NHPC JE Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern: Download PDF for Junior Engineer Recruitment

• Resistance (R)
• Inductance (L)
• Capacitance (C)
• Factors affecting them (e.g., material, geometry, temperature)
• Current (A), Voltage (V), Power (W), Energy (J or kWh)

2. Circuit Laws and Network Analysis

• Kirchhoff’s Laws:
• KCL (Current Law)
• KVL (Voltage Law)
• Thevenin’s, Norton’s, Superposition, Maximum Power Transfer

3. Magnetic Circuits and Induction

• Magnetic Flux (Φ)
• MMF
• Reluctance
• Types of magnetic materials
• For straight conductors
• Circular loops
• Solenoids
• Induction:
• Faraday’s Law
• Lenz’s Law
• Self & Mutual Inductance

4. AC Fundamentals and Waveforms

• Instantaneous
• Peak
• RMS
• Average values
• Phasor representation
• R-L, R-C, R-L-C circuits (series/parallel)
• Resonance
• Tank circuits
• Polyphase Systems:
• Star & Delta, 3-phase power
• DC & AC response of RL/RC circuits

5. Electrical Measurement & Measuring Instruments

• Power & Energy Measurement:
• Single/Three-phase (active/reactive)
• Two-wattmeter method
• Ammeter, Voltmeter (moving coil/iron)
• Wattmeter, Multimeter, Megger, Energy Meter
• CRO
• Signal Generator
• CT, PT
• Earth fault detection

6. Electrical Machines

• Construction, Principles, Characteristics
• Speed control, Braking, Losses & Efficiency
• Single & Three-phase transformers
• Equivalent circuits, Regulation, OC/SC tests
• Auto-transformers, Parallel operation
• 3-phase: Construction, Rotating field, Torque-speed curve
• Starting, Speed control, Braking methods

7. Synchronous Machines

• EMF generation
• Armature reaction
• Voltage regulation
• Synchronization
• Parallel operation
• Synchronous motors: starting, applications, power control

8. Power Systems: Generation, Transmission & Distribution

• Power Stations: Types, Load/Demand factors
• Tariffs: Types of electrical tariffs
• Faults: Symmetrical faults, Short circuit calculations
• Circuit breakers, Fuses, Relays (Buchholz, Merz-Price)
• Earth leakage, Lightning arresters
• Cables: Types, Ratings, Derating factors
• Distribution Systems: Comparison & efficiency

9. Estimation and Costing

• Estimation of lighting and machine installations
• IE Rules, Earthing practices

10. Utilization of Electrical Energy

• Illumination principles
• Electric heating & welding
• Electroplating
• Electric drives

11. Basic Electronics

• Devices: PN Junction Diode, BJT (NPN/PNP), JFET
• Applications: Simple circuits with these devices

12. General Properties of Matter

• Elasticity: Stress, strain, Hooke’s law
• Pressure: Gauge, Absolute, Fortin’s Barometer
• Surface Tension: Cohesive/adhesive forces, Temperature effect
• Viscosity: Coefficient, Stokes law, Temperature effect

13. Hydrodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

• Fluid flow: Streamline vs. Turbulent
• Reynold’s number
• Continuity equation
• Bernoulli’s theorem

14. Engineering Drawing and Drafting

• Orthographic Projections:
• First/Third angle, symbols
• Conversion from pictorial to orthographic
• Isometric Projections:
• Drawing from orthographic views

• Types and properties of materials like:

1. Cement, wood, bricks, paints, varnishes, etc.
2. How they are used and tested

2. Estimating, Costing & Valuation

• Cost estimation of structures like:

1. Brick walls, septic tanks, water tanks, footings, etc.
2. Terms like scrap value, salvage value, and depreciation

3. Surveying Techniques

• Methods like chain survey, compass survey, levelling, etc.
• Instruments like theodolite, dumpy level
• Uses of contour maps and earthwork calculation

4. Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering

• Soil properties and classification
• Atterberg’s limits, permeability, consolidation
• Shear strength, compaction, bearing capacity

