Syllabus Materials

First and Second Paper Syllabus Civil Sub Engineer: Detailed Overview:

Rastriya Prasaran Grid Company Limited conducts a competitive examination for the post of Civil Sub-Engineer under the Engineering Service, Civil Group. The selection process is divided into two phases, with a total of 200 marks.

First Phase: Written Examination (Total: 170 Marks)

The first phase includes two separate papers: one objective and one subjective.

1. The first paper is an objective-type MCQ test that assesses general knowledge and technical understanding. It consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, each carrying 2 marks, totaling 100 marks. The time allotted for this paper is 45 minutes, and the pass mark is 40.

2. The second paper is a subjective/descriptive test focused entirely on the technical subject. It includes 12 short-answer questions worth 5 marks each, and 4 long-answer questions, each worth 10 marks, bringing the total to 70 marks. Candidates are given 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete this paper.

Second Phase: Interview (30 Marks)

The second phase of the selection process is the interview, which is conducted orally. It carries 30 marks and is designed to assess the candidate's confidence, communication skills, and overall knowledge relevant to the civil engineering field.

Civil Sub-Engineer Syllabus: First and Second Paper:

1. Surveying

This section covers the foundational and advanced principles of surveying. Topics include:

1. General Surveying: Classification, principles, and selection of suitable methods; use of scales, plans, maps, and survey field books.

2. Accuracy and Adjustments: Understanding sources of error and methods for adjustments in surveying.

3. Levelling: Techniques and instruments for levelling, including levelling accessories and principles.

4. Plane Table Surveying: Required equipment and procedural methods for plane tabling.

5. Theodolite and Traverse Surveying: Understanding the differences among various theodolites, their temporary adjustments, and methods such as tacheometry, trigonometric levelling, and traverse checking.

6. Total Station: Operation, use, and advantages of total stations.

7. Contouring: Characteristics of contour lines, methods to locate contours, and contour plotting.

8. Setting Out: Techniques for setting out small buildings and simple circular curves.

9. GIS and GPS Basics: Basic understanding of Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and Transmission Line Alignment Survey.

10. LiDAR Survey: Introduction to LiDAR technology and its applications.

2. Construction Materials

This unit focuses on the types, properties, and uses of construction materials relevant to Nepal’s context.

1. Stone: Formation, availability in Nepal, methods of laying, and testing procedures.

2. Cement: Types of cement, their ingredients, properties, manufacturing, transport, and use of admixtures.

3. Sand and Aggregates: Characteristics and types.

4. Clay and Clay Products: Brick types, manufacturing process, laying methods, bonding, and testing.

5. Paints and Varnishes: Types, selection, preparation techniques, and practical uses.

6. Bitumen: Types, selection criteria, usage, and relevant testing methods.

7. Electrical Materials Knowledge: Basics of conductors, fittings, insulators, insulator protective fittings, and line insulator materials.

3. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics

This topic introduces essential fluid mechanics principles applied in civil engineering.

1. Fluid Properties: Includes mass, weight, specific weight and gravity, density, volume, viscosity, and Pascal’s law.

2. Discharge Measurement: Covers weirs, notches, and discharge-related formulas.

3. Flow Characteristics: Pipe flow and open channel flow behaviors.

4. Soil Mechanics

This section deals with the properties and behavior of soil relevant to civil engineering works.

1. Soil Types and Classification: Includes three-phase systems, unit weight, bulk density, saturated density, submerged density, dry density, and porosity.

2. Index Properties and Interrelationships: Focuses on consistency limits, air content, and density ratio.

3. Soil Behavior: Understanding void ratio, degree of saturation, permeability, and compaction characteristics.

4. Soil Mechanics

The latter part of this section focuses on practical soil behavior and foundation principles:

1. Soil-Water Relationship: Understanding Terzaghi’s principle of effective stress, Darcy’s law, and other key factors affecting soil permeability.

2. Soil Compaction: Key influences on compaction such as moisture content, density, and optimum compaction levels.

3. Shear Strength of Soils: Covers Mohr-Coulomb failure theory, cohesion, internal friction, and their practical applications.

4. Earth Pressures: Active and passive pressures including Rankine’s and Coulomb’s earth pressure theories and lateral pressure considerations.

5. Foundation Engineering: Terzaghi’s general bearing capacity theories and their application in shallow foundations.

5. Mechanics of Structures and Design

This section explores the mechanical behavior of structural elements and the basics of reinforced concrete design.

1. Mechanics of Materials: Focus on the internal effects of loading, material stress responses, ultimate strength, and working stress.

2. Shear and Bending Moments: Relationship between shear force and bending moments with relevant diagrams and analysis.

3. Basic RCC Design: Introduction to Working Stress Method (W.S.M) and Limit State Method (L.S.M) for RCC structural analysis.

4. Bending of RCC Sections: Covers under-reinforced, over-reinforced, and balanced sections, including analysis of different beam configurations.

