The UPSSSC Boring Technician Mains (Advt 04-Exam/2026) is 120 MCQ in 90 minutes — 60 marks are trade-specific (Tubewell/Fitter/Wireman/Turner). This one section decides selection. The remaining 60 marks split across Hindi, Reasoning/Maths, GK, and PET-linked questions. This guide covers all five sections with practice questions and a 2-month schedule.
Exam Pattern Quick Reference
| Section | Questions | Marks | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade-Specific (Tubewell / Fitter / Wireman / Turner) | 60 | 60 | ⭐⭐⭐ Highest — 50% of marks |
| Hindi Knowledge & Writing Ability | 15 | 15 | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| General Intelligence & Elementary Maths | 15 | 15 | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| General Knowledge | 15 | 15 | ⭐⭐ Medium |
| PET-linked Questions | 15 | 15 | ⭐ Qualifying-linked |
| Total | 120 | 120 | 90 min / 0.25 neg marking |
Negative Marking Strategy
| Confidence Level | Action | Expected Value |
|---|---|---|
| Very confident (90%+) | Always attempt | +0.875 per Q |
| Moderate (65%) | Attempt — positive EV | +0.563 per Q |
| Low (40%) | Skip — borderline | +0.25 barely positive |
| Pure guess (25%) | Skip — zero EV | 0 net gain |
Section 1: Trade-Specific — 60 Marks
Questions come from the trade of your ITI certificate. Prepare your specific trade deeply. Below are practice questions for all four applicable trades.
Tubewell Operator Trade
Q1. What is a "strainer" (screen) in a tubewell?
(a) A device that measures water flow (b) A perforated pipe section that allows water entry while blocking sand (c) The motor cover (d) A water storage tank
Answer: (b) — The screen/strainer at the bottom of a tubewell casing allows groundwater to enter while preventing sand and gravel from entering the pump system.
Q2. Which type of pump is used in deep tubewells where the water table is more than 8 metres below the surface?
(a) Centrifugal pump (b) Reciprocating pump (c) Submersible pump (d) Gear pump
Answer: (c) Submersible pump — Submersible pumps are placed directly in the water and can lift water from depths beyond the suction limit of centrifugal pumps (~8m).
Q3. The "water table" refers to:
(a) A table used for water measurement (b) The upper boundary of the zone of groundwater saturation (c) The capacity of a water tank (d) The level of water in a river
Answer: (b) — The water table is the top surface of the zone where all pore spaces in soil/rock are saturated with groundwater.
Q4. What is "surging" in tubewell development?
(a) Sudden flooding of a tubewell (b) A technique to develop a tubewell by alternately pushing and pulling water to remove fine particles from the screen (c) Installing a new tubewell casing (d) Testing pump pressure
Answer: (b) — Surging develops the tubewell by cleaning fine particles from around the screen, increasing water yield and preventing screen clogging.
Q5. HDPE pipes used in irrigation are preferred over GI pipes because:
(a) They are heavier (b) They are corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and have longer service life (c) They are cheaper than all alternatives (d) They have higher friction losses
Answer: (b) — HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pipes resist corrosion, chemicals, and UV; they are lightweight and typically last 50+ years.
Q6. One Horse Power (HP) is equal to:
(a) 476 Watts (b) 746 Watts (c) 1000 Watts (d) 550 Watts
Answer: (b) 746 Watts — 1 HP = 746 W. This is essential for sizing tubewell motors.
Fitter Trade
Q7. Which tool is used to cut internal (female) threads in a hole?
(a) Die (b) Tap (c) Reamer (d) Drill bit
Answer: (b) Tap — A tap cuts internal threads. A die cuts external (male) threads on a rod or bolt.
Q8. A Vernier caliper can measure to an accuracy of:
(a) 0.1 mm (b) 0.5 mm (c) 0.02 mm (d) 1.0 mm
Answer: (c) 0.02 mm — Standard Vernier calipers have 0.02mm least count. Micrometers measure to 0.01mm.
Q9. In which type of fit does the shaft diameter always remain larger than the hole diameter?
