GATE 2026 Syllabus for Civil Engineering: Books for Freshers and Repeaters, Eligible Combinations
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering 2026 ( GATE )
Exam On - 7 Feb '26
The Indian Institute of Guwahati have released the GATE civil engineering syllabus 2026 along with the information brochure and website launch. Candidates can check the complete syllabus here along with the preparation tips, books and more. Knowing the GATE 2026 CE syllabus will help the candidates to prepare for the exam efficiently.
What is GATE Civil Engineering?
Civil Engineering is the most demanding test subject for the GATE 2026 exam. Every year, thousands and lakhs of candidates appear for the GATE civil engineering exam. Civil engineering involves designing, constructing, and maintaining the physical and natural environment. Graduates in civil engineering can work on various projects, such as transportation, water, energy systems, etc.
GATE 2026 Civil Engineering - Highlights
| GATE Paper Code of Civil Engineering | CE |
| Number of candidates registered last year | 101596 |
| Number of candidates who appeared last year | 79951 |
| GATE CE cutoff 2025 (category-wise) | Gen-29.2 | OBC-NCL/EWS-26.2 | SC/ST/PwD-19.4 |
| Participating over the years | Consistent |
| Career scope | Higher scope in PSUs like IOCL, ONGC, AAI, NPCIL, etc. |
GATE 2026 Civil Engineering (CE) Syllabus
The Indian Institute of Civil Engineering will release the GATE civil engineering syllabus 2026 along with the GATE 2026 information brochure. The GATE civil engineering paper is classified into two papers - CE1 and CE2, which will be held on different dates. The GATE 2026 CE exam dates (specific) will be available a few days before the GATE 2026 exam dates.
Candidates appearing for the GATE 2026 CE exam must download their admit card once released. The GATE admit card 2026 can be downloaded at the GOAPS portal using their enrollment ID and password.
The GATE 2026 civil engineering syllabus comprises the subjects and topics relevant to the stream. The syllabus of GATE Civil Engineering (CE) is divided into sections: engineering mathematics, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, environmental engineering, transportation engineering, and geomatics engineering. Candidates can check the GATE 2026 civil engineering (CE) exam syllabus below -
Section I - Engineering Mathematics
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Linear Algebra |
Matrix algebra | Systems of Linear Equations | Eigen Values and Eigen Vectors |
| Calculus |
Functions of Single Variables | Evaluation of Definite and Indefinite Integrals | Vector Identities | Directional Derivatives |
| Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE) |
First-order (linear and non-linear) equations | higher-order linear equations with constant coefficients | Euler-Cauchy equations |
| Partial Differential Equations (PDE) |
Fourier series | Separation of variables | First and second-order one-dimensional wave equation and two-dimensional Laplace equation |
| Probability and Statistics |
Sampling theorems | Random variables - discrete and continuous | Poisson and Normal Distribution | Linear Regression |
| Numerical Methods |
Error Analysis | Newton’s and Lagrange Polynomials | Integration of Trapezoidal and Simpson’s rule | |
Section II - Structural Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Engineering Mechanics |
System of forces | Free body diagrams | Free vibrations of undamped SDOP system | Centre of mass |
| Solid Mechanics |
Bending moment and shear force in statically determinate beams | Simple stress and strain relationships | Buckling of column | Combined and Direct Bending Stresses |
| Structural Analysis |
Method of Superposition | Displacement Methods | Slop Deflection and Moment Distribution Methods | Influence Lines |
| Construction Materials and Management |
Constructional Materials: Structural Steel- Composition, Material properties and behaviour | Constructional Management | Project planning and network analysis |
| Concrete Structures |
Working Stress and Limit State Design Concepts | Design of Beams | Slabs | Bond and Development Length |
| Steel Structures |
Working Stress and Limit State Design Concepts| Concepts of Plastic Analysis - Beams and Frames | Beam-Column Connections |
Section III - Geotechnical Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Soil Mechanics |
