GATE 2025 Question Paper Mining Engineering (MN)

GATE
2025
Question Paper | Answer Key
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering
(GATE) is a prestigious national-level exam
that assesses candidates for
comprehensive understanding in various
undergraduate-level subjects in
Engineering, Technology, Science,
Architecture, and Humanities.

General Aptitude
Q.1 – Q.5 Carry ONE mark Each

Q.1 Even though I had planned to go skiing with my friends, I had to __________ at the
last moment because of an injury.

Select the most appropriate option to complete the above sentence.

(A) back up

(B) back of

(C) back on

(D) back out

Q.2 The President, along with the Council of Ministers, ___________ to visit India next
week.

Select the most appropriate option to complete the above sentence.

(A) wish

(B) wishes

(C) will wish

(D) is wishing

Page 1 of 39

Q.3 An electricity utility company charges ₹ 7 per kWh (kilo watt-hour). If a 40-watt
desk light is left on for 10 hours each night for 180 days, what would be the cost of
energy consumption? If the desk light is on for 2 more hours each night for the 180
days, what would be the percentage-increase in the cost of energy consumption?

(A) ₹ 604.8; 10%

(B) ₹ 504; 20%

(C) ₹ 604.8; 12%

(D) ₹ 720; 15%

Page 2 of 39

Q.4 In the context of the given figure, which one of the following options correctly
represents the entries in the blocks labelled (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), respectively?

N U F (i)

21 14 9 6

H L (ii) O

12 (iv) 15 (iii)

(A) Q, M, 12, and 8

(B) K, L, 10 and 14

(C) I, J, 10, and 8

(D) L, K, 12 and 8

Page 3 of 39

Q.5 A bag contains Violet (V), Yellow (Y), Red (R), and Green (G) balls. On counting
them, the following results are obtained:

(i) The sum of Yellow balls and twice the number of Violet balls is 50.
(ii) The sum of Violet and Green balls is 50.
(iii) The sum of Yellow and Red balls is 50.
(iv) The sum of Violet and twice the number of Red balls is 50.

Which one of the following Pie charts correctly represents the balls in the bag?

(A)
V
10%

G R
40% 20%

Y
30%

(B)

G
30% V
40%

Y
20% R
10%

Page 4 of 39

(C)

G
20% V
30%
Y
10%

R
40%

(D)
G
10% V
20%

Y
40% R
30%

Page 5 of 39

Q.6 – Q.10 Carry TWO marks Each

Q.6 “His life was divided between the books, his friends, and long walks. A solitary
man, he worked at all hours without much method, and probably courted his fatal
illness in this way. To his own name there is not much to show; but such was his
liberality that he was continually helping others, and fruits of his erudition are
widely scattered, and have gone to increase many a comparative stranger’s
reputation.”

(From E.V. Lucas’s “A Funeral”)

Based only on the information provided in the above passage, which one of the
following statements is true?

(A) The solitary man described in the passage is dead.

(B) Strangers helped create a grand reputation for the solitary man described in the
passage.

(C) The solitary man described in the passage found joy in scattering fruits.

(D) The solitary man worked in a court where he fell ill.

Page 6 of 39

Q.7 For the clock shown in the figure, if

O* = O Q S Z P R T, and

X* = X Z P W Y O Q ,

then which one among the given options is most appropriate for P* ?

(A) P U W R T V X

(B) P R T O Q S U

(C) P T V Q S U W

(D) P S U P R T V

Page 7 of 39

Q.8 Consider a five-digit number 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆𝑇 that has distinct digits 𝑃, 𝑄, 𝑅, 𝑆, and 𝑇, and
satisfies the following conditions:

𝑃<𝑄

𝑆>𝑃>𝑇

𝑅<𝑇

If integers 1 through 5 are used to construct such a number, the value of 𝑃 is:

(A) 1

(B) 2

(C) 3

(D) 4

Q.9 A business person buys potatoes of two different varieties P and Q, mixes them in
a certain ratio and sells them at ₹ 192 per kg.