(a) Clearance fit (b) Transition fit (c) Interference fit (d) Slip fit
Answer: (c) Interference fit — In interference fit (also called press fit), the shaft is always larger than the hole, requiring force to assemble.
Q10. Which type of bearing is most commonly used for high-speed rotating shafts with radial loads?
(a) Plain bush bearing (b) Ball bearing (c) Needle bearing (d) Thrust bearing
Answer: (b) Ball bearing — Ball bearings handle radial loads at high speeds with low friction.
Q11. The number of teeth per inch (TPI) on a hacksaw blade for cutting mild steel is typically:
(a) 8 TPI (b) 14 TPI (c) 32 TPI (d) 6 TPI
Answer: (b) 14 TPI — 14 TPI is used for general mild steel cutting. Higher TPI (24–32) is for thin sheets and tubing; lower TPI (8–10) is for soft metals like aluminium.
Wireman Trade
Q12. According to Ohm's Law, if resistance is doubled and voltage stays the same, current will:
(a) Double (b) Stay same (c) Halve (d) Become zero
Answer: (c) Halve — I = V/R. If R doubles, I becomes V/(2R) = half the original current.
Q13. In a standard Indian domestic supply, the voltage between Phase and Neutral is:
(a) 415 V (b) 440 V (c) 230 V (d) 110 V
Answer: (c) 230 V — Single-phase supply in India is 230V (phase to neutral). Three-phase line-to-line voltage is 415V.
Q14. What does an MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) protect against?
(a) Voltage fluctuations only (b) Overload and short circuit currents (c) Earth leakage only (d) Power factor correction
Answer: (b) Overload and short circuit currents — MCB provides overcurrent protection. ELCB/RCD protects against earth leakage (shock hazard).
Q15. In a Star (Y) connection of a three-phase system, the relationship between line voltage (VL) and phase voltage (VPh) is:
(a) VL = VPh (b) VL = √3 × VPh (c) VL = 3 × VPh (d) VL = VPh/√3
Answer: (b) VL = √3 × VPh — In star connection, line voltage = √3 × phase voltage (≈ 1.732 × phase voltage).
Q16. The colour of the Earth wire in Indian electrical wiring (as per IS standard) is:
(a) Red (b) Black (c) Yellow-Green (d) Blue
Answer: (c) Yellow-Green — As per IS 5578: Earth = Yellow/Green striped; Phase = Red/Yellow/Blue; Neutral = Black/Blue.
Turner Trade (Lathe)
Q17. Which lathe operation produces a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of the workpiece?
(a) Turning (b) Boring (c) Facing (d) Knurling
Answer: (c) Facing — Facing cuts the end face of a workpiece flat. Turning reduces the diameter; Boring enlarges an internal hole; Knurling creates a textured surface pattern.
Q18. A 3-jaw chuck on a lathe is used for:
(a) Holding square workpieces only (b) Self-centering — automatically centres round or hexagonal workpieces (c) Eccentric turning (d) Heavy face milling
Answer: (b) Self-centering — A 3-jaw scroll chuck is self-centering for round and hexagonal stock. A 4-jaw independent chuck allows eccentric and square work.
Q19. The "feed" of a lathe refers to:
(a) The spindle speed in RPM (b) The depth of material removed per pass (c) The distance the tool moves per revolution of the workpiece (d) The type of cutting fluid used
Answer: (c) — Feed is the distance the cutting tool advances per revolution (mm/rev). It affects surface finish and material removal rate.
Q20. HSS (High Speed Steel) cutting tools can withstand cutting temperatures up to approximately:
(a) 200°C (b) 400°C (c) 600°C (d) 1000°C
Answer: (c) 600°C — HSS retains hardness up to ~600°C. Carbide tools can withstand 900°C+, enabling much higher cutting speeds.
Section 2: Hindi Knowledge — 15 Marks
Q1 (संधि): 'सत् + आचार' की संधि:
(a) सदाचार (b) सत्याचार (c) सत्आचार (d) सतआचार
उत्तर: (a) सदाचार — त् + आ → दा (व्यंजन संधि)
Q2 (समास): 'देशभक्ति' में कौन-सा समास है?
