UPSC ESE previous year question papers plays a significant role in preparation. It helps aspirants understand the exam pattern, frequently asked topics, and weightage distribution. Regular practice with these papers builds familiarity and boosts time-management skills for the actual examination.
Candidates can refer to the link given below to access the UPSC ESE Previous Year Question Papers:
| UPSC ESE Previous Year Question Papers | |
| Click Here |
The UPSC ESE Cut-Off 2026 will be released after each stage – Prelims, Mains, and Final Selection. It varies based on:
| UPSC ESE Cut-Off 2026 (Expected) | ||||
| Discipline | Category | Prelims Cut-Off (Out of 500) | Mains Cut-Off (Out of 600) | Final Cut-Off (Out of 1300) |
| Civil Engineering | General | 250 – 260 | 440 – 455 | 640 – 670 |
| OBC | 240 – 250 | 430 – 445 | 630 – 660 | |
| SC | 220 – 230 | 405 – 420 | 600 – 630 | |
| ST | 210 – 220 | 395 – 410 | 590 – 620 | |
| Mechanical Engineering | General | 255 – 265 | 450 – 460 | 660 – 680 |
| OBC | 245 – 255 | 440 – 455 | 650 – 670 | |
| SC | 225 – 235 | 420 – 435 | 620 – 640 | |
| ST | 215 – 225 | 410 – 425 | 610 – 630 | |
| Electrical Engineering | General | 260 – 270 | 455 – 465 | 665 – 690 |
| OBC | 250 – 260 | 445 – 455 | 655 – 680 | |
| SC | 230 – 240 | 425 – 435 | 630 – 650 | |
| ST | 220 – 230 | 415 – 425 | 620 – 640 | |
| Electronics & Telecommunication | General | 240 – 250 | 435 – 450 | 640 – 660 |
| OBC | 230 – 240 | 425 – 440 | 630 – 650 | |
| SC | 210 – 220 | 400 – 420 | 600 – 630 | |
| ST | 200 – 210 | 390 – 410 | 590 – 620 | |
The UPSC ESE 2026 Result for Prelims will be published in PDF format on the official website. It will contain roll numbers of qualified candidates. Results for the Mains and final selection list will follow in stages.
Stages of result declaration:
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 reflects the high standards set by the UPSC for engineering graduates aspiring to serve in Group A services. The availability of the UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 PDF, coupled with a thorough UPSC ESE Question Paper Analysis, provides candidates with an excellent opportunity to prepare for the next phase with precision.
Sign up for the PWOnlyIAS Online Course by Physics Wallah and start your journey to IAS success today!
| UPSC ESE Related Articles | |
| UPSC ESE Exam 2026 | UPSC ESE Exam Pattern 2026 |
| UPSC ESE Eligibility Criteria 2026 | UPSC ESE Notification 2026 |
Ready to boost your UPSC 2026 preparation? Join PW’s UPSC online courses today!
Explore UPSC Test Series
The UPSC ESE Prelims 2026 was conducted on 8 February 2026 in two shifts for Paper 1 and Paper 2.
You can download the UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 PDF from the official UPSC website at upsc.gov.in under the “Question Papers” section or the direct links given above.
The UPSC ESE Mains 2026 is scheduled to be held on 21 June 2026.
The UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 Pattern included two objective papers: Paper 1 (200 marks) and Paper 2 (300 marks).
Yes, the UPSC ESE Question Paper 2026 is available in PDF format on the official UPSC website for download.
Explore SRIJAN Prelims Crash Course
Connect with our experts to get free counselling & start preparing
Books
Udaan (Prelims Wallah)
Prahaar (Mains Wallah)
Q&A Bank (Prelims & Mains)
Budget & Economic Survey
NCERT Wallah
Marks Booster
हिंदी माध्यम विशेष शृंखला
Current Affairs
Monthly Current Wallah
Subject Wise Current Affairs
Editorial Analysis
Editorial PDFs
News of The Day
Download Our App
Download Our App
<div class="new-fform">
</div>
GS Foundation
Optional Course
Combo Courses
Degree Program