Three-Phase System and Phase-relationships | Compaction of soils | Principles of Effective Stress and Quicksand Condition | Mohr’s Circle |
| Foundation Engineering |
Sub-surface investigations | Stability of Slopes -finite and infinite slopes | Combined footing and Raft foundation | Pile Group Efficiency | Boussinesq’s Theory | Earth pressure theories |
Section IV - Water Resources Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Fluid Mechanics |
Properties of Fluids | Momentum and Energy Equations | Flow in Pipes | Concept of Boundary Layer and its growth |
| Hydraulics |
Forces on immersed bodies | Channel Hydraulics | Dimensional Analysis and Hydraulic Similitude | Energy-Depth Relationships |
| Hydrology |
Hydrologic Cycle | Hydrograph Analysis | Flood Estimation and Routing | Application of Darcy’s Law |
| Irrigation |
Types of Irrigation Systems and Methods | Crop Water Requirements | Lined and Unlined Canals | Cross Drainage Structures |
Section V - Environmental Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Water and Wastewater Quality and Treatment |
Basics of water quality standards | Water quality index | Water distribution system | Drinking water treatment | Sludge disposal | Reuse of treated sewage for different applications |
| Air Pollution |
Types of pollutants, their sources and impacts | air pollution control | air quality standards | Air quality index and limits |
| Municipal Solid Wastes |
Characteristics, Generation, Collection, and Transporation of Solid Wastes | Engineered Systems for Solid Waste Management |
Section VI - Transporation Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Transportation Infrastructure |
Geometric Design of Highways - Cross Sectional Elements | Geometric Design of Railway Track | Concept of Airport Runway Length |
| Highway Pavements |
Highway Materials | Desirable Properties of Bituminous Paving Mixes | Design Factors for Flexible and Rigid Pavements |
| Traffic Engineering |
Traffic studies of flow and speed | Microscopic and Macroscopic parameters of Traffic Flow |
Section VII - Geomatics Engineering
| Topics |
Sub-topics |
|---|---|
| Principles of Surveying |
Errors and their adjustment | Maps - scale, co-ordinate system | Distance and Angle Measurement | Levelling and Trigonometric levelling | Traversing and Triangulation Survey | Total Station - Horizontal and Vertical Curves |
| Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing |
Scale | Flying Height | Basics of Remote Sensing and GIS |
GATE 2026 CE Syllabus: Download PDF below
The GATE civil engineering 2026 syllabus will be made available soon. However, candidates can check and download the GATE 2025 syllabus PDF below -
| GATE civil engineering syllabus | Download Link |
|---|---|
| GATE 2026 Civil Engineering Syllabus PDF | SOON |
| GATE 2025 Civil Engineering Syllabus PDF | Download here |
GATE 2026 Civil Engineering Allowed Two-Paper Combination
Candidates opting for the GATE civil engineering paper (CE) in the GATE 2026 examination as the primary subject can opt for the following test papers as the secondary papers in the GATE 2026 two-paper combinations. Last year, IIT Roorkee included a few more paper combinations to expand candidates' choices -
- Data Science (DA)
- Textile Engineering and Fibre Science (TF)
- Electrical Engineering (EE)
- Aerospace Engineering (AE)
- Agricultural Engineering (AG)
- Architecture and Planning (AR)
- Environmental Science and Engineering (ES)
- Geomatics Engineering (GE)
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NM)
- Engineering Sciences (XE)
GATE 2026 Civil Engineering Exam Pattern
The GATE Civil Engineering exam will be conducted online (computer-based test). The exam is three hours long. The GATE Civil Engineering exam pattern is as follows -
- The total mark of the GATE 2026 CE question paper is 100 marks.
- The general aptitude section carries 15 marks, and the remaining 85 marks are subject-specific questions, of which the engineering mathematics section will carry 13 marks.
- Each question carries one or two marks. For a one-mark question, 1/3rd marks will be deducted; for a two-mark question, 2/3rd marks will be deducted for an incorrect answer.
Recommended Books for GATE 2026 Civil Engineering (CE) Preparation
The GATE 2026 exam dates will be announced soon. Candidates appearing for the exam must know the exam pattern, subjects, and important topics well.
When it comes to looking for good books, graduates appearing for the civil engineering paper must research before purchasing books.
