# Construction Project Management Glossary > Plain definitions of the terms Indian site teams use, from BOQ and RA bill to MDC and WBS, each with an example and how SuperWise handles it. Canonical: https://superwise.site/glossary/ Last updated: 2026-11-01 This glossary defines the terms Indian construction teams use, from the BOQ and the RA bill to the MDC and the WBS, with a worked example for each and how SuperWise records it. ## Popular terms - [Daily Progress Report (DPR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/daily-progress-report/) - [Running Account bill (RA bill)](https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/) - [Bill of Quantities (BOQ)](https://superwise.site/glossary/bill-of-quantities/) - [Measurement Book (MB)](https://superwise.site/glossary/measurement-book/) - [Material Delivery Challan (MDC / GRN)](https://superwise.site/glossary/material-delivery-challan/) - [Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-breakdown-structure/) - [Project Management Consultant (PMC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/project-management-consultant/) - [Earned Value Management (EVM)](https://superwise.site/glossary/earned-value-management/) - [Work Order (WO)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/) - [Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quality-assurance-quality-control/) - [Material Indent (Purchase Requisition)](https://superwise.site/glossary/material-indent/) - [Site Engineer](https://superwise.site/glossary/site-engineer/) - [Tender (Tendering Process)](https://superwise.site/glossary/tender-tendering/) - [Formwork (Shuttering)](https://superwise.site/glossary/formwork/) - [Reinforcement (Rebar)](https://superwise.site/glossary/reinforcement-rebar/) - [Brickwork (Chinai)](https://superwise.site/glossary/brickwork/) - [Concrete Slump Test](https://superwise.site/glossary/concrete-slump-test/) - [RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)](https://superwise.site/glossary/real-estate-regulatory-authority/) - [GFC Drawings (Good For Construction)](https://superwise.site/glossary/gfc-drawings/) - [Handover (Possession)](https://superwise.site/glossary/handover-possession/) - [Occupancy Certificate (OC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/occupancy-certificate/) - [Ready Mix Concrete (RMC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/ready-mix-concrete/) - [Waterproofing](https://superwise.site/glossary/waterproofing/) - [Abstract of Estimate](https://superwise.site/glossary/abstract-of-estimate/) - [Extension of Time (EoT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/extension-of-time/) - [Floor Space Index (FSI) / FAR](https://superwise.site/glossary/floor-space-index/) - [Indian Standard (IS) Codes](https://superwise.site/glossary/indian-standard-codes/) - [Layout Plan](https://superwise.site/glossary/layout-plan/) - [Overrun (Cost & Time)](https://superwise.site/glossary/cost-overrun/) - [Plastering](https://superwise.site/glossary/plastering/) ## All terms A to Z Select a term to read its definition, an example from an Indian site and the SuperWise feature that handles it. ### A - [AAC Blocks (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete)](https://superwise.site/glossary/aac-blocks/) - A lightweight precast block of aerated concrete that Indian sites increasingly use in place of red clay bricks for walls and partitions. - [Abstract of Estimate](https://superwise.site/glossary/abstract-of-estimate/) - The one-page summary of a detailed estimate that gives the total cost of each work head, such as earthwork, concrete and masonry. - [Admixtures (Construction Chemicals)](https://superwise.site/glossary/admixtures/) - Chemical or mineral ingredients added to concrete or mortar to change its setting time, workability or water resistance. - [Advance Payment](https://superwise.site/glossary/advance-payment/) - Money paid to a contractor or supplier before work starts or material arrives, usually recovered later from running bills. - [As-Built Drawings](https://superwise.site/glossary/as-built-drawings/) - The final set of drawings a contractor submits at completion, marked up to show how the work was actually built. ### B - [Bar Bending Schedule (BBS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/bar-bending-schedule/) - A table listing every reinforcement bar of a structural element by mark, diameter, shape, cutting length, number and weight. - [Bill of Quantities (BOQ)](https://superwise.site/glossary/bill-of-quantities/) - An itemised list of the work in a contract with the quantity and unit of each item, against which contractors quote their rates. - [Brass (Volumetric