Changes in GATE-2021 syllabus from GATE-2020 syllabus for

CIVIL ENGINEERING (TECHNICAL SUBJECTS)

Subject Added New Topics Removed Topics
- Internal forces in structures
- Centre of mass
Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics
- Free vibrations of undamped
SDOF system
Strength of Materials - Stress Transformation - Theory of Failures
Construction Materials N/A - Bricks, Mortar & Timber
- Origin of soil, soil structure
Geotechnical Engineering - Pile under laterally loading and fabric
- Westergaards theory
Fluid Mechanics N/A - Hydraulic Machines
- Reservoir Capacity
Hydrology N/A
- Watershed
- Water Quality Index
- Air Quality Index
Environmental Engg - Noise Pollution
- Re-use & Recycling of Waste
Water
- Highway alignment and
engineering surveys
- Quality Control
- Distresses in concrete
pavements
Transportation - Travel time - delay and O-D
- Traffic Signs
Engineering study, PCU
- Parking study
- Control devices
- Types of Channelization
- Level of service of rural
highways and urban roads

Section 1:
Engineering Mathematics
Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra; Systems of linear equations; Eigen values and Eigen vectors.
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 one-
dimensional diffusion equation; first and second order one-dimensional wave equation and
two-dimensional 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, short-
term 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; Pre stressed 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; One-
dimensional 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 soils – 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,
evapo-transpiration; 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.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;