Previous Year Question Paper – Special Qualifying Test for Promotion of Non-Teaching Employees

The Department of Technical Education issued the Special Qualifying Test under Notification No. 08/2018 to provide internal promotion opportunities for existing Non-Teaching Staff working in various technical institutions and polytechnic colleges. After the completion of the examination, the authorized body released the Final Answer Keys on 16 October 2025, which serve as the final and legally valid basis for scoring, evaluation, and promotion eligibility.

The Final Keys allow you are to verify your performance, assess their marks, and ensure transparency in the selection process. Since the keys have undergone multiple reviews and objection rounds, the officially published version cannot be altered further. This is a common practice followed by government departments to maintain procedural fairness.

Understanding the Purpose of the Special Qualifying Test

Internal promotions in the Department of Technical Education are not automatic. Most technical roles require examination-based assessment to validate technical capability, academic readiness, and practical knowledge. This Special Qualifying Test is designed to:

• Evaluate ability and knowledge in technical core fields.
• Promote qualified non-teaching staff to higher technical or instructional roles.
• Improve staff quality, ensuring laboratories, workshops, and academic activities are handled by skilled personnel.
• Provide career growth to employees who would otherwise remain stagnant due to lack of promotional options.

Subjects Included in the Final Answer Keys

The following subject keys were released as part of the Special Qualifying Test under Notification No. 08/2018:

• General Studies & Mental Ability
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE)
• Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer and Commercial Practice
• English
• Mathematics
• Pharmacy
• Chemistry

Each subject plays a distinct role in assessing your knowledge according to your domain of work and expected responsibilities after promotion.

General Studies & Mental Ability

This section tests overall problem-solving capability and awareness.

Topics typically covered:

• Basic logic and reasoning
• Numerical aptitude
• General awareness
• Indian constitution basics
• Administrative knowledge
• Comprehension and analytical ability

For non-teaching employees, this is an essential benchmark. It tests whether you  have the capacity to take responsibility in an academic environment, handle students, and coordinate administrative/technical tasks.

How to review the key:
Cross-check each reasoning step, not just the final answer. This helps you can understand where conceptual mistakes occurred.

Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE)

The EEE domain covers electrical machinery, power circuits, and instrumentation.

Key concept areas:

• Transformers and AC/DC machines
• Circuit theory and network theorems
• Power devices and semiconductor electronics
• Measurement systems
• Relay systems and protection
• Electric drives and control models

This subject is crucial for workshop assistants, electrical lab technicians, and internal transfers to academic departments. Final Key verification helps you can identify incorrect assumptions about circuit laws, machine behavior, or semiconductor fundamentals.

Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE)

ECE focuses on modern electronics and communication systems.

Core syllabus areas:

• Analog electronics
• Digital circuits
• Microprocessors and microcontrollers
• Communication systems (AM, FM, digital)
• Signal processing basics
• Semiconductor physics

ECE staff often handle teaching labs, communication equipment, embedded systems workshops, and automation units. Reviewing the final key helps strengthen conceptual clarity in modulation, logic design, or embedded device operations.

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering questions typically revolve around construction, materials, measurements, and structures.

Expected domains:

• Surveying and leveling
• Strength of materials
• Building estimation
• Materials science (cement, concrete, steel)
• Hydraulics
• Soil mechanics basics

Civil labs and workshops must be handled by personnel who understand safety, material strengths, and real-world engineering concepts. Final key analysis helps you are correct misconceptions related to load distribution, measurement errors, or construction standards.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering serves as the backbone of technical institutions.

Main knowledge areas:

• Thermodynamics
• Fluid mechanics
• Strength of materials
• Manufacturing processes
• Machine design
• Heat transfer

You can preparing for promotion must master workshop operations, lab safety, and foundational engineering principles. Final key comparison clarifies mistakes, especially formula-based errors involving efficiency, entropy, pressure, or machining tolerances.

Computer Engineering (CSE / IT)

Computer Engineering evaluates modern computer science fundamentals.

Crucial topics:

• Data structures
• Operating systems
• Networks
• Database management
• Programming logic
• Software engineering models

Computer staff often manage IT labs, servers, lab maintenance, and software-based teaching environments. Using the final key, You can detect algorithmic mistakes, memory model confusion, or networking misconception.

Computer and Commercial Practice (CCP)

This specialization is practical and industry-driven.

Areas covered:

• Office automation (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Database basics
• Business communication
• Typing/documentation
• Tally or accounting principles

Unlike pure engineering domains, CCP combines computer proficiency with business skills. You should review the final key to understand procedural mistakes in documentation or accounting principles.

English

English proficiency is essential for promotion, especially for instructional and clerical upgrades.

Assessment points:

• Grammar and syntax
• Sentence errors
• Vocabulary
• Comprehension skills
• Professional writing

Using the final key allows candidates to evaluate:

• Sentence composition issues
• Tense misuse
• Word selection errors

This helps prepare for future workplace communication and academic interactions.

Mathematics

Mathematics forms the core logic base of technical aptitude.

Exam-relevant areas:

• Algebra
• Geometry
• Trigonometry
• Calculus basics
• Statistics
• Probability

You must review each formula step to improve speed, accuracy, and conceptual clarity. Errors in basic arithmetic or algebraic manipulation can cost marks, even for experienced staff.

Pharmacy

The pharmacy domain requires accurate technical knowledge.

Key concepts:

• Pharmacology
• Pharmaceutics
• Pharmaceutical chemistry
• Drug regulatory frameworks
• Quality control methods
• Biochemistry basics

Final key comparison assists candidates in refining their understanding of drug composition, pharmaceutical operations, and clinical standards.

Chemistry

Chemistry evaluates theoretical and applied chemical knowledge.

Common areas:

• Organic/inorganic chemistry
• Stoichiometry
• Bonding and reactions
• Chemical equilibrium
• Kinetics
• Analytical chemistry

Errors in chemistry are often conceptual. Final answer review guides you are toward deeper accuracy.

How to Use the Final Answer Keys

1. Open your scored sheet or retain your written responses.
2. Compare each question against the final answer key.
3. Mark:
   • Correct
   • Incorrect
4. Apply the official scoring scheme:
   • Typically +1 or +2 per correct response
   • (Check if negative marking applied)
5. Sum the totals to estimate your score.

This helps forecast eligibility before the official results are published.

Fairness in Evaluation After Key Publication

Once a final key is public:

• No objection windows remain open.
• Results are generated from that key.
• Merit lists and promotion lists are prepared.

This ensures procedural clarity and equal treatment across all candidates.

Reference Links

Use section-wise links like this:

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