Measurement)](https://superwise.site/glossary/brass-measurement/) - A traditional Indian unit of volume, equal to a hundred cubic feet, used to buy and measure sand, aggregate and other loose material. - [Brickwork (Chinai)](https://superwise.site/glossary/brickwork/) - Walls built by laying bricks in cement-sand mortar in a regular bond, known as chinai on North Indian sites. - [Built-up Area](https://superwise.site/glossary/built-up-area/) - The floor area of a flat measured to the outer face of its walls, so it includes wall thickness and is larger than carpet area. ### C - [Carpet Area (RERA)](https://superwise.site/glossary/carpet-area/) - The net usable floor area of an apartment, the area RERA requires developers to quote and to price a flat on. - [Change Order (Variation)](https://superwise.site/glossary/change-order/) - A signed amendment to a construction contract that adds, removes or changes work and adjusts the contract price or the completion date. - [Commencement Certificate (CC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/commencement-certificate/) - The permission a municipal authority issues before construction may begin, confirming that the plans comply with local bye-laws. - [Concrete Slump Test](https://superwise.site/glossary/concrete-slump-test/) - A site test of fresh concrete that measures how far a moulded cone of it settles, showing its workability and consistency. - [Cost Code](https://superwise.site/glossary/cost-code/) - A numbered code that tags each expense to a budget category, so spend on concrete, steel or electrical work can be tracked separately. ### D - [Daily Progress Report (DPR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/daily-progress-report/) - A daily site log of the work done, labour and machinery deployed, material used and any delays, written at the end of each shift. - [Damp Proof Course (DPC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/damp-proof-course/) - A waterproof layer laid at plinth level that stops ground moisture rising into the walls by capillary action. - [De-shuttering (Formwork Removal)](https://superwise.site/glossary/deshuttering/) - Removing the temporary shuttering from cast concrete once it has gained enough strength, on timings set by the Indian concrete code. - [Defect Liability Period (DLP)](https://superwise.site/glossary/defect-liability-period/) - The warranty period after handover during which the contractor must repair defects at its own cost. - [Design Mix Concrete](https://superwise.site/glossary/design-mix-concrete/) - Concrete whose mix proportions are worked out in a laboratory from tests on the actual cement, sand and aggregate, to reach a target strength. ### E - [Earned Value Management (EVM)](https://superwise.site/glossary/earned-value-management/) - A method that compares planned value, actual cost and earned value to show whether a project is ahead or behind on schedule and cost. - [Earthwork Excavation](https://superwise.site/glossary/earthwork-excavation/) - Digging, removing and grading soil or rock to the required depth so that footings, rafts or basements can be built. - [Encumbrance Certificate (EC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/encumbrance-certificate/) - The sub-registrar's record that shows whether a property has pending mortgages or other liabilities, checked before land is bought. - [Estimation](https://superwise.site/glossary/estimation/) - The costing step that turns drawings into quantities of material, labour and machinery, priced to forecast a project's budget. - [Extension of Time (EoT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/extension-of-time/) - A contract change that moves the completion date later when a delay is not the contractor's fault, so no delay penalty applies. ### F - [Floor Space Index (FSI) / FAR](https://superwise.site/glossary/floor-space-index/) - The ratio of a building's total floor area to its plot area, which caps how much a developer may build on the plot. - [Fly Ash Bricks](https://superwise.site/glossary/fly-ash-bricks/) - Bricks pressed from fly ash, cement, sand and water, used in India as a substitute for red clay bricks. - [Force Majeure](https://superwise.site/glossary/force-majeure/) - A contract clause that excuses a party from its obligations when an unforeseeable event beyond its control prevents performance. - [Formwork (Shuttering)](https://superwise.site/glossary/formwork/) - The temporary mold that holds wet concrete in shape until it hardens, made of timber, plywood, steel or aluminium. - [Freehold Property](https://superwise.site/glossary/freehold-property/) - Property in which the owner holds the building and the land beneath it outright, with no lease