GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus 2021: Civil Engineering GATE 2021 syllabus is available on this page. The syllabus for this subject includes 7 broad sections. There are further topics and subtopics under these sections. There will be total of 65 questions in the exam, out of which 55 questions will be based on the subject, Civil Engineering as well as Mathematics. The rest 10 questions will be based on General Aptitude. The syllabus for all GATE subjects is published on the website of GATE 2021. For Civil Engineering syllabus, candidates can check this page.
GATE 2021 Civil Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus for Civil Engineering, GATE 2021 includes seven sections with various topics under them. These sections include Engineering Mathematics, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and Geomatics Engineering.
Section 1: Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra; Systems of linear equations; Eigen values and Eigenvectors.
Calculus: Functions of single variable; Limit, continuity and differentiability; Mean value theorems, local maxima and minima; Taylor series; Evaluation of definite and indefinite integrals, application of definite integral to obtain area and volume; Partial derivatives; Total derivative; Gradient, Divergence and Curl, Vector identities; Directional derivatives; Line, Surface and Volume integrals.
Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE): First order (linear and non-linear) equations; higher order linear equations with constant coefficients; Euler-Cauchy equations; initial and boundary value problems.
Partial Differential Equation (PDE): Fourier series; separation of variables; solutions of onedimensional diffusion equation; first and second order one-dimensional wave equation and twodimensional Laplace equation.
Probability and Statistics: Sampling theorems; Conditional probability; Descriptive statistics – Mean, median, mode and standard deviation; Random Variables – Discrete and Continuous, Poisson and Normal Distribution; Linear regression.
Numerical Methods: Error analysis. Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Newton’s and Lagrange polynomials; numerical differentiation; Integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule; Single and multi-step methods for first order differential equations.
Section 2: Structural Engineering
Engineering Mechanics: System of forces, free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations; Internal forces in structures; Frictions and its applications; Centre of mass; Free Vibrations of undamped SDOF system.
Solid Mechanics: Bending moment and shear force in statically determinate beams; Simple stress and strain relationships; Simple bending theory, flexural and shear stresses, shear centre; Uniform torsion, Transformation of stress; buckling of column, combined and direct
bending stresses.
Structural Analysis: Statically determinate and indeterminate structures by force/ energy methods; Method of superposition; Analysis of trusses, arches, beams, cables and frames;
Displacement methods: Slope deflection and moment distribution methods; Influence lines; Stiffness and flexibility methods of structural analysis.
Construction Materials and Management: Construction Materials: Structural Steel – Composition, material properties and behaviour; Concrete – Constituents, mix design, shortterm and long-term properties. Construction Management: Types of construction projects; Project planning and network analysis – PERT and CPM; Cost estimation.
Concrete Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts; Design of beams, slabs, columns; Bond and development length; Prestressed concrete beams.
Steel Structures: Working stress and Limit state design concepts; Design of tension and compression members, beams and beam- columns, column bases; Connections – simple and eccentric, beam-column connections, plate girders and trusses; Concept of plastic analysis – beams and frames.
Section 3: Geotechnical Engineering
Soil Mechanics: Three-phase system and phase relationships, index properties; Unified and Indian standard soil classification system; Permeability – one-dimensional flow, Seepage through soils – two – dimensional flow, flow nets, uplift pressure, piping, capillarity, seepage force; Principle of effective stress and quicksand condition; Compaction of soils; Onedimensional consolidation, time rate of consolidation; Shear Strength, Mohr’s circle, effective
and total shear strength parameters, Stress-Strain characteristics of clays and sand; Stress
paths.
