Covers farm machinery, soil and water conservation, irrigation systems, and post-harvest technology, aimed at improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

GATE Agricultural Engineering

Official 2025 syllabus extracted from https://gate2025.iitr.ac.in/doc/2025/GATE%20_AG_2025_Syllabus.pdf

Engineering Mathematics

Matrices and determinants

Linear and orthogonal transformations

Cayley-Hamilton theorem

Eigen values and eigen vectors

Solutions of linear equations

Linear Algebra

Limit, continuity and differentiability

Partial derivatives

Homogeneous function – Euler's theorem on homogeneous functions

Total differentiation

Maxima and minima of function with several independent variables

Sequences and series

Infinite series, tests for convergence

Fourier, Taylor and MacLaurin series

Calculus

Vector differentiation

Scalar and vector point functions

Vector differential operators – del, gradient, divergence and curl

Line, surface and volume integrals

Stokes, Gauss and Green's theorems

Vector Calculus

Linear and non-linear first order ODEs

Homogeneous differential equations

Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients

Laplace transforms and their inverse

Partial differential equations: Laplace, heat and wave equations

Differential Equations

Mean, median, mode and standard deviation

Random variables

Poisson, normal and binomial distributions

Correlation and regression analysis

Probability and Statistics

Solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations

Numerical integration: trapezoidal and Simpson's rule

Numerical solutions of ODEs

Numerical Methods

Farm Machinery

Design and selection of machine elements – gears, pulleys, chains, sprockets, belts

Overload safety devices used in farm machinery

Measurement of force, stress, torque, speed, displacement and acceleration on machine elements

Shafts, couplings, keys, bearings and knuckle joints

Machine Design

Soil tillage

Forces acting on a tillage tool

Hitch systems and hitching of tillage implements

Manual, animal and power operated equipment for tillage, sowing, planting, fertilizer application, inter-cultivation, spraying, mowing, chaff cutting, harvesting and threshing

Performance parameters: field capacity, efficiency, application rate and losses

Cost analysis of implements and tractors

Farm Power

Human power

Animal power

Mechanical power

Electrical power

Wind, solar and biomass power

Bio-fuels

Sources of Power

Thermodynamic principles of I.C. engines

I.C. engine cycles

Engine components

Fuels and combustion

Lubricants and their properties

I.C. engine systems: fuel, cooling, lubrication, ignition, electrical, intake and exhaust

Selection, operation, maintenance and repair of I.C. engines

Power efficiencies and measurement

Calculation of power, torque, fuel consumption, heat load and power losses

Performance index, cost analysis

Type, selection, maintenance and repair of tractors and power tillers

Tractor clutches and brakes

Power transmission systems: gear trains, differential, final drives and power take-off

Mechanics of tractor chassis

Traction theory

Three point hitches: free link and restrained link operations

Steering and hydraulic control systems

Tractor tests and performance

Human engineering and safety considerations

Tractors and Power Tillers

Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Ideal and real fluids, properties of fluids

Hydrostatic pressure and its measurement

Continuity equation

Kinematics and dynamics of flow

Bernoulli's theorem

Laminar and turbulent flow in pipes

Darcy-Weisbach and Hazen-Williams equations

Moody's diagram

Flow through orifices, weirs and notches

Flow in open channels

Dimensional analysis – geometric dimensionless numbers

Fluid Mechanics

Engineering properties of soils

Fundamental definitions and relationships

Index properties of soils

Permeability and seepage analysis

Shear strength, Mohr's circle of stress

Active and passive earth pressures

Stability of slopes

Terzaghi's one dimensional soil consolidation theory

Soil Mechanics

Hydrological cycle and measurement of its components

Meteorological parameters and their measurement

Analysis of precipitation data

Runoff estimation

Hydrograph analysis, unit hydrograph theory and application

Stream flow measurement

Flood routing, hydrological reservoir and channel routing

Infiltration – indices and equations

Drought and its classification

Hydrology

Measurement of distance and area

Instruments for surveying and levelling

Chain surveying

Methods of traversing

Measurement of angles and bearings

Plane table surveying

Types of levelling

Theodolite traversing

Contouring

Total station, introduction to GPS survey

Computation of areas and volume

Surveying and Leveling

Mechanics of soil erosion: wind and water

Soil erosion types and factors affecting erosion

Soil loss estimation

Biological and engineering measures to control erosion

Terraces and bunds

Vegetative waterways

Gully control structures: drop, drop inlet and chute spillways

Earthen dams

Soil and Water Erosion

Watershed characterization

Land use capability classification

Water budgeting in watershed

Rainwater harvesting

Check dams and farm ponds

Watershed Management

Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Water requirement of crops

Consumptive use and evapotranspiration

Measurement of infiltration, soil moisture and irrigation water infiltration

Soil-Water-Plant Relationship

Design of irrigation channels and underground pipelines

Irrigation scheduling

Surface, sprinkler and micro irrigation methods

Design and evaluation of irrigation methods

Irrigation efficiencies

Irrigation Water Conveyance and Application Methods

Drainage coefficient

Planning, design and layout of surface and sub-surface drainage systems

Leaching requirement and salinity control

Irrigation and drainage water quality and reuse

Non-conventional drainage system

Agricultural Drainage

Groundwater occurrence

Darcy's law

Steady and unsteady flow in confined and unconfined aquifers

Groundwater exploration techniques

Overview of groundwater recharge estimation

Artificial recharge techniques

Groundwater Hydrology

Types of wells

Steady flow through wells

Design and construction of water wells

Classification of pumps

Pump characteristics

Pump selection and installation

Wells and Pumps

Agricultural Process Engineering

Physical properties

Thermal properties

Frictional properties

Rheological properties

Electrical properties

Engineering Properties of Agriculture Produce

Concentration and drying of liquid foods

Evaporators, tray, drum and spray dryers

Hydrothermal treatments

Drying and milling of cereals, pulses and oilseeds

Drying kinetics

Psychrometry – properties of air-water vapor mixture

Evaporation and Drying

Mechanics and energy requirement in size reduction

Particle size analysis for comminuted solids

Size separation by screening

Fluidization of granular solids

Pneumatic, bucket, screw and belt conveying

Cleaning and grading

Effectiveness of separation

Centrifugal separation of solids, liquids and gases

Homogenization

Filtration and membrane separation

Size Reduction and Material Handling

Processing of seeds, spices, fruits and vegetables

Value addition of agriculture produce

Processing of Agriculture Produce

Controlled and modified atmosphere storage

Perishable food storage

Godowns, bins and grain silos

Storage Systems

GATE Agricultural Engineering Syllabus 2025, 2026 and more: Subjects, Topics, and What to Study