ESE preparation requires two tracks: Paper-I (GS & Engineering Aptitude) and Paper-II + Mains (Branch-Specific Technical). Standard engineering textbooks and UPSC PYQ practice are the foundation of an effective ESE preparation strategy.
Paper-I: General Studies & Engineering Aptitude (Common for All Branches)
| Topic | Book / Resource | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Mathematics | Advanced Engineering Mathematics | R.K. Jain & S.R.K. Iyengar |
| Engineering Mathematics | Higher Engineering Mathematics | B.S. Grewal |
| General Studies (GS) | Lucent's General Knowledge | Lucent Publications |
| Ethics & Aptitude | UPSC ESE Paper-I PYQs (practice) | Official UPSC papers |
Civil Engineering
| Subject | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Structural Analysis | Theory of Structures | S.P. Gupta & G.S. Pandit |
| RCC Design | Reinforced Concrete Design | S.N. Sinha |
| Soil Mechanics | Soil Mechanics & Foundations | B.C. Punmia |
| Fluid Mechanics | Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machines | R.K. Rajput |
| Transportation Engineering | Highway Engineering | S.K. Khanna & C.E.G. Justo |
Mechanical Engineering
| Subject | Book | Author |
|---|---|---|
| Thermodynamics | Engineering Thermodynamics | P.K. Nag |
| Fluid Mechanics | Fluid Mechanics & Machinery | C.S.P. Ojha |
| Theory of Machines | Theory of Machines | S.S. Rattan |
| Manufacturing Engineering | Production Technology | R.K. Jain |
Electrical Engineering
- Electrical Machines – I.J. Nagrath & D.P. Kothari
- Power Systems Engineering – I.J. Nagrath & D.P. Kothari
- Control Systems Engineering – I.J. Nagrath & M. Gopal
- Analog Electronics – Boylestad & Nashelsky
Electronics & Telecommunication
- Electronic Devices & Circuit Theory – Boylestad & Nashelsky
- Signals & Systems – Oppenheim & Willsky
- Communication Systems – Haykin
- Digital Signal Processing – Proakis & Manolakis