Here is the official UPSC Civil Engineering Optional syllabus for Paper I and Paper II, arranged paper by paper and unit by unit. Under each unit we give the official text first, then break it into numbered topics, so you can track your preparation and match every previous year question to its topic.
Source. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notification (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026, revised file of 06.02.2026, pp. 53–58), upsc.gov.in. The Civil Engineering syllabus has been unchanged in recent years.
Scheme. Two papers of 250 marks each (total 500), 3 hours each. Each paper has two sections (A and B) of four questions each; Questions 1 and 5 are compulsory, and three more are attempted with at least one from each section. The syllabus itself is not divided into sections. Paper I has four units (Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials and Structural Analysis; Design of Structures; Fluid Mechanics, Open Channel Flow and Hydraulic Machines; Geotechnical Engineering). Paper II has five (Construction Technology, Equipment, Planning and Management; Surveying and Transportation Engineering; Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Pollution).
Syllabus at a glance
| Paper | Unit | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | 1. Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials and Structural Analysis | 17 |
| Paper I | 2. Design of Structures: Steel, Concrete and Masonry Structures | 12 |
| Paper I | 3. Fluid Mechanics, Open Channel Flow and Hydraulic Machines | 10 |
| Paper I | 4. Geotechnical Engineering | 12 |
| Paper II | 1. Construction Technology, Equipment, Planning and Management | 13 |
| Paper II | 2. Surveying and Transportation Engineering | 13 |
| Paper II | 3. Hydrology, Water Resources and Engineering | 13 |
| Paper II | 4. Environmental Engineering | 6 |
| Paper II | 5. Environmental Pollution | 5 |
Paper I
1. Engineering Mechanics, Strength of Materials and Structural Analysis
Official syllabus text
1.1 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 Co-ordinates, motion under uniform and non-uniform acceleration, motion under gravity. Kinetics of particle: Momentum and Energy principles, collision of elastic bodies, rotation of rigid bodies.
1.2 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, Beams of uniform strength. Deflection of beams: Macaulay’s method, Mohr’s Moment area method, Conjugate beam method, unit load method. Torsion of Shafts, Elastic stability of columns, Euler’s, Rankine’s and Secant formulae.
1.3 Structural Analysis: Castigliano’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 Influence lines: Influence 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. Influence 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.
1.1 Statics: forces and equilibrium
- Units and dimensions
- Concurrent, non-concurrent and parallel forces
- Free body diagram and conditions of equilibrium
- Principle of virtual work
- Equivalent force system
1.2 Moments of area and mass moment of inertia
- First and second moment of area
- Mass moment of inertia
1.3 Static friction
1.4 Kinematics and kinetics
- Motion under uniform and non-uniform acceleration
- Motion under gravity
- Momentum and energy principles
- Collision of elastic bodies
- Rotation of rigid bodies
1.5 Simple stress and strain
- Elastic constants
- Axially loaded compression members
1.6 Shear force and bending moment
1.7 Bending and shear stresses in beams
- Theory of simple bending
- Shear stress distribution
- Beams of uniform strength
1.8 Deflection of beams
- Macaulay’s method
- Moment area method
- Conjugate beam method
- Unit load method
1.9 Torsion of shafts
1.10 Elastic stability of columns
- Euler’s, Rankine’s and secant formulae
1.11 Energy methods and consistent deformation
- Castigliano’s theorems
- Unit load method
- Method of consistent deformation (beams and trusses)
1.12 Slope-deflection and moment distribution
1.13 Rolling loads and influence lines
- Influence lines for SF and BM
- Maximum SF and BM under moving loads
- Influence lines for trusses
1.14 Arches
- Three-hinged, two-hinged and fixed arches
- Rib shortening and temperature effects
1.15 Matrix methods of analysis
- Force method
- Displacement method
1.16 Plastic analysis of beams and frames
- Theory of plastic bending
- Statical method
- Mechanism method
1.17 Unsymmetrical bending
- Product of inertia
- Principal axes and neutral axis
- Bending stresses
2. Design of Structures: Steel, Concrete and Masonry Structures
Official syllabus text
2.1 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, stanchions with battens and lacings.
