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UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus PDF - IAS Exam Syllabus for Civil Engineering

Last Updated on Nov 13, 2024
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The UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus has been viewed as a significant component of the Civil Services Examination for those candidates who have chosen civil engineering as an optional subject. This syllabus aims at the assessment of the candidate's knowledge and proficiency in both basic concepts and advanced applications in civil engineering in an absolutely rigorous manner. The syllabus is divided into two papers, 250 marks each, and covers various domains like structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, and water resources engineering. The UPSC IAS optional subject civil engineering syllabus requires strict effort towards preparation and deep knowledge in the concept of civil engineering principles that can be tackled in the exam.

For those preparing for the examination, the complete UPSC Civil Engineering optional syllabus is available for download.

Check the detailed UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus here.

Overview of UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus 2025

The UPSC civil engineering syllabus for 2025 provides a detailed list of topics, which ensures technical expertise by the candidates. It is further divided into two major papers that rely on two different dimensions of civil engineering. Paper 1 deals with core subjects like engineering mechanics and strength of materials, whereas Paper 2 includes specialized topics, such as environmental engineering and transportation engineering. From this detailed framework both the theoretical understanding and the aptitude to solve practical problems are assessed in the proportion. Every section of civil engineering syllabus UPSC has been designed to constitute the correct knowledge base needed for all the various roles of the civil services.

There will be 2 papers for the UPSC exam syllabus for Civil Engineering paper. Each paper of the Civil Engineering syllabus UPSC would comprise 250 marks, which makes it 500 marks in total. The time duration to attempt the UPSC Civil Engineering paper is 3 hours. Each paper would have objective answer-type questions. There is no negative marking.

Overview of UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus 2025

Sl. No. 

UPSC IAS Mains Papers

Subject

Marks

1.

Paper VI

Optional Subject Paper-I

250

2.

Paper VII

Optional Subject Paper-II

250

TOTAL

500

Time Duration

3 hours

Check the detailed UPSC IAS exam pattern here.

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UPSC Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus for Papers 1 & 2

Candidates opting for civil engineering as an optional subject for the UPSC examination have to prepare quite elaborately for both the papers. Paper 1 carries highly relevant topics like Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Structural Analysis. Then, paper 2 would carry advanced topics such as Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering. Hence, candidates would be assured of sound and profound knowledge of all matters pertaining to the civil engineering UPSC syllabus.

UPSC IAS Civil Engineering Syllabus PDF Download!

UPSC Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus for Paper 1

Paper 1 of the UPSC civil engineering optional syllabus covers the basic fundamentals. Under this, the syllabus covers the subject of Engineering Mechanics, which focuses on statics, dynamics, and principles of virtual work. It covers strength of materials in terms of stress, strain, bending moments, and shear forces. Structural Analysis also forms part of it, dealing with determinate and indeterminate structures, influence lines, and matrix methods. Concrete Structures with emphasis on material properties, mix design, and limit state design. Steel Structures with consideration of riveted and welded joints, tension members, and beams. Lastly, Construction Practice, Planning, and Management include methodologies, site investigation, and project management strategies.

The table below gives a detailed view of the the key topics of the UPSC exam syllabus for Civil Engineering Optional Paper 1:

UPSC IAS Syllabus for Civil Engineering Optional Paper 1

Topics of IAS Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus

Subtopic

Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials, and Structural Analysis

Engineering Mechanics

Units and Dimensions, SI Units, Vectors, Concept of Force, Concept of particle and rigid body.

Concurrent, Non-Concurrent, and parallel forces in a plane, moment of force, free body diagram, conditions of equilibrium.

Principle of virtual work, equivalent force system.

First and Second Moment of area, Mass moment of Inertia.

Static Friction.

Kinematics and Kinetics: Kinematics in Cartesian Coordinates, motion under uniform and non-uniform acceleration, motion under gravity.

Kinetics of particles: Momentum and Energy principles, collision of elastic bodies, rotation of rigid bodies.

Strength of Materials

Simple Stress and Strain, Elastic constants, axially loaded compression members, Shear force and bending moment, theory of simple bending.

Shear Stress distribution across cross sections, and Beams of uniform strength.

Deflection of beams: Mecaulay’s method, Mohr’s Moment area method, Conjugate beam method, and unit load method.

Torsion of Shafts, Elastic stability of columns, Euler’s, Rankine’s, and Secant formula.

Structural Analysis

Castiglianio’s theorems I and II, unit load method, of consistent deformation applied to beams and pin-jointed trusses.

