20 important questions (with brief answers/approaches) for GATE Architecture & Planning (AR). Use them for practice, concept reinforcement, and revision.
📋 Key Questions & Model Answers / Approaches
1. What are the three sections in GATE AR exam and their marks distribution?
Answer / Approach:
- General Aptitude (GA) — 15 marks
- Part A (Common to both Architecture & Planning) — 60 marks
- Part B — 25 marks; you choose between B1: Architecture or B2: Planning
2. Explain “Visual Composition in 2D and 3D” and its relevance in architectural design.
Answer / Approach:
- Visual composition involves principles like balance, proportion, emphasis, rhythm, scale, unity, contrast.
- In 2D: arrangement of shapes, lines, forms, etc.
- In 3D: spatial relationships, volumetric composition, interplay of light and shadow.
- It’s essential in architecture to organize form and space coherently, making designs legible and meaningful.
3. What is anthropometrics and how is it applied in architecture?
Answer / Approach:
- Anthropometrics: the measurement of human body dimensions (height, reach, clearance, etc.).
- Application: designing human-friendly spaces — e.g. furniture height, door widths, clearances, ergonomic workspaces, circulation paths.
4. Describe the Limit State Method in structural design.
Answer / Approach:
- In Limit State Method, design ensures the structure does not reach its serviceability limit or ultimate (collapse) limit.
- It accounts for safety, durability, and usability.
- The design loads are amplified with partial safety factors; capacities are reduced with material factors.
- Widely used in reinforced concrete and steel design codes.
5. What are CPM and PERT techniques? Where are they used?
Answer / Approach:
- CPM = Critical Path Method; PERT = Program Evaluation Review Technique.
- They are project-management / scheduling tools.
- CPM is deterministic (fixed task durations) while PERT uses probabilistic time estimates.
- Used in construction project planning, resource scheduling, and network analysis.
6. Explain site planning and key factors to consider.
Answer / Approach:
Key factors include:
- Topography / slope
- Orientation (solar, wind)
- Access and circulation
- Drainage and stormwater management
- Landscaping and vegetation
- Utilities (water, sewage, electricity)
- Views, privacy, microclimate
7. What are development controls and zoning regulations?
Answer / Approach:
- Development controls are rules that guide building form, density, setbacks, FAR (Floor Area Ratio), coverage etc.
- Zoning: dividing land into zones (residential, commercial, industrial) and prescribing permissible uses and regulations.
- Their purpose is to regulate growth, maintain order, and ensure compatibility.
8. Define urban renewal and heritage conservation.
Answer / Approach:
- Urban renewal: improving, rebuilding, or rezoning deteriorated parts of cities.
- Heritage conservation: preserving buildings, monuments, and spaces of historical/cultural significance.
- They often overlap: renewal projects often include conserving heritage elements.
9. What is Transit Oriented Development (TOD)?
Answer / Approach:
- TOD is a planning strategy focusing on high-density, mixed-use development centered around high-capacity public transit stations.
- It reduces dependence on cars, promotes walkability, and integrates urban mobility.
10. Explain GIS & Remote Sensing in Planning.
Answer / Approach:
- GIS (Geographic Information System): mapping, spatial analysis, layering data (land use, utilities, transport).
- Remote Sensing: acquiring data from satellites / aerial imagery to analyze land cover, vegetation, urban growth.
- Combined, they enable better decision-making in regional, urban, and environmental planning.
11. What are sustainable building strategies? Give examples.
Answer / Approach:
- Strategies that reduce environmental impact, improve energy & resource efficiency.
- Examples: passive solar design, green roofs, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient HVAC, natural ventilation, use of recycled / local materials.
12. How do you calculate real estate valuation?
Answer / Approach:
Methods include:
- Comparative method (market comparison)
- Income method (capitalization of rental income)
- Cost method (replacement cost minus depreciation)
You assess land value + building value. The choice depends on context.
13. Describe housing typologies and their key characteristics.
Answer / Approach:
- Typologies: single family houses, row houses, apartments, cluster housing, high-rise towers etc.
- Key features: density, privacy levels, shared vs private open spaces, access & circulation patterns.
14. What is slum upgrading and how is it approached in Planning?
Answer / Approach:
- Slum upgrading: improving physical, social, economic conditions without full relocation.
- Approaches: in situ development, provision of services (water, sanitation, electricity), tenure security, community participation.
15. Explain urban sociology and its relevance in Planning.
Answer / Approach:
- Urban sociology studies social structure, behavior, patterns in urban settings (migration, segregation, community dynamics).
- Relevance: planners need to understand social dynamics, inclusion, inequality, community needs, social equity.
16. What is a master plan, structure plan, and zonal plan?
Answer / Approach:
- Master Plan (City/Development Plan): broad long-term plan indicating land use, infrastructure, policies.
- Structure Plan: intermediate level (for region/city), guiding development patterns, major transport and land use nodes.
- Zonal Plan: localized detailed plans for smaller zones; specifies use, density, building form etc.
- These tiers integrate from regional to local scale.
17. Explain disconnect between planning and implementation. What are reasons and solutions?
Answer / Approach:
- Reasons: bureaucratic delays, corruption, lack of funds, weak institutional capacity, political interference, poor enforcement.
- Solutions: better governance, capacity building, statutory backing, public participation, monitoring & feedback, PPP models.
18. What are firefighting systems / building services in architecture?
Answer / Approach:
- Firefighting: fire detection, alarms, sprinklers, fire escapes, hydrants, extinguishers.
- Other building services: plumbing, HVAC, electrical, lighting, drainage, waste disposal, vertical transport.
- They ensure safety, comfort, and functionality.
19. Discuss solar architecture principles.
Answer / Approach:
- Maximize use of solar gain in winter; minimize in summer.
- Orientation (long facades facing north/south), shading devices, solar panels, thermal mass, insulation, daylighting.
- Integration of passive & active solar systems.
20. What is multiple select question (MSQ) and how is it scored in GATE AR?
Answer / Approach:
- MSQ: questions where more than one option may be correct (you must select all correct options).
- Scoring: full marks only if all correct options are selected and no incorrect ones; partial credit is typically not given.
- There is no negative marking for MSQ.
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