---
title: "Muster roll and its importance"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 8
key: "semester_8/construction_management:muster-roll-importance"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/muster-roll-importance
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Muster roll and its importance

Construction Management · Chapter 8: Site Management

- Asked in: 2075 Bhadra, 3 marks; 2073 Bhadra, 2 marks; 2078 Chaitra (asked 3 times)
- Video: [Construction management: (Muster roll) || Lok Sewa Preparation Sub Engineer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMWLwF6Fcus) — Sub Engineer Loksewa Preparation 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/muster-roll-importance
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-8

## Question

What is a muster roll and why is it important?

## Short answer

A muster roll is a register of daily-wage workers listing attendance, wage rate, amount earned, deductions, net payment, and workers' signatures. It provides proof of payment, prevents ghost workers, supports labour cost control, productivity analysis, and legal or audit requirements.

## Answer

A **muster roll** is a register in which the names of the daily-wage workers are listed, with attendance of each worker each day, the rate of wages, the amount earned, the signature or thumb impression of the workers, and the payment made. It is kept for casual (daily wage) labour employed directly by the owner, user's committee or contractor.

#### Contents
- Name of the work, period (week or fortnight), and serial number.
- Name of each worker, category (skilled, semi-skilled, unskilled), father's name or citizenship number.
- Daily attendance (present or absent), days worked and overtime.
- Rate of wage, total wages, deductions and net payment.
- Signature or thumb impression of the worker, and signatures of the preparing engineer and the approving officer.

#### Importance
1. **Proof of payment** to the labourers; it prevents false claims.
2. **Attendance record** for supervising labour and calculating wages.
3. Gives labour cost of the work, used for cost control and analysis of productivity.
4. Base for labour records, social security and legal requirements (Labour Act).
5. Prevents fraudulent payment (ghost workers) and helps in auditing.
6. Shows labour used on each task for rate analysis and future estimates.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. A muster roll is a register of:
   A. Daily-wage workers with attendance, wage rate, amount earned and payment
   B. Material stock
   C. Drawings
   D. Test results
   Answer: A. It lists attendance, wages and signatures or thumb impressions of casual labour. (Key point: Definition)

2. Why does the muster roll prevent false claims?
   A. It is proof of payment with signature or thumb impression of workers
   B. It lists materials
   C. It is filed in court
   D. It is never audited
   Answer: A. Signatures confirm workers received wages. (Key point: Proof of payment)

3. What is the muster roll used for besides payment?
   A. Labour cost and productivity analysis and rate analysis
   B. Mixing concrete
   C. Setting out
   D. Surveying
   Answer: A. It shows labour cost and labour used per task for cost control and future estimates. (Key point: Cost use)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Short note: Measurement book and muster roll](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ameasurement-book-muster-roll-note) — Construction Management, chapter 8
- [Muster roll for user's committee project](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amuster-roll-user-committee) — Construction Management, chapter 8