The cost of the variety P is ₹ 800 for 5 kg.

The cost of the variety Q is ₹ 800 for 4 kg.

If the person gets 8% profit, what is the P:Q ratio (by weight)?

(A) 5:4

(B) 3:4

(C) 3:2

(D) 1:1

Page 8 of 39

Q.10 Three villages P, Q, and R are located in such a way that the distance PQ = 13 km,
QR = 14 km, and RP = 15 km, as shown in the figure. A straight road joins Q and
R. It is proposed to connect P to this road QR by constructing another road. What
is the minimum possible length (in km) of this connecting road?

Note: The figure shown is representative.

P

13 km 15 km

Q R
14 km

(A) 10.5

(B) 11.0

(C) 12.0

(D) 12.5

Page 9 of 39

Q.11 – Q.35 Carry ONE mark Each

Q.11 A non-transit theodolite does NOT have

(A) Vernier scale

(B) face-left and face-right options

(C) spirit level

(D) cross-hair

Q.12 A steeply dipping metalliferous ore body is non-susceptible to spontaneous heating.
The blasted ore is used as the platform to work in a stope. Appropriate mining
method for this orebody is

(A) room and pillar

(B) sublevel stoping

(C) block caving

(D) shrinkage stoping

Page 10 of 39

𝑑𝑦
Q.13 If 𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑥 , then 𝑑𝑥 is

(A) 𝑥 𝑥 (ln 𝑥 + 1)

(B) 𝑥 × 𝑥 𝑥−1

(C) 𝑥 × (𝑥 − 1)

(D) 𝑥 ln 𝑥

Q.14 The rank of 3 × 3 matrix A is 2. The determinant of the matrix is

(A) 0

(B) 1

(C) 2

(D) 3

Page 11 of 39

Q.15 The safety device used to arrest forward runaway tubs in rope haulage, is

(A) monkey catch

(B) drop warwick

(C) stop-block

(D) backstay

Q.16 The metal that belongs to Rare Earth Element category is

(A) Cerium

(B) Lithium

(C) Titanium

(D) Cobalt

Page 12 of 39

Q.17 The major (𝜎1 ) and minor (𝜎3 ) principal stresses and the maximum shear stress
(𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) are related as |𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 | = 𝜎1 = −𝜎3

The magnitude of normal stress on the plane where 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 acts is

(A) 0

(B) 𝜎1

(C) 𝜎3

(D) (𝜎1 − 𝜎3 )/2

Page 13 of 39

Q.18 In a Brazilian test, the front view of a homogeneous rock sample is shown in the
figure. The failure initiates at the point

(A) M

(B) N

(C) O

(D) P

Page 14 of 39

Q.19 Three frictionless pulleys with rope attachment are in a static equilibrium as shown
in the figure. The mass 𝑚1 and 𝑚2 , in kg, respectively are

(A) 50, 100

(B) 50, 50

(C) 100, 50

(D) 50, 25

Page 15 of 39

Q.20 Match the source of error with the corresponding correction in surveying with steel
tape.

Source of error Type of correction

(P) Sag (1) Only Positive (+)

(Q) Temperature (2) Only Negative (−)

(R) Pull greater than standard pull (3) Either positive or negative (+ or −)

(A) P→1, Q→2, R→3

(B) P→1, Q→3, R→2

(C) P→2, Q→3, R→1

(D) P→2, Q→1, R→3

Page 16 of 39

Q.21 The figure below shows four profiles of the environmental lapse rate. Given the
dry adiabatic lapse rate = −10 ℃/km, the atmosphere is highly unstable for the
profile

(A) OP

(B) OQ

(C) OR

(D) OS

Page 17 of 39

Q.22 In a depillaring face of an underground coal mine, both wet and dry bulb
temperatures are 30 ℃. The relative humidity of the face environment, in
percentage, is

0
(A)

30
(B)

60
(C)