5. Shear and Bond in RCC: Types of shear reinforcement, bond behavior, and calculation of anchorage length.

6. Axially Loaded Columns: Analysis and design of short and long axially loaded RCC columns.

7. Drawing and Design of RCC Elements: Practical design of singly and doubly reinforced beams, one-way and two-way slabs, and short/long columns.

6. Construction Technology

This section introduces fundamental concepts in construction methods, building materials, and field practices.

1. Foundations: Subsoil exploration techniques, types of foundations (shallow, deep), and methods like shoring and dewatering. Also includes design principles for simple brick or stone masonry foundations.

2. Walls: Selection and types of walls, factors such as wall thickness, height-to-length ratio, and scaffolding use.

3. Damp Proofing: Identification of damp sources and techniques for damp prevention using remedial measures.

4. Concrete Technology: Composition and mix design including cement, aggregates, water-cement ratio, curing methods, and formwork.

5. Timber Construction & Joinery: Construction techniques for doors, windows, stairs, and timber floors.

6. Finishing Works: Floor finishing using bricks, flagstones, and concrete; also includes plastering.

7. Scaffolding: Types, structural importance, and application.

8. Building Testing: Evaluation methods for construction materials and concrete quality.

7. Water Supply and Sanitation Engineering

This section covers the essentials of water supply systems and sanitation management in civil engineering:

1. Water Supply Systems: Objectives, sources (e.g., shallow/deep wells, springs), and selection criteria.

2. Gravity Water Supply: Design principles, storage tank sizing, pipe selection, and hydraulic gradient line.

3. Sewer Design: Quantitative estimation of sanitary sewage; understanding maximum, minimum, and self-cleaning velocities.

4. Waste Disposal in Construction: Proper methods for disposing waste generated on construction sites.

5. Excreta Disposal in Unsewered Areas: Design of pit privies, septic tanks, and soak pits.

8. Highway Engineering

This unit introduces road construction techniques, standards, and supporting systems:

1. Road Types: Classification and introduction to road types in Nepal.

2. Pavement Structure: Components such as sub-grade, sub-base, base, and surface courses.

3. Road Machineries: Use of earth-moving and compacting machines.

4. Drainage Systems: Importance and design considerations for effective road drainage.

5. Road Construction Technology: Techniques involved in building roads.

6. Maintenance and Repair: Various types of road maintenance works.

7. Nepal Road Standards: Overview of Nepal Road Standards 2070.

9. Estimating and Costing

This section deals with financial planning and estimation for civil works:

1. Work Items and Measurement: Understanding units of work, measurement systems, and government cost formats.

2. BOQ Preparation: Techniques for preparing the Bill of Quantity.

3. Rate Analysis: Using norms, standards, and district rates to perform cost analysis.

4. Specifications: Interpretation of general and specific technical specifications.

5. Valuation: Different valuation methods used in engineering works.
   
   

10. Construction Management

Focused on the managerial responsibilities and administrative processes in civil engineering projects:

1. Roles and Responsibilities: Duties of assistant engineers and their interaction with contractors and consultants.

2. Site Management: Preparation of site plans, labor organization, and accident prevention techniques.

3. Contract Procedures: Understanding contracts, tendering, agreements, and security procedures.

4. Accounts: Budgeting, technical sanction, and government accounting formats like MRR, MB, and completion reports.

5. Planning and Control: Construction scheduling, material/equipment management, and use of bar charts for project tracking.

11. Engineering Drawing

This section focuses on the foundational concepts and tools used in civil engineering drawings:

1. Concept, Aims, and Importance: Understanding what engineering drawing is, its objectives, and its significance in accurately communicating design, measurements, and technical details in civil works.

2. Drawing Tools and Instruments: Familiarity with various instruments such as scales, compasses, T-squares, set squares, drawing boards, and their specific applications in manual drafting.

3. Drafting Techniques: Knowledge of standard drafting methods and best practices followed in the industry, including line work, lettering, dimensioning, and layout.

4. Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD): Basic introduction to CAD software used in modern civil engineering, emphasizing its advantages, tools, and applications in professional drawing and design.

Transmission Line and Related Knowledge (Paper F) – Examination Format

Total Marks: 100
Divided into Two Papers: First (Objective), Second (Descriptive)

First Paper: Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions)

Full Marks: 100
Duration: 45 Minutes
Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

This paper consists of three parts:

1. Part A: Service-Related Knowledge

   • 20 questions × 2 marks = 40 marks

2. Part B: Institutional Knowledge

   • 20 questions × 2 marks = 40 marks

3. Part C: General Institutional Information

   • 10 questions × 2 marks = 20 marks

Total: 50 questions worth 100 marks
Passing Marks: 40
Negative Marking: Yes (typically 0.2 per incorrect answer, if applicable — confirm in official notice)

Second Paper: Descriptive Type (Subjective Questions)

Full Marks: 100
Duration: 2 Hours and 30 Minutes

Candidates must answer questions from both Part A and Part B. The structure is as follows:

• 12 Short-Answer Questions × 5 marks = 60 marks

• 4 Long-Answer Questions × 10 marks = 40 marks