DSR Vol 1 Civil is the Central Public Works Department’s Delhi Schedule of Rates, Volume 1 (Civil), 2023. It is a technical reference for identifying civil-work items, preparing estimates and bills of quantities (BOQs), and establishing benchmark rates—not a guaranteed quotation for a project.
What DSR Vol 1 Civil is
CPWD’s Delhi Schedule of Rates (DSR) describes standard civil-work items with item references, units, specifications and reference rates. Government departments, public-sector undertakings, private organisations, institutions, architects and contractors use it for estimating, tender preparation and BOQ work.
The edition covered here was issued in 2023 and followed the previous 2021 edition. Its foreword describes the DSR as “a comprehensive and useful technical document of various items used for execution of civil works.”
What Civil Volume 1 covers
Volume 1 is the core building-work volume. Its contents are organised around the following work categories:
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| DSR Vol 1 area | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| Carriage of materials | Movement and handling allowances associated with materials |
| Earthwork | Excavation, filling and related soil work |
| Mortar | Specified mortar materials and mixes |
| Concrete work | Plain cement-concrete items |
| Reinforced cement concrete | RCC work and associated components |
| Masonry work | Brick and other masonry construction |
| Stone work | Stone construction and related work |
| Cladding work | Building-surface cladding items |
| Wood and PVC work | Doors, windows and other wood/PVC components |
| Steel work | Structural and miscellaneous steel items |
| Flooring | Floor finishes and construction layers |
| Roofing | Roof construction items |
The schedule’s contents direct readers to Volume 2 for finishing, building repairs, dismantling and demolition, roads, sanitary installations, water supply, drainage, piling, aluminium work, waterproofing, rainwater harvesting and tubewells, heritage conservation, structural glazing, aluminium composite panels and new technologies or materials.
An independent 2023 walkthrough describes Civil Volume 1 as roughly 20 sub-heads and about 4,300 priced rows. Those figures describe that walkthrough’s dataset; the CPWD volume’s own contents remain the authoritative guide to its organisation.
How to use DSR Vol 1 for a BOQ
- Define the work and specification. Establish drawings, material grade, dimensions, workmanship requirements, location and applicable measurement rules before looking for a rate.
- Find the matching DSR item. Search the relevant sub-head and record the complete item description and item code, not just a short label such as “brickwork” or “RCC.”
- Confirm the unit and measurement basis. Check whether the item is measured by cubic metre, square metre, running metre, kilogram, number or another unit, and ensure the drawing quantities use the same basis.
- Build the quantity take-off. Measure each component from the drawings and specifications. Keep separate lines where materials, thicknesses, grades or execution methods differ.
- Apply the reference rate correctly. Read inclusions, exclusions, leads, lifts, labour assumptions, material requirements and any associated-item notes in the schedule.
- Adjust for the project. Review current local quotations, transport, labour conditions, wastage, taxes, site access, market changes and contract provisions. Add separately measured work where the selected DSR item does not include it.
- Document the basis. Put the DSR edition, sub-head, item code, unit, quantity, rate source and all adjustments in the estimate or BOQ so another reviewer can reproduce the calculation.
A boundary-wall estimate illustrates the approach: earthwork, PCC, brickwork, damp-proof course, RCC, shuttering, reinforcement, plaster and paint are treated as separate measured components, each linked to its applicable CPWD DSR item rather than priced as one generic wall rate.
Are CPWD DSR rates final?
No. The 2023 publication states: “The rates taken in Delhi Schedule of Rates 2023 are indicative and actual rates shall be governed by the market forces.” A DSR item number identifies a standard description and benchmark; it does not by itself determine the final amount payable on a particular contract.
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- Location: Delhi reference rates may not match material, transport or labour costs at the project site.
- Specification: A different grade, thickness, finish or installation method can require another item or a rate analysis.
- Market inputs: Supplier quotations, labour availability and fluctuations in materials affect current cost.
- Taxes and contract rules: Apply the tax treatment and contractual provisions that govern the project. The 2023 foreword records the change in GST on works from 12% to 18% effective 18 July 2022; the estimate must still reflect the applicable project and contract treatment.
- Site conditions: Access, lead, lift, storage, working restrictions, wastage and temporary works may change the cost.
- Measurement and payment: The tender’s specifications, schedule of quantities and conditions of contract control what is measured and paid.
CPWD also places use at the risk and discretion of departments, organisations and individuals and disclaims responsibility for ambiguity, discrepancy, dispute or financial loss arising from use of the items. Treat the schedule as an estimating framework and verify every material assumption.
Volume 1 versus Volume 2
| Question | Volume 1 Civil | Volume 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary role | Foundational building construction items | Later, specialist and service-related sections listed in the contents |
| Examples | Earthwork, concrete, RCC, masonry, stone, cladding, doors/windows, steel, flooring and roofing | Finishing, repairs, demolition, roads, sanitary and water-supply work, drainage, piling, waterproofing, rainwater harvesting, heritage and newer systems |
| When to consult | When the measured work falls within the core building categories | When the work is a finishing, repair, infrastructure, utility or specialist item directed to Volume 2 |
Do not force a Volume 1 item to price work that the contents assign to Volume 2. If no suitable standard item exists, prepare a justified analysis under the applicable tender or departmental procedure.
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The publication is a printed two-volume set. Its 2023 front matter lists a printed price of ₹1,400 for both volumes, excluding postage and forwarding. Availability is described through GeM and authorised booksellers; confirm the edition, seller and current price before purchasing.
For electronic lookup, searchable DSR and BOQ/rate-analysis services can speed item-code searches and preliminary estimate preparation. They are supplementary commercial tools, not the issuing authority. Verify their edition and item text against the CPWD publication before using an output in a tender, estimate or bill.
Quick Recap
A practical review checklist
- Is the document the CPWD Delhi Schedule of Rates 2023, Civil Volume 1?
- Does the item description match the drawing specification exactly?
- Is the unit and measurement rule correct?
- Are leads, lifts, carriage, material inclusions and exclusions understood?
- Have Volume 2 or a non-schedule analysis been considered where appropriate?
- Have local quotations, labour, transport, wastage and site constraints been checked?
- Is the applicable GST and contract treatment recorded?
- Can every BOQ rate be traced to an item code, edition and documented adjustment?
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