JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus 2026
Subject-wise and chapter-wise JKSSB Draftsman syllabus: 13 subjects, 102 chapters across Unit 1 — Engineering Drawing & Building Materials and Unit 2 — Building Construction & Planning and Unit 3 — Surveying & Transportation and Unit 4 — Irrigation, Public Health & RCC and Unit 5 — Estimating, Costing & AutoCAD, with the weightage each subject really got in 2 previous papers.
JKSSB Draftsman Exam Pattern 2026
Written / OMR Examination (Annexure W)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 — Engineering drawing, lettering, scales, building materials | 25 | 25 |
| Unit 2 — Building construction, foundations, roofs, stairs, planning | 30 | 30 |
| Unit 3 — Surveying, levelling, roads, railways, bridges | 25 | 25 |
| Unit 4 — Irrigation, dams, canals, public health engineering, RCC | 20 | 20 |
| Unit 5 — Estimating & costing, building bye-laws, computers, AutoCAD | 20 | 20 |
| Total | 120 | 120 |
Duration: 120 minutes · Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks assigned to that question
JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — Unit 1 — Engineering Drawing & Building Materials (25 questions)
Weightage = average number of questions per paper across the 2 real previous-year papers on this site.
Engineering Graphics
22 Q / paper8 chapter tests
- Drawing Standards & Instruments
- Scales, Lettering & Dimensioning
- Geometrical Constructions
- Orthographic & Isometric Projections
- Projection of Points, Lines, Planes & Solids
- Sectional Views & Development of Surfaces
- Building Drawing & CAD Basics
- Conventional Signs & Symbols (BIS)
Design, Drawing & Safety
0.5 Q / paper4 chapter tests
- General Principles of Drawing
- Engineering Graphics
- CAD Principles
- Importance of Safety
Construction Materials
31 Q / paper25 chapter tests
- Stone, Bricks & Lime
- Cement & Aggregates
- Concrete & Admixtures
- Paints, Glass & Plastics
- Steel & Timber
- Tiles, Terracotta & Earthenware
JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — Unit 2 — Building Construction & Planning (30 questions)
Weightage = average number of questions per paper across the 2 real previous-year papers on this site.
Building Materials
31 Q / paper25 chapter tests
- Stone & Brick Masonry
- Masonry and Plaster Work
- Masonry & Plastering
- Partition and Cavity Walls
- Building Planning & Foundations
- Damp Proof Course
- Floors and Floorings
- Arches and Lintels
- Roofs and Roof Covering
- Stairs
- Doors, Windows and Ventilators
- Timber and Wood Products
- Scaffolding & Formwork
- Construction Techniques
- Perspective Drawing, Colouring & Shading
- Inking, Tracing & Print Making
- Workshop Hand Tools & Plumbing Operations
- Carpentry Hand Tools, Joints & Fastenings
- Elementary Electricity & Domestic Wiring
JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — Unit 3 — Surveying & Transportation (25 questions)
Weightage = average number of questions per paper across the 2 real previous-year papers on this site.
Surveying
13 Q / paper9 chapter tests
- Chain Surveying
- Chain & Compass Surveying
- Chain & Compass Survey
- Compass Surveying
- Plane Table Surveying
- Levelling
- Contouring
- Areas & Volumes
- Planimeter & Pantograph
Transportation Engineering
11 Q / paper14 chapter tests
- Highway Engineering
- Highway Alignment & Surveys
- Highway Construction & Maintenance
- Railway Engineering
- Railway — Permanent Way
- Points, Crossings & Signalling
- Tunnels & Bridges
JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — Unit 4 — Irrigation, Public Health & RCC (20 questions)
Weightage = average number of questions per paper across the 2 real previous-year papers on this site.
Hydrology & Irrigation
14 Q / paper10 chapter tests
- Water Requirement of Crops
- Hydrological Cycle & Precipitation
- Hydrographs
- Rainfall-Runoff Analysis
- Reservoirs & Dams
- Diversion Headworks & Dams
- Canals & Canal Design
- Cross Drainage Works
- Irrigation System Design
- Irrigation Methods & Drainage
Environmental Engineering
1 Q / paper6 chapter tests
- Sources of Water
- Water Supply & Treatment
- Water Treatment
- Distribution Systems
- Sewerage & Sanitation
- Water Demand & Quality
RCC Design
4.5 Q / paper4 chapter tests
- Properties of Concrete
- RCC Materials, Formwork & Bar Bending
- Concrete Mixing, Workability & Slump Test
- Reinforced Brickwork
Steel Structures
1 Q / paper2 chapter tests
- Rivet and Bolt Connections
- Bolted, Welded & Riveted Connections
JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — Unit 5 — Estimating, Costing & AutoCAD (20 questions)
Weightage = average number of questions per paper across the 2 real previous-year papers on this site.
