← Junior Engineer
Past Questions
The intercepted precipitation that drips off the plant leaves to join the ground surface or the surface flow is known as:-
A)
throughfall
B)
stemflow
C)
Mass-transfer
D)
None of the above
The correct answer is **throughfall**. Throughfall is the portion of intercepted precipitation that drips from plant leaves, branches, and other canopy surfaces to the ground, contributing to ground surface water or surface runoff.
- **b) Stemflow** is the water that flows down the plant stem or trunk after being intercepted by the canopy, not the water dripping from leaves to the ground.
- **c) Mass-transfer** is not a standard hydrologic term for this process.
- **d) None of the above** is incorrect because **throughfall** is the correct term.
The usual front batter kept in Breast wall is:-
A)
1:2
B)
1:2.5
C)
1:3
D)
1:3.5
The usual front batter provided in a breast wall is 1:2 (vertical : horizontal). This is the standard batter adopted to ensure stability against earth pressure while keeping the wall economical and practical to construct. Hence option (a) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- 1:2.5, 1:3, and 1:3.5 are flatter batters than normally used for a breast wall. They may be used in special cases, but they are not the usual standard front batter.
- Therefore, options (b), (c), and (d) do not represent the commonly adopted batter for breast walls.
The method to convert the point rainfall at various locations into an average value over the catchment area in which the rainfall recorded at each station is given a weightage on the basis of an area closest to the station is:-
A)
Isohyetal Method
B)
Thiessen-Mean method
C)
Arithmetical-Mean method
D)
Double-mass curve technique
The correct answer is **Thiessen-Mean method**. In this method, rainfall recorded at each gauge is assigned a weight proportional to the **area of influence** closest to that station, determined by Thiessen polygons. Thus, point rainfall values are converted into an average areal rainfall over the catchment using area-based weighting.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Arithmetical-Mean method**: simply averages all station rainfalls equally, without any area weighting.
- **Double-mass curve technique**: used to check consistency of rainfall data, not to compute areal average rainfall.
- **Isohyetal Method**: uses contours of equal rainfall (isohyets) and weights rainfall by the area between isohyets; it is not based on the nearest-station area weighting described in the question.
The kind of precipitation not considered in the calculation of rain water harvesting potential over an area from the following is:-
A)
Drizzle
B)
First flush of rain
C)
Glaze
D)
None of these
The correct option is **b) First flush of rain**. In rainwater harvesting calculations, the initial portion of rainfall is usually not counted as usable because it washes dust, debris, and contaminants from the catchment surface. This is called the **first flush**, and it is intentionally excluded from the effective harvestable rainfall.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **a) Drizzle**: Drizzle is a form of precipitation, but it is not the standard term excluded specifically in rainwater harvesting potential calculations.
- **c) Glaze**: Glaze refers to freezing rain/ice deposition, not a usual category considered in rainfall harvesting potential.
- **d) None of these**: Incorrect because **first flush** is indeed excluded from the usable rainfall calculation.
In the theory of Limit state design of singly re-inforced members in bending, the ultimate failure strain of the concrete is assumed as:-
A)
0.02
B)
0.002
C)
0.035
D)
0.0035
In limit state design of reinforced concrete members in bending, the ultimate compressive strain in concrete at the extreme compression fiber is taken as 0.0035 (i.e., 0.35%). Hence option d is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- a) 0.02 is far too large for concrete ultimate strain in bending.
- b) 0.002 is the approximate strain at the onset of yielding/working range, not the ultimate concrete strain.
- c) 0.035 is an order of magnitude too high and not used in RCC limit state design.
What should be the recommended control measures for Earth flow type of land slide from the followings:-
A)
Spot bolting
B)
Bio-technical measure
C)
Series of check dams
D)
Re-inforced earth
Earth flow landslides are slow to rapid flows of saturated soil, so the main control is to reduce water content and intercept runoff. A series of check dams is recommended because they slow surface flow, trap sediment, and help stabilize the drainage channel, thereby reducing the driving force for earth flow. Bio-technical measures are more suitable for shallow slope stabilization and erosion control, not for controlling flowing saturated masses. Reinforced earth is used for retaining and stabilizing engineered fills, not for treating earth-flow landslides. Spot bolting is effective for rock slopes and block failures, not for soil flow failures.
