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GATE 2023 Civil Engineering Syllabus | Download PDF

Updated: Jul 4, 2022

In this blog, we have provided the expected syllabus for the GATE 2023 Civil Engineering paper. GATE CE paper is one of the most sought exams after graduation. Major subjects of this paper include geotechnical engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering and so on as we will see further in this blog. You can also download the syllabus PDF in this blog, so stay till the end.



The GATE exam in general is useful for admissions to post-graduate courses in premium institutes and PSU recruitments. GATE 2023 exam will be conducted by IIT Kanpur probably in the first and second week of February. All details regarding GATE 2023 is already covered in our previous blog, do check them out.


Syllabus Overview


Broadly speaking, Civil engineering paper consists of the following subjects.

  • Section 1: Engineering Mathematics

  • Section 2: Structural Engineering

  • Section 3: Geotechnical Engineering

  • Section 4: Water Resources Engineering

  • Section 5: Environmental Engineering

  • Section 6: Transportation Engineering

  • Section 7: Geomatics Engineering

The aptitude syllabus is the same for every paper. It covers 15 marks out of the total 100 marks.


Aptitude Syllabus


Verbal Aptitude


  • Basic English grammar: tenses, articles, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, verb-noun agreement, and other parts of speech

  • Basic vocabulary: words, idioms, and phrases in context Reading and comprehension Narrative sequencing


Quantitative Aptitude


  • Data interpretation: data graphs (bar graphs, pie charts, and other graphs representing data), 2- and 3-dimensional plots, maps, and tables

  • Numerical computation and estimation: ratios, percentages, powers, exponents and logarithms, permutations and combinations, and series Mensuration and geometry Elementary statistics and probability


Analytical Aptitude


  • Logic: deduction and induction, Analogy, Numerical relations and reasoning


Spatial Aptitude


  • Transformation of shapes: translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, assembling, and grouping

  • Paper folding, cutting, and patterns in 2 and 3 dimensions


Detailed Syllabus


Overall syllabus just gives an idea about what are all the subjects present. But it is important to know topics and sub-topics within each subject to get a clear idea of the task at hand. And the same is provided below.


Section 1: Engineering Mathematics


Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra; Systems of linear equations; Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors.

Calculus: Functions of a 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; 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; 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 boreholes, 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 Meyerhof’s bearing capacity theories, the effect of the 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, evapotranspiration, watershed, infiltration, unit hydrographs, hydrograph analysis, reservoir capacity, flood estimation and routing, surface runoff models, groundwater 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 a 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, the 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 2023 Civil Engineering Subject-Wise Weightage


It is important to know the syllabus but it is even more important to know about the subject-wise weightage. This subject-wise weightage fairly remains the same for each year. The details of GATE Civil Engineering Subject-Wise Weightage is already covered, but below given is a glimpse of the same.


  • Geo-Technical engineering has a weightage of 13 - 15%

  • Transportation engineering has a weightage of 14 - 16%

  • Engineering mathematics has a weightage of 11%

  • Aptitude has a standard weightage of 15%


The weightage of other subjects is covered in our GATE Civil Engineering Subject-Wise Weightage blog, check them out.


GATE 2022 CE Paper Analysis


Going through GATE 2022 CE Paper Analysis could give an idea of how the paper is divided subject-wise. GATE 2022 CE Paper Analysis is already covered completely, but here we have provided a graph showing the subject-wise weightage.


For in-depth analysis, check out GATE 2022 CE Paper Analysis.


Who can write GATE CE as the second paper?


GATE 2021 introduced the option to write two GATE papers in the same year and the same will be continued for all the upcoming GATE exams. But there are certain paper combinations to follow, which we have covered in our GATE 2023 blog. Here we provide the detail of which papers are eligible as the first paper for writing CE as the second paper.

  • Architecture and Planning (AR)

  • Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)

  • Geomatics Engineering (GE)

  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)


Download GATE CE Complete Syllabus



Download GATE 2022 CE Question Paper




Bonus For You


Massive 55% limited offer on GATE 2023 courses going on, don't miss it. Enroll here and excel in your GATE exam 👍✨.



Disclaimer: This syllabus is as per the previous year i.e., GATE 2022. Though there will be no major changes in the syllabus, there might be some minor changes. In September, official notification will be released along with the official syllabus from IIT Kanpur. Until then, this syllabus could be used for preparations with no doubt ;)


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