(D) 100

Q.23 The chemicals used in a foam type fire extinguisher are

(A) NaHCO3 and Na2SO4

(B) Al2(SO4)3 and Na2SO4

(C) Al2(SO4)3 and Al(OH)3

(D) NaHCO3 and Al2(SO4)3

Page 18 of 39

Q.24 Pressure head characteristic of a mine fan and a mine characteristic curves are
shown in figure below:

Point Nomenclature
P 1: Stall point
Q 2: Operating point
R 3: Theoretical shut-off head

Match the points with their corresponding nomenclatures

(A) P→1, Q→2, R→3

(B) P→2, Q→3, R→1

(C) P→3, Q→1, R→2

(D) P→1, Q→3, R→2

Page 19 of 39

Q.25 As per CMR 2017, haulage ropes shall be recapped once at least in every

(A) 6 months

(B) 12 months

(C) 18 months

(D) 24 months

Q.26 In a shovel dumper combination, the loading time of a dumper is 3 minutes. The
shovel serves 8 dumpers. If the cycle time of a dumper including its loading time is
22 minutes, the waiting time of a dumper, in minute, is____ (in integer)

Page 20 of 39

Q.27 An HMX explosive having Velocity of Detonation (VOD) of 10500 m/s is tested
by D’Autriche method with a detonating fuse of VOD 7000 m/s, as shown in the
figure. The impression mark on lead plate will be obtained at a distance (L), in m,
from the midpoint of the fuse, is ___ (rounded off to two decimal places)

Q.28 Hydraulic fracturing method is used to determine the major principal stress (𝜎1 ) in
an underground rock strata having tensile strength of 6 MPa. The minor principal
stress (𝜎3 ) in the strata is 8 MPa. If fluid pressure of 10 MPa is required to fracture
the vertical borehole in that strata, the magnitude of 𝜎1 , in MPa, is_____ (rounded
off to 2 decimal places)

Q.29 tan 11𝑥
The value of lim ( tan 5𝑥 ) is, _____ (rounded off to 1 decimal place)
𝑥→0

Page 21 of 39

Q.30 The box plot of a data set is shown below

The interquartile range of the data set is_____ (in integer)

Q.31 The unadjusted RMR of a tunnel roof is 64. A single joint set exists in the roof as
shown in the figure.

Dip of the joint: 20o − 45o

Drive with dip: Rating = −2 Drive against dip: Rating = −10

Using the abridged RMR table for adjustment orientation, the RMR is _____ (in
integer)

Page 22 of 39

Q.32 In a ventilation network, three airways with resistances of 4.0 Ns2 m−8,
6.25 Ns 2 m−8 and 9.0 Ns 2 m−8 are connected in parallel. The equivalent resistance
of the network in Ns 2 m−8 is_____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Q.33 In a bord and pillar panel, the following data are obtained

Number of blasting rounds per shift :8

Face dimension (m × m) : 4.2 × 2.5

Average pull (m) : 1.2

Specific gravity of coal : 1.4

Manpower per shift : 100

The OMS (output per manshift) of the panel, in tonne, is ______ (rounded off to 2
decimal places)

Q.34 If the in-situ density of coal is 1320 kg/m3 and the density of blasted coal is
952 kg/m3, the swell factor is______ (rounded off to 3 decimal places)

Page 23 of 39

Q.35 The relevant information on metal extraction from a copper mine are given below

Selling price of copper (Rs./kg) = 900

Mining cost (Rs./tonne of ore) = 500

Processing cost (Rs./tonne of ore) = 2000

Overall recovery of copper metal (%) = 70

Ignoring all other costs, the breakeven cutoff grade of copper, in %, is ______
(rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 24 of 39

Q.36 – Q.65 Carry TWO marks Each

Q.36 Match the type of deposit with the corresponding process of formation

Deposit type Process of formation
P. Hydrothermal deposit I. Alteration arising in rocks due to hot
igneous solutions
Q. Metasomatic deposit II. Leaching away of soluble minerals leaving
behind valuable minerals at or near the
surface
R. Placer deposit III. Formed from highly fluid solution of
magma
S. Lateritic deposit IV. Transported and subsequent concentration
of broken materials from parent rock

(A) P-III, Q-I, R-IV, S-II

(B) P-II, Q-IV, R-I, S-III

(C) P-III, Q-II, R-I, S-IV

(D) P-IV, Q-III, R-II, S-I

Page 25 of 39

Q.37 Following information are given for three mines of a company receiving explosives
from three suppliers.

