UPSC ESE Syllabus 2027: Prelims and Mains Subject-Wise Guide
The UPSC ESE syllabus covers one common General Studies and Engineering Aptitude paper and a technical syllabus for each of the four engineering streams: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics and Telecommunication. The Union Public Service Commission publishes it as an appendix to the Engineering Services Examination notification, and the ESE 2027 cycle follows the same syllabus as previous years.
This page sets out the full syllabus for Prelims and Mains, subject by subject, with the sub-topics to cover and where to start. UPSC gives a weightage range only for the General Studies paper. For the technical papers, the order of preparation suggested below is based on previous year papers, so use it as a working guide rather than an official ranking.
UPSC ESE Syllabus at a Glance
Stage | Paper | Syllabus covered | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Prelims | Paper I | General Studies and Engineering Aptitude (common) | 200 | 2 hours |
Prelims | Paper II | Your stream's Paper I and Paper II syllabus together (objective) | 300 | 3 hours |
Mains | Paper I | Your stream's Paper I syllabus (conventional) | 300 | 3 hours |
Mains | Paper II | Your stream's Paper II syllabus (conventional) | 300 | 3 hours |
Personality Test | Interview | No fixed syllabus | 200 | - |
Key Points to Know Before You Start
One technical syllabus, two formats: The stream syllabus has two parts. Prelims Paper II tests both parts in objective form, and Mains tests each part separately in descriptive form. You study the content once and practise it in two ways.
GS paper has an official weight range: Each of the ten General Studies topics carries between 5% and 15% of that paper's marks, so no single topic can be skipped safely.
No change for 2027: The ESE 2027 notification keeps the same papers and syllabus. Older pages may still show the pre-2017 pattern with a separate English paper, so follow the official notification.
Mains is stream-only: General Studies is not tested in Mains, which makes core engineering subjects the deciding factor in your final rank.
Prelims Paper I: General Studies and Engineering Aptitude Syllabus
This paper is common to all four streams and has 100 questions. It rewards broad, steady preparation rather than deep specialisation.
Topic | What to cover | Start with |
|---|---|---|
Current issues | National and international issues linked to social, economic and industrial development | Government schemes in infrastructure, energy, railways and manufacturing |
Engineering aptitude | Logical reasoning and analytical ability | Statements and conclusions, series, puzzles, data interpretation |
Engineering mathematics and numerical analysis | Linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, probability, numerical methods | Matrices, eigenvalues and numerical integration |
Design, drawing and safety | General principles of design, engineering drawing, importance of safety | Projections and workplace safety basics |
Standards and quality | Quality practices in production, construction, maintenance and services | ISO standards, TQM, Six Sigma basics |
Energy and environment | Conservation, pollution and degradation, climate change, environmental impact assessment | Renewable energy and EIA process |
Project management | Basics of planning, scheduling and control | CPM, PERT and cost estimation |
Material science | Basics of material science and engineering | Crystal structures and material properties |
ICT in engineering | ICT-based tools such as networking, e-governance and technology-based education | Networking basics and digital governance |
Ethics and values | Ethics and values in the engineering profession | Professional codes and case-based questions |
Mathematics, aptitude and material science overlap with your degree and usually give the fastest return. Current issues needs a regular reading habit from the start, because it cannot be crammed in the last month.
