UPSC ESE Application Process 2026: Apply Online till 16 October

UPSC ESE 2026 Application Process will start from September 26, 2025. Candidates who are eligible on the grounds of education, age and nationality can apply for the exam online, through UPSC’s official website. All the necessary documents, including the recent photograph of the candidate, ID Proof and signature, must be accurate and uploaded in the specified format to avoid errors. The correction window will be provided for a certain period to make limited modifications in the application. Candidates must make sure to complete IES 2026 application process before October 16, 2025.

Apply Online for IES 2026 (Link Active)

IES 2026 Application Dates

How to apply for IES 2026?

IES 2026 Application Process happens in online mode through the official website of UPSC. Candidates must go through the following stages to complete the application process:

Candidates must register themselves in the One Time Portal of UPSC to apply for IES 2026 as well as other UPSC exams. Follow the below steps to register in the OTR Portal:

Step 1: Go to the official website of UPSC, upsc.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the ‘New Registration’ link. Enter your mobile number and email ID in the box displayed, to create your Profile.

Step 3: Proceed to fill the following details:

• Name of the candidate
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Category details
• Valid ID Proof details ( Voter ID/ Aadhar, etc.)

Note: The above-mentioned details cannot be edited once created. Check properly before submitting.

Step 4: After filling out the fields, click the submit button. Candidates will receive a Unique Registration number. Note down the URN and password for future reference.

After generating the OTR Profile, candidates can apply for IES exam 2026 by following the below steps:

Step 5: Login to the application portal with your credentials and click on the ‘UPSC ESE (IES) 2026’ application link.

Step 6: Proceed to fill the following details (most of them will be auto-filled through OTR):

• Personal details (auto-filled)
• Address Information
• Parents Information
• Educational information (engineering)
• Category details ( autofilled)
• Choice of discipline among Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Electronics & Telecommunication
• Preference of services/ departments
• Choice of Examination Centre for Prelims

Step 7: Upload the necessary documents including recent photograh and signature of the candidate in PDF or image format, not between 30 kb and 70 kb.

Step 8: Proceed to pay the application fee. This is done online through Debit Card (Visa/Master/RuPay/Maestro), Credit Card, Internet Banking (through selected banks), or UPI.

Step 9: Submit the application and download the confirmation page.

IES 2026 Application Fee

Candidates must pay the application fee to complete the process. Check the table below for IES 2026 Application Fee for various categories:

IES 2026 Application Correction Window

IES 2026 Correction window will be open soon after the closing of application. Candidates can make corrections in fields like Address, Photo, Signature, Exam city preference, etc, through this window. The core fields of OTR, however, cannot be changed. Check the below steps to make modifications for IES Application:

Step 1: Go to the official website and click the ‘Modification in Application’ link.

Step 2: Login with the OTR credentials.

Step 3: Choose ‘Engineering Services Examination’ link to access the correction window.

Step 4: Change the editable areas of the application. Upload new photograph and signature if needed.

Step 5: Click the ‘I Agree’ option and submit.

Download the edited application confirmation page for future reference. Candidates can similarly download the admit card when released.

IES 2026 Exam Centres

The exam centre cities for IES Prelims are given in the table below:

IES (Indian Engineering Services) 2026 application process will be conducted online through the official UPSC website. Candidates will need to complete a one-time registration (OTR), fill out the application form, upload documents, and pay the fee within the given timeline.