DDA – Assistant Director Planning Syllabus Post Code 04: Complete Exam Guide

Assistant Director Planning Syllabus Post Code 04
Prepare effectively with the official planning syllabus

Part-I: Technical Subjects

The technical section is extensive, covering six distinct sections related to planning, architecture, and engineering.

Section 1: Architecture

This section demands a strong grasp of both historical and contemporary architectural principles.

To excel in the role of Assistant Director Planning, it is essential to understand the Assistant Director Planning Syllabus Post Code 04.

  • History & Styles: You must study the elements and construction examples of Indian and Western architectural history, including Oriental, Vernacular, and Traditional architecture .

  • Modern Movements: Focus on developments since the Industrial Revolution, including the influence of modern art, Art Nouveau, Eclecticism, and International styles .

  • Contemporary Trends: The syllabus covers Post Modernism, Deconstruction, and recent trends in contemporary architecture, alongside the works of renowned national and international architects .

Section 2: Environmental Planning and Design

Planning today is inseparable from environmental sustainability.

  • Ecosystems & Principles: Understand natural and man-made ecosystems, ecological principles, and the concepts of .

  • Green Design: Key topics include climate-responsive design, Solar architecture, Green Building Concepts and Ratings, and the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) .

  • Analysis: You will be tested on land suitability analysis, thermal comfort, ventilation, and building performance simulation .

  • Pollution: Study the types, causes, controls, and abatement strategies for environmental pollution .

Section 3: Urban Planning and Housing

This is a core planning section focusing on development processes and housing standards.

  • Planning Process: Familiarize yourself with various plans such as Master Plans, City Development Plans, Zonal Plans, and Regional Plans .

  • Emerging Concepts: Topics include Sustainable urban development, Eco-Cities, Smart Cities, Transit Oriented Development (TOD), and corridor planning like WDFC and EDFC .

  • Housing: Study housing typologies, slums, affordable housing, and housing for special needs .

  • Policies: Be well-versed in National Housing Policies, Programs, and Schemes .

Section 4: Planning Techniques and Management

  • Surveys & Analysis: Master the tools for Physical, Topographical, Land use, and Socioeconomic surveys, as well as methods for spatial and non-spatial data analysis.

  • GIS & Remote Sensing: A critical area involving the application of G.I.S and Remote Sensing techniques in urban and regional planning .

  • Economics & Management: This includes Urban Economics (demand and supply of land), cost-benefit analysis, financial appraisal techniques, and development guidelines such as URDPFI .

Section 5: Services, Infrastructure, and Transportation

  • Urban Infrastructure: Covers Water Supply, Sewerage, Drainage, Solid Waste Management, Electricity, and Communications .Traffic Engineering: Principles of transportation planning, road capacity, traffic flow characteristics, and travel demand forecasting .

  • Design & Management: Includes the design of roads and intersections, traffic management in urban areas, mass transportation planning, and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) .

Section 6: Planning Legislation and GIS

This section is highly specific to the National Capital Region (NCR).

  • Delhi Specific Acts: You must study the Delhi Development Act (DDA Act), 1957 (all sections) and the Master Plan of Delhi 1962-2021 (provisions and strategies) .

  • Building Bye-Laws: The syllabus explicitly includes the Unified building byelaws, 2016, as approved by the Government of India .

  • General Legislation: Includes acts related to Municipal Corporations, Land Acquisition, and PPP models.


Part-II: General Aptitude

In addition to technical skills, candidates are assessed on general competencies:

  1. Test of Reasoning

  2. Test of Quantitative Aptitude

  3. Test of General Awareness

  4. Test of English Language

  5. Computer Knowledge


Recommended Study Materials & Resources

To cover this extensive syllabus effectively, candidates should refer to a mix of standard textbooks and official government documents.

For Technical Subjects (Part-I)

  • Urban Planning & Techniques:

    • Town Planning by S.C. Rangwala – Excellent for basic concepts of planning and housing.

    • Urban Pattern: City Planning and Design by Arthur B. Gallion – Essential for understanding the history and evolution of cities.

    • (Vol. I) – This is the “bible” for Section 4 (Planning Techniques). Focus on the norms for social and physical infrastructure.

  • Architecture & Design:

    • Sir Banister Fletcher’s History of Architecture – The gold standard for the history section.

    • Building Construction by B.C. Punmia – Good for understanding construction elements mentioned in Section 1.

  • Legislation & Delhi Specifics (Crucial):

    • Master Plan of Delhi 2021 (MPD-2021): Download the official document from the DDA website. Focus on “Vision,” “Land Use,” and “Development Code”.

    • Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL) 2016: Refer to the official gazette notification for chapters on Ground Coverage, FAR, and Green Buildings.

    • Delhi Development Act 1957: Read the “Bare Act” version to understand the legal framework of the DDA.

  • Environment & Transport:

    • Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning by L.R. Kadiyali – Covers road capacity, traffic flow, and design.

    • ECBC User Guide by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) – For energy codes and green building ratings.

For General Aptitude (Part-II)

  • Quantitative & Reasoning: Quantitative Aptitude and Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal.

  • English Language: Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi.

  • General Awareness: Manorama Yearbook or Lucent’s General Knowledge for static GK.


Quick Tips for Preparation

  1. Prioritize the “Delhi” Section: Since this is a DDA-specific post, questions on the Master Plan of Delhi and DDA Act often carry high weightage. Do not skip the original documents.

  2. Practice Map Reading: For Section 4 (GIS), familiarize yourself with reading topographic sheets and basic satellite imagery interpretation.

  3. Stay Updated: Read recent policy briefs from NITI Aayog regarding Smart Cities and AMRUT missions, as these fall under “Emerging Concepts” in Section 3.

Next Steps:

To crack the Assistant Director Planning Syllabus Post Code 04, start by organizing your study material according to these six technical sections. Prioritize the legislation part, especially the DDA Act and Delhi Master Plan, as these are specific and scoring areas.


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