UPSC IES Cut Off: Previous Year Marks by Category and Stream

The UPSC IES cut off is published by the Union Public Service Commission after the final result of each Engineering Services Examination (ESE). It is set separately for each stream and category, and at three points: the preliminary exam (out of 500), the written exam, which is prelims plus mains (out of 1,100), and the final stage after the interview (out of 1,300).

The latest official figures are from ESE 2025, released by UPSC with its recommendation details. The ESE 2026 cut-off will follow that cycle's final result, and the ESE 2027 preliminary exam is on 31 January 2027. Treat every figure below as a benchmark from a past year, not as the mark you will need.

UPSC IES cut off 2025: Civil Engineering

UPSC IES cut off 2025: Mechanical Engineering

UPSC IES cut off 2025: Electrical Engineering

UPSC IES cut off 2025: Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering

PwBD-1 (locomotor disability) cut off 2025

All figures are from the official ESE 2025 recommendation details and cut-off notice. The prelims figure was subject to a minimum of 15 percent in each paper, and the written figure to a minimum of 20 percent in each paper, for non-PwBD candidates (10 percent for PwBD candidates).

What the 2025 figures show

• Streams differ widely: The General written cut-off ranged from 447 in E&T to 570 in Mechanical, so compare yourself only with your own stream.

• Vacancies matter: Civil had 251 vacancies in 2025 against 72 in Mechanical. Fewer posts usually push the cut-off up.

• Prelims is the first filter: The General prelims cut-off was between 176 and 238 out of 500 across streams, or roughly 35 to 48 percent.

What affects the UPSC IES cut off

• Paper difficulty: A tougher Paper II pulls the prelims cut-off down for that stream.

• Number of vacancies: UPSC admits about six to seven times the vacancies to mains and about twice the vacancies to the interview, so the vacancy count shapes every stage.

• Number of candidates: More serious applicants in a stream raise the competition at each stage.

• Category-wise reservation: Each category has its own vacancies and cut-off.

How to set your target

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

1. Prelims: Aim for at least 30 to 40 marks above your stream's last General or category cut-off, and clear the per-paper minimum in both papers.

2. Written stage: Remember your prelims marks carry forward. A strong prelims score gives you room in mains.

3. Track mock scores: Compare your full-length mock scores with these benchmarks every few weeks, and check that both Paper I and Paper II are rising.