The RRB JE CBT-1 Civil Engineering Syllabus 2026 helps candidates understand the subjects and topics they need to prepare for the Railway Recruitment Board Junior Engineer examination. Since the official 2026 notification has not been released yet, candidates should refer to the syllabus prescribed in the previous notification.
While CBT-1 includes subjects such as Mathematics, General Intelligence & Reasoning, General Awareness, and General Science, Civil Engineering technical subjects are tested only in CBT-2.
Understanding the syllabus before starting your preparation will help you plan your studies more effectively and revise important topics in a structured manner.
Before studying the syllabus, it is important to understand the CBT-1 exam pattern.
CBT-1 consists of 100 objective-type questions and must be completed in 90 minutes. Candidates eligible for a scribe are given 120 minutes. The test carries 100 marks in total.
The CBT-1 question paper is divided into the following sections:
Mathematics – 30 questions
General Intelligence and Reasoning – 25 questions
General Awareness – 15 questions
General Science – 30 questions
There is a negative marking of one-third of the marks allotted for each wrong answer. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% for UR/EWS candidates, 30% for OBC (NCL) and SC candidates, and 25% for ST candidates.
The RRB JE CBT-1 is a common examination for all engineering streams, meaning every candidate, regardless of their engineering branch, including Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or Electronics, will face the same syllabus in CBT-1.
So Civil Engineering aspirants targeting RRB JE 2026 must prepare the same CBT-1 syllabus as candidates from other streams. This first stage is purely a screening test and does not include any branch-specific or Civil Engineering technical topics, which are tested only in CBT-2.
Number Systems
BODMAS
Decimals
Fractions
LCM and HCF
Ratio and Proportion
Percentages
Mensuration
Time and Work
Time and Distance
Simple and Compound Interest
Profit and Loss
Algebra
Geometry
Trigonometry
Elementary Statistics
Square Root
Age Calculations
Calendar & Clock
Pipes & Cistern
Analogies
Alphabetical and Number Series
Coding and Decoding
Mathematical Operations
Relationships
Syllogism
Jumbling
Venn Diagram
Data Interpretation and Sufficiency
Conclusions and Decision Making
Similarities and Differences
Analytical Reasoning
Classification
Directions
Statement – Arguments and Assumptions
Current Affairs
Indian Geography
Culture and History of India, including the Freedom Struggle
Indian Polity and Constitution
Indian Economy
Environmental Issues concerning India and the World
Sports
General Scientific and Technological Developments
Physics
Chemistry
Life Sciences
(All up to 10th Standard CBSE Syllabus)
The RRB JE CBT-2 Civil Engineering syllabus covers the major subjects taught in Civil Engineering diploma and degree programmes. The table below provides the complete list of subjects and important topics prescribed in the previous official notification.
| Subject | Topics Covered |
| Engineering Mechanics | Force (resolution of force, moment of force, force system, composition of forces), Equilibrium, Friction, Centroid and Centre of Gravity, Simple Machines |
| Building Construction | Building Components (Substructure, Superstructure), Types of Structures (Load Bearing, Framed, and Composite Structures) |
| Building Materials | Masonry Materials (Stones, Bricks, Mortars), Timber, Glass, Plastic, Fibre, Aluminium, Steel, Galvanized Iron, Bitumen, PVC, CPVC, PPF |
| Construction of Substructure | Job Layout, Earthwork, Foundations (Types), Dewatering, Coffer Dams, Bearing Capacity |
| Construction of Superstructure | Stone Masonry, Brick Masonry, Hollow Concrete Block Masonry, Composite Masonry, Cavity Wall, Doors and Windows, Stairs, Lifts, Escalators, Scaffolding, Shoring |
| Building Finishes | Floors (Finishes, Laying Process), Wall Finishes (Plastering, Pointing, Painting), Roofing Materials including RCC Roofs |
| Building Maintenance | Cracks (Causes, Types, Repairs, Grouting, Guniting, Epoxy), Settlement (Causes and Remedies), Re-barring Techniques |
