NHPC JE Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2025 - Check Out Important Topics, Marking Scheme & More

Subject

Topics

Concerned Discipline

Electrical Engineering

• Resistance, inductance, and capacitance concepts
• Factors affecting resistance, inductance, and capacitance
• Current, voltage, power, and energy concepts and their units
• Circuit laws (Kirchhoff's law) and network theorems
• Magnetic circuit concepts (flux, mmf, reluctance)
• Electromagnetic induction (self and mutual induction)
• AC fundamentals (peak, RMS, and average values of alternating waves)
• Series and parallel AC circuits (R.L. and C)
• Resonance and tank circuits
• Polyphase systems and 3-phase power
• Measurement of power, energy, frequency, and phase angle
• Use of measuring instruments such as ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, multimeters, etc.
• Electrical machines (DC machines, transformers, 3-phase induction motors)
• Fractional kilowatt motors and single-phase induction motors
• Synchronous machines (alternators, synchronous motors)
• Generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power
• Switchgears, protection systems, lightning arresters
• Cable types, ratings, and derating factors
• Estimation and costing in electrical installations
• Utilization of electrical energy in illumination, heating, welding, etc.
• Basic electronics and working of electronic devices (diodes, transistors)

Properties of Matter:

• Elasticity and stress-strain relationship
• Pressure and atmospheric pressure measurement
• Surface tension and its effects
• Viscosity and coefficient of viscosity
• Fluid motion, streamline, and turbulent flow
• Reynolds number, equation of continuity, Bernoulli's theorem

Engineering Drawing:

• Orthographic projection and symbol conventions
• Conversion of pictorial views to orthographic views
• Introduction to isometric projections and conversion techniques

Civil Engineering

Building Materials:

• Physical and chemical properties of building materials
• Classification and standard tests of building materials
• Uses and manufacturing/quarrying of building stones, silicate-based materials, cement, asbestos products, timber, laminates, bituminous materials, paints, varnishes

Estimating, Costing, and Valuation:

• Estimation, analysis of rates, methods of measurement
• Items of work and their measurement (earthwork, brickwork, RCC work, etc.)
• Cost estimation of various structures and components
• Valuation principles and methods

Surveying:

• Principles of surveying
• Measurement of distance
• Chain surveying
• Prismatic compass and compass traversing
• Plane table surveying
• Theodolite traversing and adjustments
• Levelling and contouring
• Advanced surveying equipment

Soil Mechanics:

• Origin of soil and phase diagram
• Index properties of soils
• Permeability and aquifers
• Consolidation and settlement of soils
• Shear strength of soils
• Soil compaction
• Earth pressure theories
• Bearing capacity of soils

Hydraulics:

• Fluid properties and hydrostatics
• Measurements of flow
• Bernoulli's theorem and its applications
• Flow through pipes and open channels
• Weirs, flumes, and spillways
• Pumps and turbines

Irrigation Engineering:

• Types and methods of irrigation
• Hydrology and water requirements
• Canals and canal lining
• Wells and weirs
• Flood control and waterlogging
• Land reclamation
• Major irrigation projects in India

Transportation Engineering:

• Highway engineering and pavements
• Pavement materials and design
• Railway engineering and track components
• Traffic engineering and traffic management
• Road safety

Environmental Engineering:

• Water quality and purification
• Sewerage systems and treatments
• Surface water drainage
• Solid waste management
• Air and noise pollution control

Structural Engineering:

• Theory of structures and types of beams
• Bending moment and shear force diagrams
• Moment of area and moment of inertia
• Torsion of circular sections
• Concrete technology and RCC design
• Steel design and construction

Mechanical Engineering

Theory of Machines and Machine Design:

• Concept of simple machines
• Four-bar linkage and link motion
• Flywheels and fluctuation of energy
• Power transmission by belts (V-belts and flat belts)
• Clutches (plate and conical clutch)
• Gears (types, gear profile, and gear ratio calculation)
• Governors (principles and classification)
• Riveted joints
• Cams
• Bearings
• Friction in collars and pivots

Engineering Mechanics and Strength of Materials:

• Equilibrium of forces
• Laws of motion
• Friction
• Stress and strain concepts
• Elastic limit and elastic constants
• Bending moments and shear force diagrams
• Stress in composite bars
• Torsion of circular shafts
• Buckling of columns (Euler's and Rankine's theories)
• Thin-walled pressure vessels

Thermal Engineering:

• Properties of pure substances and steam tables
• 1st Law of Thermodynamics
• 2nd Law of Thermodynamics
• Air standard cycles for IC engines (Otto cycle, Diesel cycle)
• IC engine performance, combustion, cooling, and lubrication
• Rankine cycle of steam
• Boilers and their classification, fittings, and accessories
• Air compressors and refrigeration cycles
• Nozzles and steam turbines

Fluid Mechanics and Machinery:

