IES FAQ

1. I wish to appear for IES. How many attempts are permitted for general category?

Ans: There is no restriction over number of attempts at IES, but there is an age limit for applicants. All applicants must be between age 21 to 30 years.

2. Which government departments recruit through the IES?
Ans: The Indian Engineering Services (IES) Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for recruitment to the IES. It comprises of Group – A Services / Posts and Group – B Services / Posts in Categories I to IV.
While there are various services which recruit through the IES, the more important ones are:


  • Indian Railway Service of Engineers
  • Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineers
  • Indian Railway Service of Electrical Engineers
  • Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers
  • Indian Railway Stores Services (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical / Telecommunications / Electronic Engineering posts)
  • Central Engineering Service (Civil / Mechanical / Electrical Engineering posts)
  • Military Engineer Service (IDSE)
  • Military Engineer Service (Surveyor of Works Cadre)
  • Survey of India Service, Group – A
  • Central Water Engineering Services (Civil / Mechanical)
  • Central Power Engineering Services (Electrical / Mechanical / Telecommunications Engineering posts)
  • Assistant Executive Engineer (Civil / Electrical / Mechanical Engineering posts) Indian Railway Service of Engineers

3. Who is eligible to appear for this examination?

Ans:

  • The candidate must have attained 21 years of age on August 1st of the year of examination and must have not attained 30 years of age on that date. The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST candidates and by 3 years for OBC candidates.

  • The candidate must have either obtained a degree in Engineering from a University or must have passed Sections A & B of the Institution Examinations of the Institution of Engineers (India) or obtained a degree / diploma in Engineering from such foreign University / College / Institution and under such conditions as may be recognized by the Government for the purpose from time to time; etc.

  • Passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (India); or

  • Passed Associate Membership Examination Parts II and III/Sections A and B of the Aeronautical Society of India; or

  • Passed Associate Membership Examination (Section A and B) of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (India); or

  • Passed the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers, London, held after November, 1959.

  • A candidate for the post of Engineers (Group – A) in the Wireless Planning and Co-ordination Wing / Monitoring Organization, Ministry of Communications, Indian Broadcasting (Engineers) Service and Indian Naval Armaments Service (Electronics Engineering posts) may possess any of the above or the following qualification:

  • An MSc degree or its equivalent with Wireless Communication, Electronics, Radio Physics or Radio engineering as special subjects.

4. When the examination is usually conducted?

Ans: The IES exam is conducted by UPSC in the month of June, every year. The notification for the same is published during January.

5.  What is the selection procedure for IES ?

Ans: The selection process of candidates who appear for the Engineering Services Examination conducted by the UPSC, India is based on the two levels.

Written Test
Personality Test

Those who successfully qualify in the written examination are called for the Personality test, which is a Personal Interview kind of test. The total marks for the Personality test is 200 Marks.

Readers are advised to refer to the Commission’s (Union Public Service Commission – UPSC) Notice for further details of the Examination when it is published in the Employment News and some of the other national news papers.