SSC JE Mechanical Engineering Syllabus
The same topic list serves both papers, so 400 of the 500 merit marks come from the syllabus below. Paper 1 tests it at 100 marks and Paper 2 at 300.
Mechanical candidates should note the normalisation rule. Where Mechanical and Electrical compete for the same posts, Paper 2 marks are normalised across the two branches before merit is prepared.
Where the branch paper sits
Paper | Questions | Marks | Negative marking |
Paper 1, General Engineering | 100 | 100 | 0.25 |
Paper 2, General Engineering | 100 | 300 | 1 mark |
SSC JE Mechanical Engineering syllabus, topic wise
Theory of machines and machine design
Simple machines, four bar linkage and link motion, flywheels and fluctuation of energy, power transmission by flat and V-belts, plate and conical clutches, gears with gear profiles and gear ratio calculation, governors, riveted joints, cams, bearings, plus friction in collars and pivots.
Engineering mechanics and strength of materials
Equilibrium of forces, laws of motion, friction. Stress and strain, elastic limit and elastic constants, bending moment and shear force diagrams, stress in composite bars, torsion of circular shafts, buckling of columns through Euler’s and Rankine’s theories, plus thin walled pressure vessels.
Thermal engineering
Properties of pure substances covering p-v and p-T diagrams, steam tables, saturation, wet and superheated states, dryness fraction, degree of superheat and the Mollier chart.
The first law of thermodynamics covering stored energy and internal energy, cyclic processes, the non flow energy equation, flow energy, enthalpy and the steady flow energy equation.
The second law of thermodynamics covering sink, source and reservoir, heat engines, heat pumps and refrigerators, thermal efficiency and coefficient of performance, the Kelvin-Planck and Clausius statements, the absolute temperature scale, the Clausius integral, entropy and entropy change for ideal gas processes, the Carnot cycle and Carnot efficiency.
Air standard cycles for IC engines covering the Otto and Diesel cycles on p-V and T-s planes with their thermal efficiencies. IC engine performance, combustion, cooling and lubrication.
The Rankine cycle plotted on p-V, T-s and h-s planes with efficiency calculated with and without pump work.
Boilers covering classification, specification, fittings and accessories, fire tube and water tube types. Air compressors and their cycles, refrigeration cycles and the principle of a refrigeration plant. Nozzles and steam turbines.
Fluid mechanics and machinery
Properties and classification of fluids covering ideal and real fluids, Newton’s law of viscosity, Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, plus compressible and incompressible fluids.
Fluid statics and pressure at a point. Measurement of fluid pressure through U-tube and inclined tube manometers.
Fluid kinematics covering streamlines, laminar and turbulent flow, external and internal flow and the continuity equation. Dynamics of ideal fluids covering Bernoulli’s equation, total head, velocity head, pressure head and applications.
Measurement of flow rate through the venturimeter, pitot tube and orifice meter. Hydraulic turbines with their classification and principles. Centrifugal pumps with their classification, principles and performance.
Production engineering
Classification of steels including mild steel and alloy steel, heat treatment of steel. Welding covering arc, gas and resistance welding, TIG and MIG, brazing and soldering, welding defects, testing and non-destructive testing. Foundry and casting covering methods, defects and processes. Forging and extrusion. Metal cutting principles and cutting tools. Basic principles of machining with the lathe, milling machine, drilling machine, shaper and grinder.
How to prepare the branch paper
Thermal engineering is the largest block and the one with the most numerical questions. Build it first and build the cycles properly, because Otto, Diesel, Carnot and Rankine between them produce a reliable set of questions every year.
Fluid mechanics is the second block and it rewards formula fluency more than conceptual depth at this level.
Production engineering is largely factual and is the topic candidates most often leave out. It is quick to learn and quick to answer, which makes it good value against the time it takes.
Keep a formula sheet and revise weekly. With a full mark deducted per error in Paper 2 against three for a correct answer, an approximate formula costs you more than a blank.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SSC JE mechanical syllabus the same for both papers?
Yes. The same topic list serves Paper 1 and Paper 2, with Paper 2 set at greater depth.
How many mechanical engineering questions are asked?
100 in Paper 1 for 100 marks and 100 in Paper 2 for 300 marks.
Is production engineering part of the syllabus?
Yes, covering welding, casting, forging, extrusion and machining processes.
Are mechanical marks normalised against electrical?
Paper 2 marks are normalised across the two branches where they compete for common posts.
Which topics carry the most weight?
Thermal engineering and fluid mechanics carry the largest shares in most years.
Topics, marks, negative marking and normalisation on this page follow the scheme of examination in the latest SSC JE notification published on ssc.gov.in.