📐 RRB JE – Surveying
100 MCQs with Explanations
🔹 PART 1: Basics of Surveying (Q1–10)
1. Surveying is defined as —
A) Design of structures
B) Measurement of land
C) Art of determining relative positions of points
D) Construction planning
Ans: C
Explanation: Surveying determines relative positions of points on, above or below the earth’s surface.
2. Which is the primary object of surveying?
A) Mapping
B) Area calculation
C) Preparation of plans
D) Determination of relative positions
Ans: D
Explanation: All other works depend on determining correct relative positions.
3. Which survey is done for large areas?
A) Plane surveying
B) Geodetic surveying
C) Chain surveying
D) Compass surveying
Ans: B
Explanation: Geodetic surveying considers earth’s curvature and is used for large areas.
4. Main principle of surveying is —
A) Working from whole to part
B) Working from part to whole
C) Random measurements
D) Direct plotting
Ans: A
Explanation: First fix main control points, then fill details.
5. Which is NOT a method of locating points?
A) Radiation
B) Intersection
C) Traversing
D) Levelling
Ans: D
Explanation: Levelling finds elevations, not horizontal positions.
6. Which instrument measures horizontal angles?
A) Level
B) Theodolite
C) Compass
D) Chain
Ans: B
7. Which is NOT a field work error?
A) Instrumental
B) Personal
C) Natural
D) Computational
Ans: D
Explanation: Computational errors occur in office work.
8. Plane surveying assumes —
A) Earth is spherical
B) Earth is flat
C) Earth is elliptical
D) Earth is conical
Ans: B
9. What is a benchmark?
A) Temporary point
B) Permanent reference point
C) Random point
D) Turning point
Ans: B
10. The art of mapping underground details is —
A) Hydrographic survey
B) Geological survey
C) Mine survey
D) Astronomical survey
Ans: C
🔹 PART 2: Chain Survey (Q11–25)
11. Chain surveying is best suited for —
A) Hilly area
B) Small open area
C) Crowded city
D) Forest
Ans: B
12. Main instrument in chain survey is —
A) Tape
B) Chain
C) Compass
D) Level
Ans: B
13. Length of metric chain is —
A) 20 m
B) 30 m
C) 15 m
D) 25 m
Ans: A
14. Which line connects main stations?
A) Check line
B) Base line
C) Tie line
D) Offset
Ans: B
15. A tie line is used to —
A) Check accuracy
B) Fix interior details
C) Measure angles
D) Measure height
Ans: B
16. Check line is used to —
A) Find height
B) Fix details
C) Check accuracy
D) Measure angles
Ans: C
17. Offset is measured at —
A) 30°
B) 45°
C) 60°
D) 90°
Ans: D
18. Ranging is —
A) Measuring
B) Aligning stations
C) Levelling
D) Plotting
Ans: B
19. Which offset gives more accuracy?
A) Oblique
B) Perpendicular
C) Inclined
D) Random
Ans: B
20. Largest error in chain survey is due to —
A) Temperature
B) Sag
C) Pull
D) Slope
Ans: D
21. Which is NOT a chain surveying error?
A) Sag
B) Incorrect ranging
C) Wrong booking
D) Parallax
Ans: D
22. Arrows are used to —
A) Measure angles
B) Count chain lengths
C) Measure slope
D) Mark offsets
Ans: B
23. Cross staff is used for —
A) Measuring angles
B) Setting perpendicular offsets
C) Levelling
D) Ranging
Ans: B
24. Best shape of chain survey framework is —
A) Square
B) Rectangle
C) Triangle
D) Circle
Ans: C
Explanation: Triangle gives maximum rigidity.
25. Chain surveying is unsuitable for —
A) Small open land
B) Simple boundaries
C) Undulating land
D) Level ground
Ans: C
🔹 PART 3: Compass Survey (Q26–40)
26. Bearing measured clockwise from north is —
A) WCB
B) QB
C) FB
D) BB
Ans: A
27. Whole Circle Bearing ranges —
A) 0°–90°
B) 0°–180°
C) 0°–360°
D) 0°–270°
Ans: C
28. Quadrantal bearing system has —
A) 2 quadrants
B) 3 quadrants
C) 4 quadrants
D) 5 quadrants
Ans: C
29. Difference between FB and BB is —
A) 90°
B) 180°
C) 270°
D) 360°
Ans: B
30. Local attraction is caused by —
A) Wind
B) Temperature
C) Magnetic substances
D) Rain
Ans: C
31. Which compass is more accurate?
A) Surveyor’s compass
B) Prismatic compass
C) Box compass
D) Trough compass
Ans: B
32. Fore bearing of a line is 40°. Back bearing will be —
A) 140°
B) 220°
C) 320°
D) 180°
Ans: B
Explanation: BB = FB ± 180° → 40 + 180 = 220°.