Civil Engineering Syllabus
Civil Paper I
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Building materials | Stones, timber, bricks, cement, mortar, concrete mix design, admixtures, paints and varnishes |
Solid mechanics | Stress and strain, elastic constants, bending and shear stresses, deflection, torsion, columns, thin cylinders |
Structural analysis | Determinate and indeterminate structures, energy methods, influence lines, moment distribution, matrix methods, plastic analysis |
Design of steel structures | Tension and compression members, beams, connections, plate girders, industrial roofs, limit state design |
Design of concrete and masonry structures | Limit state design of beams, slabs, columns and footings, prestressed concrete, masonry design |
Construction practice, planning and management | Construction equipment, planning and scheduling, CPM and PERT, contracts, tendering, quality control |
Civil Paper II
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Fluid mechanics, hydraulic machines and hydropower | Fluid properties, flow measurement, pipe and open channel flow, boundary layer, turbines, pumps, hydropower basics |
Hydrology and water resources engineering | Hydrological cycle, runoff, hydrographs, groundwater, irrigation, canals, dams and spillways |
Environmental engineering | Water supply and treatment, sewage treatment, solid waste, air and noise pollution |
Geotechnical and foundation engineering | Soil properties and classification, permeability, consolidation, shear strength, earth pressure, shallow and pile foundations |
Surveying and geology | Levelling, theodolite, traversing, curves, remote sensing, GIS, engineering geology |
Transportation engineering | Highway planning and geometric design, pavements, traffic engineering, railways, airports, harbours, tunnels |
Mechanical Engineering Syllabus
Mechanical Paper I
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Fluid mechanics | Fluid statics, kinematics, Bernoulli's equation, viscous flow, boundary layer, compressible flow |
Thermodynamics and heat transfer | Laws of thermodynamics, entropy, availability, cycles, conduction, convection, radiation, heat exchangers |
IC engines, refrigeration and air conditioning | SI and CI engines, combustion, emissions, refrigeration cycles, psychrometry, air-conditioning load |
Turbomachinery | Velocity triangles, steam and gas turbines, compressors, pumps, hydraulic turbines |
Power plant engineering | Rankine and Brayton cycles, boilers, condensers, cooling towers, nuclear and hydel plants |
Renewable sources of energy | Solar, wind, biomass, tidal, geothermal energy, fuel cells, energy storage |
Mechanical Paper II
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Engineering mechanics | Statics, dynamics, friction, work and energy, impulse and momentum |
Engineering materials | Crystal structures, phase diagrams, heat treatment, alloys, composites, polymers |
Mechanisms and machines | Kinematics of mechanisms, gears and gear trains, cams, flywheels, governors, balancing, vibrations |
Design of machine elements | Theories of failure, fatigue, shafts, joints, springs, bearings, brakes and clutches |
Manufacturing, industrial and maintenance engineering | Casting, welding, forming, machining, metrology, CNC, operations research, inventory, maintenance practices |
Mechatronics and robotics | Microprocessors and microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, PLCs, robot kinematics and control |
Electrical Engineering Syllabus
Electrical Paper I
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Engineering mathematics | Matrix theory, calculus, differential equations, complex variables, probability, transforms, numerical methods |
Electrical materials | Conducting, insulating, magnetic and semiconductor materials, superconductors, nanomaterials |
Electric circuits and fields | Network theorems, transient and steady-state analysis, resonance, two-port networks, electrostatics and magnetostatics |
Electrical and electronic measurements | Measuring instruments, bridges, CTs and PTs, digital meters, oscilloscopes, transducers |
Computer fundamentals | Number systems, computer organisation, memory, operating systems, basics of programming |
Basic electronics engineering | Diodes, BJTs, FETs, amplifiers, oscillators, operational amplifiers |
Electrical Paper II
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Analog and digital electronics | Op-amp circuits, filters, logic gates, combinational and sequential circuits, ADC and DAC, microprocessors |
Systems and signal processing | Signal classification, LTI systems, Fourier, Laplace and Z-transforms, sampling, digital filters |
Control systems | Transfer functions, block diagrams, time and frequency response, stability, root locus, Bode and Nyquist plots, state space |
Electrical machines | Transformers, DC machines, induction and synchronous machines, special machines |
