GATE 2022 Important Topics- Electronics and Communication Engineering

If there is one branch of Engineering that pulls the maximum number of candidates towards it, it is Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC). It is one of the most popular streams of GATE and can be easily cracked if pursued with determination during the GATE exam preparation.  

While you move ahead in your journey to ace the GATE exam, we will ensure that there are no hurdles along the way. To streamline your GATE EC preparation, we have compiled a list of all the important topics that you must study on priority.

Before we proceed any further, we want to remind you of some mistakes that you must avoid at all costs during your preparation. Since the GATE exam is around the corner, we should not fall prey to these mistakes.

Now let’s talk about the important topics of GATE EC.

GATE EC 2022 Important Topics

Subject	Important Topics
Networks	Conceptual Problems on Basic Circuit Laws (More focus on Circuit including Capacitor and Inductor) In-Network Theorems, focus more on Maximum Power Transfer Theorem for both AC and DC.  Transient Analysis (Mostly DC Transient including LC Circuits) Two-port Networks (Integrated with Maximum Power Transfer Theorem) Sinusoidal steady State Analysis Resonance (Formula based question on Basis of Parameters such as Quality factor, Bandwidth, and Damping ratio)
Signals and Systems	Basic Signals (Emphasize on Energy and Power Signals numericals) LTI Systems (Problems related to impulse response properties to different types of LTI systems.) Convolution, Numericals related to Zero State and Zero input response of LTI system. Fourier Transform (Questions related to Parseval’s Theorem, Filtering actions, Symmetry Property) Fourier Series (Relation between trigonometry and complex exponential Fourier series, problems related to Parseval’s power theorem. Give extra focus on Symmetry property.)  Sampling theorem and applications (Problems related to antialiasing filter and bandpass sampling, and problems related to transition band of filter integrated with sampling.)  DTFT, DFT Z-Transform (Initial and Final value Theorem, Unilateral Z transform) Discrete-time processing of continuous-time signals.
Electronic Devices	Semiconductor physics (Problems related to Fermi Energy, Thermal Equilibrium behaviour of semiconductors, Steady State illumination of semiconductor specimen) Carrier Transport (Diffusion current, Drift current, low-level injection, Poison and Continuity equation-based numerical) P-N junction (Band Diagram related problems at thermal equilibrium condition or under biased condition, VI characteristics of each type of diode) Numericals related to junction capacitance. Zener diode (Breakdown mechanism, Numericals related to critical electric field and doping profile) Photodiode (VI characteristics and numericals related to current equations of photodiode) Solar Cell (Numericals related to fill factor, open-circuit voltage and its VI characteristics) BJT (Different regions of operations, how to identify active and saturation region, base width modulation, early effect, base transport factor, emitter injection efficiency and different type of gain in different BJT configuration.) MOSFET (Type of MOSFET, the threshold voltage of MOSFET, how threshold voltage can be controlled, voltage and current characteristics in different operating regions of MOSFET (application of MOSFET in the different operating regions.  MOS Capacitor (Numericals related to capacitance, energy band diagram in both accumulation and depletion mode, different regions of C-V graph.
Control systems	Mathematical Modeling of Control System Signal Flow Graph, Block Diagram Reduction and Signal Flow graph of Equivalent electrical circuit.  Time Response Analysis (Step response parameters, Second-order control system root locus with respect to the parameter like damping ratio and natural frequency of oscillations).  Stability (R-H Criteria)Root Locus (Numericals related to Breakpoint, marginal stability)  Bode Plot Frequency response Analysis  Nyquist stability criteriaCompensator (Bode Plot, Polar plot concept integrated with compensator) State Variable Model (State-space model for a different electrical circuit, all the above-mentioned topic like Bode, Nyquist, signal flow graph, they are integrated with state-space model.)
Digital Circuits	Number Representations Boolean Algebra Combinational Circuits Sequential Circuits Data Converters Semiconductor Memories Computer Organization
Communications	Amplitude Modulation and Demodulation (Equation of modulations, modulation index and different types of demodulation techniques) Angle modulation and Demodulation (Equation of modulations, modulation index and different types of demodulation techniques) Receivers (SHRR, Image frequency, image rejection ratio, and difference between SHR and tuned radio frequency receiver) Digital communication Schemes (Relationship between bitrate, baudrate, bandwidth for binary or M array signaling, Signal to Noise ratio and bandwidth, data rate relations for PCM, Matched Filter, Probability of Error and their respective constellation diagram for different digital signaling scheme, relation between signal to noise ratio and bit error rate, MAP) Information Theory (Channel capacity based numericals, properties of Entrophy, ideal channel capacity, question based on graph between the parameters like channel capacity, entrophy, etc, Probability is very important to understand the above-stated topics) Random variable (Probelms related to PDF and joint PDF, and transformation of random variable) Random Processes(Auto corelation, power spectra density and their both properties, Filtering of random signal through LTI system) Noise (AWGN properties and questions related to its power spectra density and problems integrated with filters, effect of noise on different types of analog modulation schemes) Error correction and coding
Electromagnetics	Maxwell’s Equation (Boundry Condition based problems, Poynting Theorem) Plane wave and properties (Polarization with both normal and oblique incidence and reflection cofficient for both the cases, How to identify the nature of polarization, skin depth, and parameter related to the propogation of the electromagnetic wave through different kind of media) Transmission lines (Problems related to Smith Chart, Impedance matching, Reflection coefficient, standing wave ratio, Transience on Transmission lines, specially numericals directly based on Characteristics impedance of different types of transmission lines.) Waveguides (Cut off frequency, cut off wavelength for both circular or rectangular Waveguide) Antennas (Different types of gains associated with antenna and numericals on antenna array, numericals based on antenna problem with different types of current distribution)
Analog Circuits	Diode Circuits (Problems related to small-signal model of diode, voltage multiplier, clamper and clipper circuit based problems, peek detector, Numericals based on Rectifiers involving the filtering action, voltage regulation numericals based on Zener diode) BJT (Small signal analysis of BJT, numericals based on operating points, and numericals based on stabilization and biasing, current mirror based problem of BJT, comparison of the different parameter of different BJT amplifier configuration like voltage gain, current gain, power gain, input resistance, output resistance, questions related to the frequency response of amplifiers and bandwidth of multi stage amplifier) Numericals based on differential amplifier configuration, MOSFET (Small signal model of MOSFET, channel length modulation based numericals in MOSFET, large signals model of MOSFET, current mirror based problem of MOSFET) Op-Amp Circuits (Numericals based on Linear application of Op-Amp and non linear applications, Problems related to Precision rectifiers, Schmitt Trigger, Numericals based on Hysterasis loop) Oscillators, problems based on basic principle of oscillator like bark housan criteria, non sinosudal oscillator using Op-Amp.
Engineering Mathematics	Linear Algebra Calculus Differential Equations Vector Analysis Complex Analysis Probability and Statistics

