General Aptitude Questions

All GATE papers have few questions that test the General Aptitude (Language and Analytical Skills) with 15 % weightage, apart from the core subject of the paper.
The subject paper has 85 % weightage.

Section 1: Architecture And Design

Visual composition in 2D and 3D; Principles of Art and Architecture; Organization of space; Architectural Graphics; Computer Graphics– concepts of CAD, BIM, 3D modeling and Architectural rendition; Programming languages and automation. Anthropometrics; Planning and design considerations for different building types; Site planning; Circulation- horizontal and vertical; Barrier free design; Space Standards; Building Codes; National Building Code.
Elements, construction, architectural styles and examples of different periods of Indian and Western History of Architecture; Oriental, Vernacular and Traditional architecture; Architectural developments since Industrial Revolution; Influence of modern art on architecture; Art nouveau, Eclecticism, International styles, Post Modernism, Deconstruction in architecture; Recent trends in Contemporary Architecture; Works of renowned national and international architects.

Section 2: Building Materials, Construction And Management

Behavioral characteristics and applications of different building materials viz. mud, timber, bamboo, brick, concrete, steel, glass, FRP, AAC, different polymers, composites.
Building construction techniques, methods and details; Building systems and prefabrication of building elements; Principles of Modular Coordination; Estimation, specification, valuation, professional practice; Construction planning and equipments; Project management techniques e.g. PERT, CPM etc.

Section 3: Building And Structures

Principles of strength of materials; Design of structural elements in wood, steel and RCC; Elastic and Limit State design; Structural systems in RCC and Steel; Form and Structure; Principles of Pre-stressing; High Rise and Long Span structures, gravity and lateral load resisting systems; Principles and design of disaster resistant structures.

Section 4: Environmental Planning And Design

Ecosystem- natural and man-made ecosystem; Ecological principles; Concepts of Environmental Impact Analysis; Environmental considerations in planning and design; Thermal comfort, ventilation and air movement; Principles of lighting and illumination; Climate responsive design; Solar architecture; Principles of architectural acoustics; Green Building- Concepts and Rating; ECBC; Building Performance Simulation and Evaluation; Environmental pollution- types, causes, controls and abatement strategies.

Section 5: Urban Design

Concepts and theories of urban design; Public Perception; Townscape; Public Realm; Urban design interventions for sustainable development and transportation; Historical and modern examples of urban design; Public spaces, character, spatial qualities and Sense of Place; Elements of urban built environment – urban form, spaces, structure, pattern, fabric, texture, grain etc; Principles, tools and techniques of urban design; Urban renewal and conservation; Site planning; Landscape design; Development controls – FAR, densities and building byelaws.

Section 6: Urban Planning And Housing

Planning process; Types of plans - Master Plan, City Development Plan, Structure Plan, Zonal Plan, Action Area Plan, Town Planning Scheme, Regional Plan; Salient concepts, theories and principles of urban planning; Sustainable urban development; Emerging concepts of cities - Eco-City, Smart City, Transit Oriented Development (TOD), SEZ, SRZ etc.
Housing; Concepts, principles and examples of neighbourhood; Housing typologies; Slums; Affordable Housing; Housing for special areas and needs; Residential densities; Standards for housing and community facilities; National Housing Policies, Programs and Schemes.

Section 7: Planning Techniques And Management

Tools and techniques of Surveys – Physical, Topographical, Landuse and Socioeconomic Surveys; Methods of non-spatial and spatial data analysis; Graphic presentation of spatial data; Application of G.I.S and Remote Sensing techniques in urban and regional planning; Decision support system and Land Information System.
Urban Economics; Law of demand and supply of land and its use in planning; Social, Economical and environmental cost benefit analysis; Techniques of financial appraisal; Management of Infrastructure Projects; Development guidelines such as URDPFI; Planning Legislation and implementation – Land Acquisition Act, PPP etc.; Local self-governance.

Section 8: Services, Infrastructure And Transportation

Building Services: Water supply; Sewerage and drainage systems; Sanitary fittings and fixtures; Plumbing systems; Principles of internal and external drainage system; Principles of electrification of buildings; Intelligent Buildings; Elevators and Escalators - standards and uses; Air-Conditioning systems; Firefighting Systems; Building Safety and Security systems.
Urban Infrastructure – Transportation, Water Supply, Sewerage, Drainage, Solid Waste Management, Electricity and Communications.
Process and Principles of Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering; Road capacity; Traffic survey methods; Traffic flow characteristics; Traffic analyses and design considerations; Travel demand forecasting; Land-use – transportation - urban form inter-relationships; Design of roads, intersections, grade separators and parking areas; Hierarchy of roads and level of service; Traffic and transport management and control in urban areas,; Mass transportation planning; Paratransits and other modes of transportation, Pedestrian and slow moving traffic planning; Intelligent Transportation Systems.
Principles of water supply and sanitation systems; water treatment; Water supply and distribution system; Water harvesting systems; Principles, Planning and Design of storm water drainage system; Sewage disposal methods; Methods of solid waste management - collection, transportation and disposal; Recycling and Reuse of solid waste; Power Supply and Communication Systems, network, design and guidelines.