33. Which meridian is used in compass survey?
A) True
B) Magnetic
C) Grid
D) Arbitrary
Ans: B
34. Declination is angle between —
A) True north & magnetic north
B) Magnetic north & grid north
C) True north & grid north
D) Arbitrary & true north
Ans: A
35. Dip of needle is due to —
A) Earth’s rotation
B) Gravity
C) Earth’s magnetism
D) Wind
Ans: C
36. Traverse consists of —
A) Angles only
B) Distances only
C) Angles and distances
D) Levels only
Ans: C
37. Closed traverse forms —
A) Line
B) Polygon
C) Triangle
D) Curve
Ans: B
38. Open traverse is unsuitable for —
A) Roads
B) Railways
C) Canals
D) Property boundaries
Ans: D
39. Temporary adjustment of compass includes —
A) Centering
B) Levelling
C) Focusing
D) All
Ans: D
40. Magnetic bearing is affected by —
A) Gravity
B) Latitude
C) Local attraction
D) Height
Ans: C
🔹 PART 4: Levelling (Q41–60)
41. Levelling is used to find —
A) Angles
B) Distances
C) Elevations
D) Directions
Ans: C
42. Which level gives highest accuracy?
A) Dumpy level
B) Tilting level
C) Auto level
D) Laser level
Ans: A
43. Benchmark is —
A) Temporary point
B) Permanent reference level
C) Turning point
D) Random point
Ans: B
44. RL stands for —
A) Reduced Level
B) Relative Level
C) Reference Level
D) Rise Level
Ans: A
45. HI method is also called —
A) Rise & fall
B) Collimation method
C) Differential method
D) Profile method
Ans: B
46. Which method is more accurate?
A) HI method
B) Rise and fall
C) Both same
D) None
Ans: B
Explanation: Rise & fall checks every reading.
47. Turning point is —
A) Last station
B) Change point
C) Benchmark
D) Tie point
Ans: B
48. Back sight is taken to —
A) Find HI
B) Find RL
C) Check accuracy
D) Measure slope
Ans: A
49. Foresight is taken on —
A) Known point
B) Unknown point
C) Benchmark
D) Instrument
Ans: B
50. Staff reading increases when —
A) Ground rises
B) Ground falls
C) Instrument rises
D) Staff moves
Ans: B
51. Level book has columns of —
A) BS, IS, FS
B) Angle, distance
C) Chainage
D) Bearings
Ans: A
52. Fly levelling is done to —
A) Draw contour
B) Transfer benchmark
C) Measure slope
D) Check chain
Ans: B
53. Check in HI method is —
A) ΣBS – ΣFS = Last RL – First RL
B) ΣRise = ΣFall
C) Both
D) None
Ans: A
54. Curvature and refraction error occurs in —
A) Short sight
B) Long sight
C) Horizontal sight
D) Vertical sight
Ans: B
55. Best distance between staff and instrument is —
A) 10 m
B) 20 m
C) 30 m
D) Equal distance
Ans: D
56. Parallax error is removed by —
A) Focusing eye piece
B) Focusing objective
C) Both
D) None
Ans: C
57. Inverted staff reading means —
A) Error
B) Staff on ceiling
C) Staff on overhead point
D) Staff on slope
Ans: C
58. Reciprocal levelling is used to —
A) Measure height of building
B) Measure across river
C) Find distance
D) Find angle
Ans: B
59. Profile levelling is used in —
A) Roads
B) Canals
C) Railways
D) All
Ans: D
60. Contours join points of —
A) Same slope
B) Same distance
C) Same elevation
D) Same bearing
Ans: C
🔹 PART 5: Theodolite, Curves & Modern Survey (Q61–100)
Theodolite (61–75)
61. Theodolite measures — Angles
62. Temporary adjustment includes — Centering, levelling, focusing
63. Least count of vernier theodolite — 20″
64. Face left means — Vertical circle on left
65. Transiting means — Rotating telescope 180°
66. Swinging means — Rotation in horizontal plane
67. Repetition method improves — Accuracy
68. Traversing needs — Angles & distances
69. Horizontal axis error — Affects vertical angles
70. Vertical angles are measured by — Theodolite
71. Permanent adjustment is — Rarely changed
72. Plate level — Makes axis horizontal
73. Optical plummet — Centering
74. Collimation axis — Line of sight
75. Telescope consists of — Objective + eyepiece
Curves (76–85)
76. Simple curve is — Circular curve
77. Transition curve is provided — For smooth change
78. Superelevation is given — On curves
79. Degree of curve is based on — Radius
80. Longest chord — Tangent
81. Apex of curve — Midpoint
82. Chainage of PI — Known
83. Tangent length — R tan(Δ/2)
84. Deflection angle method — For setting curves
85. Sharper curve — Smaller radius
Modern Survey (86–100)
86. EDM measures — Distance electronically
87. Total station measures — Angle + distance
88. GPS stands for — Global Positioning System
89. DGPS is more — Accurate
90. GIS is used for — Data management
91. Remote sensing uses — Satellites
92. UAV survey uses — Drones
93. LiDAR measures — Distance using laser
94. GIS full form — Geographic Information System
95. RS data is — Digital
96. GPS has segments — 3
97. Control survey uses — Triangulation
98. Trilateration uses — Distances
99. Photogrammetry uses — Photos
100. Best modern survey tool — Total Station