GATE Electrical Engineering Syllabus, Detailed EE Topics & Weightage

Electrical Engineering (EE) is a common choice of subject among GATE aspirants. Now the aspirants preparing for this particular subject must be aware of the complete syllabus for the subject. In this article, we will provide the complete GATE electrical engineering syllabus. Since the subject is vast, the GATE EE Syllabus is divided into 10 sections → engineering mathematics, electric circuits, electromagnetic fields, signals and systems, power system, control system, electrical and electronic measurements, analog and digital electronics, power electronics, and electrical machines.

In this article we have detailed the entire syllabus for the GATE electrical engineering subject. Candidates can check the complete syllabus for each section in detail, and the GATE exam pattern for EE section.

GATE EE Syllabus 2026 For General Aptitude

The GATE EE syllabus 2026 has four main topics that make up the General Aptitude section. It is the only section of the GATE exam that is shared by all 30 disciplines. This section carries a weightage of 15 marks. The following topics are included in the General Aptitude section of the GATE Electrical Engineering syllabus.

GATE Electrical Engineering (EE) Syllabus

Below is a section-wise analysis of theGATE 2026 EE syllabus, detailing key topics, their significance, and estimated weightage.

1. Engineering Mathematics (13 marks)

Engineering Mathematics provides the analytical foundation for solving electrical engineering problems.

Key Topics -

• Linear Algebra: Matrix algebra, systems of linear equations, eigenvalues, eigenvectors.
• Calculus: Mean value theorems, integral calculus, definite/improper integrals, partial derivatives, maxima/minima, multiple integrals, Fourier series, vector identities, directional derivatives, line/surface/volume integrals, Stokes’s, Gauss’s, Divergence, Green’s theorems.
• Differential Equations: First-order linear/nonlinear equations, higher-order linear ODEs with constant coefficients, variation of parameters, Cauchy’s/Euler’s equations, initial/boundary value problems, PDEs, separation of variables.
• Complex Variables: Analytic functions, Cauchy’s integral theorem/formula, Taylor/Laurent series, residue theorem, solution integrals.
• Probability and Statistics: Sampling theorems, conditional probability, mean, median, mode, standard deviation, random variables, discrete/continuous distributions (Poisson, normal, binomial), correlation, regression analysis.

→ Significance: Critical for modeling circuits, systems, and power flow problems.

Weightage Table

2. Electric Circuits (7-10 marks)

Electric Circuits focuses on circuit analysis techniques and network theorems.

Key Topics -

• Network elements: ideal voltage/current sources, dependent sources, R, L, C, M elements.
• Solution methods: KCL, KVL, node/mesh analysis.
• Network theorems: Thevenin’s, Norton’s, Superposition, Maximum Power Transfer.
• Transient response of DC/AC networks, sinusoidal steady-state analysis, and resonance.
• Two-port networks, balanced three-phase circuits, star-delta transformation, complex power, and power factor.

→ Significance: Foundational for designing and analyzing electrical networks.

Weightage Table

3. Electromagnetic Fields (2-4 marks)

Electromagnetic Fields covers electrostatics and magnetostatics principles.

Key Topics -

• Coulomb’s Law, electric field intensity, electric flux density, Gauss’s Law, divergence.
• Electric field/potential due to point/line/plane/spherical charge distributions, dielectric effects, capacitance.
• Biot-Savart’s Law, Ampere’s Law, curl, Faraday’s Law, Lorentz force.
• Inductance, magnetomotive force, reluctance, magnetic circuits, self/mutual inductance.

→ Significance: Essential for understanding transformers, motors, and electromagnetic devices.

Weightage Table

4. Signals and Systems (8–10 marks)

Signals and Systems addresses signal processing and system analysis.

Key Topics -

• Continuous/discrete-time signal representation, shifting/scaling properties.
• Linear time-invariant (LTI) and causal systems.
• Fourier series for continuous/discrete periodic signals, sampling theorem.
• Fourier Transform, Laplace Transform, Z-transform applications.
• RMS and average value calculations for periodic waveforms.