Estimating & Costing
7 Q / paper11 chapter tests
- Principles of Estimating
- Detailed & Abstract Estimate
- Quantity Estimation
- Measurement of Works
- Analysis of Rates
- Rate Analysis & Specifications
- Specifications (General & Detailed)
- Building, Road and Canal Estimates
- Earthwork Calculation
- Bar Bending Schedule
- Building Bye-laws & Development Authority Regulations
AUTO CAD
5.5 Q / paper11 chapter tests
- Interface Setup
- Creation Tools
- Modification Tools
- Layer Organization
- Text & Dimensions
- Page Plotting
- Building Plans
- Structural Details
- Civil Infrastructure
- Coordinate Systems in AutoCAD
- 3D Drafting & Architectural Desktop
Computer Knowledge
6 Q / paper5 chapter tests
- Computer Fundamentals
- Hardware & Software
- Operating Systems
- MS Office
- DOS Commands & Windows Basics
JKSSB Draftsman Detailed Topics (Official Wording)
Source: jkssb.nic.in
📐 Unit 1 — Engineering Drawing & Building Materials (25 marks)
- Drawing Office Practice & Lettering (Unit 1 · 25 marks): Drawing as the language of technicians · drawing office organization · drawing instruments, equipment and materials — use, care and maintenance · safety precautions · introduction to BIS code of practice and architectural drawings · importance of lettering, printing of letters and figures, sizes and proportions as per BIS · forms and proportions for single stroke lettering · lettering stencils
- Geometrical Drawing & Orthographic Projection: Definitions and construction of plain geometrical figures · orthographic projection · dihedral angles · recommended methods of projection according to BIS codes · technical sketching · technique of sketching model drawing · orthographic sketching
- Scales & Dimensioning: Principles, representation and construction of different types of scales · graphic scales · recommended scales for drawing with reference to BIS codes · dimensioning technique and order of finishing · conventional signs and symbols as per BIS
- Building Materials: Bricks — characteristics of good bricks, hollow bricks and manufacture of bricks · tiles, terracotta, stoneware and earthenware · sand — types and characteristics · cement · lime
🏗️ Unit 2 — Building Construction & Planning (30 marks)
- Masonry, Timber & Scaffolding (Unit 2 · 30 marks): Sequence of construction of a building · names of different parts of a building · brick masonry — principles of construction of bonds · tools and equipment used · scaffolding · stone masonry — terms used, principles of construction, classification · composite masonry and strength of walls · timber structure and uses of Indian timbers
- Foundations: Purpose of foundation · causes of failure of foundation · bearing capacity of soils · dead and live loads · examination of ground · types of foundation · drawing of footing foundation · setting out of building on ground · excavation and shoring · simple machine foundations
- Damp Proofing, Mortar, Plastering & Finishes: Dampness in buildings and damp proof course · methods of prevention of dampness · mortar — types, proportion and mixing · plastering and pointing · white washing and distempering
- Floors, Arches & Roofs: Types of ground floor · construction of granolithic, mosaic and brick tile floors · arches — technical terms and forms, brick and stone centering, lintels, market forms and sizes · pitched roofs — types, roof covering and component parts · theory of trussing, king post and queen post trusses · classification and construction of upper floors including waterproofing · general principles of construction of masonry and RCC
- Doors, Windows, Ventilators & Carpentry Joints: Carpentry joints — terms and classification · doors — parts, location, sizes and types · windows and ventilators including steel windows and ventilators · fixtures and fastenings used in doors, windows and ventilators
- Stairs & Residential Building Planning: Stairs — terms, forms, materials, planning, designing and details of construction · residential building — principles of planning and orientation · local building bye-laws including BIS code · types of residential building rooms, services and utilities constituting a dwelling house · estimating and method of finding out quantities for a single-storeyed residential building
- Perspective, Tracing & Print Making: Perspective view — types, method of construction, technique of colouring and shading · inking and tracing · operating a Leroy set and care of its accessories · method of preparing blue prints or ammonia prints · folding of prints
- Workshop Trades, Electricity & Safety: Safety precautions and elementary first aid · forge and fuel, lighting fire · common hand tools — description and use · plumbing operations · carpenter hand tools, common joints, use of nails, screws, hinges and dowels · preparation of glue and putty · grinding and sharpening of tools, care and maintenance · properties and uses of different timbers · artificial respiration and treatment of electric shock · elementary electricity and general idea of supply system · wireman tool kit, wiring materials and electric fittings · systems of wiring and wiring installation for domestic lighting
🧭 Unit 3 — Surveying & Transportation (25 marks)
- Chain Surveying & Plane Table Survey (Unit 3 · 25 marks): Tools — description, uses and care · details of different bonding walls and sections according to BIS · chain surveying principles, instruments employed, use, care and maintenance · field problems and field book plotting · introduction to plane table survey, instruments employed, use, care and maintenance · prismatic compass · planimeter and pantograph
