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Past Questions — 2026
Which of the following is the weight added above retaining walls?
A)
Surcharge
B)
Backfill
C)
Earth pressure
D)
Superimposed loads
A surcharge is any additional load placed on the backfill or ground above a retaining wall, such as traffic, buildings, or stored materials. This extra weight increases the lateral pressure on the wall. Backfill is the soil placed behind the wall, earth pressure is the lateral pressure itself, and superimposed loads is a broader term, but the specific term for weight added above retaining walls is surcharge.
The plinth area of a building does not include:
A)
Area of the walls at the floor level
B)
Area of cantilevered porch
C)
Internal shaft for sanitary installations up to 2 sqm in area
D)
Lifts and walls including landing
Plinth area is the covered built-up area measured at floor level, and it generally includes wall area, cantilevered porch projections, and spaces occupied by lifts and walls/landings. However, internal shafts for sanitary installations up to 2 sqm are excluded from plinth area calculations. Therefore, option (c) is correct.
The total area that can be irrigated from a project on its full utilization in a design agricultural area is:
A)
Ultimate Irrigation Potential
B)
Gross Irrigated Area
C)
Irrigation Potential Utilized
D)
Irrigation Potential Created
The phrase "total area that can be irrigated from a project on its full utilization in a design agricultural area" refers to the maximum irrigation area a project is capable of serving when fully developed. This is called the **Ultimate Irrigation Potential**.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Gross Irrigated Area**: This is the total area actually irrigated, including overlapping crops, not the designed full capacity of a project.
- **Irrigation Potential Utilized**: This means the portion of created potential that is actually being used.
- **Irrigation Potential Created**: This is the area for which irrigation facilities have been developed, but not necessarily the full utilization in the design agricultural area.
Hence, the correct answer is **(a) Ultimate Irrigation Potential**.
A rectangular plot of land is to be excavated 20 m long, 10 m wide and 3m deep. What is the volume of earth to be excavated?
A)
500 m3
B)
600 m3
C)
700 m3
D)
800 m3
For a rectangular excavation, volume = length × width × depth. So, 20 × 10 × 3 = 600 m3. Therefore, the correct answer is 600 m3. The other options do not match the calculated volume.
A weir is said to be narrow-crested, if the width of the crest of the weir is (where H = height of water above weir crest):
A)
Equal to H
B)
Less than H
C)
More than H
D)
None of the above
A weir is called a narrow-crested weir when the crest width is smaller than the head over the crest, i.e., width of crest < H. In this case, the water passes over a relatively sharp/narrow top. If the crest width were large compared to H, it would be considered a broad-crested weir. Hence, the correct choice is (b).
Which of the following is a common problem in unlined irrigation channels?
A)
Reduced seepage losses
B)
Waterlogging and seepage
C)
Increased water velocity
D)
Higher construction cost
Unlined irrigation channels allow water to seep through the bed and sides into the surrounding soil. This seepage can raise the groundwater table and cause waterlogging in nearby fields. Hence, a common problem in unlined channels is waterlogging and seepage. The other options are incorrect because reduced seepage losses is an advantage of lined channels, increased water velocity is not a typical problem, and higher construction cost applies to lined channels rather than unlined ones.
Manning’s formula is used for:
A)
Head loss due to friction in pipes
B)
Head loss due to friction in open channel
C)
Flow in pipes
D)
Flow in open channel
Manning’s formula (or Manning’s equation) is used to estimate discharge/velocity in **open channel flow**, such as canals, rivers, and drains. It relates flow to channel roughness, slope, and hydraulic radius. It is not used for pipe flow or directly for head loss in pipes. Therefore, the correct answer is **(d) Flow in open channel**.
The brick work is not measured in cu m in case of:
A)
One or more than one brick wall
B)
Brick work in arches
C)
Reinforced brick work
D)
Half brick wall
Brickwork is generally measured in cubic metres (cu m) when the wall has a substantial thickness, such as one-brick or multi-brick walls, arches, and reinforced brick work. However, half-brick wall is usually measured in square metres because its thickness is small and uniform, so volume measurement is not preferred. Therefore, the correct answer is Half brick wall.
What is the time interval between two consecutive watering called?
