GATE VS ESE
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and Indian Engineering Services (IES)/Engineering Services Examination (ESE) are one of the most desired career opportunities for engineering graduates. However, most aspirants often have a hard time deciding between these two exams. Due to the difficulty related to the examination and the recruitment process, ESE is known as one of the toughest exam in India.
Here are the points which you need to know about GATE and IES/ESE:
| Points to Know | GATE | ESE/IES |
| Exam Committee | Any one of the seven IITs or IISc | UPSC |
| Exam Objective | 1. For admission to PG courses in engineering /technology, including at premier institutes like IITs and NITs.
2. For PSU recruitment. |
Conducted for central government jobs in various ministries/departments. |
| Exam Pattern | Single-stage exam | Consists of three different stages, including the Prelims (two objective type papers), Mains (two conventional type papers), and Personality Test. |
| Engineering Disciplines | Conducted for as many as 24 engineering disciplines | Conducted for only four engineering branches (Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics & Telecommunication) |
| Eligibility Criteria | 1. Candidate needs to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, 2. No minimum or maximum age limit 3. No limit on the number of attempts |
1. Candidate needs to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in engineering, 2. Age limit is 21-30 years of age 3. Unlimited number of attempts until the maximum age. |
| Validity of Scores | 3 Years 1 Year (recent one)-PSUs recruitment. |
1 Year |
| Who Should Choose | Candidates who want to pursue higher education, including at reputed engineering/technical institutions, but are also interested in PSU jobs can go for GATE. | UPSC IES/ESE is for candidates who are job-oriented and are purely interested in securing central government jobs under different ministries/departments. |
| Difficulty Level | Low compared to ESE/IES | High compared to GATE |