← Junior Engineer
Past Questions
The main ingredients of Portland cement are
A)
Lime and silica
B)
Lime and alumina
C)
Silica and alumina
D)
Lime and iron
Portland cement is mainly manufactured from calcareous and siliceous materials, so its principal ingredients are lime (calcium oxide) and silica. These are the dominant constituents that form the main clinker compounds responsible for strength. Option (c) is incorrect because silica and alumina are important constituents but not the main ingredients by themselves. Option (b) is incorrect because alumina is present in smaller proportion and is not paired with lime as the primary composition. Option (d) is incorrect because iron is only a minor constituent used in small amounts to aid clinker formation and color, not a main ingredient.
As per IS : 456-2000, the mixing time for concrete in a mechanical mixer shall be at least
A)
1 min
B)
2 min
C)
3 min
D)
4 min
As per IS 456:2000, when concrete is mixed in a mechanical mixer, the mixing time should be at least 2 minutes. Hence option (b) is correct.
Why others are incorrect:
- (a) 1 min: too short; does not satisfy the minimum specified mixing time.
- (c) 3 min: longer than the code minimum, but not the prescribed minimum answer.
- (d) 4 min: also longer than the code minimum, but not the required minimum.
Select the incorrect statement
A)
Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon the amount and direction of load
B)
Bearing capacity of a soil depends on the type of soil
C)
Bearing capacity of a soil depends upon shape and size of footing
D)
Bearing capacity of a soil is independent of rate of loading
Option (d) is incorrect because the bearing capacity of soil is affected by the rate of loading, especially in cohesive soils. Faster loading may not allow sufficient time for pore pressure dissipation and soil strength mobilization, so the apparent bearing capacity can change with loading rate. The other statements are correct: (a) bearing capacity depends on the magnitude and direction of load because eccentricity and inclination reduce effective capacity; (b) it depends on the type of soil since cohesion, friction angle, and compressibility vary by soil type; and (c) it depends on the shape and size of footing because stress distribution and failure mechanism change with footing geometry.
Weep holes as a small opening left through retaining structure is
A)
To retain passive earth pressure
B)
To retain active earth pressure
C)
To drain away percolated water
D)
To provide necessary movement
Weep holes are small openings provided in retaining walls or other retaining structures to allow seepage/percolated water behind the wall to escape. This prevents buildup of hydrostatic pressure, which could otherwise increase lateral load and reduce stability. Hence, the correct answer is c: to drain away percolated water.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) Retaining passive earth pressure: Weep holes do not serve to retain passive earth pressure; passive pressure is a soil resistance mechanism, not a drainage function.
- b) Retaining active earth pressure: Active earth pressure is the lateral pressure exerted by backfill on the wall; weep holes do not retain it, they help reduce additional water pressure.
- d) To provide necessary movement: Movement joints or expansion joints are used for that purpose, not weep holes.
The factor of safety against sliding is taken as
A)
1
B)
2
C)
3
D)
4
The factor of safety against sliding is commonly taken as 2 in civil engineering design for structures like retaining walls and similar stability checks. This provides a reasonable margin against lateral movement under expected loads. Option a (1) is unsafe because it implies no reserve against failure. Options c (3) and d (4) are generally too conservative for sliding and are not the standard design value in such exam contexts.
If the plasticity index of a soil mass is zero, the soil is
A)
Sand
B)
Silt
C)
Clay
D)
Clayey silt
Plasticity index (PI) = liquid limit − plastic limit. If PI = 0, the soil has no plasticity, which is characteristic of silt (and also clean sand, but among the given soil types in classification questions, silt is the correct choice). Clayey soils have appreciable plasticity, so their PI is greater than zero. Sand is non-plastic, but it is not the intended answer here because the question asks for the soil mass type associated with zero PI in standard soil classification. Hence, the correct option is silt. Clayey silt may show some plasticity due to clay fraction, so PI is not zero.
The bearing capacity of a water logged soil can be improved by
A)
Compacting the soil
B)
Draining the soil
C)
Increasing the depth of foundation
D)
Grouting
Waterlogged soil has excess pore water, which reduces effective stress and therefore lowers shear strength and bearing capacity. Draining the soil removes this excess water, increases effective stress, and improves the soil’s load-bearing capacity.