grantor involved. ### G - [Gantt Chart](https://superwise.site/glossary/gantt-chart/) - A bar chart that plots each construction task against time, so start dates, durations and dependencies are visible at a glance. - [GFC Drawings (Good For Construction)](https://superwise.site/glossary/gfc-drawings/) - The final approved set of architectural and structural drawings that a site team may build from. - [Goods and Services Tax (GST in Construction)](https://superwise.site/glossary/goods-and-services-tax/) - India's indirect tax on construction materials, contractor services and real estate, charged at slabs that depend on the activity. - [Green Building (IGBC / GRIHA)](https://superwise.site/glossary/green-building/) - A building designed to cut energy, water and material impact over its life, and rated by bodies such as IGBC and GRIHA. - [Grouting](https://superwise.site/glossary/grouting/) - The injection of a flowable cement or chemical mix into cracks, voids and joints to fill, seal or strengthen them. ### H - [Handover (Possession)](https://superwise.site/glossary/handover-possession/) - The formal transfer of a completed property, with its keys and legal rights, from the developer to the buyer. - [Hardcore Soling](https://superwise.site/glossary/hardcore-soling/) - A layer of large angular stones packed over compacted earth to give floor slabs and pavements a firm sub-base. - [Honeycombing (Concrete Defect)](https://superwise.site/glossary/honeycombing/) - A concrete defect where coarse aggregate shows through the surface because the cement paste did not fill the gaps around it. - [Housing Society (RWA)](https://superwise.site/glossary/housing-society/) - The legal body of homeowners that manages the common areas of a residential complex after the developer hands over. - [HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)](https://superwise.site/glossary/hvac/) - The building systems that heat, cool, ventilate and filter the air indoors, from chillers to ductwork. ### I - [I-Beam (RSJ)](https://superwise.site/glossary/i-beam/) - A structural steel beam with an I-shaped cross-section, widely used as the main member of steel-framed buildings. - [Indian Standard (IS) Codes](https://superwise.site/glossary/indian-standard-codes/) - The technical standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards that set safety, testing and quality limits for construction work. - [Initial Setting Time](https://superwise.site/glossary/initial-setting-time/) - The minutes between adding water to cement and the paste starting to stiffen, which limits how long concrete can be transported. - [Interlocking Paver Blocks](https://superwise.site/glossary/interlocking-paver-blocks/) - Precast concrete blocks laid over sand to form outdoor pavements and driveways that can be lifted and relaid for repairs. - [Inventory Management (Stores)](https://superwise.site/glossary/inventory-management/) - Control of a site store, from receiving materials to issuing them against approved indents, with a running stock balance. ### J - [Jali (Latticework / Perforated Screen)](https://superwise.site/glossary/jali-latticework/) - A carved or perforated screen, traditionally of stone or wood, that ventilates and shades a building while keeping privacy. - [JCB (Backhoe Loader)](https://superwise.site/glossary/jcb-backhoe-loader/) - A tractor-based machine with a front loader bucket and a rear digging arm, used for trenches and bulk material handling on Indian sites. - [Joint Development Agreement (JDA)](https://superwise.site/glossary/joint-development-agreement/) - A real estate contract where a landowner supplies the land and a developer builds on it, and both share the finished apartments or revenue. - [Joint Measurement Record (JMR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/joint-measurement-record/) - A measurement sheet that the contractor and the client sign together on site, fixing the quantity of work done before a bill is raised. - [Joint Venture (JV)](https://superwise.site/glossary/joint-venture/) - A temporary partnership of two or more firms that bid for and build a large project together, sharing its risks and profits. ### K - [Kaccha Structure / Road](https://superwise.site/glossary/kaccha-structure/) - An Indian term for a temporary, unpaved or non-durable building or road, as opposed to a permanent pucca one. - [Key Plan](https://superwise.site/glossary/key-plan/) - A small outline map in the corner of a detailed drawing that shows where that drawing's part sits in the full project layout. - [Khata / Khatauni (Land Record)](https://superwise.site/glossary/khata-land-record/) - A municipal record that assesses a property for tax