← MES Jr. Grade
Past Questions
The damp proof course (D.P.C) is measured in
A)
Cub.m
B)
Sqm
C)
Metres
D)
None of these
Damp proof course (D.P.C.) is a thin horizontal layer provided in walls to prevent rising dampness. Since it is measured by its surface area, it is taken in square metres (sqm), not in cubic metres or running metres. Hence, option (b) is correct.
ABCD is a regular parallelogram plot of land, whose angle BAD is 60°. If the bearing of the line AB is 30°, then the bearing of the line CD is
A)
90°
B)
120°
C)
210°
D)
270°
In a parallelogram, opposite sides are parallel. So AB is parallel to CD, but the direction of CD depends on the order of traversal.
Given bearing of AB = 30°.
Angle BAD = 60°, so the adjacent side AD makes a 60° angle with AB. Since ABCD is a parallelogram, CD is parallel to AB and its bearing from C to D is the same as AB if taken in the same direction, but in standard plotting questions the bearing of line CD usually means from C to D, which is opposite to AB's direction only if the line is considered along the polygon sequence.
Here, moving around the parallelogram A → B → C → D, side CD is parallel to AB but directed opposite to AB. Therefore:
30° + 180° = 210°
However, the angle BAD = 60° indicates the interior geometry, and the line CD as asked in surveying convention is taken parallel to AB with the same forward bearing from C to D only if the orientation matches. The intended answer in such MPSC surveying MCQs is 120°, obtained by adding the interior angle to the bearing of AB: 30° + 60° = 90°? That does not match the options.
Using the standard parallelogram bearing relation, the correct bearing of CD is AB + 180° = 210°.
So the correct option is (c) 210°.
Crashing to the project means
A)
reducing the time of completion by spending more resources
B)
reducing the cost of project by delaying the time of completion
C)
reducing the project size to save the resources
D)
all of these
In construction management, crashing means shortening the project duration by adding extra resources such as labor, equipment, or overtime, which usually increases direct cost. Option (a) states this correctly. Option (b) is wrong because delaying completion does not define crashing. Option (c) is unrelated, and option (d) is incorrect because not all statements are true.
Maximum equivalent single wheel load as per IRC is
A)
4080 kg
B)
8610 kg
C)
1020 kg
D)
2040 kg
As per IRC loading for highway bridges/roads, the maximum equivalent single wheel load is taken as 2040 kg. The other values correspond to different axle or equivalent load components, not the maximum single wheel load.
A construction schedule is prepared after collecting
A)
Number of operations
B)
Output of labour
C)
Output of machinery
D)
All of these
A construction schedule is developed using the planned sequence of work, the number of operations involved, and the expected productivity of labour and machinery. These inputs are needed to estimate durations and allocate resources properly. Therefore, it is prepared after collecting all of these.
If the quadrantal bearing of a line is N 25° W, then the whole circle bearing of the line is
A)
S 25° E
B)
205°
C)
335°
D)
295°
Quadrantal bearing N 25° W means the line lies in the northwest quadrant, making an angle of 25° west of north. Whole circle bearing is measured clockwise from north, so it is 360° - 25° = 335°. Hence, the correct answer is 335°.
Liquefaction may occur
A)
when there are vibrations induced by earthquakes
B)
when there is cyclic loading in sand deposits
C)
in the presence of loose, poor sand with mostly uniform size particles
D)
all of these
Liquefaction is the loss of strength in saturated soil, especially loose sand, due to increased pore water pressure. It may occur during earthquake vibrations, under cyclic loading in sand deposits, and is more likely in loose, poorly graded sand with uniform particles. Therefore, all the given conditions are correct.
The liquefaction of loose sand deposits may be caused by
A)
Dilatancy
B)
Sensitivity
C)
Thixotropy
D)
None of these
Liquefaction of loose sand deposits is associated with a loss of strength due to vibration or cyclic loading, and in soil mechanics this behavior is commonly linked with thixotropic effects in saturated fine-grained soils and loose deposits. Among the given options, thixotropy is the closest and correct choice. Dilatancy is the tendency of dense sand to expand on shearing, not liquefy. Sensitivity refers to the loss of strength of clay upon remoulding, not loose sand liquefaction.
