GATE

GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE) 2024

21 January, 2024
Artika Shan

GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE)– IISc Bangalore will release the GATE Civil Engineering syllabus online mode at gate.iisc.ac.in. In addition, it will help candidates prepare for the exam more effectively by focusing on their weak areas. Engineering Mathematics and General Aptitude are the two main sections of the GATE CE Question Paper, which contains questions based on the GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE). The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the most highly competitive exams in the engineering field. It is designed to test an applicant’s understanding of undergraduate engineering concepts. Moreover, GATE includes concepts and topics that will be covered in the exam.

Read more: GATE Exam Preparation – What Is The Best Time To Start Preparing For GATE Exam?

GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus 2024

GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE) consists of seven main sections. Important topics like structural engineering, engineering mathematics, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, and geomatics engineering are included in the GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE)

Below are the sections, topics, and sub-topics of the GATE Syllabus For Civil Engineering (CE):

Section 1
Engineering Mathematics
Topics and Subtopics:

  • Linear Algebra: Linear Algebra covers topics like Matrix Algebra, Eigen values, and Eigen vectors, and systems of linear equations. 
  • Calculus: Calculus includes sub-topics like mean value theorems, local maxima, and minima, Functions of a single variable, Limit, continuity, and differentiability, mean value theorems, Taylor series, total derivative, evaluation of definite and indefinite integrals, application of definite integral to obtaining area and volume, total derivative, partial derivatives, divergence, and curl, directional derivatives, vector identities, line, surface, and volume integrals. 
  • Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE):  Ordinary Differential Equation consists of sub-topics like first-order (linear and nonlinear) equations, Euler-Cauchy equations, higher-order linear equations with constant coefficients, and initial and boundary value problems. 
  • Partial Differential Equation (PDE): Partial Differential Equation encompasses topics like separation of variables, Fourier series, solutions of a one-dimensional equation, first and second-order one-dimensional wave equation, and two-dimensional Laplace equation.
  • Probability and Statistics: Conditional probability, sampling theorems, Descriptive statistics- Mean, median, mode, and standard deviation, Random Variables- Discrete and Continuous, Poisson and Normal Distribution, and Linear Regression are included in the probability and statistics section. 

Numerical Methods: Error Analysis. Numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations, Newton’s and Lagrange polynomials, integration by trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule, numerical differentiation, single and multi-step methods for first-order differential equations

Section 2:
Structural Engineering
Topics and Subtopics:

Solid Mechanics: Bending moment and shear force in statistically determinate beams, simple bending theory, simple stress and strain in relationships, shear and flexural stresses, uniform torsion, shear center, bucking of the column, the transformation of stress, combined and direct bending stresses are some of the sub-topics covered under the solid mechanics.

Engineering Mechanics: Engineering Mechanics covers topics like free-body diagrams, the system of forces, frictions and their applications, equilibrium equations, the center of mass, and free vibrations of undamped SDOF systems. 

Structural Analysis: Methods of superposition, statistically determinate and indeterminate structures by force/energy methods, analysis of arches, trusses, beams, cables, and frames are all sub-topics covered under structural analysis. 

Construction Materials and Management: Construction Material: Structural Steel- Material properties and behavior and Composition. Concrete- Mix design, constituents, and short-term and long-term properties.

Construction Management: This section includes topics like types of construction projects, project planning, network analysis: CPM and PERT, and cost estimation.

Displacement methods: Influence lines, slope deflection and moment distribution methods, stiffness and flexibility methods of structural analysis are all covered under displacement methods are some of the sub-topics of displacement method.

Steel Structures: Steel structures include sub-topics like working stress and limit state design concepts, Design of tension and compression members, beams and beam-columns, and column bases. Connections- Plate girders and trusses, simple and eccentric, Beam column connections. 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, uplift pressure, flow nets, capillarity, piping, seepage force, compaction of soils, principles of effective stress and quick sand condition, one-dimensional consolidation, time rate of consolidation, shear strength, Moh’s circle, effective and total shear parameters, stress-strain characteristics of clays and sand and 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 soils- Boussinesq’s theory, pressure bulbs, shallow foundations- Terzaghi’s and Meyerhoff’s bearing capacity theories, the effect of the water table, combined footing and raft foundation, contact pressure, settlement analysis in clays and sands, 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 and negative skin friction.

Section 4:
Water Resources Engineering
Topics and Subtopics:

Hydraulics: Forces of immersed bodies, flow measurement in pipes and channels, hydraulic similitude and dimensional analysis, Channel Hydraulics- Specific energy, Energy depth relationships, hydraulic jump, critical flow, uniform flow, water surface profiles, and gradually varied flow.

Fluid Mechanics: Fluid statics, properties of fluids, continuity, momentum, and energy equations and their applications, flow in pipes, potential flow, laminar and turbulent flow, pipe networks, the concept of boundary layer and its growth, and concept of drag and lift.