Explosive transportation cost
(Rs./tonne)

Mine-1 Mine-2 Mine-3 Supply capacity
(tonne)
Explosive suppliers

Supplier - S 10 15 50 2500

Supplier - O 5 2 100 2500

Supplier - I 30 40 20 3000

Explosive demand (tonne) 1000 2000 5000

Considering the initial basic feasible solution of this transportation problem, using
North-West corner method, the transportation cost of explosives supplied to the
company, in Rs., is

(A) 90000

(B) 109000

(C) 293500

(D) 385000

Page 26 of 39

Q.38 A triaxial test on a sandstone sample is conducted at a confining pressure of 10 MPa.
The elastic axial and volumetric strains at axial stress of 50 MPa are recorded to be
4.2 × 10−3 and 2.0 × 10−3 respectively. The modulus of elasticity, in GPa, and
Poisson’s ratio of the sample, respectively are closest to

(A) 5.11, 0.35

(B) 10.22, 0.35

(C) 5.11, 0.17

(D) 10.22, 0.17

Page 27 of 39

A ground reaction curve (GRC) of a 3 m radius unlined circular tunnel is shown in
Q.39 the figure. The tunnel is supported by 300 mm thick shotcrete lining. The uniaxial
compressive strength (𝜎𝑐 ), modulus of elasticity (𝐸𝑐 ) and Poisson’s ratio (𝜈) of
shotcrete material are 20 MPa, 15 GPa and 0.25 respectively. The maximum
capacity (𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥) of the lining and its stiffness (𝑘) are given as

1 (𝑎 − 𝑡)2
𝑝𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜎𝑐 (1 − )
2 𝑎2
𝐸𝑐 (𝑎2 − (𝑎 − 𝑡)2 )
𝑘=
(1 + 𝜈)[(1 − 2𝜈)𝑎2 + (𝑎 − 𝑡)2 ]

where 𝑎 = radius of the unlined tunnel and 𝑡 = thickness of the lining.

If the lining is constructed after 5 mm radial deformation, the support reaction is
best represented by the line

(A) P

(B) Q

(C) R

(D) S

Page 28 of 39

A fixed quantity of air needs to be sent through a cross section, as shown in the
Q.40 figure. The perimeter of the cross section is 20 m. The radius (r) of the semicircle, in
m, to minimize the air velocity through the section is

(A) 20/(4 + 𝜋)

(B) 40/(4 + 𝜋)

(C) 20/(4 − 𝜋)

(D) 40/(4 − 𝜋)

Page 29 of 39

Based on the theodolite survey for a closed traverse PQRS, the following bearings are
Q.41 observed for the sides of the traverse.

Line Fore bearing
PQ 60°30′
QR 105°30′
RS 220°30′
SP 310°30′

The interior angles at P and R respectively are

(A) 45°00′, 115°00′

(B) 70°00′, 65°00′

(C) 135°00′, 90°00′

(D) 250°00′, 115°00′

Q.42 The CORRECT statement(s) of dragline operation is/are -

(A) The initial cut is called “Key” cut.

(B) Tandem method of operation requires at least two draglines.

(C) Dragline excavates material above the working bench.

(D) Dragline can move with walking pad.