Slope-deflection, moment distribution.

Rolling loads and Influences lines: Influences lines for Shear Force and Bending moment at a section of a beam.

Criteria for maximum shear force and bending moment in beams traversed by a system of moving loads.

Influences lines for simply supported plane pin-jointed trusses.

Arches: Three-hinged, two-hinged, and fixed arches, rib shortening and temperature effects.

Matrix methods of analysis: Force method and displacement method of analysis of indeterminate beams and rigid frames.

Plastic Analysis of beams and frames: Theory of plastic bending, plastic analysis, statical method, Mechanism method.

Unsymmetrical bending: Moment of inertia, product of inertia, position of Neutral Axis and Principal axes, calculation of bending stresses.

Design of Structures: Steel, Concrete, and Masonry Structures

Structural Steel Design

Structural steel: Factors of safety and load factors. Riveted, bolted, and welded joints and connections.

Design of tension and compression members, beams of built-up section, riveted and welded plate girders, gantry girders, stancheons with battens, and lacings.

Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures

Concept of mixed design. Reinforced Concrete: Working Stress and Limit State method of design—Recommendations of I.S. codes.

Design of one-way and two-way slabs, staircase slabs, simple and continuous beams of rectangular, T, and L sections.

Compression members under direct load with or without eccentricity.

Cantilever and Counter fort type retaining walls.

Water tanks: Design requirements for Rectangular and circular tanks resting on the ground.

Prestressed Concrete: Methods and systems of prestressing, anchorages, Analysis, and design of sections for flexure based on working stress, and loss of prestress.

Design of brick masonry as per I.S. Codes.

Fluid Mechanics, Open Channel Flow, and Hydraulic Machines

Fluid Mechanics

Fluid properties and their role in fluid motion, fluid statics including forces acting on plane and curved surfaces.

Kinematics and Dynamics of Fluid flow: Velocity and accelerations, stream lines, equation of continuity, irrotational and rotational flow, velocity potential, and stream functions.

Continuity, momentum, energy equation, Navier Stokes equation, Euler’s equation of motion, application to fluid flow problems, pipe flow, sluice gates, and weirs.

Dimensional Analysis and Similitude

Buckingham’s Pi-theorem, dimensionless parameters.

Laminar Flow

Laminar flow between parallel, stationary, and moving plates, flows through the tube.

Boundary Layer

Laminar and turbulent boundary layer on a flat plate, laminar sub-layer, smooth and rough boundaries, drag and lift.

Turbulent flow through pipes: Characteristics of turbulent flow, velocity distribution and variation of pipe friction factor, hydraulic grade line and total energy line.

Open Channel Flow

Uniform and non-uniform flows, momentum and energy correction factors, specific energy and specific force, critical depth, rapidly varied flow, hydraulic jump, gradually varied flow, classification of surface profiles, control section, step method of integration of varied flow equations.

Hydraulic Machines and Hydropower

Hydraulic turbines, types classification, Choice of turbines performance parameters, controls, characteristics, specific speed.

Principles of hydropower development.

Geotechnical Engineering

  

Geotechnical Engineering

Soil Type and Structure—gradation and particle size distribution—consistency limits.

Water in soil—capillary and structural—effective stress and pore water pressure—permeability concept—field and laboratory determination of permeability—Seepage pressure—quick sand conditions—Shear strength determination—Mohr Coulomb concept.

Compaction of soil—Laboratory and field tests.

Compressibility and consolidation concept—consolidation theory—consolidation settlement analysis.

Earth pressure theory and analysis for retaining walls, Application for sheet piles, and Braced excavation.

Bearing capacity of soil—approaches for analysis—Field tests—settlement analysis—stability of slope of earth walk.

Subsurface exploration of soils—methods.

Foundation—Type and selection criteria for foundation of structures—Design criteria for foundation—Analysis of the distribution of stress for footings and pile—pile group action—pile load test.

Ground improvement techniques.

UPSC Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus for Paper 2

Paper 2 of the UPSC Mains Civil Engineering syllabus builds on the basic discussions covered in Paper 1. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics presents discussions on fluid properties, flow dynamics, and open channel flow. Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Hydrological cycle, Ground water hydrology, water resources management Geotechnical Engineering Soil mechanics and soil classification Foundation engineering Environmental Engineering Water supply Waste water treatment Air pollution control solid waste management Transportation Engineering Highway planning and geometric design Traffic engineering Surveying Deals with all principle, leveling, and modern survey instruments to collect data as close as possible to the truth. 