Foundation Engineering: Sub-surface investigations – Drilling bore holes, sampling, plate load test, standard penetration and cone penetration tests; Earth pressure theories – Rankine and Coulomb; Stability of slopes – Finite and infinite slopes, Bishop’s method; Stress distribution in oils – Boussinesq’s theory; Pressure bulbs, Shallow foundations – Terzaghi’s and Meyerhoff’s bearing capacity theories, effect of water table; Combined footing and raft foundation; Contact pressure; Settlement analysis in sands and clays; Deep foundations – dynamic and static formulae, Axial load capacity of piles in sands and clays, pile load test, pile under lateral loading, pile group efficiency, negative skin friction
Section 4: Water Resources Engineering
Fluid Mechanics: Properties of fluids, fluid statics; Continuity, momentum and energy equations and their applications; Potential flow, Laminar and turbulent flow; Flow in pipes, pipe networks; Concept of boundary layer and its growth; Concept of lift and drag.
Hydraulics: Forces on immersed bodies; Flow measurement in channels and pipes; Dimensional analysis and hydraulic similitude; Channel Hydraulics – Energy-depth relationships, specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic jump, uniform flow, gradually varied flow and water surface profiles.
Hydrology: Hydrologic cycle, precipitation, evaporation, evapo-transpiration, watershed, infiltration, unit hydrographs, hydrograph analysis, reservoir capacity, flood estimation and routing, surface run-off models, ground water hydrology – steady state well hydraulics and aquifers; Application of Darcy’s Law.
Irrigation: Types of irrigation systems and methods; Crop water requirements – Duty, delta, evapotranspiration; Gravity Dams and Spillways; Lined and unlined canals, Design of weirs on permeable foundation; cross drainage structures
Section 5: Environmental Engineering
Water and Waste Water Quality and Treatment: Basics of water quality standards – Physical, chemical and biological parameters; Water quality index; Unit processes and operations; Water requirement; Water distribution system; Drinking water treatment. Sewerage system design, quantity of domestic wastewater, primary and secondary treatment. Effluent discharge standards; Sludge disposal; Reuse of treated sewage for different
applications.
Air Pollution: Types of pollutants, their sources and impacts, air pollution control, air quality standards, Air quality Index and limits.
Municipal Solid Wastes: Characteristics, generation, collection, and transportation of solid wastes, engineered systems for solid waste management (reuse/ recycle, energy recovery, treatment and disposal).
Section 6: Transportation Engineering
Transportation Infrastructure: Geometric design of highways – cross-sectional elements, sight distances, horizontal and vertical alignments.
The geometric design of railway Track – Speed and Cant. Concept of airport runway length, calculations and corrections; taxiway and exit taxiway design.
Highway Pavements: Highway materials – desirable properties and tests; Desirable properties of bituminous paving mixes; Design factors for flexible and rigid pavements; Design of flexible and rigid pavement using IRC codes
Traffic Engineering: Traffic studies on flow and speed, peak hour factor, accident study, statistical analysis of traffic data; Microscopic and macroscopic parameters of traffic flow, fundamental relationships; Traffic signs; Signal design by Webster’s method; Types of intersections; Highway capacity
Section 7: Geomatics Engineering
Principles of surveying; Errors and their adjustment; Maps – scale, coordinate system; Distance and angle measurement – Levelling and trigonometric levelling; Traversing and triangulation survey; Total station; Horizontal and vertical curves. Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing – Scale, flying height; Basics of remote sensing and GIS.
GATE 2021 General Aptitude Syllabus
The syllabus for this section remains the same for all the subject papers in GATE 2021. The exam pattern and the marking scheme is also the same. There will be 10 questions asked from General Aptitude section. From theses total questions, 5 will be of 1 mark each and the other 5 will be of 2 marks each.
You can check the syllabus for the General Aptitude below.
Verbal Ability: English grammar, sentence completion, verbal analogies, word groups, instructions, critical reasoning and verbal deduction.
Numerical Ability: Numerical computation, numerical estimation, numerical reasoning and data interpretation.
GATE CE 2021 Mock Tests
While preparing for the GATE 2021, make sure that you practice a lot of mock tests. You can take mocks weekly and monthly or even section-wise. We have availed mocks for your preparation that you can practice from.