Page 30 of 39

Q.43 A constant feed of 400 mL/s is maintained by a Xanthate column of height H as
shown in the figure. The outlet cross section area is 1.0 × 10−4 m2 . The acceleration
due to gravity is 10 m/s2. Neglecting friction and other losses, the value of H, in cm,
is ____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Q.44 A continuous miner serves two shuttle cars of 12 tonne capacity each. Shuttle cars I
and II operate with a total cycle time of 12 minutes and 15 minutes respectively,
which includes loading time of 8 minutes for each car. The production rate of the
continuous miner, in tonne/hour, is _________ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Q.45 In a sublevel stope, a ringhole blast round is designed for winning 2500 tonne of ore
with 8.0 % metal content. The blast results into breakage of 90.0 % of the design
blast round. Overbreak of 250 tonne wallrock with 0.5 % metal content dilutes the
blasted ore. The total metal content, in tonne, considering 95 % recovery of the
blasted muck from the stope, is ________ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 31 of 39

Q.46 In a surface mine, blasting is carried out using electronic detonator and cartridge
emulsion explosive with following details:

Burden = 3.5 m

Spacing = 4.5 m

Bench height = 10.0 m

Subgrade drilling = 1.0 m

Stemming = 4.0 m

Linear charge concentration = 16 kg/m

Cost of one detonator = Rs. 800

Cost of explosive = Rs. 30/kg

The cost of blasting material per cubic meter of blasted rock, in Rs., is _______
(rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Q.47 A pit slope has the following information:

Number of benches = 5

Height of each bench = 8 m

Bench slope angle = 70 degree

If width of one bench is 24 m and that of other four benches is 10 m each, the
overall pit slope angle, in degree, is________ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 32 of 39

Q.48 A direct rope haulage has the following details

Output = 24 tonne/hour

Length of trip = 610 m

Gradient = 1 in 12

Capacity of mine car = 1.0 tonne

Tare weight of mine car = 0.5 tonne

Average rope speed = 1.694 m/s

Change over time of cars = 3 minute

Acceleration due to gravity = 10.0 m/s2

Neglecting all frictional resistance and mass of the rope, the minimum power
required, in kW, to raise the loaded mine cars is ______ (rounded off to 3 decimal
places)

A mine void of dimension 100.0 m x 2.0 m x 1.2 m is to be filled in 3 hours by
Q.49 hydraulic stowing. The sand to slurry ratio is 0.4. If the hydraulic fill factor is 0.9,
the hourly consumption of water for the operation, in m3, is_____(rounded off to 2
decimal places)

Q.50 A 2.5 tonne diesel locomotive hauls 5 mine cars upslope having a gradient of 1 in
20. The constant tractive force of the locomotive is 1800 kN. The gross weight of a
car is 3 tonne. Acceleration due to gravity is 10.0 m/s 2 . If the acceleration of the
system is 0.5 m/s 2 , the rolling resistance in kN/tonne is______(rounded off to 3
decimal places)

Page 33 of 39

A longwall panel is to be developed in a flat seam at a depth of 𝐻 m. The surface
Q.51 subsidence profile (𝑠) of the area with the horizontal distance 𝑥 is estimated as

𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 4.8𝑥
𝑠= [1.002 − tanh ( )]
2 𝐻

where, 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 is the maximum subsidence at the centre of the panel, 𝑥 is measured
from the inflection point. The value of 𝑥 is negative towards the panel centre and
positive towards the panel boundary.

The ratio between the critical width of the panel and the depth is______ (rounded off
to 2 decimal places)

The percent Fe content of a random sample consisting of five observations is shown.
Q.52
62 64 63 60 61

If mean grade of the stockpile is estimated using the above data, the standard error
of mean grade, in %, is _____ (rounded off to 3 decimal places)

Page 34 of 39

In a bord and pillar panel, a square pillar of size 35 m × 35 m (centre to centre) is
Q.53 extracted to form four equal square-shaped stooks as shown. The width of each
gallery and crosscut is 5 m. The height of the working seam is 3 m. The reduction
in safety factor after pillar splitting by using Bieniawski’s pillar strength formula, in
%, is_____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

𝑤
Bieniawski’s pillar strength formula, 𝑆𝑝 = 𝑆1 (0.64 + 0.36 ℎ ); where, 𝑆1 = strength
of 0.9 m3 of coal block, 𝑤 = pillar width and ℎ = mining height