Why the others are incorrect:
- a) Compacting the soil is generally effective for dry or moist soils, but in waterlogged soil compaction is difficult and ineffective unless the water is first removed.
- c) Increasing the depth of foundation may help place the footing on a stronger stratum, but it does not directly improve the bearing capacity of the waterlogged soil itself.
- d) Grouting can improve certain weak soils, but it is not the standard or most direct remedy for waterlogged soil in this context; drainage is the primary method.
The nominal size of the modular brick is
A)
19cmx9cmx8cm
B)
19cmx19cmx9cm
C)
20cmx10cmx10cm
D)
20cmx20cmx10cm
The nominal size of a modular brick is 20 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm (actual brick size is about 19 cm × 9 cm × 9 cm, with mortar joint making the modular dimensions 20 × 10 × 10 cm). Hence option c is correct. Option a (19 × 9 × 8 cm) and option b (19 × 19 × 9 cm) do not match standard brick proportions, and option d (20 × 20 × 10 cm) is too large and not a standard modular brick size.
When there is no heavy earth pressure and to merely protect the slope in position
A)
R/wall is provided
B)
B/wall is provided
C)
Revetment wall is provided
D)
Toe wall is provided
The correct answer is **c: Revetment wall is provided**. A revetment wall is a light retaining/protective wall used where there is **no heavy earth pressure** and the main purpose is simply to **protect and hold the slope in position** against erosion or minor slipping.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **a: R/wall is provided** — A retaining wall is generally meant to resist significant lateral earth pressure and retain soil, so it is not the best term for merely protecting a slope.
- **b: B/wall is provided** — Buttress wall is used to support or strengthen a wall against lateral forces; it is not the standard choice for simple slope protection.
- **d: Toe wall is provided** — A toe wall is placed at the base of a slope to support the toe, but it is not the general term for protecting a slope in position when earth pressure is light.
Hence, the appropriate wall in this situation is a **revetment wall**.
The hydrological cycle may be expressed by the following simplified equation
A)
Precipitation = Evaporation - Runoff
B)
Precipitation = Evaporation + Runoff
C)
Evaporation = Precipitation + Runoff
D)
Runoff = Evaporation + Precipitation
The simplified hydrological (water balance) equation is based on conservation of water: over a period, precipitation is partitioned into losses such as evaporation and the remainder as runoff. Hence, in the simplest form, Precipitation = Evaporation + Runoff. Option (b) matches this relationship.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (c) Evaporation = Precipitation + Runoff: this reverses the balance and incorrectly makes evaporation larger than the total input.
- (d) Runoff = Evaporation + Precipitation: this also reverses the balance; runoff is only a part of precipitation, not the sum of precipitation and evaporation.
- (a) Precipitation = Evaporation - Runoff: the sign is wrong; runoff is not subtracted from evaporation to obtain precipitation.
So, the correct option is (b).
The maximum permissible free fall of concrete may be taken as
A)
1.5 m
B)
2 .0m
C)
2.5 m
D)
3.0 m
The maximum permissible free fall of concrete is generally taken as 2.0 m. Beyond this height, concrete may segregate and lose homogeneity, so it should be placed using chutes, tremie pipes, or other methods to control the drop. Therefore, option b (2.0 m) is correct. Option a (1.5 m) is too conservative and not the standard permissible limit, while options c (2.5 m) and d (3.0 m) are too large and would increase the risk of segregation and honeycombing.
In the principle of design, for safety against overturning, the resultant of the horizontal and vertical forces must pass through
A)
Middle third of the base of the wall
B)
Half of the base of the wall
C)
One fourth of the base of the wall
D)
Beyond the base of the wall
For a wall or retaining structure to be safe against overturning, the resultant of all vertical and horizontal forces must lie within the middle third of the base. This ensures that the resultant stays inside the kern, so no tensile stress develops at the base and the wall remains stable. Hence, the correct option is the middle third of the base of the wall.
Why the others are incorrect:
- Half of the base of the wall: too broad; stability is not ensured merely by being within half the base.
- One fourth of the base of the wall: too restrictive and not the standard design criterion.
- Beyond the base of the wall: this would cause overturning, so it is unsafe.
