GATE Civil Engineering (CE) Syllabus 2027: Subject-Wise Topics & Pattern

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Detailed Syllabus

Linear Algebra

Matrix algebra; systems of linear equations; eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Calculus

Functions of a single variable; limits, continuity and differentiability; mean value theorems; local maxima and minima; Taylor series; evaluation of definite and indefinite integrals; applications of definite integrals to obtain area and volume; partial derivatives; total derivatives; gradient, divergence and curl; vector identities; directional derivatives; line, surface and volume integrals.

Ordinary Differential Equations (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 Equations (PDE)

Fourier series; separation of variables; solutions of one-dimensional diffusion equations; first- and second-order one-dimensional wave equations; two-dimensional Laplace equation.

Probability and Statistics

Basic concepts of probability, including axioms and theorems; statistical independence; conditional probability; descriptive statistics, including mean, median, mode and standard deviation; random variables; probability mass function, probability density function and cumulative distribution function; Poisson and Normal distributions; linear regression.

Numerical Methods

Error analysis; numerical solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations; Newton's and Lagrange polynomials; numerical differentiation; integration using trapezoidal and Simpson's rules; single- and multi-step methods for first-order differential equations.

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Detailed Syllabus

Engineering Mechanics

System of forces, free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations, internal forces in structures, friction and its applications, and centre of mass.

Solid Mechanics

Bending moment and shear force in statically determinate beams; transformation of stress (Mohr's circle); simple stress and strain relationships; simple bending theory; flexural and shear stresses; shear centre; uniform torsion; combined stresses; column buckling.

Structural Analysis

Principle of superposition; work and energy methods, including the principle of virtual work and Castigliano's second theorem; deflections of statically determinate beams, frames and trusses; analysis of statically indeterminate structures by force and displacement methods; method of consistent deformations; slope-deflection method; moment distribution method; influence lines and moving loads; stiffness matrix method; analysis of determinate arches and cables.

Concrete Structures

Working stress and limit state design concepts; design and detailing of beams, slabs, columns and isolated footings; bond and development length.

Steel Structures

Working stress and limit state design concepts; design of tension and compression members, beams and beam-columns, column bases; simple and eccentric connections; beam-column connections; concept of plastic analysis of beams and portal frames.

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Detailed Syllabus

Soil Mechanics

Three-phase system and phase relationships; index properties; Unified and Indian Standard soil classification systems; permeability and one-dimensional flow; seepage through soils and two-dimensional flow; flow nets, uplift pressure, piping, capillarity and seepage force; principle of effective stress and quicksand condition; compaction of soils; one-dimensional consolidation and time rate of consolidation; shear strength and Mohr's circle; effective and total shear strength parameters; stress-strain characteristics of clays and sand; stress paths.

Subsurface Investigations and Foundations

Drilling boreholes, sampling, plate load test, standard penetration test and cone penetration test; Rankine and Coulomb earth pressure theories; stability of finite and infinite slopes; Bishop's method; sheet piles; stress distribution in soils using Boussinesq's theory; pressure bulbs; shallow foundations, including Terzaghi's and Meyerhof's bearing capacity theories; effect of water table; combined footing and raft foundation; contact pressure; settlement analysis in sands and clays; deep foundations; static formulae; axial load capacity of piles in sands and clays; pile load test; piles under lateral loading; pile group efficiency; negative skin friction; ground improvement techniques.

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Detailed Syllabus

Fluid Mechanics

Properties of fluids and fluid statics; continuity, momentum and energy equations and their applications; potential flow; laminar and turbulent flow; flow in pipes and pipe networks; concept of boundary layer and its growth; lift and drag.

Hydraulics

Forces on immersed bodies; flow measurement in channels and pipes; dimensional analysis and hydraulic similitude; channel hydraulics, including energy-depth relationships, specific energy, critical flow, hydraulic jump, uniform flow, gradually varied flow and water surface profiles; prismatic and mobile channels; steady and unsteady flows; rapidly varied flow; flow past sharp-crested weirs.

Hydrology

Hydrologic cycle; precipitation; evaporation; evapotranspiration; watershed; infiltration; streamflow measurements; unit hydrographs; hydrograph analysis; reservoir capacity; flood estimation and routing; surface runoff models; groundwater hydrology, including steady-state well hydraulics and aquifers; application of Darcy's Law.

Irrigation

Types of irrigation systems and methods; crop water requirements, including duty, delta and evapotranspiration; gravity dams and spillways; lined and unlined canals; design of weirs on permeable foundations; cross-drainage structures; river training structures; earthen dams; seepage through dams; well irrigation.

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Detailed Syllabus

Water and Wastewater Quality and Treatment

Basics of water quality standards, including physical, chemical and biological parameters; water quality index; unit processes and operations; water requirement; water distribution system; drinking water treatment.

Wastewater Management

Sewerage system design; quantity of domestic wastewater; primary, secondary and tertiary treatment; effluent discharge standards; sludge treatment and 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, including reuse, recycling, energy recovery, treatment and disposal; basics of landfill design and operation.

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Detailed Syllabus

Transportation Infrastructure

Geometric design of roadways using IRC codes, including cross-sectional elements, sight distances, classification of roadways, design vehicle, horizontal and vertical alignments; geometric design of railway tracks, including speed and cant; airport runway length, calculations and corrections; taxiway and exit taxiway design.

Highway Pavements

Highway materials and their desirable properties and tests; desirable properties of bituminous paving mixes; design factors for flexible and rigid pavements; design of flexible and rigid pavements 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 using Webster's method; types of intersections and interchanges; highway capacity and level of service.

Transportation Planning

Four-step travel demand modelling, including trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice and traffic assignment, along with its applications.

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Detailed Syllabus

Principles of Surveying

Plane and geodetic surveying; GNSS surveying; errors and their adjustment; maps, scale and coordinate systems; distance and angle measurement; levelling and trigonometric levelling; traversing and triangulation survey; total station; principles of topographic, cadastral and engineering surveys; introduction to cartography and map projections.

Photogrammetry

Introduction to photogrammetry and digital photogrammetry; photographic scale; flying height; space resection; parallax equations; elevations by parallax differences; camera calibration.

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Detailed Syllabus

Construction Materials

Steel: composition, material properties and behaviour; cement: composition, hydration and microstructure, chemical and mineral admixtures; concrete: constituents, mix design, short-term and long-term properties.

Construction Management

Types of construction projects; estimation and costing; quantity estimation using long wall and short wall method and centre line method; analysis of rates; project planning and scheduling; AOA and AON network analysis; PERT and CPM; project updating and monitoring; construction equipment for earthwork, concreting, hoisting and transportation of materials; types of contracts.

Particulars

Details

Exam Name

Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) 2027

Paper Name

Civil Engineering

Paper Code

CE

Organising Institute

IIT Madras

Exam Mode

Computer-Based Test (CBT)

Duration

3 hours

Total Questions

65

Total Marks

100

Question Types

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions

General Aptitude

15 marks

Subject-Specific Section

85 marks, including Engineering Mathematics and core Civil Engineering topics

Sections

Expected Weightage

General Aptitude

15%

Engineering Mathematics

Approximately 10%–15%

Core Civil Engineering Subjects

Approximately 70%–74.5%