Hydrology: Precipitation, hydrologic cycle, evapotranspiration, evaporation, infiltration, watershed, unit hydrographs, hydrograph analysis, flood estimation, and routing, reservoir capacity, surface run-off models, groundwater hydrology- steady state well hydraulics and aquifers and Application of Darcy’s Law.

Irrigation: Types of irrigation systems and methods, crop water requirements- Delta, duty, evapotranspiration, Gravity Dams, and Spillways, lined and unlined canals, design of weirs on permeable foundation and cross drainage structures.

Section 5:
Environmental Engineering 

Topics and Subtopics:
1. Air Pollution: Air quality index and limits, types of pollutants, their sources and impacts, air pollution control, and air quality standards.

2. Water and wastewater quality and treatment: Basics of water quality standards- Physical, biological, and chemical parameters, unit processes and operations, water quality index, water distribution system, water requirement, and drinking water treatment.

3. Sewerage system design, primary and secondary treatment, and quantity of domestic wastewater. Sludge disposal and reuse of treated sewage for different applications. 

4. Air Pollution: Air pollution control, types of pollutants, air quality standards, and air quality limits and index. 

5. Municipal solid waste: Collection and transportation of solid waste, characteristics, generation, and engineered systems for solid waste management (Reuse/recycle, energy recovery, disposal, and treatment). 

Section 6:
Transportation Engineering
Topics and Subtopics:

The geometric design of railway track- Speed and Cant

Transportation Infrastructure: Geometric design of highways- cross-sectional elements, horizontal and vertical alignments, and sight distances are sub-topics included under transportation infrastructure. 

Concept of airport runaway length, corrections and calculations, 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, and design of flexible and rigid pavement using IRC codes. 

Traffic Engineering: Peak hour factor, traffic studies on speed and flow, accident study, traffic signs, statistical analysis of traffic data, microscopic and macroscopic parameters of traffic flow, fundamental relationships, types of intersections, Signal design by Webster’s method, and highway capacity are sub-topics of traffic engineering. 

Section 7:
Geomatics Engineering
Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing- Scale, Flying height, basics of remote sensing, and GIS. 

Principles of surveying, maps, errors and their adjustment- Scale, coordinate system, distance, and angle measurement- Levelling and trigonometric leveling, traversing and triangulation survey, Total station, horizontal and vertical curves. 

GATE Syllabus 2024 for Civil Engineering Marks Weightage 

The GATE exam for Civil Engineering has a total of 100 marks. Apart from this, the Engineering Mathematics section carries 13 marks, the general aptitude section carries 15 marks, and the civil engineering section carries 72 marks. Also, the questions in this section encompass a wide range of topics. 

Subject Name Weightage (In Marks)
General Aptitude      15
Engineering Mathematics    12
Geotech Engineering    15
Environmental Engineering   14
Fluid Mechanics      9 
Structural Analysis     6
Strength of Materials     6
Steel Structure     2
Surveying      4
RCC     5
Irrigation and Hydrology     2
Building Material     2
Transport Engineering      8
Total 100

Below is the GATE Civil Engineering marking scheme 2023

  • General Aptitude (GA) of Civil Engineering (CE) – 15 marks 
  • Subject Marks – 85 marks 
  • Total marks – 100 marks 
  • Total marks allotted in minutes for the subject- 180 minutes 

Read more: GATE CE Subject Wise Weightage – Important Topics And Their Weightage For GATE Civil Engineering Exam

GATE Exam Pattern

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) exam pattern for civil engineering covers 65 questions worth a total of 100 marks. The civil engineering exams are divided into three sections: Engineering mathematics, general aptitude, and civil engineering The Civil Engineering GATE exam pattern includes 72% of the total marks. 

Mode of Examination Online/Computer-based Test
Total no of questions 65
Maximum marks 100
Duration of exam 3 hrs 
Sections General Aptitude and Subject Specific 

Read more: GATE Exam Pattern 2024 – Subject-Wise Question Paper Pattern, Marking Scheme

FAQs on GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus:
The following are FAQs about the GATE Syllabus for Civil Engineering (CE) 2024
1. What are the important sections of the GATE Syllabus 2024 civil engineering?

GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus consists of seven key sections like, structural engineering, engineering mathematics, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental engineering, geomatics engineering, and transportation engineering.

2. How can we access the GATE Syllabus 2024 for Civil Engineering? 

The GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus is available on the official website of GATE after the official release of the GATE Civil Engineering Syllabus 2024. 

3. What are the main topics covered under the Environmental Engineering section of the GATE Syllabus 2024 for Civil Engineering?
The main topics covered under the section on environmental engineering include air pollution and municipal solid wastes and water and wastewater quality.