(a) तत्पुरुष (b) द्वंद्व (c) बहुव्रीहि (d) अव्ययीभाव
उत्तर: (a) तत्पुरुष — देश की भक्ति = देशभक्ति (षष्ठी तत्पुरुष)
Q3 (पर्यायवाची): 'अग्नि' का पर्यायवाची:
(a) जल (b) पावक (c) वायु (d) धरा
उत्तर: (b) पावक — अग्नि, पावक, अनल, हुताशन — सब पर्यायवाची हैं।
Q4 (मुहावरा): 'हाथ-पाँव फूलना' का अर्थ:
(a) व्यायाम करना (b) बहुत घबरा जाना (c) काम पर जाना (d) खुश होना
उत्तर: (b) बहुत घबरा जाना
Q5 (अलंकार): 'चाँद-सा मुखड़ा' में कौन-सा अलंकार है?
(a) रूपक (b) उपमा (c) अनुप्रास (d) यमक
उत्तर: (b) उपमा — 'सा' उपमावाचक शब्द है; मुखड़े की चाँद से तुलना = उपमा अलंकार।
Section 3: General Intelligence & Elementary Maths — 15 Marks
Q1 (Series): Find the missing number: 2, 5, 10, 17, 26, ?
Pattern: +3, +5, +7, +9, +11
Answer: 37 (26 + 11 = 37)
Q2 (Analogy): Fitter : Spanner :: Wireman : ?
(a) Hammer (b) Multimeter (c) Saw (d) Chisel
Answer: (b) Multimeter — A fitter's primary measuring tool is a spanner/wrench; a wireman's primary electrical measuring tool is a multimeter.
Q3 (Percentage): A motor rated at 5 HP works at 80% efficiency. Find actual power output in Watts.
Rated power = 5 × 746 = 3730 W; Output = 80% × 3730 = 2984 W
Q4 (Profit & Loss): A pump costs ₹12,000. Sold at ₹15,000. Profit %?
Profit = 3000; Profit% = (3000/12000) × 100 = 25%
Q5 (Ratio): Two pipes fill a tank in 6 and 9 hours respectively. Together, how long?
Combined rate = 1/6 + 1/9 = 3/18 + 2/18 = 5/18; Time = 18/5 = 3.6 hours
Q6 (Direction Sense): A technician walks 4 km North, turns East and walks 3 km. How far from start?
√(4² + 3²) = √(16+9) = √25 = 5 km
Section 4: General Knowledge — 15 Marks
Q1. Which Article of the Indian Constitution abolishes untouchability?
(a) Article 14 (b) Article 17 (c) Article 19 (d) Article 21
Answer: (b) Article 17
Q2. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is built on which river?
(a) Godavari (b) Krishna (c) Narmada (d) Mahanadi
Answer: (c) Narmada — Sardar Sarovar in Gujarat is India's second-largest dam by volume, part of the Narmada Valley Project.
Q3. Which Indian state has the highest number of river-based irrigation projects?
(a) Punjab (b) Uttar Pradesh (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Maharashtra
Answer: (b) Uttar Pradesh — UP has the most extensive canal/tubewell irrigation network in India, making Boring Technicians critical to the state's agriculture.
Q4. "Jal Jeevan Mission" aims to provide:
(a) Flood control (b) Tap water connection to every rural household by 2024 (c) River cleaning (d) Industrial water supply
Answer: (b) — Jal Jeevan Mission (launched 2019) targets Har Ghar Jal — functional household tap connections to all rural households.
Q5. SI unit of electric current is:
(a) Volt (b) Watt (c) Ampere (d) Ohm
Answer: (c) Ampere
Section 5: PET-linked Questions — 15 Marks
These questions are based on UPSSSC PET syllabus content (General Knowledge, Elementary Hindi/Maths/Reasoning). Expect PET-level difficulty — similar to what you already cleared in PET.
Q1. Which gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis?
(a) Oxygen (b) Carbon Dioxide (c) Nitrogen (d) Hydrogen
Answer: (b) Carbon Dioxide
Q2. Who wrote the Indian National Anthem "Jana Gana Mana"?