2.2 Design of Concrete and Masonry Structures: Concept of mix design. Reinforced Concrete: Working Stress and Limit State method of design—Recommendations of I. S. codes. Design of one way and two way slabs, stair-case slabs, simple and continuous beams of rectangular, T and L sections. Compression members under direct load with or without eccentricity. Cantilever and Counterfort type retaining walls. Water tanks: Design requirements for Rectangular and circular tanks resting on ground. Prestressed Concrete: Methods and systems of prestressing, anchorages, Analysis and design of sections for flexure based on working stress, loss of prestress. Design of brick masonry as per I. S. Codes.
2.1 Steel design: safety factors and connections
- Factors of safety and load factors
- Riveted, bolted and welded joints and connections
2.2 Steel tension and compression members
- Tension members
- Compression members
- Stanchions with battens and lacings
2.3 Steel beams and girders
- Beams of built-up section
- Riveted and welded plate girders
- Gantry girders
2.4 Concrete mix design
2.5 RC design philosophy and IS codes
- Working stress method
- Limit state method
2.6 RC slabs
- One-way and two-way slabs
- Stair-case slabs
2.7 RC beams
- Simple and continuous beams
- Rectangular, T and L sections
2.8 RC compression members
- Columns under direct load
- Columns with eccentricity
2.9 Retaining walls
- Cantilever
- Counterfort
2.10 Water tanks resting on ground
- Rectangular
- Circular
2.11 Prestressed concrete
- Methods and systems of prestressing
- Anchorages
- Analysis and design for flexure
- Loss of prestress
2.12 Design of brick masonry
3. Fluid Mechanics, Open Channel Flow and Hydraulic Machines
Official syllabus text
3.1 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, weirs.
3.2 Dimensional Analysis and Similitude: Buckingham’s Pi-theorem, dimensionless parameters.
3.3 Laminar Flow: Laminar flow between parallel, stationary and moving plates, flow through tube.
3.4 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.
3.5 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 equation.
3.6 Hydraulic Machines and Hydropower: Hydraulic turbines, types classification, Choice of turbines performance parameters, controls, characteristics, specific speed. Principles of hydropower development.
3.1 Fluid properties and fluid statics
- Fluid properties
- Forces on plane and curved surfaces
3.2 Kinematics of fluid flow
- Velocity and acceleration
- Streamlines
- Continuity
- Rotational and irrotational flow
- Velocity potential and stream function
3.3 Dynamics of fluid flow
- Momentum and energy equations
- Euler’s and Navier–Stokes equations
- Applications: sluice gates, weirs
3.4 Pipe flow
- Pipe flow problems
- Turbulent flow and friction factor
- Hydraulic grade line and total energy line
3.5 Dimensional analysis and similitude
- Buckingham’s Pi-theorem
- Dimensionless parameters
3.6 Laminar flow
- Flow between parallel plates
- Flow through tubes
3.7 Boundary layer, drag and lift
3.8 Open channel flow: uniform flow and specific energy
- Uniform flow
- Correction factors
- Specific energy and specific force
- Critical depth
3.9 Varied flow and hydraulic jump
- Rapidly varied flow
- Hydraulic jump
- Gradually varied flow
- Surface profiles
- Step method
3.10 Hydraulic turbines and hydropower
- Types and choice of turbines
- Performance and specific speed
- Hydropower development
4. Geotechnical Engineering
Official syllabus text
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 test. 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 distribution of stress for footings and pile—pile group action—pile load test. Ground improvement techniques.