Which of the is not among the erosion control measures in the stabilisation of slope method:-
A)
Micro-piles
B)
Asphalt mulch technique
C)
Jute/Coir netting
D)
Bally benching
Micro-piles are structural foundation elements used to support or stabilize loads, not an erosion control measure in slope stabilization. In contrast, Bally benching is a slope modification method that reduces slope length and runoff velocity, jute/coir netting is a biodegradable erosion-control blanket used to protect exposed soil, and asphalt mulch technique is used as a surface cover to reduce erosion and improve surface stability. Therefore, micro-piles is the option not among the erosion control measures.
Choose one of the Sub-Classifications of serviceability limit state in a limit state design method of RCC members from the followings: -
A)
Cracking
B)
Flexure
C)
Shear
D)
Torsion
In limit state design of RCC members, serviceability limit state deals with conditions affecting the usability and appearance of the structure, such as excessive deflection, vibration, and cracking. Therefore, "Cracking" is a sub-classification of serviceability limit state. The other options—Flexure, Shear, and Torsion—are modes of structural action/failure considered under strength (ultimate limit state) design, not serviceability limit state.
If the Brick sample is yellowish in colour, it indicates:-
A)
Excess lime
B)
Excess alumina
C)
Less magnesia
D)
Less Iron oxide
A yellowish colour in a brick generally indicates a deficiency of iron oxide. Iron oxide is responsible for the red colour in well-burnt bricks; when it is less, the brick tends to appear yellowish or pale.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Excess lime usually causes lime blowing or unsoundness, not a yellowish colour.
- Excess alumina mainly affects plasticity and shrinkage during drying/burning, not brick colour.
- Less magnesia is not the standard cause of yellowish colour; magnesia in small amounts may improve colour, but its deficiency is not the usual indicator here.
For foundation on a ground surface sloping downward, the horizontal distance from the lower edge of the footing to the sloping surface, for soil shall be at least:-
A)
50cm
B)
60cm
C)
90cm
D)
100cm
For a footing on a sloping ground surface, the lower edge of the footing should be kept sufficiently away from the slope to avoid loss of bearing support and possible sliding/settlement. For soil, the minimum horizontal distance from the lower edge of the footing to the sloping surface is 60 cm. Hence option (b) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- 50 cm is less than the prescribed minimum, so it is unsafe.
- 90 cm and 100 cm are greater than the minimum, but the question asks for the least required distance; therefore they are not the correct standard answer.
Top dome in elevated water tank is provided in stead of roof slab because:-
A)
it is more economical comparatively
B)
it is stronger given the same cross section
C)
it is easier to construct
D)
it provides higher capacity with the same dimensions
A dome is provided at the top of an elevated water tank because, for the same amount of material/cross-section, a dome is structurally stronger and more efficient than a flat roof slab. It carries loads mainly through compressive membrane action, so it can span larger areas with less bending and less material.
Why others are incorrect:
- a) More economical comparatively: not the primary reason; economy may result, but the key structural reason is strength/efficiency.
- c) Easier to construct: a dome is generally more difficult to construct than a flat slab.
- d) Provides higher capacity with the same dimensions: tank capacity depends mainly on tank volume and dimensions, not on whether the roof is dome or slab.
Choose the incorrect statement with reference to working stress method of RCC design:-
A)
It gives higher percentage of compression steels in comparison with Limit state method
B)
It deals with the elastic behaviour of the member, thus giving the real strength of the member
C)
The modular ratio utilised in the design is an imaginary quantity
D)
It results to uneconomical sections while designing a compression member
The incorrect statement is **(b)**. In the **working stress method (WSM)**, RCC members are designed on the basis of **elastic theory** and **permissible stresses** under service loads. It does **not** give the real/ultimate strength of the member; rather, it estimates stresses assuming linear elastic behavior and uses a factor of safety. Hence the phrase “giving the real strength of the member” is wrong.
Why the others are correct:
- **(a)** WSM generally leads to **higher steel percentage**, especially compression steel, compared with the limit state method because it is more conservative and often results in larger sections and more reinforcement.
- **(c)** The **modular ratio** used in WSM is an **imaginary/effective quantity** (not a true material constant), introduced to transform steel into equivalent concrete.
- **(d)** WSM often results in **uneconomical sections for compression members** because it is based on service-load stresses and conservative permissible stress limits, leading to larger member sizes.
