GATE 2021 Mining Engineering Syllabus: The syllabus for Mining Engineering is available to the candidates on this page. There will be 65 questions in total in the exam. Out of these total questions, 55 questions will be from Mining Engineering-Based section and Mathematics section. The rest of the 10 questions will be from the General Aptitude section. Note that the syllabus for all the papers of GATE 2021 is different. Candidates can see the Mining Engineering subject syllabus from this page.
GATE 2021 Mining Engineering Syllabus
The syllabus for Mining Engineering is divided into 6 broad sections. These sections are Engineering Mathematics, Mine Development and Surveying, Geomechanics & Ground Control, Mining Methods & Machinery, Surface Environment, Mine Ventilation, & Underground Hazards, & Mine Economics, Mine Planning, 7 Systems Engineering. There are various topics under each of these sections.
Section 1: Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra: Matrices and Determinants; Inverse and Rank of matrix; Systems of linear equations; Eigen values and Eigen vectors. Cayley-Hamilton Theorem.
Calculus: Limit, continuity and differentiability; Partial Derivatives; Mean value theorems; Indeterminate forms and L’ Hospital’s rule; Maxima and minima; Taylor’s theorem; Sequences and series; Test for convergence; Fourier series.
Vector Calculus: Gradient; Divergence and Curl; Line; surface and volume integrals; Stokes, Gauss and Green’s theorems.
Differential Equations: Linear and non-linear first order ODEs; Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients; Cauchy’s and Euler’s equations.
Probability and Statistics: Measures of central tendency and dispersion; hypothesis testing; Binomial, Poisson, exponential and normal distributions; Correlation and regression analysis.
Numerical Methods: Solutions of linear algebraic equations; Interpolation; Integration of trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule; Single and multi-step methods for differential equations.
Section 2: Mining Geology, Mine Development and Surveying
Mining Geology: Minerals, Rocks and their Origin, Classification, Ore Genesis; Structural Geology.
Mine Development: Methods of access to deposits; Underground drivages; Drilling method and machines; Explosives and energetics, blasting devices, blast design practices; Rock-Tool Interaction applicable to mechanical cutting systems and their selection.
Mine Surveying: Levels and levelling, theodolite, tacheometry, triangulation; Contouring; Errors and adjustments; Correlation; Underground surveying; Curves; Photogrammetry; EDM, Total Station, GPS, Basics of GIS and remote sensing.
Section 3: Geomechanics and Ground Control
Engineering Mechanics: Equivalent force systems; Equations of equilibrium; Two dimensional frames and trusses; Free body diagrams; Friction forces; Particle kinematics and dynamics; Beam analysis.
Geomechanics: Geo-technical properties of rocks; Rock mass classification; Instrumentation and in-situ stress measurement techniques; Theories of rock failure; Ground vibrations; Stress distribution around mine openings; Subsidence; Slope stability.
Ground Control: Design of pillars; Roof supporting systems; Mine filling. Strata Control and Monitoring Plan.
Section 4: Mining Methods and Machinery
Mining Methods: Surface mining: layout, development, loading, transportation and mechanization, continuous surface mining systems; highwall mining; Underground coal mining: bord and pillar systems, room and pillar mining, longwall mining, thick seam mining methods, Underground metal mining: open, supported and caved stoping methods, stope mechanization, ore handling systems.
Mining Machinery: Generation and transmission of mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic power; Materials handling: wire ropes, haulages, conveyors, face and development machinery, hoisting systems, pumps; comminution methods and machinery.
Section 5: Surface Environment, Mine Ventilation and Underground Hazards
Surface Environment: Air, water and soil pollution: Standards of quality, causes and dispersion of contamination and control; Noise pollution and control; Land reclamation; EIA.
Mine Ventilation: Underground atmosphere; Heat load sources and thermal environment,.air cooling; Mechanics of airflow, distribution, natural and mechanical ventilation; Mine fans and usage; Auxiliary ventilation; Ventilation survey and planning; Ventilation networks.
Underground Hazards: Mine Gases, Methane drainage; Underground hazards from fires, explosions, dust and inundation; Rescue apparatus and practices; Safety management plan; Accident data analysis; assessment; Mine lighting; Mine legislation; Occupational health and safety.
Section 6: Mineral Economics, Mine Planning, Systems Engineering
Mineral Economics: Mineral resource classification; Discounted cash flow analysis; Mine valuation; Mineral taxation.
Mine Planning: Sampling methods, practices and interpretation; Reserve estimation techniques: Basics of geostatistics and quality control; Optimization of facility location; Mine planning and its components, Determination of mine size and mine life; Ultimate pit configuration and its determination, Optimum mill cut-off grade and its determination, Stope planning, Design of haul road, Selection of mining system vis-à-vis equipment system.
