Kerala PSC PWD Overseer Grade 3 Civil Syllabus 2025 PDF & Exam Pattern

Kerala PSC has announced recruitment for Overseer Grade 3 (Civil) in the Public Works Department (Category No. 222/2025). The notification was released on 31 July 2025, and applications are accepted online through the PSC Thulasi portal until 03 September 2025. In this blog, we provide the key details along with the expected syllabus and exam pattern to guide your preparation.

Kerala PSC PWD Overseer Grade 3 Civil Recruitment 2025 Highlights

Kerala PSC PWD Overseer Grade 3 Syllabus 2025 PDF

For the convenience of aspirants, we have attached the official Kerala PSC PWD Overseer Grade 3 (Civil) Syllabus 2025 in PDF format below. Candidates can download and refer to it anytime to plan their preparation accordingly.

Kerala PSC Draftsman/Overseer Question Paper  PDF

Kerala PSC PWD Overseer Grade 3 Exam Pattern 2025

The Overseer/Draftsman Grade III (Civil) exam conducted by Kerala PSC follows a structured pattern to assess candidates’ subject knowledge and technical skills. The exam will be held in English medium, with a total of 100 marks to be completed within 1 hour 30 minutes.

PWD Overseer Grade 3 (Civil) Syllabus – Mark Distribution

Kerala PSC PWD Draftsman/Overseer Grade III Syllabus 2025: Detailed

1.BUILDING MATERIALS. (15 MARKS)

Rock, Stones, Brick, lime, cement, pozzolanic materials- classification, types, uses Clay Products – earthenware,stoneware, porcelain, terracotta, glazing, types,. Mortar –. Preparation Classification, types, uses Concrete –. Preparation Classification, types, uses. Timber. Structure, defect classification, seasoning, uses admixtures – for cement  mortar & cement concrete, classification, types, uses Paints, varnishes, metals, plastics- classification, types, uses

2. CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY (15 MARKS)

Components of a building, Stone masonry-, Brick Masonry, Hollow blocks and Composite masonry – Elements, Classification, types of bonds.

Arches – Technical terms-. types, centering, Lintel- types-wooden, brick, Stone, steel
& RCC.

Foundation:- Construction details of Shallow & Deep Foundation. Types of foundations- Well foundation, Special foundations, Pile foundations, foundation on black cotton soils.

Permanent & temporary structures:- life of structures, sub structure, super structure,
load bearing structure, cavity wall, framed structure. Form work, Scaffolding, shoring, underpinning- purpose, parts, Partition –requirements, types.

Treatments for building structure:-Damp proofing courses, Anti-termite treatment, Weathering course – materials, properties, functions, types, objectives, uses and method. Fire-proofing. Effect, rules.

Carpentry joints terms, classification of joints, Uses & types of fixtures & fastenings. Doors, Windows, and ventilators –Parts, Location, Standard sizes, types Floors – Ground floor & upper floor-Types. Flooring- materials used, types
Roofs & Covering of Roofs Purposes- Elements, Types-Flat, Pitched, Truss- King
Post, queen post, Mansard, Bel-fast, steel, composite. Shell Types-North-light &
double curved. Dome- Component parts. Roofs & Coverings- Objectives, Types &
uses.

3.BUILDING DRAWING AND PLANNING (10 MARKS )

Layout of drawing. Lines, Lettering, Dimensioning, Scales and Projection. Importance of B.I.S. Introduction of Code of Practice for Architectural and Building Drawings (IS: 962- 1989). Principle of Planning, Objectives and importance, Functions and Responsibility, Orientation. Local Building Bye-Laws as per ISI Code. Layout Plan & Key Plan. Submission Drawing. Provision for safety. Requirement of green belt and land.

Computer-aided drafting. -Operating system ,Hardware & software -Introduction of CAD -Its Graphical User Interface. -Method of Installation -Basic commands of CAD.

4. R C C AND STEEL STRUCTURES (10 MARKS)

R C C – Materials -proportions-Characteristics. Method of mixing concrete, Slump test. Formwork, steel behavior and test. Bar bending details as per I. S. Code. RCC

Structure- columns, beams, slabs- one-way and two-way slab, Innovative construction, Retaining wall, R C C framed structure- Safety against earthquake.

