8/28/2017 Is choosing electrical engineering for the IAS Mains a feasible/good option? Why?

- Quora

Internet connection problem. Hide this message.

India Administrative Service Interviews +10

There's more on Quora...

Is choosing electrical engineering for the IAS Mains
Pick new people and topics to follow and see the
a feasible/good option? Why? best answers on Quora.

Answer Request Follow 54 Comment Share Downvote Update Your Interests

Have this question too? Request Answers:

Request From Quora

We will distribute this question to writers, and notify you about new answers.

Tushar, Aspiring Diplomat, UPSC 2018 Aspirant

34 Answers in Union Public Service Commission (India)

Sanjeev Roy, former Software Engineer at Honeywell Aerospace

35 Answers in Union Public Service Commission (India)

Sachin Mukati, B.A.HISTORY Honour Civil Services Exam & Youth for National
Change (2019)
17 Answers in Union Public Service Commission (India)

View More or Search

Promoted by HT Media

IT companies are hiring Java developers. Post your resume now.

Cisco, Intel and others are looking for Java professionals. Send in your application
today.

Apply now at shine.com

11 Answers

Jai Dubey, B-TECH Electrical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur More Related Questions
(2020)
Answered May 2
Question Stats
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING Strategy for CSE Mains
53 Public Followers
Theory and numericals both are scoring. Attempt theory as well if you are
48,228 Views
stuck in numericals i.e. not able to solve them or having paucity of time in
Last Asked Aug 10
completing the question paper. Just give small examples in your theory
answers say a small RC circuit or any gate to emphasize your point made in Edits

theory.

But one needs to understand that Electrical Engineering requires a lot of

eort. The syllabus is vast and many books need to be prepared for the
completion of the course. However, the needs of UPSC Civil Services Exam
are not very stringent and only basic knowledge of the topics mentioned in
the syllabus will be sucient to score well in this examination.

At the beginning, I would strongly suggest the aspirants to go through the

papers of previous years and ascertain the level of diculty for themselves. It
would be useful if the aspirants actually try an attempt one of the papers to
see their comfort level with the topics they may have already covered in the
college. It is not necessary that you may have excellent grades in the college,
but a general interest in the subject is necessary to overcome the rigors of the
syllabus over the period of preparation.

https://www.quora.com/Is-choosing-electrical-engineering-for-the-IAS-Mains-a-feasible-good-option-Why 1/10
8/28/2017 Is choosing electrical engineering for the IAS Mains a feasible/good option? Why? - Quora
In my personal opinion, the optional papers of electrical engineering are
similar over a period of time. The questions are generally similar, with many
repetitions over a period of time. The papers of the last 10 years are a pointer
to the same. Internet connection problem. Hide this message.

Another point of note is that UPSC will never tend to ask extremely dicult
or out of course questions. This makes this optional more predictable with a
higher probability of scoring in the upper spectrum.

The most important thing is the use of internet for the course. There are
many topics which seem extremely dicult and have not been done in
college graduation, especially those in digital communication, coding theory
etc. For this, I would advise the use of electrical lectures available at NPTEL.
For communications part, I used to refer to the site http://www.radio-
electronics.com . Another useful site for electrical engineering is the
http://www.electrical4u.com .

Given the nature of the exam, I strongly suggest to all the aspirants to at least
cover the syllabus once, and prepare the previous years papers even if the
detailed strategy as provided later is not doable.

The solutions for the previous years ESE papers is also a useful asset for the
aspirants as it covers almost the entire spectrum of the course.

The book list given below is not the only source. Try to cover the subjects
from books you have studied in your college and keep these books as
reference only.

Paper-1

Circuit theory, signals and systems, digital electronics, EM theory, Analog

communication are easy to cover and scoring as well. You should try to cover
all topics in these subjects. Start your preparation with these subjects if you
are an Electronics and Communication Engineer like me.

Circuit theory should be conceptually very clear. Dont get confused by the
circuit conventions of dierent books, stick to your conventions and answer
will always be the same. The fundamentals of solving a circuit are very
relevant in other subjects like analog electronics, EMT, Analog
communication, machines. So be thorough with this subject to do well in
numericals.