The co-efficient of friction for laminar flow through a circular pipe is given by
A)
f = 0.079 / Re^1/4
B)
f = 16 / Re
C)
f = 64 / Re
D)
none of these
For laminar flow in a circular pipe, the Darcy friction factor is given by f = 64/Re. This is the standard result from Hagen–Poiseuille flow. Option (a) is the Blasius equation for turbulent flow in smooth pipes, and option (b) is not the Darcy friction factor for a circular pipe in laminar flow.
Which of the following is an example of free vortex flow?
A)
A whirlpool in a river
B)
Flow of liquid through a hole provided at the bottom of a container
C)
Flow of liquid around a circular bend in a pipe
D)
All of these
A free vortex flow is one in which the fluid rotates without any external torque, and the angular momentum remains constant. A whirlpool in a river is a standard example of free vortex flow. Flow through a hole at the bottom of a container is also often treated as a free vortex-type motion near the outlet, but in standard MCQ context the clearest example given here is the whirlpool. Flow around a circular bend in a pipe is not a free vortex; it is a forced/curved flow due to pressure and boundary effects. Hence, the best answer is (a).
For irrigation purpose, the pH value of water should be
A)
Between 3 and 6
B)
Between 6 and 8.5
C)
Between 8.5 and 11
D)
More than 11
Irrigation water should be near neutral to slightly alkaline for safe use by crops and soils. A pH in the range of about 6 to 8.5 is generally considered suitable. Water that is too acidic (below 6) can harm plants and soil chemistry, while highly alkaline water (above 8.5) may create soil problems and reduce nutrient availability. Hence, option (b) is correct.
The discharge through a trapezoidal channel is maximum when
A)
half of top width = sloping side
B)
top width = sloping side
C)
top width = 1.5 x sloping side
D)
none of these
For a trapezoidal channel to carry maximum discharge for a given area and slope, it must be the most economical section. In the most economical trapezoidal section, the condition is that half the top width equals the length of one sloping side. This minimizes wetted perimeter for a given area, thereby maximizing hydraulic radius and discharge. Hence option (a) is correct. Options (b) and (c) do not satisfy the standard condition for the most economical trapezoidal channel.
Net irrigation requirement of a crop is given by
A)
Consumptive use + field losses
B)
Consumptive use + conveyance losses
C)
Consumptive use + field losses + conveyance losses
D)
Consumptive use – effective rainfall
Net irrigation requirement is the amount of water that must be supplied by irrigation after accounting for the water already available from rainfall. It is therefore given by consumptive use minus effective rainfall. Options (a), (b), and (c) include losses, which relate more to gross irrigation requirement, not net irrigation requirement.
In open channels, gradually varied flow is caused
A)
When the channel slope is equal to the normal slope
B)
When the pressure forces and the change of momentum are different from each other
C)
When the force causing the flow is not equal to the resistance force
D)
When there is an equilibrium between the forces causing the flow and those opposing it
Gradually varied flow (GVF) occurs in open channels when the flow depth changes slowly along the channel length because the driving force and resisting force are not in equilibrium. In other words, the component of gravity causing flow is not exactly balanced by boundary resistance.
Option (d) describes uniform flow, where forces are in equilibrium. Option (a) refers to normal flow conditions, not the cause of GVF. Option (b) is not the standard criterion for GVF in open-channel flow.
The hydraulic gradient line indicates the variation of which of the following?
A)
Velocity head in flow direction
B)
Piezometric head in the direction of flow
C)
Total energy of flow in the direction of flow
D)
None of these
The hydraulic gradient line (HGL) represents the variation of piezometric head, i.e., pressure head plus elevation head, along the direction of flow. It does not show velocity head; that is represented by the difference between the energy grade line and the hydraulic gradient line. The total energy of flow is represented by the energy grade line, not the HGL.
Water logging is the state of soil where
A)
the water table is brought very nearer to the ground surface
B)
the water table is at deeper depth
C)
the moisture in the soil is beyond the reach of plant roots
D)
none of these
Water logging means the soil becomes saturated due to a rise in the groundwater table close to the ground surface. In such conditions, air spaces in the soil are reduced, harming plant growth. Option (b) is the opposite condition, and (c) describes excess moisture but not the standard definition of water logging.
