GATE AG Syllabus 2027: Overview

The Agricultural Engineering paper is designed to test candidates on mathematical fundamentals and core concepts across agricultural machinery, farm power, soil and water conservation, irrigation, agricultural processing, and dairy and food engineering.

GATE 2027 Agricultural Engineering Syllabus: Sections

Linear Algebra

• Matrices and determinants.
• Linear and orthogonal transformations.
• Caley-Hamilton theorem.
• Eigenvalues and eigenvectors.
• Solutions of linear equations.

Calculus

• Limit, continuity and differentiability.
• Partial derivatives.
• Homogeneous functions and Euler's theorem on homogeneous functions.
• Total differentiation.
• Maxima and minima of functions with several independent variables.
• Sequences and series.
• Infinite series and tests for convergence.
• Fourier series.
• Taylor and Maclaurin series.

Vector Calculus

• Vector differentiation.
• Scalar and vector point functions.
• Vector differential operators.
• Del operator.
• Gradient, divergence and curl.
• Physical interpretations of vector operations.
• Line, surface and volume integrals.
• Stokes', Gauss' and Green's theorems.

Differential Equations

• Linear and non-linear first order ordinary differential equations (ODE).
• Homogeneous differential equations.
• Higher order linear ODEs with constant coefficients.
• Laplace transforms and inverse Laplace transforms.
• Partial differential equations.
• Laplace equation.
• Heat equation.
• Wave equation.

Probability and Statistics

• Mean, median, mode and standard deviation.
• Random variables.
• Poisson distribution.
• Normal distribution.
• Binomial distribution.
• Correlation and regression analysis.

Numerical Methods

• Solutions of linear and non-linear algebraic equations.
• Numerical integration using trapezoidal rule.
• Numerical integration using Simpson's rule.
• Numerical solutions of ordinary differential equations.

Machine Design

• Design and selection of machine elements.
• Gears.
• Pulleys.
• Chains and 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.

Farm Machinery

• Soil tillage.
• Forces acting on a tillage tool.
• Hitch systems and hitching of tillage implements.
• Functional requirements, principles of working, construction and operation of manual equipment.
• Animal-operated agricultural equipment.
• Tractor-operated agricultural equipment.
• Renewable energy-operated agricultural equipment.
• Equipment for tillage.
• Equipment for sowing and planting.
• Fertilizer application equipment.
• Inter-cultivation equipment.
• Spraying equipment.
• Mowing equipment.
• Chaff cutting equipment.
• Harvesting and threshing equipment.
• Calculation of field capacity and efficiency.
• Performance index.
• Application rate and losses.
• Cost analysis of implements and tractors.
• Equipment for precision agriculture.

Sources of Power

• Human power.
• Animal power.
• Mechanical power.
• Electrical power.
• Wind power.
• Solar power.
• Biomass power.
• Bio-fuels and their use in farm mechanization.

Farm Power and IC Engines

• Thermodynamic principles of IC engines.
• IC engine cycles.
• Engine components.
• Fuels and combustion.
• Lubricants and their properties.
• Fuel systems.
• Cooling systems.
• Lubrication systems.
• Ignition systems.
• Electrical systems.
• Intake and exhaust systems.
• Selection, operation, maintenance and repair of IC engines.
• Power efficiencies and measurement.
• Engine performance curves.
• Calculation of power, torque, fuel consumption, heat load and power losses.

Tractors and Power Tillers

• Types of tractors and power tillers.
• Selection, maintenance and repair of tractors and power tillers.
• Tractor clutches and brakes.
• Power transmission systems.
• Gear trains.
• Differential and final drives.
• Power take-off.
• Mechanics of tractor chassis.
• Traction theory.
• Three-point hitches.
• Free link and restrained link operations.
• Steering systems used in tractors.
• Hydraulic control systems used in tractors.
• Tractor tests and performance.
• Human engineering and safety considerations in design of tractors and agricultural implements.

Fluid Mechanics

• 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 equation.
• Hazen-Williams equation.
• Flow through orifices, weirs and notches.
• Flow in open channels.
• Dimensional analysis and concepts of geometric dimensionless numbers.

Soil Mechanics

• Engineering properties of soils.
• Fundamental definitions and relationships.
• Index properties of soils.
• Permeability and seepage analysis.
• Shear strength.
• Soil compaction.
• Proctor test.
• Mohr's circle of stress.
• Active and passive earth pressures.
• Stability of slopes.
• Terzaghi's one-dimensional soil consolidation theory.

Hydrology

• Hydrological cycle.
• Measurement of hydrological cycle 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 routing.
• Channel routing.
• Infiltration indices and equations.
• Drought and its classification.

Surveying and Leveling

• 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.