The convenient starting point to describe the hydrologic cycle is:-
A)
Surface runoff
B)
Ocean
C)
Clouds
D)
Underground water
The correct answer is **b) Ocean**. In hydrology, the **ocean is commonly taken as the convenient starting point** for describing the hydrologic cycle because it is the largest reservoir of water on Earth and the main source of evaporation that drives the cycle.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **a) Surface runoff**: This is only one component of the cycle, occurring after precipitation; it is not a natural starting point for the overall cycle.
- **c) Clouds**: Clouds are part of atmospheric storage and transport, but they are not the most convenient starting point for the full cycle.
- **d) Underground water**: Groundwater is also only one storage component in the cycle, not the usual starting reference point.
Hence, **ocean** is the standard and most convenient starting point.
Which one of the followings is not a type of deep foundation:-
A)
Driven pile cast in-situ
B)
Caissons
C)
Well foundation
D)
Raft foundation
Raft foundation is not a deep foundation; it is a shallow foundation that spreads the load over a large area near the ground surface. In contrast, driven pile cast in-situ, well foundation, and caissons are all types of deep foundations because they transfer structural loads to deeper, stronger strata below the surface.
The design load to be used in the designing with limit state method for RCC members is :
A)
Elastic load
B)
Working load
C)
Mean ultimate load
D)
Factored load
In the limit state method for RCC design, members are designed using the **design load**, which is the **factored load** obtained by multiplying the characteristic (service) loads by appropriate load factors. This ensures safety against collapse and accounts for uncertainties in loads and material strength.
Why others are incorrect:
- **Working load (b):** Used in the working stress method, not the limit state method.
- **Elastic load (a):** Not a standard design load term for RCC limit state design.
- **Mean ultimate load (c):** Not used as the design load; design is based on factored characteristic loads, not mean ultimate values.
Choose the load considered in the design of Rivetment walls from the followings:-
A)
Lateral earth pressure
B)
Pore water pressure
C)
Traffic wheel load
D)
None of these
Rivetment walls are retaining/protective walls used to support soil and protect slopes or embankments, so the primary design action considered is the lateral earth pressure acting on the wall. Traffic wheel load is not the governing load for a rivetment wall in general, and pore water pressure is considered only if drainage is poor or water is present, but it is not the standard single load asked here. Therefore, the correct option is lateral earth pressure. Traffic wheel load is incorrect because it is relevant to bridge decks, pavements, or retaining walls near roadways only when specifically stated. Pore water pressure is not the main design load unless seepage/water table effects are explicitly included. 'None of these' is incorrect because lateral earth pressure is indeed a design load.
In which type of the following soils, settlement of foundation may continue almost indefinitely after the construction of structure is completed:-
A)
Organic soil
B)
Silts & Clays
C)
Sand & Gravels
D)
None of these
Organic soils are highly compressible and undergo long-term secondary compression (creep) and decomposition of organic matter, so foundation settlement can continue for a very long time after construction—sometimes almost indefinitely.
Why others are incorrect:
- Silts & clays do undergo consolidation settlement, but it is generally not described as continuing almost indefinitely; it mainly occurs over a finite consolidation period, though clays may also have some secondary settlement.
- Sand & gravels are coarse-grained, highly permeable soils that drain quickly and experience little long-term settlement after construction.
- None of these is incorrect because organic soils are the soil type associated with prolonged settlement.
Stepped foundation in Retaining wall / Breast wall may be provided in the case of:-
A)
Weak foundation soil
B)
Rock slope
C)
Soil prone to erosion
D)
None of these
Stepped foundations in retaining walls or breast walls are generally provided on rock slopes, where the ground surface is irregular and the foundation can be safely founded at different levels by stepping. This helps maintain proper bearing on the rock and reduces unnecessary excavation.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) Weak foundation soil: stepped foundations are not preferred on weak soil; instead, a wider or deeper foundation is usually needed to reduce bearing pressure.
- c) Soil prone to erosion: erosion-prone soil requires protection and proper drainage, not stepped footing as the main solution.
- d) None of these: incorrect because stepped foundations are indeed used in rock slopes.
The safety against sliding of Retaining wall can be increased by:-
A)
increasing base area
B)
additional concrete key
C)
Dipping the base towards hill side
D)
All of these
The safety of a retaining wall against sliding can be increased by all three measures: (1) providing an additional concrete key increases passive resistance against sliding, (2) increasing the base area increases the wall’s self-weight and hence frictional resistance at the base, and (3) dipping the base toward the hill side improves resistance by mobilizing greater passive resistance and reducing the tendency to slide. Therefore, all listed methods help, so the correct answer is d. The individual options b and c are not incorrect; they are both valid sliding-resistance measures, and option d correctly includes them all.
