DDA JE Civil Engineering 2025: Complete Syllabus, Important Topics, Previous Cutoffs, and Preparation Guide
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) Junior Engineer (JE) Civil recruitment for 2025 offers 104 vacancies for Civil Engineering diploma/degree holders. The exam is a single-stage Computer-Based Test (CBT) scheduled tentatively for December 2025 or January 2026. This guide covers the full syllabus, high-weightage topics, previous year cutoffs, exam pattern, and preparation tips to help you crack the exam. Download the official syllabus PDF from dda.gov.in for the latest updates.
Exam Pattern
The DDA JE Civil exam is objective (MCQs) with 120 questions worth 120 marks, to be completed in 120 minutes. Negative marking applies: -0.33 marks per wrong answer.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 15 | 15 | Current events, GK |
| English Language | 15 | 15 | Grammar, comprehension |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 15 | 15 | Math basics |
| Reasoning | 15 | 15 | Logical puzzles |
| Technical (Civil Engg.) | 60 | 60 | Core subjects |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 120 min |
Post-exam: Document verification and medical test. Minimum qualifying marks are category-wise (e.g., 40% for UR).
Full Syllabus
The syllabus is divided into non-technical (30% weightage) and technical (50% weightage) sections. Below is the detailed breakdown.
Non-Technical Sections
1. General Awareness (15 marks)
- Current affairs (national/international).
- Indian history, geography, polity, economy.
- Science & technology, environment, ecology.
- Sports, books/authors, awards, important schemes.
- Static GK: Capitals, currencies, organizations.
2. English Language (15 marks)
- Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, idioms.
- Grammar: Tenses, articles, prepositions, error spotting.
- Reading comprehension, sentence improvement.
- Fill in the blanks, cloze test.
- One-word substitution, active/passive voice.
3. Quantitative Aptitude (15 marks)
- Number systems, decimals, fractions, LCM/HCF.
- Percentages, ratio & proportion, averages.
- Profit/loss, simple/compound interest.
- Time & work, time & distance, pipes & cisterns.
- Mensuration (area, volume), algebra basics.
- Geometry, trigonometry (basic identities).
4. Reasoning (15 marks)
- Verbal/Non-verbal: Analogies, similarities/differences.
- Spatial visualization/orientation, problem-solving.
- Coding-decoding, blood relations, syllogism.
- Series (number/letter), puzzles, seating arrangement.
- Decision making, visual memory, arithmetical reasoning.
Technical Section: Civil Engineering (60 marks)
This is the core section. Focus on diploma-level concepts.
- Building Materials: Physical/chemical properties of cement, bricks, sand, aggregates; timber, lime, paints, varnishes; stones, steel (types, uses).
- Surveying: Principles, chain/tape survey, compass/theodolite, leveling; contouring, curves; modern tools (total station, GPS).
- Soil Mechanics: Soil properties (index, classification); permeability, seepage, compaction; shear strength, earth pressure; bearing capacity, foundation types.
- Hydraulics: Fluid properties, pressure measurement; Bernoulli’s theorem, flow in pipes/channels; open/closed channel flow; hydraulic machines (pumps, turbines).
- Irrigation Engineering: Water requirements, canal systems; weirs, barrages; hydrology (rainfall, runoff); flood control, groundwater.
- Transportation Engineering: Highway planning, geometric design; pavements (flexible/rigid); traffic engineering; railways (alignment, gauges); bridges (types, components).
- Environmental Engineering: Water quality, treatment (coagulation, filtration, disinfection); sewage treatment; solid waste management; air/water pollution control.
- Structural Engineering: Theory of structures (beams, trusses); RCC design (slabs, beams, columns); steel structures (connections, tension/compression members).
- Concrete Technology: Mix design, workability; admixtures; quality control; non-destructive testing.
- Estimating & Costing: Methods of estimation; rate analysis; valuation; specifications; contracts.
- Strength of Materials: Stress/strain, elastic constants; bending/shear stress; torsion; columns/beams (deflection).
Important Portions & Topic-Wise Weightage
The technical section carries 60% weightage, so prioritize it (aim for 45+ marks here). Based on previous exams and similar JE patterns (e.g., SSC JE), here’s the approximate weightage for Civil topics (out of 60 questions). Focus on high-weightage areas for quick scoring.
| Topic | Approx. Questions | Weightage (%) | Why Important? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Materials | 8-10 | 15-17 | Basic concepts frequently tested |
| Surveying | 6-8 | 10-13 | Practical applications in DDA projects |
| Soil Mechanics | 8-10 | 15-17 | Foundation-related questions dominate |
| Hydraulics | 6-8 | 10-13 | Fluid flow in urban infrastructure |
| RCC/Structural Engg. | 10-12 | 17-20 | Design codes (IS 456) high priority |
| Transportation Engg. | 5-7 | 8-12 | Delhi’s urban planning focus |
| Environmental Engg. | 4-6 | 7-10 | Pollution control trending |
| Estimating & Costing | 4-6 | 7-10 | Project budgeting essentials |
| Others (Irrigation, SOM) | 3-5 | 5-8 | Supplementary but scoring |
Tips for Prioritization:
- High-weightage (40+ questions): Soil Mechanics, RCC, Building Materials, Surveying.
- Practice numericals in SOM, Hydraulics, and Estimating for accuracy.
- Non-technical: Aim for 35+ total; Reasoning and Quant are easiest to score.
Previous Year Cutoffs
Cutoffs vary by category, vacancies (104 for Civil in 2025), and difficulty. For 2023 (similar pattern, 100+ vacancies), cutoffs were:
| Category | Cutoff Marks (Out of 120) | Qualifying % |
|---|---|---|
| UR (General) | 83.215 | ~69% |
| EWS | 78.894 | ~66% |
| OBC | 80.50 | ~67% |
| SC | 75.207 | ~63% |
| ST | 70.12 | ~58% |
2018 Cutoffs (Reference): UR: 72.25, OBC: 68.50, SC: 62.75, ST: 55.00.
Expected 2025 Cutoff: UR: 80-85 (moderate difficulty expected). Factors: ~50,000 applicants, normalization if multi-shift. Check official PDF post-results on dda.gov.in.
Preparation Tips & More
- Study Plan: Dedicate 50% time to technical (6-8 hrs/day). Cover syllabus in 2 months, revise 1 month, mocks last 15 days.
- Resources:
- Books: “Civil Engineering: Through Objective Type Questions” by SP Gupta; “RCC Design” by Pillai & Menon; SSC JE previous papers.
- Online: Testbook/Adda247 mock tests; YouTube for concepts (Unacademy, Gradeup).
- Practice Strategy: Solve 5-10 previous papers (2017-2023). Analyze errors; focus on weak areas like RCC design.
- Time Management: In exam, attempt non-technical first (30 min), then technical (90 min). Skip tough questions.
- Common Mistakes to Avoid: Ignore negative marking—attempt 80-90 questions accurately. Stay updated on DDA schemes (e.g., land pooling).
- Health & Motivation: Daily 1-hr revision; join study groups. Track progress with weekly mocks (aim 85+ score).