A)
Crop period
B)
Rotation period
C)
Period
D)
Base period
The time interval between two consecutive waterings is called the rotation period. In irrigation engineering, this refers to the repeat cycle of water supply to a field or canal command area.
- Crop period: total duration from sowing to harvesting of a crop.
- Base period: total time from the first watering to the last watering of a crop.
- Period: too generic and not a specific irrigation term.
So, the correct answer is Rotation period.
The percentage composition of alumina in Portland cement is ___________.
A)
60-69
B)
17-25
C)
3-8
D)
2-4
In ordinary Portland cement, alumina (Al2O3) is present in a small percentage, typically about 2% to 4%. The major constituents are lime, silica, alumina, and iron oxide, but alumina is not present in large quantity. Hence option (d) is correct. Option (a) corresponds to lime, while the other ranges do not match the usual alumina content.
Which compound causes the cement efflorescent, if present in excess?
A)
Iron oxide
B)
Alkali oxide
C)
Sulphur trioxide
D)
Lime
Efflorescence in cement is the white crystalline deposit formed on the surface due to soluble salts. Excess alkali oxides in cement can react and produce soluble compounds that migrate with moisture to the surface and crystallize there. Iron oxide does not cause efflorescence, sulphur trioxide is mainly associated with soundness issues, and lime excess is related more to unsoundness rather than efflorescence.
In an irrigation channel the critical depth can be produced by:
A)
Lowering the bottom and reducing the width
B)
Raising the bottom and reducing the width
C)
Raising the bottom and increasing the width
D)
Lowering the bottom and increasing the width
Critical depth in an irrigation channel is created where the specific energy becomes minimum for a given discharge. To produce critical flow, the channel section is contracted and/or raised so that velocity increases and depth decreases to the critical value. Raising the bed reduces the available energy, and reducing the width constricts the flow, both helping the flow reach critical depth. Therefore, the correct option is (b).
For given values of top width and water depth of water surface in a channel, in which section seepage will be maximum:
A)
Triangular
B)
Rectangular
C)
Trapezoidal
D)
Same in all sections
For a given top width and water depth, seepage is maximum in a triangular channel section. This is because the triangular section has the largest wetted perimeter for the same top width and depth, so the area of contact with the permeable bed and sides is greater, leading to more seepage. Rectangular and trapezoidal sections have comparatively smaller wetted perimeter, so seepage is less. Therefore, the correct answer is Triangular.
Which of the following methods of contouring is most suitable for a hilly terrain?
A)
Tachometric method
B)
Direct method
C)
Square method
D)
Cross-sections method
In hilly terrain, contouring is best done by the tachometric method because it is rapid and suitable for rough, steep, and inaccessible ground. It allows elevations and horizontal distances to be obtained efficiently without extensive chaining.
Why others are less suitable:
- Direct method: very accurate, but slow and laborious; not suitable for rough hilly areas.
- Square method: generally used for relatively level ground and detailed contouring over small areas.
- Cross-sections method: mainly used for route surveys like roads, railways, and canals, not for general hilly terrain contouring.
Hence, the most suitable method is the tachometric method.
When the velocity of flowing water causes no scouring or no silting in a channel, it is known as:
A)
Critical velocity
B)
Optimum velocity
C)
Average velocity
D)
Minimum velocity
The velocity at which flowing water does not cause either silting or scouring in a channel is called the optimum (or non-silting, non-scouring) velocity. It is the desirable velocity for stable channel flow.
- Critical velocity is related to the condition of flow where specific discharge and channel parameters create a threshold relation, but it is not the standard term for no silting/no scouring.
- Average velocity is just the mean velocity of flow.
- Minimum velocity is simply the lowest velocity and does not imply stable channel conditions.
Therefore, the correct answer is Optimum velocity.
If the slump value of the concrete mix is 60mm, what is the workability level?
A)
Low
B)
Medium
C)
High
D)
Very High
Slump is a measure of workability of concrete. A slump value of about 25–75 mm is generally classified as medium workability. Since the given slump is 60 mm, it falls in the medium workability range. Low workability is usually associated with very small slump, while high and very high workability correspond to much larger slump values.
Which zone is the most important from an irrigation point of view?
