The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus is now available for candidates preparing for the Kerala PSC Tracer examination in the Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Department. Understanding the complete syllabus is essential before starting your preparation.
Since the exam includes engineering drawing, surveying, soil conservation, farm machinery, and post-harvest engineering, candidates should follow a structured study plan from the beginning.
Tracer Soil and Survey Exam 2026 – Key Highlights
Before exploring the Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus, check the important details below:
• Post: Tracer
• Department: Soil Survey and Soil Conservation
• Category Number: 775/2025
• District: Kozhikode
• Recruitment Type: Direct Recruitment
• Exam Date: 21/08/2026 (Friday)
• Total Marks: 100
Moreover, early preparation can help you complete the syllabus without pressure.
Basic Engineering Drawing (8 Marks)
The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus starts with engineering drawing fundamentals.
• Drawing instruments, equipment and materials
• Lettering, dimensioning and scale
• Plane geometrical construction
• Conic sections
• Projection
These topics form the foundation for drafting-related questions.
Units and Mensuration (5 Marks)
This section focuses on basic calculations and measurements.
• Units of measurements
• Perimeter of triangles, polygons and circles
• Area of triangles, polygons and circles
• Volume of solids
Regular practice can improve speed and accuracy.
AutoCAD (7 Marks)
• Introduction to AutoCAD
• Basic commands
• Drawing toolbar
• Modifying toolbar
• Plotting and printing
Practical exposure can make this section easier.
Surveying (5 Marks)
• Conventional surveying
• Chain surveying
• Compass surveying
• Plane table surveying
• Levelling survey
• Principle of levelling
• Types of levelling
• Reduction of levels
• Contouring
• Theodolite survey
• Modern and advanced surveying instruments
Strong conceptual knowledge can help score well in this module.
Building Materials and Construction (7 Marks)
This section covers commonly used construction materials.
• Stone
• Brick
• Tiles
• Cement
• Lime and filler materials
• Plain cement concrete
• Reinforced cement concrete
• Timber
• Foundation
• Masonry
• Roofing
• Flooring
• Building finishes and services
• Temporary structural treatment for buildings
Understanding material properties is important here.
Building Drawing and Estimating (7 Marks)
The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus also includes estimation topics.
• Building rules and bye-laws
• Estimation
• Rules of measurement
• Methods of measurement of work
• Rate analysis
• Valuation
This section can be highly scoring with proper practice.
Hydraulics and Irrigation (6 Marks)
This module covers basic irrigation engineering concepts.
• Terms used in irrigation
• Storage head works
• Diversion head works
• Reservoirs
• Dams
• Canals
• Cross drainage works
• Properties of fluids
• Measurement of pressure
• Types of hydraulic energy
Additionally, these topics often appear in technical exams.
Development of Surfaces and Interpenetration (3 Marks)
Development of Surfaces
• Definition of development
• Need for development in industry
• Methods of developing surfaces
• Development of intersecting surfaces
• Development of oblique cone with elliptical base
• Calculation of developed lengths
Interpenetration of Solids
• Definition of intersection and interpenetration curves
• Methods of finding interpenetration curves
• Problems involving prisms, cones and pyramids
• Intersection of cylinders
Fasteners, Welds and Locking Devices (5 Marks)
Fasteners
• Screw threads and nomenclature
• Types of screw threads
• SP46:2003 thread conventions
• Bolts, nuts and studs
Welds
• Welded joints
• Representation of welded joints
• Welding symbols as per SP-46
Locking Devices
• Types of locking devices
• Machine screws
• Cap screws
• Set screws
• Foundation bolts
Pipe Joints and Riveted Joints (3 Marks)
Pipe Joints
• Types of pipe joints
• Expansion joints
• Loops and pipe fittings
Riveted Joints
• Types of rivets
• Riveted joint proportions
• Conventional representation
• Rivet arrangement calculations
• Failure of riveted joints
• Efficiency of riveted joints
Belt Drive and Gear Drive (5 Marks)
Belt Drive
• Materials of belts
• Slip and creep
• Velocity of belt
• Arc of contact
• Belt speed calculations
• Pulley ratio calculations
• Chain drive concepts
Gear Drive
• Types of gears
• Cast gears
• Machined gears
• Gear profiles
Hydraulics and Pneumatics (3 Marks)
Hydraulics
• Hydraulic systems and components
• Hydraulic jack
• Hydraulic actuators
• Hydraulic DC valves
• Non-return valves
• Throttle valves
Pneumatics
• Pneumatic systems
• FRL unit
• Pneumatic actuators
Limits, Fits and Tolerance (3 Marks)
The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus includes manufacturing basics.
