Network Theory is one of the important topics in the GATE ECE syllabus. This article focuses on bringing forth the important topics, syllabus and good resources for network theory analysis and synthesis.

GATE ECE Syllabus 2022

Here is the syllabus for ECE Gate Exam 2020:

S.No Sections Topics to be Covered
1

Engineering Mathematics

Linear AlgebraCalculus

Differential Equations

Vector Analysis

Complex Analysis

Numerical Methods

Probability and Statistics

2

Networks, Signals and Systems

Circuit analysisContinuous-time signals

Discrete-time signals

3

Electronic Devices

Energy bands in intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, equilibrium carrier concentration, direct and indirect band-gap semiconductors.

Carrier transport: diffusion current, drift current, mobility and resistivity, generation and recombination of carriers, Poisson, and continuity equations. P-N junction, Zener diode, BJT, MOS capacitor, MOSFET, LED, photodiode, and solar cell.

4

Analog Circuits

Diode circuits: clipping, clamping, and rectifiers.

BJT and MOSFET amplifiers: biasing, ac coupling, small-signal analysis, frequency response. Current mirrors and differential amplifiers.

Op-amp circuits: Amplifiers, summers, differentiators, integrators, active filters, Schmitt triggers, and oscillators

5

Digital Circuits

Number representations: binary, integer, and floating-point- numbers.

Combinatorial circuits: Boolean algebra, minimization of functions using Boolean identities and Karnaugh map, logic gates, and their static CMOS implementations, arithmetic circuits, code converters, multiplexers, decoders.

Sequential circuits: latches and flip-flops, counters, shift-registers, finite state machines, propagation delay, setup and hold time, critical path delay.

Data converters: sample and hold circuits, ADCs, and DACs.

Semiconductor memories: ROM, SRAM, DRAM.

Computer organization: Machine instructions and addressing modes, ALU, data-path, and control unit, instruction pipelining

6

Control Systems

Basic control system components; Feedback principle; Transfer function; Block diagram representation; Signal flow graph; Transient and steady-state analysis of LTI systems; Frequency response; Routh-Hurwitz and Nyquist stability criteria; Bode and root-locus plots; Lag, lead and lag-lead compensation; State variable model and solution of state equation of LTI systems.

7

Communications

Random processes: autocorrelation and power spectral density, properties of white noise, filtering of random signals through LTI systems.

Analog communications: amplitude modulation and demodulation, angle modulation and demodulation, spectra of AM and FM, superheterodyne receivers.

Information theory: entropy, mutual information, and channel capacity theorem.

Digital communications: PCM, DPCM, digital modulation schemes (ASK, PSK, FSK, QAM), bandwidth, inter-symbol interference, MAP, ML detection, matched filter receiver, SNR, and BER.

Fundamentals of error correction, Hamming codes, CRC.

8

Electromagnetics

Maxwell’s equations: differential and integral forms and their interpretation, boundary conditions, wave equation, Poynting vector.

Plane waves and properties: reflection and refraction, polarization, phase and group velocity, propagation through various media, skin depth.

Transmission lines: equations, characteristic impedance, impedance matching, impedance transformation, S-parameters, Smith chart.

Rectangular and circular waveguides, light propagation in optical fibers, dipole and monopole antennas, linear antenna arrays.

Important Topics in Network Theory in GATE ECE Syllabus

Make a note of these topics and start preparing harder.

# Network analysis and synthesis using KCL and KVL.

# Network theorems

# Transient analysis of first-order circuits

# Resonance.

# Two-port networks.

# Transient and steady-state analysis of second-order RLC circuits

# Phasor diagrams.

# Magnetically coupled digital circuits.

# Laplace transform.

Network Theory Books

# Engineering Circuit Analysis by William H. Hayt, Jack Kemmerly and Steven M. Durbin

# Network Analysis and Synthesis by Chakrabarti.

You can also learn through video tutorials on control systems, electronic devices, digital circuits etc.

Also Read: Gate vs IES – A Complete Analysis

Tips to Study for the GATE ECE Syllabus

# Make a study plan. If you have already done network theory analysis and synthesis during your graduation, start off with the most important topics. If doing them for the first time, go in sequence.

# At the end of every topic, practice problems on that topic. Analyse your result.

# Check the concepts that you are weak in. If these topics are in the important topics or concepts list then go back and clear them up, if not, mark these topics, come back to them later after you are done with all the subjects.

# After you have finished the entire subject and have done so for others, solve full portion practice tests. Analyse your test scores in a similar manner as done for subject wise tests.

# After every test, analyse your result and work on the weak topics that hold the maximum weightage. This way you can finish all the subjects and topics inclusive if you have time, else at least you would have covered the important topics.

Guidance for Network Theory in GATE ECE Syllabus

If you have less time or if you are into a full-time profession, then doing all of this may be a time-consuming process. In that case, you can consider joining an online coaching class for your GATE preparations which will help you cover your GATE ECE syllabus in a shorter interval of time.

So, the main advantage of joining online coaching is that it can save a student a lot of time. Also, When one goes for a coaching class, they may not realize but a lot of time gets consumed in petty things like – waiting for a professor to come, sitting in a class and waiting for everyone to finish solving a problem, settling down of a noisy class, it becomes difficult to cope up in case a lecture is missed.

So, All these amounts to a significant time in a student’s preparation time and especially when a student has less time for preparation, these factors add as a hindrance.

Other Tips

GATE is considered to be one of the toughest exams. It is the doorway to pursue your higher studies in engineering from top universities. Many people even get hired depending on their GATE score. So there is no point of neglecting the preparations.

One of the important things that an aspirant should always keep in mind is that the GATE ECE syllabus is huge and one has to have a very realistic yet challenging study plan to cover the entire syllabus. Time management plays a vital role in achieving success in exams like this.

Make a proper study plan, keep the focus on your weak and strong points, look through previous year papers, and sit on as many mock tests as possible.

Conclusion

Hopefully, all your queries regarding the network theory study plan, GATE ECE syllabus covering tips, reference network theory books have been met in this article.

Go through the important topics in network theory as mentioned above, find out video tutorials on them and start practising.

What is that one part in the GATE ECE syllabus that scares you the most? How are you planning to deal with it? Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

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Also Read: How online learning for GATE is better than offline tutorials