and names the person liable to pay it, though it does not prove ownership. - [Kickers (Concrete Starter)](https://superwise.site/glossary/concrete-kicker/) - A short concrete upstand cast at the base of a column or wall that guides and holds the formwork in line. - [Kotah Stone (Kota Stone)](https://superwise.site/glossary/kotah-stone-flooring/) - A fine-grained limestone from Kota in Rajasthan, used across India as tough, low-cost, slip-resistant flooring. ### L - [Labour Contractor (Thekedar)](https://superwise.site/glossary/labor-contractor-thekedar/) - A subcontractor who supplies only workers and supervision, is paid by measured work and uses materials the builder provides. - [Layout Plan](https://superwise.site/glossary/layout-plan/) - The site drawing that fixes where buildings, roads, parking, utilities and open space go on a plot, submitted for approval. - [Leasehold Property](https://superwise.site/glossary/leasehold-property/) - A property held for a fixed term on land that stays with a freeholder, usually a government authority, and reverts when the lease ends. - [Lintel Band](https://superwise.site/glossary/lintel-band/) - A continuous reinforced concrete ring through the walls at door-top level that ties masonry together against earthquake shaking. - [Liquidated Damages (LD)](https://superwise.site/glossary/liquidated-damages/) - A delay charge fixed in the contract in advance, which the client deducts from the contractor when the project finishes late. ### M - [Material Delivery Challan (MDC / GRN)](https://superwise.site/glossary/material-delivery-challan/) - The site store's receipt for a supplier delivery, raised against the purchase order once the material has been counted and checked. - [Material Indent (Purchase Requisition)](https://superwise.site/glossary/material-indent/) - The site's internal request to procurement for a stated quantity of a material by a required date, which leads to a purchase order. - [Measurement Book (MB)](https://superwise.site/glossary/measurement-book/) - The official ledger in which an engineer records the measured quantity of completed work, and the basis for every contractor payment. - [Mivan Shuttering (Aluminium Formwork)](https://superwise.site/glossary/mivan-shuttering/) - An aluminium formwork system that lets walls and a slab be poured together in one pour, which shortens the floor cycle on repeat floors. - [Mixed-Use Development](https://superwise.site/glossary/mixed-use-development/) - A project that combines residential, commercial, office and retail uses in one complex or campus. ### N - [No Objection Certificate (NOC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/no-objection-certificate/) - A clearance from a government department confirming that a proposed building meets its safety or operating rules. - [Nominal Mix Concrete](https://superwise.site/glossary/nominal-mix-concrete/) - Site-mixed concrete made to fixed volume ratios of cement, sand and aggregate, without laboratory design. - [Non-Agricultural (NA) Land](https://superwise.site/glossary/na-land/) - Farmland that has been legally converted by the District Collector so it can be used for homes, shops or industry. - [Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/non-destructive-testing/) - Test methods that assess the strength and soundness of concrete or steel without cutting or damaging the structure. - [Notice Inviting Tender (NIT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/notice-inviting-tender/) - The public or private notice in which a client invites competitive bids, setting out scope, eligibility, EMD and deadlines. ### O - [Occupancy Certificate (OC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/occupancy-certificate/) - The municipal certificate that confirms a building matches its approved plans and may legally be occupied. - [Open Space Ratio (OSR)](https://superwise.site/glossary/open-space-ratio/) - A town planning rule that keeps a set percentage of a plot unbuilt and open to the sky as parks, playgrounds or greenery. - [Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/ordinary-portland-cement/) - The general-purpose binding cement of Indian construction, ground from limestone and clay and sold in three strength grades. - [Overhead Tank (OHT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/overhead-tank/) - A water storage tank on the terrace or on raised columns that feeds every floor below by gravity. - [Overrun (Cost & Time)](https://superwise.site/glossary/cost-overrun/) - Spending above the baseline budget (cost overrun) or completion after the contractual date (time overrun) on a project. ### P - [Plastering](https://superwise.site/glossary/plastering/) - A