Analog electronics will require conceptual clarity. Millman Halkias is a very

good book but time taking. Go for it if you have sucient time in hand. Cover
op-amps from Gaekwad. For basic electronics i.e PN junction and diodes
Streetman is very good.read it selectively according to the syllabus.

Since the paper is of EE, questions from ECE stream are relatively easy.

Electrical Machines- go in depth if you are a core EE. Ashfaq Hussain is a

good book. Even for ECE and other background students cover the theory
portion, graphs, derivations and basic numericals.

Power electronics- cover topics from bhimbra as given in detail below.

Paper 2

Whether you are from EE or any other streamthis paper requires power
system and power system protection to be covered in detail. Finish o these
subjects at the earliest as they are time taking.

For power system Ashfaq Hussain is a good book. Cover it for entire syllabus.
Refer Wadhwa if you dont understand any topic from this book. Cover all
derivations as they may be repeated in 2-3 years.

Power system protection- TMH book Badriram Vishwakarma is good. Read it

properly.

https://www.quora.com/Is-choosing-electrical-engineering-for-the-IAS-Mains-a-feasible-good-option-Why 2/10
8/28/2017 Is choosing electrical engineering for the IAS Mains a feasible/good option? Why? - Quora

Control systems, Measurement are very scoringpractice control questions

for last 10 years from IAS/IES papers. Do all bridges and their derivations
properly from Sawney selectively sticking to the syllabus. Practice
Internet connection problem. Hide this message.
oscilloscope and digital instruments block diagrams.

Microprocessor- for 8085 and its peripheral devices do from Gaonkar. Cover
it completely.

In 2-3 years questions from 8086 can be asked. DV Hall is a good book or you can read
8086 from any research paper/journal online. But cover 8085 properly.

Digital Communication- cover theory and derivations. If numericals come-

either they are very easy that can be solved by your theory knowledge else
they cant be solved so no need to go after numericals.

Electrical Engineering Strategy

Paper I

1. Circuit Theory: In this topic one should be fast in solving problems. Best
way to gain speed is to practice regularly from IES papers of both electrical
and electronics. Do questions from single IES paper (there are 3-6 questions
every year) within time limit.

2. Signals and systems: Here also speed is important. It is better to make a

formula sheet and revise it regularly. For DFT/FFT, refer to Oppenheims
book on DSP.

3. M. Theory:Read chapter 6(till 6.29), 7 and 8 from K.D. Prasad. For Smith
chart and impedance matching refer Jordan & Balmain. Make the list of
formulas and practice all the derivations.Can also go for IES coaching notes
for theory.

4. Analog Electronics: Diode, Transistors and Ampliers can be done from any
book. Topics that are to be covered from JB Gupta or Gaekwad are:
Oscillators, Op Amp, Wave shaping circuits, Multivibrators, Waveform
Generators and Power supplies.

5. Digital Electronics: Mano is sucient for the part of syllabus which it

covers. For topic left like Timer (look at chapter on 555 IC Timer),
Comparator, S&H circuit refer to JB Gupta.

6. Energy Conversion: Try to cover everything given in the syllabus from

Ashfaq Hussain and make good command over all the numerical given in the
book. It covers topic from IES point of view. Do all the questions asked in the
IES exams thoroughly.

7. Power Electronics and Electric Drives: Topics to be covered are Chapter

2(characteristics of diode, BJT, MOSFET, IGBT), chapter 4-
Thyrister(complete), chapter 5 Thyrister commutation techniques
(complete), chapter 6 Phase controlled rectiers(Leave dual converters),
chapter 7- Choppers(Leave Thyrister Chopper circuits and multiphase
choppers) , chapter 8 Inverters(Leave force-commutated thyrister inverters,
current source and series inverters) and chapter 12-electric drives(complete).
Cover all the derivations (like deriving expressions for particular type of
rectier or inverter) as well as working of circuits.

8. Analog Communication: Cover chapter 4(AM) and Chapter 5(on FM and

PM) from BP Lathi. Random process(chapter 1) can be covered from Haykin.
And Noise(chapter 4) can be covered from Singh and Sapre. Also cover AM
AND FM practical modulation and demodulation circuits from Singh and
Sapre.