Power systems | Generation, transmission line parameters, load flow, fault analysis, protection, stability, HVDC |
Power electronics and drives | Power semiconductor devices, rectifiers, choppers, inverters, AC and DC drives |
Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Syllabus
E&T Paper I
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Basic electronics engineering | Semiconductor physics, diodes, BJTs, MOSFETs, small-signal models, ICs |
Basic electrical engineering | DC and AC circuits, transformers, machines basics, electrical safety |
Materials science | Electrical, magnetic and dielectric properties of materials, semiconductors, nanomaterials |
Electronic measurements and instrumentation | Measurement principles, bridges, transducers, data acquisition, oscilloscopes |
Network theory | Network graphs, theorems, transient response, two-port networks, filters |
Analog and digital circuits | Amplifiers, feedback, oscillators, op-amps, logic families, combinational and sequential circuits |
E&T Paper II
Subject | Key sub-topics |
|---|---|
Analog and digital communication systems | AM, FM, noise, sampling, PCM, digital modulation, information theory, error control coding |
Control systems | Transfer functions, time and frequency response, stability analysis, compensators, state space |
Computer organisation and architecture | Processor design, instruction sets, memory hierarchy, I/O, pipelining, basics of operating systems |
Electromagnetics | Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, transmission lines, waveguides, antennas |
Advanced electronics topics | VLSI design, CMOS, embedded systems, microcontrollers |
Advanced communication topics | Satellite, optical fibre and mobile communication, communication networks |
The sub-topics above summarise the official syllabus. Download the notification from upsc.gov.in for the complete wording of your stream before you finalise your plan.
Prelims and Mains Overlap: How to Plan
Area | Prelims | Mains | How to plan |
|---|---|---|---|
Stream Paper I subjects | Objective, inside Paper II | Descriptive, Paper I | Learn concepts and derivations once; practise MCQs and full answers |
Stream Paper II subjects | Objective, inside Paper II | Descriptive, Paper II | Same as above; keep one formula book for both |
General Studies and Engineering Aptitude | Separate paper (200 marks) | Not tested | Daily 45 to 60 minutes until Prelims, then pause |
Numerical problem-solving | Speed and accuracy | Method, steps and units | Solve with full steps first, then build speed through timed MCQ sets |
Is There a Syllabus for the Personality Test?
No. UPSC does not publish a syllabus for the 200-mark Personality Test. The board usually draws questions from your Detailed Application Form, your engineering background, your service preferences and current developments in your field. Revise your final-year project, internship and core subjects, and be ready to explain why you want a career in engineering services.
Common Mistakes While Covering the ESE Syllabus
Treating ESE like GATE: The technical syllabus overlaps heavily with GATE, but ESE adds a full GS paper, a stronger focus on theory and a descriptive Mains. Preparing only through short-trick MCQs leaves you underprepared for Mains.
Leaving GS for the end: At 200 marks, the GS paper is 40% of Prelims. Topics like current issues, standards and ethics need weeks of steady reading, not a last-minute sprint.
Ignoring low-profile subjects: Subjects such as mechatronics, materials science or advanced communication topics feel minor, but they appear in both Prelims and Mains and are often easier to score in.
Skipping answer writing until after Prelims: The Prelims to Mains gap is only a few months. Writing one or two conventional answers a week during Prelims preparation makes the switch much smoother.
How to Cover the UPSC ESE Syllabus
Phase 1, concept building: Cover the high-weight core subjects of your stream first, such as structures and geotechnical for Civil, thermal and machine design for Mechanical, machines and power systems for Electrical, and communication and circuits for E&T. Start reading current issues daily from week one.
Phase 2, complete the syllabus: Finish the remaining technical subjects and the GS topics. Solve previous year questions after every chapter and add mistakes to an error log.
Phase 3, Prelims mode: In the last 6 to 8 weeks before Prelims, shift to subject-wise and full-length objective tests. Track accuracy under negative marking and revise weak topics in short cycles.
Phase 4, Mains mode: Right after Prelims, move to conventional answer writing. Practise timed 3-hour papers, focusing on derivations, diagrams and clear presentation.
Check on the UPSC ESE 2027 overview for dates and eligibility.
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