• Properties and classification of fluids
• Fluid statics and measurement of fluid pressure
• Fluid kinematics and dynamics
• Bernoulli's equation and its applications
• Measurement of flow rate
• Hydraulic turbines and centrifugal pumps

Production Engineering:

• Classification of steels and heat treatment
• Welding techniques (arc welding, gas welding, resistance welding)
• Welding defects and testing
• Foundry and casting processes
• Forging and extrusion
• Metal cutting principles and cutting tools
• Machining processes (lathe, milling, drilling, shaping, grinding)

Engineering Drawing:

• Introduction to orthographic projection
• First angle and third angle methods
• Conversion of pictorial views into orthographic views
• Introduction to isometric projections
• Conversion of orthographic views into isometric views/projections

• Analog Modulation: This includes concepts such as frequency translation and different types of analog modulation techniques like amplitude modulation (AM), double-sideband suppressed carrier (DSBSC), single-sideband (SSB), vestigial sideband (VSB), and frequency modulation (FM).
• Pulse Analog Modulation: Topics covered include ideal sampling, sampling theorem, aliasing, interpolation, and different sampling techniques in the time and frequency domains.
• PCM & Delta Modulation Systems: This covers uniform and non-uniform quantization, pulse code modulation (PCM), delta modulation, and the signal-to-quantization noise ratio in PCM and delta modulation.
• Digital Modulation: This area explores baseband and passband transmission, line coding, inter-symbol interference (ISI), pulse shaping, Nyquist criterion, raised cosine spectrum, and different digital modulation techniques like phase-shift keying (PSK), frequency-shift keying (FSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), etc.
• Spread-Spectrum Modulation: Topics covered include pseudo-noise sequences, direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), processing gain, probability of error, and applications of spread spectrum like code division multiple access (CDMA).
• Electronics Devices and Circuits: This area covers semiconductor devices and diodes, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), field-effect transistors (FETs), SCR, DIAC, TRIAC, amplifiers, oscillators, and more.
• Digital Electronics: Topics covered include number systems, Boolean algebra, logic gates, combinational and sequential logic circuits, arithmetic circuits, encoders, decoders, multiplexers, demultiplexers, memory devices, data converters, and more.
• Electronic Measurement and Instrumentation: This area covers the basics of measurements, bridges, potentiometers, measuring instruments like PMMC, MI, dynamo type, electronic voltmeters, digital voltmeters, q-meters, oscilloscopes, and transducers.
• Electric Circuits & Network: Topics covered include network analysis using different theorems like superposition, Thevenin, Norton, maximum power transfer, and reciprocity theorems. It also covers graph theory, time domain and frequency domain analysis, Fourier series, and two-port networks.
• Microcontroller and Applications: This area focuses on microprocessors, microcontrollers, programming with 8051, interfacing with different devices, C programming, ARM-based microcontrollers, and more.
• Consumer Electronics: This area covers audio fundamentals and devices, audio systems, television systems, television receivers, video systems, home/office appliances, and digital cameras.
• Digital Communication Systems: Topics covered include block diagrams of digital communication systems, sampling, pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), pulse code modulation (PCM), digital modulation techniques, information theory, coding theory, and error control coding.
• Electronic Equipment Maintenance: This area covers troubleshooting procedures, testing and maintenance of passive components, semiconductor devices, logic ICs, rework and repair of surface mount assemblies, and more.
• Linear Integrated Circuits: Topics covered include IC fabrication, circuit configurations for linear ICs, operational amplifiers and their applications, analog multipliers, phase-locked loops (PLL), analog-to-digital converters

General Awareness

The questions will assess the candidate's general awareness of their surroundings and its relevance to society. They will also test their knowledge of current events, as well as everyday observations and scientific concepts that an educated person should be familiar with. Additionally, the test will cover topics such as history, culture, geography, the economic scene, general politics, and scientific research in India and its neighboring countries. The questions will be designed in a way that does not require specialized study in any particular field.

Reasoning

Preliminary Exam Pattern

Topics

No. Of Questions

Max. Marks

Medium

Time

Concerned Discipline

140

1 x 140 = 140

English & Hindi

180 Minutes

General Awareness

30

1 x 30 = 30

English & Hindi

Reasoning Ability

30

1 x 30 = 30

English & Hindi

Total

200

1 x 200 = 200

Book

Author/Publisher

Description

Junior Engineer Prelims Exam Books

V.V.K. Subburaj

Good to get a complete insight into all the different sections for Junior Engineer

How to Crack Test of Reasoning: In all Competitive Exams

Arihant

A good book to practice a variety of reasoning questions.

Verbal and Nonverbal Reasoning

RS Agarwal

This book gives questions to practice from various topics. It is very common among students.

Data Analysis & Interpretation

Disha Publications

Good for practicing MCQs and previous year question papers of various competitive examinations.

Corrective English

AK Singh

This book deals with Grammar concepts as well as grammar questions

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude

Arun Sharma

Various topics from Quantitative Aptitude can be solved from this book.