GATE 2021 Civil Engineering Exam Pattern
The exam pattern of GATE 2021 and the marking scheme is given below. Candidates can check them out for a better understanding of the exam.
| Section | Total Marks |
| GA | 15% of the total marks |
| Mathematics | 15% of the total marks |
| CE – Subject-Based | 70% of the total marks |
Exam Mode: Online, Computer Based Test
Duration: 3 hours
Types of questions: MCQs and NAT
Name of the sections: General Aptitude, Mathematics and Subject-based
No of questions: 65 questions
Total marks: 100 marks
Negative marking: For MCQs only
Marking scheme
| Type of question | Negative marking for wrong answer | Marking for correct answer |
| MCQs | ⅓ for 1 mark questions⅔ for 2 marks questions | 1 or 2 marks |
| NATs | No negative marking | 1 or 2 marks |
How To Prepare For Civil Engineering?
The preparation of a competitive exam should be done following a strategy. This strategy should include the right number of hours allocated to each topic and some leisure time so that preparing doesn’t get stressful. After you have made the strategy, the first step is to go through the exam pattern and marking scheme of GATE 2021 and then the syllabus of the exam. We have already gone through the exam syllabus, now we’ll go through the preparation tips.
Stick to standard books
You don’t necessarily have to study from a lot of books. Just stick to the standard books. The concepts in such books are explained in a simple language which makes it easy to understand and learn the concepts. This will also help you in making your base strong. If you have a concept clarity then, you can solve any type of question. Also, standard books are quite easily available. You can study from them whichever way you want.
Test & Analyse
The topics that you prepare should be tested thoroughly. Take numerous mock tests and test series. Test series are easy to find online but make sure they are from trusted sources. Once you have given the test, analyze your performance. It is the most important step in mock tests. You should observe, in what topics you have made progress and what are the topics that still calls for improvement. After analyzing, prepare for your weak areas. Solve more mocks and follow the same procedure of testing and analyzing.
Question Bank
By now you must have already solved a couple of mocks and sample papers. What you have to do is create a question bank. Collect all the questions that are from important topics, questions that have been questioned frequently, and the ones that are difficult. Make a bank of your own with such questions and then solve them a couple of times. You can also take question banks available online. Practice as many questions as you can.
Speed and Accuracy
Throughout your preparation, aim at accuracy and speed. These are the two important factors in the exams. Both of them are interrelated. If you have accuracy than you will naturally gain speed in solving questions. If you have speed then you can solve more questions during preparation and this will gain you accuracy. Practice both of them when you are solving mock tests and previous year question papers.
Revise regularly
Revision should be done on a daily basis. At the end of the day, you must revise all that you have studied the entire day. Make notes during preparation that will help you memorize better and also makes it easy for you to revise from them. Your notes should be short and should include only the important pointers. This way you can revise from them anytime. Also, the last month should be kept solely for revision. During this period you can brush up on all the topics a couple of times.
GATE Civil Engineering Books For Preparation
Prepare for GATE 2021, Civil Engineering from reliable sources. They should be from reputed authors and publications. We have suggested a few books below that you can pick up for your preparation.
| Title of the book | Name of the Author/ Publication | Link to buy |
| GATE Civil Engineering | GATE 2021 | by Pearson | Pearson | LINK |
| GATE 2021 Civil Engineering Previous Solved Papers | ME Editorial Board | LINK |
| Civil Engineering GATE 2021 | Arihant Experts | LINK |
| GATE 2021 – Guide – Civil Engineering | GKP | LINK |
What is Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering involves designing, constructing and maintaining the physical and naturally built environment, including public works. This branch is further broken into a number of sub-disciplines and its history is related to the knowledge of structures, geography, materials science, geology, hydrology, mechanics and various other fields. The sub-disciplines under civil engineering include Coastal Engineering, Construction Engineering, Earthquake engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, etc. Civil engineering applies physical and scientific principles for solving the problems of society.
GATE 2021 Preparation FAQs
Q1. Where can I find the entire syllabus for CE?
Ans. You can check the Civil Engineering syllabus from the website of GATE or from this page.
Q2. What is the best way to prepare for the GATE?
Ans. You can prepare for GATE section wise. Prepare for General Aptitude, Mathematics, and the subject separately. This way you can pay more attention to each section.
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