Paper II

https://www.quora.com/Is-choosing-electrical-engineering-for-the-IAS-Mains-a-feasible-good-option-Why 3/10
8/28/2017 Is choosing electrical engineering for the IAS Mains a feasible/good option? Why? - Quora
1. Control Systems: Nagrath and Gopal is sucient for all the topics. Practice
from previous year IES and CSE papers.

2. Microprocessors and Microcomputers: Cover chapters 1 to7 and 9, and

Internet connection problem. Hide this message.
parts of chapter 8 and 10(from which questions has been asked in IES
exams), In peripherals cover 12, 14, 15, 16 (Focus more on whatever has been
asked in IES papers).

3. Measurement and Instrumentation: Cover all the instruments given in the

syllabus thoroughly from the Sawhney. Here also guide will be IES questions.

4. Power Systems: I did this topic from Nagrath and Kothari as I already had
covered the book in graduation. Practice solved examples of both Wadhwa
and this book. Or go for Ashfaq Hussain or any book you had in your
graduation.

5. Power System Protection: Chapters of Protective relays and circuit breakers

(from Wadhwa) cover large part of the syllabus in much better way. For
microprocessor based relays refer to TMH book.

6. Digital Communication: For PCM, DPCM, DM refer to chapter 6 of Lathi.

ASK, PSK and FSK are covered much better in Haykin. Information theory
and codes can be covered from either of them. Chapter 1 and 2 of Forouzan
are to be covered for data networks and 7 layered architecture.

Electrical Engineering(Mains) Booklist

Paper I

1. Circuit Theory:A. Chakrabarti(Dhanpat Rai).

Related Questions
2. Signals and systems:Oppenheim and Willsky. For DFT/FFT, refer
I did my master's from IIT Bombay in electrical
toOppenheims book on DSP. For better coverage of z-transform, refer any
engineering and have good command over the
Indian author.(I had Sanjay Sharmas book) subject. Is it okay to take electrical as a mains o...

3. E.M. Theory:K.D. Prasad. For Smith chart and other minor topics left refer Is electrical engineering a good optional for Civil
Jordan & Balmain. Services Mains?

4. Analog Electronics:J.B. Gupta. For topics like feedback ampliers and any
other topics not covered well in that book refer Sedra & Smith.Or Millman
Halkias, Gaekwad, Streetman.
5. Digital Electronics:M.Morris Mano, RP Jain
Is it wise to prepare for both IAS and IES together with
electrical engineering as an optional?
I am preparing for the IAS and thinking about taking
electrical engineering as my optional subject. Is IES a
good backup option?

6. Energy Conversion:Ashfaq Hussain. For topics not covered in detail Is choosing engineering as an optional subject in the
referFitzgerald. IAS a good option? Why don't many people go for it?

7. Power Electronics and Electric Drives:PS Bhimbra What kind of strategies should be followed for the IAS
with an electrical engineering as an optional subject?
8. Analog Communication:(a)Simon Haykin (b) BP Lathi (c) Singh and
How is history as IAS Mains optional for any
Sapre(TMH)
Engineering graduate in Electronics and
Communications?
Paper II
Can anyone tell some good coaching centres in Delhi
1. Control Systems:Nagrath & Gopal for IAS electrical engineering optional in MAINS?

2. Microprocessors and Microcomputers:RS Gaonkar

3. Measurement and Instrumentation:AK Sawhney

4. Power Systems:(a)Nagrath and Kothari (b) CL Wadhwa or (c)Ashfaq Hussain

5. Power System Protection:(a)CL Wadhwa(only chapters of psp, circuit

breaker) (b) Badriram &Vishwakarma
1
Home Answer as Analog
6. Digital Communication:Same Notifications Search
Communication. Quora
For Data Ask Question

Networks and 7-layered architecture I referredForouzan(TMH).

Thank you

4.5k Views 39 Upvotes

https://www.quora.com/Is-choosing-electrical-engineering-for-the-IAS-Mains-a-feasible-good-option-Why 4/10