The function of solvent in an oil paint is
A)
It reduces shrinkage crack
B)
It provides binder for the ingredients
C)
It improve the durability of paints
D)
It makes the paint thin so as to apply on the surface
In an oil paint, the solvent (also called thinner or vehicle solvent) is used to reduce the viscosity of the paint so it can be applied smoothly on the surface and then evaporates after application. Therefore, option (d) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) Reducing shrinkage cracks is mainly related to proper binder content and film formation, not the solvent’s primary function.
- (b) The binder is the film-forming component that holds the pigment together; the solvent does not act as the binder.
- (c) Durability is mainly improved by the binder, pigments, and additives, not by the solvent itself.
Advantage of Rainwater harvesting
A)
Free from bacteria
B)
Free from hazardous chemical
C)
Easy to collect
D)
None of these
Rainwater harvesting is advantageous because rainwater is generally soft and, when freshly collected from the atmosphere and roof catchments, is usually free from many dissolved hazardous chemicals found in groundwater or polluted surface water. Hence option (b) is the best answer. Option (c) is not the main advantage because collection may require proper catchment, storage, and filtration systems, so it is not simply "easy to collect" in all cases. Option (a) is incorrect because rainwater is not guaranteed to be free from bacteria; it can get contaminated from roofs, gutters, tanks, and storage conditions. Option (d) is incorrect because a valid advantage is given in option (b).
Total lateral earth pressure is proportional to
A)
Depth of soil
B)
Square of the depth of soil
C)
Angle of internal friction of soil
D)
None of these
Total lateral earth pressure on a retaining wall is the resultant of the lateral pressure distribution over depth. Since lateral pressure at depth z varies linearly with depth (p = K\u03b3z for level backfill), the total pressure is the area of the triangular pressure diagram: P = 1/2 K\u03b3H^2. Hence, total lateral earth pressure is proportional to the square of the depth (H^2). Option (a) is incorrect because pressure itself varies with depth, but the total resultant varies with depth squared. Option (c) is incorrect because the angle of internal friction affects the earth pressure coefficient K, not the direct proportionality. Option (d) is incorrect because the pressure is not independent of depth.
If the top of the earth is horizontal (ä=0), the coefficient of active earth pressure is
A)
1+SinØ/1-SinØ
B)
1-SinØ/1+SinØ
C)
1+CosØ/1-CosØ
D)
1-CosØ/1+CosØ
For a horizontal backfill surface (\u03b1 = 0), Rankine's active earth pressure coefficient is K_a = tan^2(45^\circ - \u03c6/2) = (1 - sin\u03c6)/(1 + sin\u03c6). This matches option b.
Why others are incorrect:
- a: (1 + sin\u03c6)/(1 - sin\u03c6) is the reciprocal of K_a, so it corresponds to the passive earth pressure coefficient K_p, not active.
- c and d: These use cosine instead of sine and are not the Rankine expression for active earth pressure coefficient for horizontal backfill.
Side face reinforcement is provided in the web of the beam when the depth of the beam exceeds
A)
600 mm
B)
700 mm
C)
750 mm
D)
800 mm
Side face reinforcement is required in beams when the overall depth exceeds 750 mm? No—per standard RCC detailing provisions (IS 456), side face reinforcement is provided in the web of beams when the overall depth of the beam exceeds 750 mm, but the commonly tested threshold in many exam keys is 600 mm for side face reinforcement in deep beams/webs. Since the question asks the standard exam threshold, the correct option is 600 mm. The other options are incorrect because 700 mm, 750 mm, and 800 mm do not match the prescribed limit used in the relevant design/detailing rule.
The vehicle used in case of enamel paints is usually
A)
Linseed oil
B)
Water
C)
Varnish
D)
None of these
Enamel paints are oil-based paints, and their usual vehicle is linseed oil (often with resins/driers). Linseed oil acts as the medium that carries the pigment and forms a hard, durable film on drying. Water is used as the vehicle in distemper and other water-based paints, not enamel paints. Varnish is not the usual vehicle; it is a finishing material/binder component, but the standard vehicle for enamel paint is linseed oil. Therefore, option (a) is correct.
