100+ Free UPSC ESE Practice Questions
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The second law of thermodynamics introduces which property as a measure of disorder or unavailability of energy?
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Key Facts: UPSC ESE Exam
100
Questions in Paper I (200 marks)
UPSC ESE Notification
150
Questions in Paper II (300 marks)
UPSC ESE Notification
1/3
Negative Marking per Wrong Answer
UPSC
1300
Total Marks (Prelims+Mains+Interview)
UPSC
4
Engineering Disciplines
UPSC
Rs 200
Application Fee (exemptions apply)
UPSC ESE Notification
UPSC ESE (IES) is India's exam for recruiting Group A/B engineering officers across four disciplines. Stage I Prelims has two objective papers: Paper I General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (100 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours, common to all) and Paper II discipline-specific (150 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours). One-third negative marking applies. Total selection is 1300 marks across Prelims (500), Mains (600), and the Personality Test (200). The application fee is Rs 200, with exemptions for SC/ST/PwBD/Female/Ex-servicemen.
Sample UPSC ESE Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your UPSC ESE exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In UPSC ESE (Prelims), what is the negative marking applied for each wrong answer in the objective papers?
2How many objective questions does Paper I (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude) of the ESE Preliminary contain?
3Which body conducts the Engineering Services Examination (ESE/IES) in India?
4ESE recruits engineers in how many engineering disciplines?
5The ESE selection process consists of which three stages, in order?
6What is the total marks for the complete ESE selection process (Prelims + Mains + Personality Test)?
7Paper I of the ESE Prelims covers ten topics. Roughly what percentage range does each topic contribute to the paper's marks?
8A series follows the pattern 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, ... What is the next term?
9If 'CIVIL' is coded as 'DJWJM', how is 'METAL' coded using the same rule?
10A machine completes a job in 12 hours and another machine completes the same job in 6 hours. Working together, how long do they take?
About the UPSC ESE Exam
The Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also known as the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam, is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit Group A and Group B engineering officers for various Government of India services. Selection has three stages: Stage I Preliminary (two objective papers, 500 marks), Stage II Mains (two conventional papers, 600 marks), and Stage III Personality Test (200 marks), for a total of 1300 marks. The Preliminary stage comprises Paper I General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (100 questions, 200 marks, common to all) and Paper II discipline-specific engineering (150 questions, 300 marks). The exam is offered in four disciplines — Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering — and the objective papers carry a one-third negative marking for wrong answers.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Paper I: 2 hours (100 objective questions); Paper II: 3 hours (150 objective questions)
Passing Score
Qualifying cut-off set by UPSC each cycle, varying by discipline and category
Exam Fee
Rs 200 (UR/OBC/EWS); SC/ST/PwBD/Female/Ex-servicemen exempt (Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), at examination centres across India)
UPSC ESE Exam Content Outline
Current Affairs & Engineering Aptitude (Paper I)
Current issues of national/international importance plus logical reasoning and analytical ability.
Engineering Mathematics & Numerical Analysis
Calculus, matrices, differential equations, probability, and numerical methods in Paper I.
Design, Drawing, Safety, Standards & Quality
Design and drawing principles, factor of safety, BIS standards, and quality practices.
Energy, Environment & Project Management
Energy conservation, climate change, EIA, CPM/PERT, and network analysis.
Material Science, ICT & Ethics
Basics of material science, ICT tools and e-governance, and engineering ethics & values.
Discipline-Specific Engineering (Paper II)
Core engineering of the chosen stream: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics & Telecommunication.
How to Pass the UPSC ESE Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Qualifying cut-off set by UPSC each cycle, varying by discipline and category
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Paper I: 2 hours (100 objective questions); Paper II: 3 hours (150 objective questions)
- Exam fee: Rs 200 (UR/OBC/EWS); SC/ST/PwBD/Female/Ex-servicemen exempt
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
UPSC ESE Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UPSC ESE (IES) exam?
The Engineering Services Examination (ESE), also called the Indian Engineering Services (IES) exam, is conducted by UPSC to recruit Group A and Group B engineering officers for Government of India services in four disciplines: Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering.
What is the ESE Prelims exam pattern?
The Preliminary stage has two objective papers. Paper I (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude) has 100 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours and is common to all candidates. Paper II (discipline-specific) has 150 questions for 300 marks in 3 hours. There is one-third negative marking for each wrong answer.
How many stages does the ESE have and what are the total marks?
ESE has three stages: Stage I Preliminary (objective, 500 marks), Stage II Mains (conventional/descriptive, 600 marks), and Stage III Personality Test (200 marks), for a total of 1300 marks. The Mains has no negative marking because it is descriptive.
What is the application fee for UPSC ESE?
The application fee is Rs 200 for UR/OBC/EWS candidates. SC/ST/PwBD/Female and Ex-servicemen candidates are exempt from the fee.
What is the eligibility for UPSC ESE?
Candidates must hold a degree in engineering (B.E./B.Tech) or equivalent in one of the four disciplines, be generally 21-30 years old (with category relaxations), and meet nationality and physical-standard requirements. There is no limit on the number of attempts within the age window.
Is there negative marking in the ESE?
Yes. The objective Preliminary papers deduct one-third of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer. The conventional Mains papers do not have negative marking.
What is the syllabus of Paper I (General Studies & Engineering Aptitude)?
Paper I covers ten topics: current affairs; engineering aptitude (logical reasoning and analytical ability); engineering mathematics and numerical analysis; design, drawing and safety; standards and quality practices; energy and environment; project management; material science; ICT; and ethics and values in engineering. Each topic carries 5%-15% of the marks.
Can final-year engineering students apply?
Yes. Final-year students may apply provisionally, but they must produce proof of passing their qualifying engineering degree by the date specified in the UPSC notification.