Answer: Rabindranath Tagore
Q3. If a number is increased by 20% and then decreased by 20%, the net change is:
Net = 100 × 1.2 × 0.8 = 96 → 4% decrease
Q4. In a coding system, if PUMP = QVNQ, then PIPE = ?
Each letter +1: P→Q, I→J, P→Q, E→F = QJQF
Q5. The minimum number of persons required to form a Gram Panchayat is stipulated by:
(a) Constitution of India (b) State government via Panchayati Raj Act (c) Central Government only (d) District Magistrate
Answer: (b) State government — Panchayati Raj is a state subject; each state's Panchayati Raj Act governs composition.
2-Month Preparation Schedule
| Month | Focus | Daily Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 (Weeks 1–2) | Trade theory deep dive — all ITI theory for your specific trade (Tubewell/Fitter/Wireman/Turner) | 3 hrs trade + 1 hr other |
| Month 1 (Weeks 3–4) | Trade practice questions (past ITI exam papers) + GK current affairs + UP irrigation schemes | 2 hrs trade + 2 hrs general |
| Month 2 (Weeks 5–6) | Hindi grammar (all topics from syllabus) + Reasoning/Maths problem sets + Computer basics | 2 hrs Hindi + 2 hrs Maths/Reasoning |
| Month 2 (Weeks 7–8) | Full mock tests (120Q in 90 min) + weak area revision + UP-specific GK (Jal Jeevan, PMKSY) | 2 mock tests/week + revision |
Key Trade Formulas to Memorise
| Formula | Used For |
|---|---|
| 1 HP = 746 Watts | Motor power sizing (Tubewell/Fitter/Wireman) |
| P = V × I (single phase) | Electrical power calculation (Wireman) |
| P = √3 × VL × IL × cosφ | Three-phase power (Wireman) |
| V = IR (Ohm's Law) | Basic circuit analysis (Wireman) |
| Cutting Speed = (π × D × N) / 1000 m/min | Lathe cutting speed (Turner) — D=dia(mm), N=RPM |
| MRR = f × d × V | Material Removal Rate (Turner) — f=feed, d=depth, V=speed |
| Vernier Least Count = 1 MSD − 1 VSD | Precision measurement (Fitter) |
Recommended Books & Resources
| Subject | Resource |
|---|---|
| Tubewell / Boring | NCVT Tubewell Operator/Driller Trade Theory — ITI textbook |
| Fitter | ITI Fitter Trade Theory — NCVT / S. Chand Technical Books |
| Wireman | ITI Wireman Trade Theory — NCVT / Arihant Technical |
| Turner | ITI Turner Trade Theory — NCVT / Workshop Technology by R.K. Jain |
| Hindi | Samanya Hindi — Dr. Hardev Bahri (Kitab Mahal) |
| GK + Reasoning | Lucent's GK + R.S. Aggarwal Reasoning |
| Mock Tests | UPSSSC Boring Technician Practice Sets — Arihant / YCT |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I appear for all four trade sections?
No — you appear only for the trade in which you hold an ITI certificate. If your ITI is in Wireman, you answer Wireman trade questions. The other trades' sections do not apply to you. Check the official notification for the exact trade eligibility mapping.
How difficult are the trade questions?
They are at ITI Mains examination level — the same level tested in your ITI certificate exam. Candidates who studied their ITI theory well and revised before the exam consistently score 45+/60 in this section. Neglecting trade theory and banking only on GK is the most common reason for failure.
What are "PET-linked" questions?
PET-linked questions (15 marks) are based on UPSSSC PET syllabus content — essentially the same general knowledge, elementary maths, reasoning, and Hindi that you prepared for the PET. Since you already cleared PET, this section is largely revising what you know. Score it well to compensate for any trade weakness.
Is there negative marking?
Yes — 0.25 marks (1/4) per wrong answer. For trade questions where you know your ITI theory, attempt everything. For GK/current affairs where you are uncertain, skip if below 40% confidence. Target 90–100 attempts with 80%+ accuracy.