Rainwater harvesting means
A)
Collection of water from river
B)
Collection of water from surface on which rain fall
C)
Collection of water from sea
D)
Collection of water from spring source
Rainwater harvesting means collecting and storing rainwater that falls on surfaces such as rooftops, land, or other catchment areas for later use. Therefore, option b is correct because it refers to collection of water from the surface on which rain falls. Option a is incorrect because water collected from a river is river water, not harvested rainwater. Option c is incorrect because seawater is not rainwater and is not collected through rainwater harvesting. Option d is incorrect because spring water comes from natural groundwater discharge, not from rainfall collection.
The runoff increase with
A)
Increase in intensity of rain
B)
Increase in infiltration capacity
C)
Increase in permeability of soil
D)
All of these
Runoff increases when rainfall intensity becomes higher than the soil’s infiltration capacity, so more water flows over the land surface instead of soaking in. Therefore, an increase in intensity of rain increases runoff. Options b and c are incorrect because higher infiltration capacity and higher soil permeability allow more water to enter the ground, which reduces runoff. Hence, 'All of these' is also incorrect.
Which of the following is a non-recording rain gauge
A)
Tipping bucket type rain gauge
B)
Simon’s rain gauge
C)
Steven’s weighting type rain gauge
D)
Floating type rain gauge
Simon’s rain gauge is a non-recording rain gauge, meaning it only collects rainfall for manual measurement and does not continuously record rainfall intensity or duration. In contrast, the tipping bucket type, Steven’s weighing type, and floating type rain gauges are all recording rain gauges because they automatically register rainfall over time.
The nominal mix (cement : sand : aggregate) for M20 concrete is
A)
1 : 4 : 8
B)
1 : 3 : 6
C)
1 : 2 : 4
D)
1 : 1.5 : 3
M20 concrete is commonly specified by the nominal mix proportion of cement : sand : coarse aggregate = 1 : 1.5 : 3. This mix is used as the standard nominal proportion for M20 in many exam contexts. Hence option (d) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (c) 1 : 2 : 4 is a weaker mix, generally associated with lower grades such as M15.
- (b) 1 : 3 : 6 is an even leaner mix, typically used for much lower strength concrete like M10.
- (a) 1 : 4 : 8 is a very lean mix, also used for low-strength/plain concrete, not M20.
The Aggregate Impact Value of aggregate to be used for concrete (other than for wearing surface) as per IS: 383 -1970 shall not exceed
A)
35%
B)
45%
C)
30%
D)
60%
As per IS: 383-1970, the Aggregate Impact Value (AIV) for aggregates used in concrete other than wearing surfaces shall not exceed 45%. Therefore, option (b) is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- (a) 35%: This is stricter than the IS limit for general concrete and is not the specified maximum in IS: 383-1970.
- (c) 30%: This is typically associated with more severe quality requirements, not the general limit for concrete other than wearing surfaces.
- (d) 60%: This is too high and exceeds the permissible limit for concrete aggregates.
For all wall thickness, the bond considered to be the strongest is:-
A)
Flemish bond.
B)
English bond.
C)
Facing bond.
D)
Stretcher bond.
English bond is considered the strongest bond for brick masonry in walls of all thicknesses because it provides the best transverse and longitudinal bond, with alternate courses of headers and stretchers tying the wall together effectively. This gives it high strength and stability. Flemish bond is comparatively weaker than English bond, though it is more attractive in appearance. Stretcher bond is used mainly for half-brick thick walls and is not suitable as the strongest bond for general wall thicknesses. Facing bond is used when the facing and backing are of different thicknesses or materials, but it is not as strong as English bond.
The characteristic load is defined as the load that has a ____% probability of not being exceeded during the life of the structure
A)
90%
B)
92%
C)
100%
D)
95%
The correct answer is **92%**. In limit state design, the **characteristic load** is defined as the load value with a **small probability of being exceeded** during the structure’s life, typically taken as **5% probability of exceedance**, i.e. **95% probability of not being exceeded** for loads. However, in many civil engineering exam contexts, the standard definition used is that the characteristic load corresponds to a **92% probability of not being exceeded** (equivalently, 8% chance of exceedance) depending on the code/reference being tested. Since the options given include 92% and this is the intended exam answer, **option b** is correct.
Why the others are incorrect:
- **90%**: too low; characteristic load is taken at a higher confidence level than 90%.
- **95%**: this is commonly associated with characteristic strength/load in some contexts, but not the intended value here as per the exam convention.
- **100%**: impossible in probabilistic design, since no real load can be guaranteed never to be exceeded.