The pressure rise due to water hammer, when valve is closed gradually is equal to
A)
ρLV
B)
ρLV/t
C)
ρt
D)
VL LVt
For gradual closure of a valve, the water hammer pressure rise is given by Δp = ρLV/t, where ρ is the density of water, L is the pipe length, V is the flow velocity, and t is the time of closure. This is the standard formula for gradual valve closure. The other options are incorrect because ρLV is missing the closure time, ρt has wrong dimensions, and the last option is not a valid expression.
Which of the following methods of applying water may be used on rolling land?
A)
Border flooding
B)
Check flooding
C)
Furrow flooding
D)
Free Flooding
Rolling or uneven land is best suited to furrow irrigation because water flows in small channels between crop rows, reducing runoff and allowing better control on sloping ground. Border flooding and check flooding generally require fairly level land, while free flooding is uncontrolled and not suitable for rolling land.
The velocity of flow in a sewer should be between
A)
0.6 m/sec and 3 m/sec
B)
2 m/sec and 10 m/sec
C)
30 cm/sec and 90 cm/sec
D)
30 m/sec and 90 m/sec
In sewer design, the self-cleansing velocity should be high enough to prevent deposition of solids, but not so high that it causes abrasion or damage to the sewer. The commonly accepted range is about 0.6 m/s to 3 m/s. Hence, option (a) is correct. The other options are either too low to prevent silting or unrealistically high for sewer flow.
Surge tank in a hydropower project is used to
A)
Reduce water hammer pressure
B)
Store water
C)
Regulate discharge in the power house
D)
Control sediments entering the turbine
A surge tank is provided in a hydropower system to absorb sudden changes in flow caused by rapid load variations. It helps reduce pressure fluctuations and water hammer in the penstock. It is not mainly for storing water, regulating discharge in the powerhouse, or controlling sediments.
Ultra violet rays are highly effective for disinfection for
A)
hard water
B)
highly turbid water
C)
water rich in suspended solids
D)
clear water
Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection works best when water is clear, because UV rays must penetrate the water to inactivate microorganisms. Turbidity, suspended solids, and hardness can shield microbes from UV exposure and reduce effectiveness. Therefore, UV rays are highly effective for disinfection of clear water.
The average domestic demand of water for an Indian city is
A)
135 lpcd
B)
270 lpcd
C)
500 lpcd
D)
750 lpcd
For an Indian city, the standard average domestic water demand is about 135 litres per capita per day (lpcd), as commonly used in water supply and environmental engineering norms. The other values are too high for average domestic demand: 270 lpcd and above are not typical Indian urban domestic norms.
Slow sand filter is more efficient for the removal of
A)
Bacteria
B)
Odour
C)
Turbidity
D)
All of these
Slow sand filters are especially effective in removing bacteria and other microorganisms because a biological layer (schmutzdecke) develops on the sand surface and helps in purification. They also reduce turbidity to some extent, but their most efficient removal is of bacteria. Odour removal is not their primary strength. Hence, the correct answer is Bacteria.
Detention time in a “flocculator” is
A)
10 sec to 20 sec
B)
20 min to 30 min
C)
1 hour to 8 hour
D)
2 hour to 3 hour
A flocculator is designed to provide gentle mixing so that small particles collide and form flocs. The detention time is therefore much longer than in rapid mixing units, typically about 20 to 30 minutes. Option (a) is too short for flocculation, while options (c) and (d) are excessively long and are not standard flocculator detention times.
A pumped storage plant is a
A)
High head plant
B)
Peak load point
C)
Runoff river plant
D)
Base Load plant
A pumped storage plant is used to store energy by pumping water to an upper reservoir during off-peak hours and generating power during peak demand. Therefore, it is primarily a peak load plant. It is not a run-of-river plant, which depends on natural river flow, nor a base load plant, which supplies continuous power. While pumped storage plants are often associated with high heads, the defining classification here is peak load operation.