• Limits and fits
• Tolerance
• Toleranced dimensioning
• Geometrical tolerance
• Machining symbols
• Surface finish symbols
• Interchangeable parts
• IS 919 and IS 2709
Bearings (3 Marks)
• Types of bearings
• Advantages of bearings
• Friction reduction using bearings
Surveying and Levelling (10 Marks)
This is one of the most important modules in the Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus.
Surveying
• Purpose and methods of surveying
• Chain surveying
• Ranging and chaining
• Offsets and cross staff survey
• Triangulation and traversing
Compass Surveying
• Prismatic compass
• Surveyor’s compass
• Bearings
• Dip and declination
• Local attraction
Plane Table Survey
• Radiation method
• Intersection method
• Traversing
• Two-point problem
• Three-point problem
Levelling
• Benchmarks
• Rise and fall method
• Height of collimation method
• Contouring
• Profile survey
• Cross-section survey
Advanced Surveying
• Theodolite surveying
• Tacheometric surveying
• Area and volume computation
• Simpson’s rule
• Planimeter
• Trapezoidal and prismoidal formulae
• Hand levels and clinometers
• Total Station
• GPS Survey
• Remote Sensing
• GIS
Building Drawing
• National Building Code
• Kerala Building Rules
• Residential building plans
• Public building plans
• Elevations and sections
• Estimation methods
• Centre line method
• Individual wall method
Soil and Water Conservation Engineering (5 Marks)
• Causes and types of soil erosion
• Water erosion and forms of erosion
• Effects of slope and rainfall
• Gullies and gully classification
• Soil loss estimation
• Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)
• Modified Soil Loss Equation
Conservation Measures
• Contour cropping
• Strip cropping
• Mulching
• Terraces
• Broad base terraces
• Bench terraces
• Contour bunds
• Graded bunds
Additional Topics
• Gully reclamation
• Stream bank erosion control
• Coastal erosion control
• Landslides and control measures
• Land capability classification
• Grassed waterways
• Geotextiles in conservation
Farm Power and Machinery (10 Marks)
The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus also includes agricultural engineering topics.
• Agricultural mechanization
• Mechanization in Kerala
• Agricultural implements
• Field capacities and efficiencies
• Work, power and energy
• Horsepower calculations
Internal Combustion Engines
• CI and SI engines
• Two-stroke and four-stroke engines
• Firing order
• Valve timing
Tractors and Power Tillers
• Tractor selection
• Fuel system
• Ignition system
• Cooling system
• Lubrication system
• Governing system
• Power transmission
• Brakes
• Hydraulic systems
Farm Equipment
• Tillage equipment
• Rotavators
• Ridgers
• Bund formers
• Seed drills
• Transplanting equipment
• Weeders
• Power weeders
• Brush cutters
• Sprayers and dusters
• Harvesters and threshers
• Combine harvesters
• Paddy cultivation equipment
Post Harvest Engineering (5 Marks)
Processing of Agricultural Products
• Cereals
• Pulses
• Oil seeds
• Rice processing
• Parboiling
• Drying
• Milling
• By-product utilization
Coconut Processing
• Dehusking
• Oil milling
• Oil filtration
• Value-added products
• Coconut beverages
Dairy Engineering
• Milk processing
• Cream separation
• Pasteurization
• Sterilization
• Homogenization
• Packaging
Plantation Crops
• Tea
• Coffee
• Cocoa
• Arecanut
• Rubber
• Cashew nut
Spices Processing
• Pepper
• Cardamom
• Ginger
• Vanilla
• Turmeric
• Chilli
Fruits and Vegetables
• Storage conditions
• Pre-cooling
• Cleaning and grading
• Refrigerated storage
• Controlled atmosphere storage
• Drying and dehydration
• Fruit and vegetable processing
• Packing and transportation
Preparation Strategy for Tracer Soil and Survey Exam
A systematic approach can make preparation easier.
• Firstly, complete high-weight modules such as Surveying and Farm Machinery
• Next, revise Engineering Drawing and AutoCAD regularly
• In addition, practice numerical problems every week
• Meanwhile, prepare concise notes for revision
• Finally, solve mock tests to improve speed and accuracy
Consistency is more effective than last-minute preparation.
📄 View Full Tracer Soil and Survey Syllabus PDF
Additionally, referring to the official syllabus ensures complete coverage of all topics.
💡 Final Thoughts
The Tracer Soil and Survey syllabus covers engineering drawing, surveying, soil conservation, farm machinery, and post-harvest engineering in detail. Although the syllabus is extensive, proper planning can help you complete it efficiently.
Stay focused, revise consistently, and prepare strategically. 🚀