Soil and Water Erosion

• Mechanics of soil erosion.
• Wind erosion.
• Water erosion.
• Types of soil erosion.
• Factors affecting erosion.
• Soil loss estimation.
• Biological measures for erosion control.
• Engineering measures for erosion control.
• Terraces and bunds.
• Vegetative waterways.
• Gully control structures.
• Drop, drop inlet and chute spillways.
• Earthen dams.

Watershed Management

• Watershed characterization.
• Land use capability classification.
• Water budgeting in watershed.
• Rainwater harvesting.
• Check dams.
• Farm ponds.

Soil-Water-Plant Relationship

• Water requirement of crops.
• Consumptive use.
• Evapotranspiration.
• Measurement of infiltration.
• Measurement of soil moisture.
• Irrigation water infiltration.

Irrigation Water Conveyance and Application Methods

• Design of irrigation channels.
• Design of underground pipelines.
• Irrigation scheduling.
• Surface irrigation.
• Sprinkler irrigation.
• Micro irrigation.
• Design and evaluation of irrigation methods.
• Irrigation efficiencies.

Agricultural Drainage

• Drainage coefficient.
• Planning, design and layout of surface drainage systems.
• Planning, design and layout of sub-surface drainage systems.
• Leaching requirement.
• Salinity control.
• Irrigation and drainage water quality.
• Water reuse.
• Non-conventional drainage systems.

Groundwater Hydrology

• Groundwater occurrence.
• Groundwater movement.
• Darcy's Law.
• Steady flow in confined aquifers.
• Unsteady flow in confined aquifers.
• Steady and unsteady flow in unconfined aquifers.
• Groundwater exploration techniques.
• Overview of groundwater recharge estimation.
• Artificial recharge techniques.

Wells and Pumps

• Types of wells.
• Steady flow through wells.
• Design and construction of water wells.
• Classification of pumps.
• Pump characteristics.
• Pump selection and installation.

Engineering Properties of Agricultural Produce

• Physical properties.
• Thermal properties.
• Frictional properties.
• Rheological properties.
• Electrical properties.

Evaporation and Drying

• Concentration of liquid foods.
• Evaporators.
• Tray dryers.
• Drum dryers.
• Spray dryers.
• Osmotic dehydration.
• Freeze drying.
• Hydrothermal treatments.
• Drying and milling of cereals.
• Drying and milling of pulses.
• Drying and milling of oilseeds.
• Drying kinetics.
• Psychrometry and properties of air-water vapour mixture.

Size Reduction and Material Handling

• Mechanics of size reduction of agricultural produce.
• Energy requirement in size reduction.
• Particle size analysis for comminuted solids.
• Size separation by screening.
• Fluidization of granular solids.
• Pneumatic conveying.
• Bucket conveying.
• Screw conveying.
• Belt conveying.
• Cleaning and grading.
• Effectiveness of separation.
• Centrifugal separation of solids, liquids and gases.
• Homogenization.
• Filtration.
• Membrane separation.

Processing of Agricultural Produce

• Processing of seeds.
• Processing of spices.
• Processing of fruits and vegetables.
• Value addition of agricultural produce.

Storage Systems

• Controlled atmosphere storage.
• Modified atmosphere storage.
• Perishable food storage.
• Godowns.
• Bins.
• Grain silos.
• Packaging materials.
• Packaging machines.

Heat and Mass Transfer

• Steady-state heat transfer by conduction.
• Steady-state heat transfer by convection.
• Steady-state heat transfer by radiation.
• Transient heat transfer in simple geometry.
• Working principles of heat exchangers.
• Diffusive mass transfer.
• Convective mass transfer.
• Simultaneous heat and mass transfer in agricultural processing operations.
• Material and energy balances in food processing systems.
• Water activity.
• Sorption and desorption isotherms.

Unit Operations in Dairy and Food Engineering

• Blanching.
• Homogenization.
• Pasteurization.
• Sterilization.

Preservation of Food

• Kinetics of microbial death.
• Pasteurization of milk and other liquid foods.
• Sterilization of milk and other liquid foods.
• Food preservation by cooling.
• Food preservation by freezing.
• Refrigeration basics and applications.
• Cold storage basics and applications.

GATE Agricultural Engineering 2027 Preparation Strategy

The AG syllabus covers a broad combination of mathematics, agricultural machinery, farm power, soil and water engineering, irrigation, processing and food engineering. Candidates should divide their preparation into manageable subject blocks and regularly revise formulas, concepts and numerical problems.

GATE AG Syllabus 2027: Important Preparation Areas

Download GATE 2027 Agricultural Engineering Syllabus PDF

The official Agricultural Engineering syllabus PDF can be accessed from the GATE 2027 website of IIT Madras.