The table below highlights the key topics of the UPSC exam syllabus for Civil Engineering for Paper 2:

UPSC IAS Syllabus for Civil Engineering Optional Paper 2

Topics of IAS Civil Engineering Optional Syllabus

Subtopic

Construction Technology, Equipment, Planning and Management

Construction Technology

Physical properties of construction materials with respect to their use in construction—Stones, Bricks, and Tiles; Lime, Cement, different types of Mortars, and Concrete.

Specific use of ferro cement, fibre reinforced C. C., High strength concrete.

Timber; Properties defects—common preservation treatments.

Use and selection of materials for specific use like Low-Cost Housing, Mass Housing, High Rise Buildings.

Construction

Masonry principles using Brick, stone, Blocks—construction detailing and strength characteristics.

Types of plastering, pointing, flooring, roofing, and construction features.

Common repairs in buildings.

Principle of functional planning of building for residents and specific use—Building code provisions.

Basic principles of detailed and approximate estimating—specification writing and rate analysis principles of valuation of real property.

Machinery for earthwork, concreting, and their specific uses—Factors affecting the selection of equipment—operating cost of equipment.

Construction Planning and Management

Construction activity—schedules—organization for construction industry—Quality assurance principles.

Use Basic principle of network—analysis in form of CPM and PERT—their use in construction monitoring, Cost optimization, and resource allocation.

Basic principles of Economic analysis and methods.

Project profitability—Basic principles of Boot approach to financial planning-simple toll fixation criterions.

Surveying and Transportation Engineering

Surveying

Surveying: Common methods and instruments for distance and angle measurement for CE work—their use in plane table, traverse survey, leveling work, triangulation, contouring and topographical maps.

Basic principles of photogrammetry and remote sensing.

Railways Engineering

Permanent way—components, types, and their function—Functions and Design constituents of turn and crossing—Necessity of geometric design of track—Design of station and yards.

Highway Engineering

Principles of Highway alignments—classification and geometrical design elements and standards for Roads.

Pavement structure for flexible and rigid pavements—Design principles and methodology of pavements.

Typical construction methods and standards of materials for stabilized soil, WBM, Bituminous works, and CC roads.

Surface and sub-surface drainage arrangements for roads—culvert structures.

Pavement distresses and strengthening by overlays.

Traffic surveys and their application in traffic planning—Typical design features for channelized, intersection rotary, etc.—signal designs—standard Traffic signs and markings.

Hydrology, Water Resources, and Engineering

Hydrology

Hydrological cycle, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, overland flow, hydrograph, flood frequency analyses, flood routing through a reservoir, channel flow routing—Muskingum method.

Groundwater Flow

Specific yield, storage coefficient, coefficient of permeability, confined and unconfined aquifers, aquifers, aquitards, radial flow into a well under confined and unconfined conditions.

Water Resources Engineering

Ground and surface water resources, single and multipurpose projects, storage capacity of reservoirs, reservoir losses, and reservoir sedimentation.

Irrigation Engineering

Water requirements of crops: consumptive use, duty and delta, irrigation methods and their efficiencies.

Canals: Distribution systems for canal irrigation, canal capacity, canal losses, alignment of main and distributary canals, most efficient section, lined canals, their design, regime theory, critical shear stress, and bed load.

Water logging: causes and control, salinity.

Canal structures: Design of head regulators, canal falls, aqueducts, metering flumes, and canal outlets.

Diversion head work: Principles and design of weirs on permeable and impermeable foundation, Khosla’s theory, energy dissipation.

Storage works: Types of dams, design, principles of rigid gravity stability analysis.

Spillways: Spillway types, energy dissipation.

River training: Objectives of river training, methods of river training.

Environmental Engineering

Water Supply

Predicting demand for water, impurities of water and their significance, physical, chemical, and bacteriological analysis, waterborne diseases, and standards for potable water.

Intake of Water

Water treatment: principles of coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation; slow-, rapid-, pressure, filters; chlorination, softening, removal of taste, odour, and salinity.

Sewerage Systems

Domestic and industrial wastes, store sewage—separate and combined systems, flow through sewers, design of sewers.

Sewage Characterisation

BOD, COD, solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, and TOC. Standards of disposal in normal water courses and on land.

Sewage Treatment

Working principles, units, chambers, sedimentation tank, trickling filters, oxidation ponds, activated sludge process, septic tank, disposal of sludge, recycling of wastewater.