finishing layer of cement mortar applied over brickwork or concrete to give a smooth, protected surface. - [Plinth Beam](https://superwise.site/glossary/plinth-beam/) - A reinforced concrete beam at ground level that ties the columns together and carries the walls above to the foundation. - [Plumb Bob (Sahaal)](https://superwise.site/glossary/plumb-bob/) - A pointed metal weight hung from a string to give a true vertical line when checking walls and formwork. - [Project Management Consultant (PMC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/project-management-consultant/) - A third-party firm hired by the client to run tendering, supervise the contractor, audit bills and track the project. - [Punch List (Snag List)](https://superwise.site/glossary/punch-list/) - The list of minor defects and unfinished items found at final inspection, which the contractor must fix before handover. ### Q - [Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quality-assurance-quality-control/) - The process checks set before work starts (QA) and the tests made during execution (QC) that keep a project to specification. - [Quantity Surveyor (QS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quantity-surveyor/) - The professional who measures quantities from drawings, estimates cost and checks the contractor's bills against measured work. - [Quarrying](https://superwise.site/glossary/quarrying/) - The open-pit extraction of stone and other minerals, crushed into aggregate for concrete and road base. - [Quick Setting Cement](https://superwise.site/glossary/quick-setting-cement/) - A Portland cement variant with accelerators that sets within minutes, used to plug leaks and for emergency repairs. - [Quotation (Quote / Bid)](https://superwise.site/glossary/quotation/) - A vendor's or subcontractor's written offer stating the rates, taxes, delivery time and total price for a defined supply or task. ### R - [Ready Mix Concrete (RMC)](https://superwise.site/glossary/ready-mix-concrete/) - Concrete batched to a design mix at an off-site plant and delivered to the site in a rotating transit mixer. - [Reinforcement (Rebar)](https://superwise.site/glossary/reinforcement-rebar/) - Ribbed steel bars set in concrete to carry the tension that concrete alone cannot, so beams do not fracture when they bend. - [Request for Proposal (RFP)](https://superwise.site/glossary/request-for-proposal/) - A procurement document inviting vendors to propose a solution and price for a complex scope, instead of quoting for a standard item. - [RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority)](https://superwise.site/glossary/real-estate-regulatory-authority/) - The law and state authorities that regulate Indian real estate, protect homebuyers and require project transparency. - [Running Account bill (RA bill)](https://superwise.site/glossary/running-account-bill/) - An interim invoice a contractor raises each period for the cumulative value of work done, minus what earlier RA bills already paid. ### S - [Scaffolding](https://superwise.site/glossary/scaffolding/) - A temporary framework of steel pipes or bamboo that supports workers and materials at height on a building facade. - [Setback Area (Margin Space)](https://superwise.site/glossary/setback-area/) - The legally required open space between a plot boundary and the building, set by municipal bye-laws. - [Site Engineer](https://superwise.site/glossary/site-engineer/) - The engineer who supervises day-to-day construction on the ground, from setting out to quality checks and daily reporting. - [Strip Foundation (Continuous Footing)](https://superwise.site/glossary/strip-foundation/) - A continuous shallow footing laid along a load-bearing wall to spread its load evenly over the soil. - [Super Built-up Area (Saleable Area)](https://superwise.site/glossary/super-built-up-area/) - The area a buyer is charged for, made up of the flat's built-up area plus a share of the building's common areas. ### T - [Tender (Tendering Process)](https://superwise.site/glossary/tender-tendering/) - The formal process in which a client invites contractors to submit sealed, competitive bids to build a project. - [TMT Bars (Thermo Mechanically Treated)](https://superwise.site/glossary/tmt-bars/) - Water-quenched steel reinforcement bars with a hard outer surface and a ductile core, standard in Indian concrete work. - [Total Station (Surveying)](https://superwise.site/glossary/total-station/) - A modern optical and electronic surveying instrument that measures distances, angles and coordinates for site layout. - [Transit Mixer (TM)](https://superwise.site/glossary/transit-mixer/) - A truck with a rotating drum that carries