Systems Engineering: Concepts of reliability; Reliability of simple systems; Maintainability and availability; Linear programming, transportation and assignment problems; Network analysis; Inventory models; Queuing theory; Decision trees.
GATE 2021 General Aptitude Syllabus
The General Aptitude section is divided into Verbal Ability and Numerical Ability. This section is the same in all the GATE 2021 papers. The syllabus too remains the same. There will be 10 questions for GA section, out of the total 65 questions. From these 10 questions, 5 questions will be of 1-mark each and the remaining 5 questions will be of 2-marks each. Candidates can check the syllabus for the General Aptitude section below.
| Verbal Ability | Numerical Ability |
| English grammarSentence completionInstructionsVerbal analogiesWord groupsCritical reasoningVerbal deduction | Numerical computationNumerical reasoningNumerical estimationData interpretation |
GATE 2021 MN Mock Tests
During your GATE 2021 preparation, make sure that you practice a lot of mock tests. Try to solve a variety of mock tests such as topic-wise mock tests, weekly mock tests, monthly mock tests and full-length mock tests.
GATE 2021 Mining Engineering Exam Pattern
Before candidates start their preparation, make sure to go through the exam pattern and the marking scheme of GATE 2021. It will give you a fair idea about the sections in the exam, the types of questions that will be asked in the exam and how will be the marking done for different questions. Candidates can go check out the GATE 2021 Exam pattern & Marking scheme below.
| Section | Total Marks |
| GA | 15% of the total marks |
| Mathematics | 15% of the total marks |
| MN – Subject-Based | 70% of the total marks |
- The exam will be conducted through online mode. It is a Computer Based Test (CBT).
- Duration of the exam is 3 hours.
- There will be 2 types of questions in GATE 2021- MCQs and NATs.
- There will be three sections in the exam – General Aptitude, Mathematics and Subject- wise.
- The total no. of questions in the exam will be 65.
- The exam will hold a total of 100 marks.
- Negative marking in the exam will be only for the MCQs.
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 GATE Mining Engineering?
During your GATE 2021 preparation, you must follow certain tips. These tips will help you in preparing for the big day strategically and smartly. First, you must go through the exam pattern, marking scheme and the syllabus of the exam. After that, you must collect the best study material and start preparing for the exam. There are a few more tips mentioned below, that you must adhere to.
Stick to standard books
Your exam preparation should be done through the standard books. Standard books are the first source of preparation for an exam. They are the most trusted and reliable study material that you can get. These books explain the concepts in such a language that is easy to understand as well as learn. Also, stick to a few books. You don’t necessarily have to prepare a lot of books.
Get your basics clear
Besides your speed, your accuracy is the most important factor in the exam. Accuracy is only achieved when you have a clear understanding of all the concepts. Gaining concept clarity should be your aim. Try not to leave any topic just because it seems hard to understand. Take your time and clear your doubts. Concept clarity results in strong basics. If your basics are strong then you will be able to solve the toughest questions. But if your basics are weak then you will lose marks in the easiest of questions.
Practice Mocks and Previous Years’ papers
During your preparation, solve a lot of mock tests so that you get used to the online mode exam. Also, it will help you identify the weak areas that you can still improve. Once you have completed the syllabus, start solving previous years’ question papers. This will get you acquainted with the pattern and the trend of the questions that have been followed over the past years.
Revision
This is the last step of your preparation. Keep the last month for revision only. Don’t skip this step in order to prepare more topics. Stop preparing anything new and start revising all that you have prepared. Do daily revision of the topics that you prepare throughout the day. Without the daily revision, you are likely to forget everything. Last month’s revision is equally important. Take the help of your notes and revise each topic well.
Books for GATE MN Preparation
It is important for you to understand the importance of your study material. It can gain or lose you precious marks in the exam. Therefore, you must choose books wisely. We have suggested a few books below that you can take help from.
| Title of the book | Name of the Author/ Publication |
| Objective English for Competitive Examination 5th Ed | Hari Mohan Prasad |
| Advanced Engineering Mathematics | RK Jain, SRK Iyengar |
| Elements of Mining Technology | DESHMUKH |
What is Mining Engineering?
Mining Engineering is one of many engineering disciplines. The said discipline applies science and technology to the extraction of minerals from the earth. It is associated with other disciplines such as mineral processing, Geology, Excavation, Exploration, Metallurgy, Geotechnical Engineering, and Surveying.
GATE 2021 Preparation FAQs
Q1. Which section is more important between General Aptitude and Mathematics?
Ans. Both the sections are important as both of them carry 15% of the total marks (each) in the examination.
Q2. What book should I prepare for Verbal Ability?
Ans. it is an easy section so you don’t have to prepare a lot. You can take the help of ‘Objective English for Competitive Examination 5th Ed’ by Hari Mohan Prasad.
To get fastest exam alerts and government job alerts in India, join our Telegram channel.