Solid Waste

Collection and disposal in rural and urban contexts, management of long-term ill-effects.

Environmental Pollution

Sustainable development. Radioactive wastes and disposal. Environmental impact assessment for thermal power plants, mines, river valley projects. Air pollution. Pollution Control Acts.

Prepare for the exam using the UPSC IAS mains strategy here.

How to Prepare for UPSC Mains Civil Engineering Syllabus?

One has to strategize and prepare for UPSC Mains civil engineering syllabus in an orderly manner as given below:

  • Detailed Understanding of Syllabus: The IAS civil engineering syllabus PDF has to be downloaded from the official UPSC website for a thorough understanding of all topics that have to be covered.
  • Planned Study Schedule: Create a detailed study plan that would allocate sufficient time to each portion of the IAS syllabus civil engineering. Prioritize topics on the basis of intensity and your knowledge.
  • Refer Standard Books: Prescribed textbooks and reference materials must be used for in-depth study. These books are a sure shot for complete coverage of UPSC ias syllabus on civil engineering.
  • Thorough Revision: Be consistent in revisiting the topics for consolidated understanding and retention of the material. It is the key to taming the UPSC civil engineering syllabus.
  • Practice of Previous Year Papers: Practice of previous year question papers helps one understand the pattern of questions, the time management, and kinds of questions that makes more accurate with more confidence.

UPSC Civil Engineering Previous Year Question Papers

Practicing previous year question papers is crucial for excelling in the IAS exam syllabus for civil engineering. These papers get accustomed to the pattern of the exams, estimate difficulty levels of questions, and help improve time management in the minds of the candidate. Regular practice helps reflect in showing important areas and increases the problem-solving speeds, which comes handy during the actual exams.

Civil Engineering Optional Previous Year Question Papers
Year Paper Download Link
2021
 Civil Engineering Paper I Click Here
Civil Engineering Paper II Click Here
2022
 Civil Engineering Paper I Click Here
Civil Engineering Paper II Click Here
2023
 Civil Engineering Paper I Click Here
Civil Engineering Paper II Click Here
2024
 Civil Engineering Paper I Click Here
Civil Engineering Paper II Click Here

Check some more UPSC IAS Previous Year’s Question Papers for other subjects here!

List of Books for UPSC IAS Syllabus for Civil Engineering

A number of books have to be referred to in order to prepare completely for the syllabus of UPSC for Civil Engineering. As provided below, each of these subjects mentioned has been defined in detail in these following texts:

  • Engineering Mechanics by Irving Shames
  • Strength of Materials by Stephen Timoshenko
  • Strength of Materials by S. Ramamrutham
  • Intermediate Structural Analysis by CK Wang
  • Theory of Structures by S. Ramamrutham
  • Design of Steel Structures by S. Duggal: 
  • Prestressed Concrete by N. Krishna Raju
  • Handbook of Reinforced Concrete Design by S.N. Sinha
  • Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics Including Hydraulic Machines by Modi and Seth
  • Flow in Open Channels by K. Subramanya
  • Basic and Applied Soil Mechanics by Gopal Ranjan and Rao
  • Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering by S.K. Garg
  • Construction, Planning, and Management by U.K. Srivastava
  • Irrigation Engineering by S.K. Garg
  • Building Construction by Arora and Bindra
  • Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering by S.K. Garg
  • Surveying by B.C. Punmia
  • Environmental Engineering (both volumes) by S.K. Garg

This was a detailed article about the UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus. To start the preparation for your examination, download the Testbook App and get access to world-class educations, mock tests, etc.

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UPSC Civil Engineering Syllabus 2025 FAQs

Strength of Materials by Stephen Timoshenko Hydraulics and Fluid Mechanics by Modi and Seth among others.

Go through the syllabus of UPSC for civil engineering and then systematically follow each topic with the help of the text book and reference material recommended.

Yes, solving previous papers helps in understanding the exam pattern and time management, the two success factors in civil engineering IAS syllabus.

Broadly speaking, it has Key topics like Structural Analysis, Geotechnical Engineering, and Environmental Engineering, the fundamental parts of the syllabus of UPSC ias civil engineering.

The civil engineering UPSC syllabus is rather specific, discussing the fundamental principles as well as advanced topics of study for all-rounded understanding in civil engineering.

You can download the PDF of the syllabus for UPSC civil engineering from the official UPSC website or any other study hub that may offer resources for examination material.
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