A)
Soil Zone
B)
Intermediate Zone
C)
Capillary Zone
D)
Saturation Zone
In irrigation engineering, the soil zone is the most important because it is the root zone where plant roots grow and extract water and nutrients. Irrigation water must be stored in this zone in a form available to plants. The capillary zone and saturation zone mainly describe water below the root zone, while the intermediate zone is not the primary zone of concern for crop water use.
The horizontal direction or angle of a line relative to a meridian is called :
A)
Declination
B)
Azimuth
C)
Dip
D)
Bearing
The horizontal direction or angle of a line measured with respect to a meridian is called its bearing. It specifies the orientation of the line in surveying.
Why not the others:
- Declination: angle between the magnetic meridian and true meridian.
- Azimuth: horizontal angle measured clockwise from a reference meridian, usually north, but the standard term asked here is bearing.
- Dip: inclination of a line or plane from the horizontal, commonly used in geology.
Therefore, the correct answer is Bearing.
In EI30, I30 stands for:
A)
Rainfall intensity at 30 cm
B)
Maximum rainfall intensity at 30 min duration
C)
Rainfall intensity at 30 mins interval
D)
Maximum rainfall intensity at 30 cm
In the EI30 erosion index, I30 means the maximum rainfall intensity occurring over a 30-minute duration. The 'E' stands for kinetic energy of rainfall, and 'I30' is the highest 30-minute rainfall intensity used to measure erosive power. Option (a) and (d) are incorrect because intensity is not measured in cm. Option (c) is vague and does not specify maximum intensity.
To make out an estimate for a work, the following data are necessary-Drawing, Specification and ___________.
A)
Materials
B)
Rates
C)
Labours
D)
Transportation
To prepare an estimate for a work, the essential data are drawing, specification, and rates. Drawings show the dimensions and details of the work, specifications define the quality and type of materials/workmanship, and rates are needed to calculate the cost. Materials, labour, and transportation are part of cost components, but they are not the standard third basic data item in estimate preparation.
What is the BIS code for the specifications of Ordinary Portland cement (OPC)?
A)
IS 10262:2019
B)
IS 1489:2015
C)
IS 383:2016
D)
IS 269:2015
Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is covered under BIS specification IS 269. The latest referenced version in the options is IS 269:2015, which specifies requirements for OPC. Option (a) IS 10262:2019 is for concrete mix proportioning, (b) IS 1489:2015 is for Portland pozzolana cement, and (c) IS 383:2016 is for coarse and fine aggregates for concrete.
What is the permissible velocity of water in cement concrete line canal as per IS10430-2000?
A)
2.7 m/s
B)
1.6 m/s
C)
2.6 m/s
D)
1.8 m/s
As per IS 10430:2000, the permissible velocity for a cement concrete lined canal is 2.7 m/s. This is the standard value used for lined canals to ensure safe flow without causing damage to the lining. The other values are lower or not the specified permissible velocity for cement concrete lining in this standard.
For initial estimate for a beam design, the width is assumed:
A)
1/15th of span
B)
1/20th of span
C)
1/25th of span
D)
1/30th of span
For preliminary or initial estimation of a reinforced concrete beam, the beam width is commonly assumed as about 1/25 of the span. This gives a reasonable starting size before detailed design checks. The other ratios are generally used for other approximate member proportions or are too small/large for beam width estimation.
How can we identify a turning point in a levelling operation?
A)
It has both plus and minus sights
B)
It has two minus sights
C)
It is the point of known elevation
D)
It has two plus sights.
A turning point in levelling is a point on which the instrument is not set up, but from which a staff reading is taken before shifting the instrument and again after shifting it. Therefore, it receives a foresight (minus sight) from one setup and a backsight (plus sight) from the next setup. Hence, it is identified by having both plus and minus sights. Option (b) is incorrect because two minus sights are not the defining feature; option (c) is incorrect because a turning point need not be a point of known elevation; option (d) is incorrect because two plus sights are also not the characteristic of a turning point.
Gravity dam is most suitable when the foundation is __________.
A)
Weak
B)
strong
C)
with heavy burden
D)
rocky but cracked
A gravity dam resists water pressure mainly by its own weight, so it requires a very strong and stable foundation to safely transmit the load to the ground. Weak, burdened, or cracked foundations are unsuitable because they may lead to settlement, sliding, or failure. Therefore, the correct answer is strong foundation.