4.1 Soil type, structure and index properties
- Gradation and particle size distribution
- Consistency limits
4.2 Effective stress, permeability and seepage
- Capillary water
- Effective stress and pore pressure
- Permeability
- Seepage pressure and quick sand
4.3 Shear strength
- Mohr–Coulomb concept
- Shear strength tests
4.4 Compaction
4.5 Compressibility and consolidation
- Consolidation theory
- Consolidation settlement
4.6 Earth pressure
- Retaining walls
- Sheet piles
- Braced excavations
4.7 Bearing capacity and settlement
- Analysis approaches
- Field tests
- Settlement analysis
4.8 Stability of slopes
4.9 Subsurface exploration
4.10 Foundations: types, selection and design
- Types and selection criteria
- Design criteria
- Stress distribution under footings
4.11 Pile foundations
- Pile capacity
- Pile group action
- Pile load test
4.12 Ground improvement techniques
Paper II
1. Construction Technology, Equipment, Planning and Management
Official syllabus text
1.1 Construction Technology: Engineering Materials: 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.
1.2 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 selection of equipments—operating cost of equipments.
1.3 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.
1.1 Construction materials
- Stones, bricks and tiles
- Lime and cement
- Mortars and concrete
1.2 Special concretes
- Ferro cement
- Fibre reinforced concrete
- High strength concrete
1.3 Timber
- Properties and defects
- Preservation treatments
1.4 Materials for low cost, mass and high-rise housing
1.5 Masonry construction
- Brick, stone and block masonry
- Detailing and strength
1.6 Plastering, pointing, flooring and roofing
1.7 Common repairs in buildings
1.8 Functional planning of buildings and building codes
1.9 Estimating, specifications, rate analysis and valuation
- Detailed and approximate estimates
- Specification writing
- Rate analysis
- Valuation of real property
1.10 Construction equipment
- Earthwork and concreting machinery
- Selection of equipment
- Operating cost
1.11 Construction planning and quality
- Construction activity and schedules
- Organisation for construction industry
- Quality assurance
1.12 CPM and PERT
- Network analysis
- Construction monitoring
- Cost optimisation
- Resource allocation
1.13 Economic analysis and project finance
- Methods of economic analysis
- Project profitability
- BOOT approach
- Toll fixation
2. Surveying and Transportation Engineering
Official syllabus text
2.1 Surveying: Common methods and instruments for distance and angle measurement for CE work—their use in plane table, traverse survey, levelling work, triangulation, contouring and topographical map. Basic principles of photogrammetry and remote sensing.
2.2 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.
2.3 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.
2.1 Surveying instruments and measurements
- Distance measurement
- Angle measurement
2.2 Plane table and traverse surveying
2.3 Levelling and contouring
- Levelling
- Contouring and topographical maps
2.4 Triangulation
2.5 Photogrammetry and remote sensing
2.6 Railway permanent way
- Components, types and functions
2.7 Railway points, crossings, track geometry and yards
- Turnouts and crossings
- Geometric design of track
- Stations and yards
2.8 Highway alignment and geometric design
2.9 Pavement design
- Flexible pavements
- Rigid pavements
2.10 Highway construction and materials
- Stabilized soil
- WBM
- Bituminous works
- CC roads
2.11 Road drainage and culverts
2.12 Pavement distresses and overlays
2.13 Traffic engineering
- Traffic surveys and planning
- Intersections and rotaries
- Signal design
- Traffic signs and markings
3. Hydrology, Water Resources and Engineering
Official syllabus text
3.1 Hydrology: Hydrological cycle, precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, overland flow, hydrograph, flood frequency analyses, flood routing through a reservoir, channel flow routing—Muskingum method.
3.2 Ground Water flow: Specific yield, storage coefficient, coefficient of permeability, confined and unconfined aquifers, aquifers, aquitards, radial flow into a well under confined and unconfined conditions.
3.3 Water Resources Engineering: Ground and surface water resources, single and multipurpose projects, storage capacity of reservoirs, reservoir losses, reservoir sedimentation.