| Building Drawing | Conventions, Types of Lines and Symbols, Planning Principles, Residential and Public Buildings, Rules and Byelaws, Plan, Elevation, Section, Site Plan, Location Plan, Foundation Plan, Working Drawing, Perspective Drawing |
| Concrete Technology | Types and Grades of Cement, Fine and Coarse Aggregates, Water-Cement Ratio, Fresh and Hardened Concrete, Concrete Mix Design, Concrete Testing, Quality Control, Batching, Formwork, Transportation, Placing, Compaction, Curing, Waterproofing, Extreme Weather Concreting, Chemical Admixtures, Ready Mix Concrete, RCC, Prestressed Concrete, Fibre Reinforced Concrete, Precast Concrete, High Performance Concrete |
| Surveying | Types of Survey, Chain Survey, Cross Staff Survey, Compass Survey, Bearings, Traversing, Local Attraction, Leveling, Dumpy Level, Tilting Level, Auto Level, Contouring, Area and Volume Measurement, Plane Table Survey, Theodolite Survey, Tacheometric Survey, Curves, Advanced Survey Equipment, Aerial Survey, Remote Sensing |
| Computer Aided Design (CAD) | AutoCAD, Auto Civil, 3D Max, CAD Commands, Plan, Elevation, Section, Site Plan, Area Statement, 3D View |
| Geotechnical Engineering | Foundation Design, Pavement Design, Earth Retaining Structures, Earthen Dams, Physical Properties of Soil, Permeability, Seepage Analysis, Shear Strength, Bearing Capacity, Soil Compaction, Soil Stabilization, Site Investigation, Sub-soil Exploration |
| Hydraulics | Properties of Fluids, Hydrostatic Pressure, Liquid Pressure Measurement, Fundamentals of Fluid Flow, Pipe Flow, Open Channel Flow, Flow Measuring Devices, Hydraulic Machines |
| Irrigation Engineering | Hydrology, Investigation, Reservoir Planning, Percolation Tanks, Diversion Head Works |
| Mechanics of Structures | Stress and Strain, Shear Force, Bending Moment, Moment of Inertia, Beam Stresses, Truss Analysis, Strain Energy |
| Theory of Structures | Direct and Bending Stresses, Slope and Deflection, Fixed Beam, Continuous Beam, Moment Distribution Method, Columns |
| Design of Concrete Structures | Working Stress Method, Limit State Method, Singly Reinforced Sections, Doubly Reinforced Sections, Shear, Bond, Development Length, T Beam, Slab, Axially Loaded Columns, Footings |
| Design of Steel Structures | Types of Sections, Steel Grades, Strength Characteristics, IS Codes, Connections, Tension Members, Compression Members, Steel Roof Truss, Beams, Column Bases |
| Transportation Engineering | Railway Engineering (Alignment, Gauges, Permanent Way, Track Geometry, Stations, Yards, Track Maintenance), Bridge Engineering (Site Selection, Investigation, Components, Inspection, Maintenance), Tunnel Engineering (Classification, Surveying, Tunnelling Methods, Equipment, Explosives, Lining, Ventilation) |
| Highway Engineering | Road Engineering, Road Project Investigation, Highway Geometric Design, Pavement Construction, Road Materials, Traffic Engineering, Hill Roads, Road Drainage, Road Maintenance and Repair |
| Environmental Engineering | Environmental Pollution and Control, Public Water Supply, Domestic Sewage, Solid Waste Management, Environmental Sanitation, Plumbing |
| Advanced Construction Techniques and Equipment | Fibres and Plastics, Artificial Timber, Underwater Concreting, Ready Mix Concrete, Tremix Concreting, Special Concretes, Formwork, Prefabricated Construction, Soil Reinforcement, Hoisting Equipment, Conveying Equipment, Earth Moving Machinery, Concrete Mixers, Stone Crushers, Pile Driving Equipment, Hot Mix Bitumen Plant, Bitumen Paver, Floor Polishing Machines |
| Estimating and Costing | Types of Estimates (Approximate, Detailed), Mode of Measurements, Rate Analysis |
| Contracts and Accounts | Types of Engineering Contracts, Tender, Tender Documents, Payment Procedures, Specifications |
The RRB JE CBT-1 Civil Engineering Syllabus 2026 covers a broad range of technical subjects that require regular study and revision. Candidates should complete every topic systematically, prepare short revision notes, and practise previous years' questions to strengthen their preparation.