Steel structures:- Common forms of steel sections. Structural fasteners, joints. Tension and compression member. Classification fabrication. Construction details

5. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SANITARY ENGINEERING (5 MARKS)

Terms used in PHE. Systems of sanitation. System of house drainage. System of house Plumbing, sanitary fittings etc. Purification of water. Types of sewer appurtenance. Manholes & septic tank. New technology of plumbing System.

6. ROADS, RAILWAYS, BRIDGES AND TUNNELS (10 MARKS)

General principles of alignment. Classification and construction of different types of roads. Components parts. Road curves and gradient. Road drainage system. Bridges & Tunnels:- Components parts of a bridge. Types of superstructure and

Substructure- Classification of bridges, IRC loading. Selection of type and location, Alignment of bridge- Caissons, Cofferdam. Classification of culverts. Tunnels- rules used for the sizes of different members.

Railways:- Permanent way. Rail gauges, functions, requirements of component
parts, types, sections, length of rail. Welding of rail, wear of rail. Coning of wheels,
hogged rail, bending of rail, creep of rail. Causes and prevention of creep. Fixtures,
fastenings, Joints-types, Construction of permanent way. Railway station and yard.

7.IRRIGATION ENGINEERING (10 MARKS)

Hydrology- duty, delta, base period, intensity of irrigation. Hydrograph- peak flow, run off, catchment area, CCA. Rabi crop, Kharif crop, Storage/Diversion head work characteristics, Types. Dams, Barrages & weir-types, classifications and purposes. Hydro-electric project -component parts and functions

Canals:-classification and distribution system, canal structures. Types of cross drainage works like Aqua duct, Super passage, Siphon, Level crossing, inlet and outlet, etc.

8. ESTIMATING AND COSTING (5 MARKS)

Common techniques, units of Measurement, necessity, importance, approximate and detailed estimate types- taking off quantities-method. Rate analysis of typical items and their specifications. Labour and materials. Schedule of rates. Estimating of irregular boundaries by trapezoidal and Simpson’s formulae.

9. SURVEYING AND LEVELLING:- (10 MARKS)

SURVEYING:-Instrument employed. and common terms. Classification-plain and geodetic. Chaining, Plane table survey, Compass survey:- Instrument and its setting up. Bearing and included angle, Local attraction. Magnetic and true bearing, declination.

LEVELING:- Principle of levelling, Dumpy level, auto level-. Levelling staffs- Types component parts, and function. Temporary and permanent adjustment. Technical terms- Level and horizontal surface, Datum, benchmark, focusing, and parallax. Deduction of reduced levels. Types of levelling. Contouring.

10. ENGINEERING MECHANICS (10 MARKS)

Definition of stress, strain, elasticity, Hook’s law, Elastic limit, Modulus of elasticity. Type of Stresses. Standard stress-strain curve for mild steel bar under tension, Yield stress, Proof stress, Ultimate stress, Strain at various critical points, Percentage elongation. Mechanical properties of materials. Identify the centroid of geometrical plane figures.

Moment of inertia (M.I.): M.I. of plane lamina and solid bodies. Radius of gyration,
Parallel and Perpendicular axes theorems. Polar Moment of Inertia of solid circular
sections

Friction:-Types and laws of friction, limiting equilibrium, limiting friction, coefficient of friction, angle of friction, angle of repose, relation between coefficient of friction and angle of friction. Resolution of a force – Orthogonal components of a force, principle of transmissibility.

Composition of forces – Resultant, analytical method for determination of resultant for concurrent, Non-concurrent and parallel co-planar force systems. Moment of a force, Varignon’s Theorem, torque. Equilibrium and Equilibrant, Lami’s Theorem – statement and explanation.

How to Download Kerala PSC Overseer Grade 3 (Civil) Syllabus 2025 PDF

Candidates can easily download the official syllabus PDF directly from the Kerala PSC website. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official website – www.keralapsc.gov.in
2. On the homepage, go to the Recruitment section.
3. Click on Syllabus from the dropdown menu.
4. Look for Overseer Grade 3 (Civil) – PWD (Category No. 222/2025).
5. Click on the Download button next to it.
6. The syllabus PDF will open – click Save to keep a copy for offline reference.