5. Hydraulics and Fluid Power

• Basics of fluids and their movement
• Flow in pipes and open channels
• Pumps, turbines, Bernoulli’s theorem

6. Irrigation Engineering

• Importance of irrigation and water requirements of crops
• Types of canals, wells, and water loss
• Floods, waterlogging, land reclamation
• Important irrigation projects in India

7. Transportation Engineering

• Highway design and materials (bitumen, aggregates)
• Rigid and flexible pavements
• Railway tracks and traffic engineering
• Road safety and drainage systems

8. Environmental Engineering

• Water supply, purification, and sewage systems
• Solid waste, air and noise pollution
• Waste management techniques

9. Structural Engineering

• Theory of Structures
• Types of beams, load types
• Bending moment, shear force, and stress
• Columns, retaining walls, torsion
• Concrete Technology
• Cement, aggregates, mix design
• Mixing, placing, curing of concrete
• Concrete quality and maintenance
• RCC Design
• Design of beams, slabs, columns, and footings
• Working Stress and Limit State methods
• Steel Design
• Design of steel beams, columns, roof trusses, plate girders

• Simple machines, gear systems, flywheels
• Belts, clutches, cams, bearings, governors
• Types of joints, friction in mechanical systems

2. Engineering Mechanics & Strength of Materials

• Forces, motion, friction
• Stress-strain concepts, elastic limit
• Torsion, pressure vessels, bending moment, shear force
• Buckling of columns

3. Thermal Engineering and Thermodynamics

• Steam and its properties
• Steam tables, wet and dry steam, superheat
• Thermodynamics
• First & Second Law of Thermodynamics
• Energy equations, entropy, Carnot cycle
• IC Engines
• Otto & Diesel cycle, engine performance
• Cooling and lubrication systems
• Power Cycles
• Rankine cycle (steam power plant cycle)
• Boilers
• Fire tube and water tube
• Accessories and specifications
• Refrigeration and Air Compressors
• Refrigeration cycles and their working
• Steam Nozzles & Turbines
• Working principles and applications

4. Fluid Mechanics & Hydraulic Machinery

• Fluids
• Properties of fluids, viscosity
• Difference between ideal and real fluids
• Fluid Statics & Dynamics
• Pressure measurement (manometers)
• Bernoulli’s equation and applications
• Flow Measurements
• Venturimeter, Orifice meter, Pitot tube
• Hydraulic Machines
• Turbines and pumps – types and performance

5. Production and Manufacturing Engineering

• Materials & Welding
• Types of steel, heat treatment
• Arc, gas, MIG, TIG welding, defects & testing
• Casting & Forging
• Processes and common defects
• Machining Processes
• Operations on Lathe, Milling, Drilling, Shaping, Grinding
• Cutting Tools & Techniques
• Basic metal cutting principles

6. Engineering Drawing and CAD

• Orthographic Projections
• First-angle and third-angle views
• Drawing Conversions
• Pictorial to orthographic and vice versa
• Isometric Drawing
• 3D to 2D and 2D to 3D visualizations

• Communication Systems
• Analog/digital modulation (AM, FM, PCM, PSK, FSK)
• Spread spectrum techniques (DSSS, FHSS)
• Diodes
• Transistors
• SCR, amplifiers, oscillators
• Logic gates, Boolean algebra, memory, flip-flops
• Voltmeters, multimeters, oscilloscopes, transducers
• Theorems, Fourier series, 2-port networks
• 8051, ARM processors, interfacing, programming
• Consumer Electronics
• TVs, audio systems, appliances, cameras
• Testing & repairing passive & active components
• Op-amps, PLL, ADCs

• Current events
• Physics
• Chemistry
• History
• Culture
• Geography
• Politics
• Economy
• Knowledge of India & neighboring countries

• Analogies
• Similarities
• Differences
• Space visualization
• Problem-solving
• Decision making
• Observation
• Visual memory
• Number series
• Arithmetical reasoning
• Figural classification and symbols