3.4 Irrigation Engineering: (i) Water requirements of crops: consumptive use, duty and delta, irrigation methods and their efficiencies. (ii) 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, bed load. (iii) Water logging: causes and control, salinity. (iv) Canal structures: Design of head regulators, canal falls, aqueducts, metering flumes and canal outlets. (v) Diversion head work: Principles and design of weirs on permeable and impermeable foundation, Khosla’s theory, energy dissipation. (vi) Storage works: Types of dams, design, principles of rigid gravity stability analysis. (vii) Spillways: Spillway types, energy dissipation. (viii) River training: Objectives of river training, methods of river training.
3.1 Hydrological cycle and precipitation
- Precipitation
- Evaporation and transpiration
- Infiltration
3.2 Runoff and hydrographs
- Overland flow
- Hydrograph analysis
3.3 Floods and flood routing
- Flood frequency analysis
- Reservoir routing
- Channel routing (Muskingum)
3.4 Groundwater flow and wells
- Specific yield and storage coefficient
- Aquifers
- Radial flow into wells
3.5 Water resources and reservoirs
- Single and multipurpose projects
- Storage capacity
- Reservoir losses
- Sedimentation
3.6 Water requirements of crops
- Consumptive use
- Duty and delta
- Irrigation methods and efficiencies
3.7 Canals
- Distribution systems
- Canal capacity and losses
- Alignment
- Lined canals
- Regime theory
- Critical shear stress and bed load
3.8 Water logging and salinity
3.9 Canal structures
- Head regulators
- Canal falls
- Aqueducts
- Metering flumes
- Outlets
3.10 Diversion headworks
- Weirs on permeable foundations
- Khosla’s theory
- Energy dissipation
3.11 Dams
- Types of dams
- Gravity dam stability analysis
3.12 Spillways and energy dissipation
3.13 River training
4. Environmental Engineering
Official syllabus text
4.1 Water Supply: Predicting demand for water, impurities of water and their significance, physical, chemical and bacteriological analysis, waterborne diseases, standards for potable water.
4.2 Intake of Water: Water treatment: principles of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation; slow-, rapid-, pressure, filters; chlorination, softening, removal of taste, odour and salinity.
4.3 Sewerage Systems: Domestic and industrial wastes, storm sewage—separate and combined systems, flow through sewers, design of sewers.
4.4 Sewage Characterisation: BOD, COD, solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and TOC. Standards of disposal in normal water course and on land.
4.5 Sewage Treatment: Working principles, units, chambers, sedimentation tank, trickling filters, oxidation ponds, activated sludge process, septic tank, disposal of sludge, recycling of waste water.
4.6 Solid waste: Collection and disposal in rural and urban contexts, management of long-term ill-effects.
4.1 Water demand, quality and standards
- Predicting demand
- Impurities and analysis
- Waterborne diseases
- Drinking water standards
4.2 Water treatment
- Coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation
- Filters
- Chlorination
- Softening and removal of taste, odour and salinity
4.3 Sewerage systems
- Domestic and industrial wastes
- Separate and combined systems
- Flow through and design of sewers
4.4 Sewage characteristics and disposal standards
- BOD, COD, solids, DO, nitrogen, TOC
- Disposal standards
4.5 Sewage treatment
- Sedimentation tanks
- Trickling filters
- Oxidation ponds
- Activated sludge
- Septic tanks
- Sludge disposal
- Recycling
4.6 Solid waste management
5. Environmental Pollution
Official syllabus text
Sustainable development. Radioactive wastes and disposal. Environmental impact assessment for thermal power plants, mines, river valley projects. Air pollution. Pollution control acts.
5.1 Sustainable development
5.2 Radioactive wastes and disposal
5.3 Environmental impact assessment
5.4 Air pollution
5.5 Pollution control acts
Total: 101 numbered topics across 9 units.
Last updated: 30 October 2026