- Levelling, Contouring & Setting Out: Levelling instruments and accessories — uses and description · level book · differential levelling · application of chain and levelling to building construction · plotting and preparation of contours · computing earthwork by spot levels and contours · setting out work
- Highway Engineering: Introduction to roads · general principles of alignment · classification and construction of different types of roads
- Railway Engineering: Indian railways and their gauges · construction of permanent way · different rail sections · use of stone ballast in railway track · use and types of sleepers · types of signals · fixtures and fastenings in railway tracks including base plates and fish plates
- Bridges, Culverts & Tunnels: Introduction to bridges · component parts of a bridge · classification of culverts (IRC) · types and location of bridges · tunnels — rules used for the sizes of different members
💧 Unit 4 — Irrigation, Public Health & RCC (20 marks)
- Irrigation & Hydrology (Unit 4 · 20 marks): Definition of terms used in irrigation · duty, delta and intensity of irrigation · hydrograph, peak flow and runoff · catchment area and CCA · crops such as Rabi and Kharif · storage and diversion head works — definitions
- Dams & Reservoirs: Types of dams — masonry, concrete and composite · gravity dams · arch and buttress dams · earth and rockfill dams · types of reservoirs — single purpose and multipurpose · area/capacity curves of reservoirs
- Canals & Cross Drainage Works: Canals — classification of canals and distribution system · canal structures such as head regulators, cross regulators, canal outlets and escapes · drawing of canal alignment including longitudinal and cross sections · cross drainage works — aqueducts, super passage, level crossing · irrigation culverts, inlets and outlets · elements of water power development and civil structures of hydro-electric schemes — forebay, penstock, turbines, power house
- Public Health Engineering: Terms used in public health engineering · system of sanitation · house plumbing and sanitary fittings · types of water supply system · purification of water
- RCC & Riveted Connections: Introduction to RCC — uses, materials, proportions and formwork · bending of bars and construction with reference to BIS code · reinforced brickwork · materials used for RCC — coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, cement, water and reinforcement, their characteristics · methods of mixing concrete by hand and machine · slump test · forms and proportions of rivets · types of riveted joints · design of riveted connections and failure of riveted joints
💻 Unit 5 — Estimating, Costing & AutoCAD (20 marks)
- Estimating, Costing & Specifications (Unit 5 · 20 marks): Types of estimate · standard method of taking out quantities · labour and material · detailed and abstract estimate · analysis of rates for simple items of work · schedule of rates · specifications
- Building Planning & Bye-laws: Residential building and planning of building · local bye-laws including BIS code · types of residential building rooms, services and utilities which constitute a dwelling house · building bye-laws of State Urban Development Authorities, Improvement Trust etc.
- Computer Fundamentals: What is a computer · general terms used in computer · elementary DOS commands · Windows commands and their uses
- AutoCAD & 3D Drafting: AutoCAD commands and use of different icons of AutoCAD · knowledge about different co-ordinate systems · knowledge about 3D drafting · knowledge about Architectural Desktop and creating modelling
See the syllabus in real JKSSB Draftsman papers
2 previous-year papers, with the subject-wise question count of each.
JKSSB Draftsman previous year papers →JKSSB Draftsman Syllabus — FAQs
What is the syllabus of JKSSB Draftsman 2026?
JKSSB Draftsman covers 13 subjects in 5 parts — Unit 1 — Engineering Drawing & Building Materials (25 questions), Unit 2 — Building Construction & Planning (30 questions), Unit 3 — Surveying & Transportation (25 questions), Unit 4 — Irrigation, Public Health & RCC (20 questions), Unit 5 — Estimating, Costing & AutoCAD (20 questions). The subjects are Engineering Graphics, Design, Drawing & Safety, Construction Materials, Building Materials, Surveying, Transportation Engineering, Hydrology & Irrigation, Environmental Engineering, RCC Design, Steel Structures, Estimating & Costing, AUTO CAD, Computer Knowledge.
Which subjects carry the most questions in JKSSB Draftsman?
Across the 2 previous papers on CIVILGYAN, the most-asked subjects are Building Materials (about 31 questions a paper), Engineering Graphics (about 22 questions a paper), Hydrology & Irrigation (about 14 questions a paper), Surveying (about 13 questions a paper).
Is this the official JKSSB Draftsman syllabus?
The subject list follows the official notification (jkssb.nic.in); the chapter split and the weightage come from real previous papers and our test series. Always confirm against the latest notification.
How do I practise the JKSSB Draftsman syllabus chapter by chapter?
The JKSSB Draftsman test series has 109 chapter tests and 10 full mocks built on this syllabus, each with a detailed solution. 2 tests are free to attempt.