The Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also known as the Indian Engineering Services (IES) Examination, is a competitive examination in India conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the Indian Engineering Services. The examination is conducted in three stages: the Engineering Services Examination (Preliminary), Engineering Services Examination (Main) and the Personality Test.
Eligibility Criteria for the ESE examination are:
- Must be a citizen of India
- Should have completed a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent from a recognized university
- Should have attained the age limit as specified by the UPSC, which is usually between 21 to 30 years (Varies based on the category)
The Engineering Services Examination (Preliminary) is a multiple choice question (MCQ) based test that includes two papers: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude Test (GS-Paper 1) and one paper on the candidate’s chosen engineering discipline (Paper 2). The GS-Paper 1 includes questions on current events, Indian polity and governance, economic and social development, environmental ecology, biodiversity, climate change and general science. The Paper 2 includes objective type questions on engineering disciplines such as Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.
Candidates who qualify the Engineering Services Examination (Preliminary) are eligible to appear for the Engineering Services Examination (Main) which includes papers on the candidate’s chosen engineering discipline.
The final selection is based on the marks obtained in the main examination and interview, also known as personality test. The main examination carries 600 marks and the interview carries 200 marks.
The Engineering Services Examination is considered to be one of the most challenging and difficult examinations in India. The examination provides an opportunity to serve the nation as an officer of the Indian Engineering Services, which is one of the most prestigious and sought-after career options for engineers in India.