→ Significance: Key for analyzing communication and control systems.

Weightage Table

5. Electrical Machines (10-12 marks)

Electrical Machines focuses on transformers and rotating machines.

Key Topics -

• Single-Phase Transformer: Equivalent circuit, phasor diagram, open/short-circuit tests, regulation, efficiency.
• Three-Phase Transformer: Connections, vector groups, parallel operation.
• Auto-Transformer, electromechanical energy conversion principles.
• DC Machines: Separately excited, series, shunt, motoring/generating modes, speed control.
• Three-Phase Induction Machines: Operation, types, performance, torque-speed characteristics, no-load/blocked-rotor tests, starting, speed control.
• Single-Phase Induction Motors, synchronous machines (cylindrical/salient pole), performance, regulation, parallel operation, starting, losses, efficiency.

→ Significance: Core to power generation and industrial applications.

Weightage Table

6. Power Systems (10-12 marks)

Power Systems covers generation, transmission, and distribution networks.

Key Topics -

• Power generation concepts, AC/DC transmission, transmission line/cable models, performance.
• Economic Load Dispatch, series/shunt compensation, electric field distribution, insulators.
• Distribution systems, per-unit quantities, bus admittance matrix.
• Load flow methods (Gauss-Seidel, Newton-Raphson), voltage/frequency control, power factor correction.
• Symmetrical components, fault analysis (symmetrical/unsymmetrical), protection principles (overcurrent, differential, directional, distance), circuit breakers, system stability, equal area criterion.

→ Significance: Vital for designing reliable power grids.

Weightage Table

7. Control Systems (8–10 marks)

Control Systems focuses on feedback and stability analysis.

Key Topics -

• System modeling, feedback principle, transfer function, block diagrams, signal flow graphs.
• Transient/steady-state analysis of LTI systems.
• Stability analysis: Routh-Hurwitz, Nyquist criteria, Bode plots, root loci.
• Compensators: lag, lead, lead-lag; P, PI, PID controllers.
• State space model, state equation solutions for LTI systems.

→ Significance: Essential for automation and system control.

Weightage Table

8. Electrical and Electronic Measurements (4-6 marks)

This section covers measurement techniques and instruments.

Key Topics -

• Bridges, potentiometers, measurement of voltage, current, power, energy, and power factor.
• Instrument transformers, digital voltmeters, multimeters.
• Phase, time, frequency measurement, oscilloscopes, error analysis.

→ Significance: Crucial for accurate monitoring in electrical systems.

Weightage Table

9. Analog and Digital Electronics (10-12 marks)

This section addresses electronic circuit design.

Key Topics -

• Analog Electronics: Diode circuits (clipping, clamping, rectifiers), amplifiers (biasing, equivalent circuit, frequency response), oscillators, feedback amplifiers, operational amplifiers (characteristics, applications), single-stage active filters, Sallen-Key, Butterworth filters, VCOs, timers.
• Digital Electronics: Combinatorial/sequential logic circuits, multiplexers, demultiplexers, Schmitt triggers, sample-and-hold circuits, A/D and D/A converters.

→ Significance: Key for designing electronic systems and interfaces.

Weightage Table

10. Power Electronics (8–10 marks)

Power Electronics focuses on power conversion and control.

Key Topics -

• Static V-I characteristics, firing/gating circuits for Thyristor, MOSFET, IGBT.
• DC-DC conversion: Buck, Boost, Buck-Boost converters.
• Single/three-phase uncontrolled rectifiers, voltage/current commutated Thyristor-based converters.
• Bidirectional AC-DC voltage source converters, harmonics (line current, power factor, distortion factor).
• Single/three-phase voltage/current source inverters, sinusoidal pulse width modulation.

→ Significance: Essential for efficient power management in modern systems.

Weightage Table