Read more: 60 Days Preparation Strategy for GATE EC 2022

GATE 2022 EC Exam Pattern

Particulars	Details
Exam Duration	3 hours
Number of Questions	65
Total Marks	100
Types of Questions	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
Sections	General Aptitude (15 Marks) Engineering Mathematics (13 Marks) Technical (72 Marks)
Marking Scheme	For 1 mark MCQ, 1/3 mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. For 2 marks MCQ, 2/3 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response. There is no negative marking for NAT and MSQs

Also read: GATE Preparation Tips For Electronics & Communication Engineering

Do check out the previous year GATE EC paper to get an understanding of the type of questions asked in the exam: https://gate.iitkgp.ac.in/old_question_papers.html 

The aforementioned topics should be studied on priority as they form a crucial part of the EC syllabus. However, comprehensive preparation for Electrical and Communication Engineering is what you will require to get your dream score.

The plan of cracking GATE should be accompanied by a reliable training partner that provides you with all the necessary material for a seamless preparation.

PrepLadder is one such platform for the GATE aspirants that has proved to be a boon for them. It has transformed their preparation journey from the Beginner level to the Advanced level.

On PrepLadder, you will find everything that you need to crack GATE, such as conceptual and engaging video lectures from the DREAM TEAM, QBank with detailed explanations and solutions, Subject tests & Mock tests for practice, and much more to level up your exam preparation.

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All the best for your exam.

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