ready-mix concrete from the batching plant to the site and keeps it workable on the way. - [Turnkey Contract (Design & Build)](https://superwise.site/glossary/turnkey-contract/) - A contract under which one firm designs and builds the project for the client, who takes over a finished building. ### U - [U-Value (Thermal Transmittance)](https://superwise.site/glossary/u-value-thermal/) - A measure of how much heat passes through a wall, roof or window, where a lower figure means better insulation. - [Under-Construction Property](https://superwise.site/glossary/under-construction-property/) - A flat or villa sold by a developer before the Occupancy Certificate is issued, paid for in instalments tied to construction milestones. - [Underground Sump (UG Sump)](https://superwise.site/glossary/underground-sump/) - A buried concrete tank that stores municipal water at ground or basement level before pumps lift it to the overhead tanks. - [Unit Rate Contract (Item Rate)](https://superwise.site/glossary/unit-rate-contract/) - A contract that pays the contractor an agreed rate for each unit of work, so the final cost follows the quantities actually measured. - [Unskilled Labour](https://superwise.site/glossary/unskilled-labor/) - Site workers who do heavy manual tasks such as carrying, digging and cleaning without formal technical training. ### V - [Valuation Report](https://superwise.site/glossary/valuation-report/) - A certified valuer's written estimate of what a property is worth in the market, which a bank uses to set the loan it will give. - [Variation Order (Change Order)](https://superwise.site/glossary/variation-order/) - A written agreement that changes the scope, price or time of a signed construction contract, signed before the extra work starts. - [Vastu Shastra](https://superwise.site/glossary/vastu-shastra/) - A traditional Indian system of architecture that sets the layout and compass alignment of rooms and entrances in a building. - [Vibrator (Needle Vibrator)](https://superwise.site/glossary/vibrator-concrete/) - A mechanical tool whose vibrating steel needle is pushed into wet concrete to drive out trapped air and compact the mix. - [Vitrified Tiles](https://superwise.site/glossary/vitrified-tiles/) - Hard, low-porosity ceramic tiles fired at very high temperature, now the standard flooring in Indian homes and offices. ### W - [Wall Putty](https://superwise.site/glossary/wall-putty/) - A white cement or acrylic powder mixed with water and applied in thin coats over plaster to give a smooth surface before painting. - [Waterproofing](https://superwise.site/glossary/waterproofing/) - The treatment that stops water from entering a structure, applied to basements, terraces, sumps and bathroom floors. - [Weep Holes](https://superwise.site/glossary/weep-holes/) - Small pipes or gaps built into the base of a retaining wall so that groundwater behind it can drain out. - [Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-breakdown-structure/) - A tree that breaks a construction project into phases, towers, floors and tasks that can each be planned, tracked and costed. - [Work Order (WO)](https://superwise.site/glossary/work-order/) - The contract a client issues to a contractor for labour or services, fixing the scope, rates, retention and deadlines. ### X - [X-Ray Testing (Radiography NDT)](https://superwise.site/glossary/x-ray-testing/) - A non-destructive test that passes X-rays through a steel weld onto film to reveal cracks and voids inside it. - [XPS Insulation (Extruded Polystyrene)](https://superwise.site/glossary/xps-insulation/) - A rigid closed-cell foam board laid on terraces and walls to cut heat gain and resist water. ### Y - [Yellow Zone (Land Use)](https://superwise.site/glossary/yellow-zone-land/) - The colour a Development Plan gives to land reserved for residential use, where homes and housing societies can legally be built. - [Yield Strength (Steel Rebar)](https://superwise.site/glossary/yield-strength/) - The stress at which a steel bar stops springing back and starts to bend or stretch permanently, measured in MPa. ### Z - [Zero Slump Concrete](https://superwise.site/glossary/zero-slump-concrete/) - A very stiff, dry concrete mix with no flow, compacted by heavy rollers rather than poured, used for dams and highway bases. - [Zoning Laws (Development Control Rules)](https://superwise.site/glossary/zoning-laws/) - Municipal regulations that divide a city into zones and set what may be built on each plot, how tall and how far from the boundary. ## Related - [Features](https://superwise.site/features/) - [Solutions](https://superwise.site/solutions/) - [Construction resources](https://superwise.site/resources/)