Here are some of the top-rated books for GATE 2026 civil engineering preparation -
| Book Name |
Author Name |
|---|---|
| Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications |
Kenneth Rosen |
| Advanced Engineering Mathematics |
Erwin Kreyszig |
| Soil Mechanics |
Gopal Ranjan and Rao, Venkat Ramaiha, and S.K Garg |
| Strength of Materials/ Mechanics of Structure |
Gere and Timoshenko |
| Waste Water Engineering |
B.C Punmia Part I and II |
| Fluid Mechanics |
RK Bansal and Fox and Richard |
| Highway Engineering |
SK Khanna |
| Geotechnical Engineering: Principles and Practices Book |
Donald P Coduto |
GATE 2026 CE Books for Freshers and Repeaters (Topic-wise)
If you are appearing for the GATE exam for the first time or it's your 2nd or 3rd attempt, candidates can refer to the following books for better understanding and revision -
| GATE CE Topics | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| Strength of materials | A textbook on strength of materials by Dr U.C Jindal, Mechanics of Materials by Gere and Timoshenko, Strength of materials for transformation of stresses, properties of metals by E.Popov |
| Theory of structure | Structural Dynamics by Mario Paz, Theory of Structure/Analysis of Structure by S. Ramamrutham, Theory of Structure/Analysis of Structure by Gupta and Pandit, CS Reddy |
| RCC Design | RCC Design by AK Jain and S.N Sinha, Prestressed Concrete (2nd edition) by N.Krishna Raju |
| Steel Design | Limit State Design of Steel Structures (2nd edition) by S.K Duggal, Steel Design by L.S Negi |
PSUs That Recruit GATE Civil Engineering Graduates
PSUs, otherwise called Public Sector Undertakings, are government-owned corporations or enterprises where the government holds the most shares. Here are some PSUs that recruit candidates under GATE Civil Engineering -
- Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)
- Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)
- Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDC India Limited)
- Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL)
- NLC India Limited (NLC)
- National Fertilisers Limited (NFL)
- Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
Read more about PSU recruitment through GATE
| Important Links For GATE 2026 | |
|---|---|
| GATE 2026 Syllabus | GATE Previous Year Question Papers |
| GATE Exam Pattern 2026 | GATE 2026 Eligibility Criteria |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
No, IIT Guwahati has not released GATE exam admit card 2026 yet. The revised date to download GATE hall ticket will be available soon at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. The expected GATE 2026 admit card release date is TODAY. Candidates must keep their enrollment ID and password to download admission ticket of
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
The IIIT Bangalore M.Tech Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission for all categories under the All India quota. The closing cutoff in the last round for 2025 was 668 for the General AI category candidates. Whereas, in 2024, the closing cutoff in the last round was 570, indicating that the compe
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE COAP Cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the M.Tech course specialisations for all categories under the All India quota. For the General AI category candidates, the last round cutoff score ranged from 555 to 668, wherein M.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The IIIT Bangalore GATE Cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the M.Tech programmes via the COAP counselling process. The cutoff was released for all categories under the All India quota. According to the IIIT Bangalore COAP Cutoff 2025, the closing cutoff score ranged from 522 to 635 for the st
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
GATE 2026 hall ticket can be downloaded anytime till the scorecard availability. The admit card will be required at the time of counselling process. Candidates can download their scorecard of GATE exam in two timeline, which can be checked below -
| Scorecard (free download) | March 27 to May 31, 2026 |
| Scorecard (by paying a fee of INR 500) | June 1 to December 31, 2026 |
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
IIT Guwahati will release GATE entrance admit card for MTech, M.Pharma, ME, PhD, and other programmes soon. To download, candidates have to login at GOAPS using their enrollment ID and password. Students appearing for GATE exam must download their hall ticket in advance and keep it safe till counsel
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
To download GATE admit card, students have to enter their enrollment ID and password along with arithmetic expression at GOAPS portal
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, GATE authorities do not release any notification regarding dress code. However, it is advised to wear simple and comfortable clothing, as it will ease the checking process.
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, passport size is not mandatory to carry. Along with GATE hall ticket, students must carry their valid ID proof, pen or pencil and water bottle. Scribe applicants can carry their assistive devices.
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
GATE CSE exam will take place on February 8 in two sessions. CS 1 and 2 shift timings are-
- Forenoon - 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
- Afternoon - 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm
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Contributor-Level 7
Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,
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