Engineering aspirants planning for the 2026 ESE (Engineering Services Examination) should mark their calendars: Paper 1 is scheduled from 9:30 am to 11:30 am (200 marks) and Paper 2 will follow from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (300 marks). This two-paper format is described in official patterns, with Paper 1 covering General Studies & Engineering Aptitude and Paper 2 focusing on discipline-specific technical subjects. 

To boost preparation, candidates are encouraged to download previous year question papers. These are freely available on the official UPSC website, covering multiple years and engineering disciplines. Solving past papers helps understand exam format, difficulty level, subject-wise weightage and improves time-management and accuracy. 

With the timetable now in hand and access to prior papers established, aspirants should integrate these into their study strategy - practising full timed mock-tests using past questions, analysing weak areas, and becoming familiar with the pattern ahead of the 2026 exam.