A five-member truss system is shown in the figure. The maximum vertical force P in
Q.54 kN that can be applied so that loads on the member CD and BC do NOT exceed 50
kN and 30 kN, respectively is_________ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 35 of 39

The characteristic polynomial of a third order matrix, A, is given by
Q.55
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6 𝑥 2 + 11 𝑥 − 6

If one of the eigen values of A is 1, then sum of the other two eigen values is
_______ (in integer)

The directional derivative of a function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑦 2 + 9𝑧 2 at the point P
Q.56 (3, 4, 5) in the direction vector ⃗𝒃 = 2𝑖̂ − 3𝑗̂ + 4𝑘̂ is____ (rounded off to 1 decimal
place)

Average noise level at a working place is 80 dB(A) for the first 10 minutes and 60
Q.57 dB(A) for the next 30 minutes. The energy equivalent continuous noise level at the
place for the entire period of 40 minutes, in dB(A), is_____ (rounded off to 2
decimal places)

The area bounded by the curves, 𝑦 = √𝑥, and 𝑦 = 8𝑥 2 is ___ (rounded off to 3
Q.58 decimal places)

Page 36 of 39

Data from a borehole log with collar elevation at 590 mRL are given below.
Q.59 Composite grade is calculated using cores of 5 m above and below the reference
bench at 580 mRL. The composite grade, in %, is ___ (rounded off to 1 decimal
place)

Sequence of cores Core length Grade
(top to bottom) (m) (%)
1 3.0 40

2 3.0 42

3 2.0 41

4 3.0 43

5 2.0 42

6 3.0 41

7 3.0 44

The information of a mining project for a life of three years is given below:
Q.60
Year 0 1 2 3
Revenue (Crore Rupees) 200 300 400
Capital cost (Crore Rupees) 300
Operating cost (Crore Rupees) 30 40 35

Applicable tax rate = 30 %
Discount rate = 10 %
If straight line depreciation with zero salvage value is applicable, the NPV, in Crore
Rupees, is ____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 37 of 39

In a longwall panel, air flows at a velocity of 1.2 m/s through a 900 m long gate road
Q.61 of 2.5 m height and 3 m width. The coefficient of friction is 0.022 Ns 2 m−4. The
frictional pressure drop, in Pa, between two ends of the gate road is _____ (rounded
off to 3 decimal places)

SO2 is emitted at a rate of 20 kg/s from a 10 km × 10 km airshed in an industrial
Q.62 area. Wind blows at a speed of 4 m/s from one direction in that area. Radiation
inversion restricts the mixing height to 1200 m. Neglect SO2 concentration in the
incoming air. Assuming emitted SO2 to be conservative, the steady state SO2
concentration in the airshed, in μg/m3 , is____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Reciprocal levelling is performed for points P and Q by placing the same levelling
Q.63 instrument at A and B. The observations of staff readings are tabulated as below.

Staff intercept readings (in m)
Instrument location
Station P Station Q
A (near P) 1.512 2.100
B (near Q) 0.680 1.302

If the Reduced Level (RL) of P is 115.246 m, then the true RL of Q, in m, is _____
(rounded off to 3 decimal places)

A wastewater sample has an ultimate BOD of 300 mg/L. BOD reaction rate constant
Q.64 is 0.22 per day at 20 ℃. If the temperature coefficient is 1.05, the 5-day BOD at
25 ℃, in mg/L, is _____ (rounded off to 2 decimal places)

Page 38 of 39

A double ended ranging drum (DERD) shearer uni-directionally cuts coal in a
Q.65 longwall panel having the following details

Shearer drum diameter = 1.4 m

Panel dimension = 1200 m × 200 m × 2.4 m

Web depth = 0.6 m

Average cutting speed = 5 m/minute

Average retreating speed = 10 m/minute

Average operational delay between cuts is 2 hour. There are two production shifts,
each of 8 hour duration. The number of days required for complete extraction of the
panel is ____ (in integer)

Page 39 of 39

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