If the viscosity of a liquid lubricants is low:-
A)
it will result in more frictional resistance
B)
the film of liquid lubricant will not last
C)
it will become a semi-solid lubricant
D)
None of these
Low viscosity means the lubricant is thin and has poor resistance to flow, so it cannot maintain a strong separating film between moving surfaces. As a result, the liquid lubricant film breaks down quickly and does not last, leading to boundary contact. Option (b) is therefore correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) More frictional resistance is a consequence of film failure, but the direct effect of low viscosity is that the lubricant film cannot be sustained.
- (c) A liquid lubricant does not become a semi-solid just because its viscosity is low; semi-solid lubricants are a different class (e.g., greases).
- (d) Incorrect because option (b) is true.
The unit weight of water at reference temperature of 4o is:-
A)
1 KN/m3
B)
1 N/m3
C)
1 Kg/cc
D)
1 gm/cc
At the reference temperature of 4°C, the density of water is approximately 1000 kg/m³, so its unit weight is \u03b3 = \u03c1g \approx 1000 \times 9.81 = 9810 N/m³ \approx 9.81 kN/m³. In many competitive-exam MCQs, this is rounded and represented as 1 kN/m³ only if the question intends a simplified unit-weight value, but the physically correct standard value is 9.81 kN/m³. Among the given options, the intended answer is option a (1 kN/m³) because it is the only option in force-per-volume units and is likely a misprinted/rounded exam key.
Why others are incorrect:
- b) 1 N/m³ is far too small for water; unit weight of water is about 9810 N/m³.
- c) 1 kg/cc is a density unit, not unit weight, and is also numerically incorrect for water (water density is about 1 g/cc = 0.001 kg/cc).
- d) 1 gm/cc is a density unit, not unit weight; it equals the density of water, not its unit weight.
A hollow tapered burnt clay tiles having a conical shape are called:-
A)
Pot tiles
B)
Guna tiles
C)
Flemish tiles
D)
Pan tiles
Hollow tapered burnt clay tiles with a conical shape are called **pot tiles**. These are used in roofing and are characterized by their hollow, tapering, pot-like form.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **Flemish tiles**: This term refers to a type of brick bond, not a conical hollow clay tile.
- **Guna tiles**: Not the standard term for conical hollow burnt clay roofing tiles in civil engineering terminology.
- **Pan tiles**: These are S-shaped roofing tiles, not conical hollow tiles.
Therefore, the correct answer is **a) Pot tiles**.
The ingredient of paint to make it thin so that it can be easily applied on the surface are:-
A)
Vehicles
B)
Solvents
C)
Bases
D)
Driers
Solvents are the ingredients added to paint to thin it and reduce viscosity, making it easier to apply by brush, spray, or roller. They evaporate after application, leaving the paint film behind. Vehicles are the binding medium that holds the pigment and forms the paint film, bases are not used for thinning paint, and driers are additives that speed up drying rather than thinning the paint.
The method for reduction of reservoir evaporation limited to small water bodies such as ponds etc. Is:-
A)
Reduction of surface area
B)
Mechanical covers
C)
Chemical films application
D)
None of these
Chemical films application is the method used for reducing evaporation from small water bodies such as ponds. A monomolecular film spreads over the water surface and suppresses evaporation effectively, especially where the area is limited. Reduction of surface area is not a practical evaporation-control method for an existing reservoir, and mechanical covers are generally too costly and impractical for reservoirs or ponds except in special cases. Hence, the correct answer is chemical films application.
The resistance to corrosion in stainless steel is mainly contributed by the ingredient:-
A)
Nickel
B)
Molybdenum
C)
Chromium
D)
None of these
Chromium is the main element that gives stainless steel its corrosion resistance. It forms a thin, adherent, self-healing passive oxide film (chromium oxide) on the surface, which protects the steel from further oxidation and rusting. Nickel improves toughness, ductility, and corrosion resistance in some stainless steels, but it is not the primary cause of stainless behavior. Molybdenum further improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion, especially in chloride environments, but again it is an added enhancer rather than the main contributor. Therefore, the correct answer is Chromium.