Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional Strategy: Check Out The Best Strategies And Books To Study From!

Electrical Engineering seems like a difficult subject, but having it as an optional subject for UPSC can give great returns. This article discusses the option of choosing Electrical Engineering as an optional subject for the Civil Service Mains Exam, which is offered by the UPSC along with two other engineering subjects, civil and mechanical engineering. It also addresses the most effective strategies for Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional Strategy topic, as well as common questions such as the number of candidates who opt for this subject and their success rate in the exam. Aspiring candidates can find this article useful as they prepare for the IAS Exam.

Some Information Regarding Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional Strategy

• Typically, the number of candidates who choose electrical engineering as their optional subject for the mains exam ranges between 100 to 150. In the 2017 UPSC exam, Rishi Raj secured the all-India 27th rank with electrical engineering as his optional subject. The table below presents the statistics of the candidates who appeared and cleared the IAS exam with this optional subject ➖

Year	No. of candidates appeared	No. of candidates cleared	Success Rate (%)
2017	193	19	9.8
2015	143	13	9.1
2014	192	15	7.8
2013	113	13	11.5
2012	126	8	6.3
2011	171	9	5.3
2010	132	7	5.3

• Some toppers and high rankers also took Electrical Engineering Optional, some of them are listed below ➖

Name	Year	Rank
Rishi Raj	2017	27
Rushikesh Reddy	2017	374
Rahul Gupta	2016	20
Surabhi Gautam	2016	50
Ashish Kumar	2014	9
Mayank Agrawal	2012	67
Prakash Rajpurohit	2009	2
Mutyalaraju Revu	2006	1

Advantages of Taking Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional

Electrical engineering is a specialized subject that is recommended only for graduates or postgraduates in the field to choose as an optional for the mains exam. There are pros and cons to selecting this subject, and it is important for candidates to assess their strengths and weaknesses before making a decision. Let’s first look at the advantages of choosing this optional:

1. As a graduate in electrical engineering, you would have a head start compared to those who are not.
2. Being a technical subject, it is objective and scoring. There is little room for interpretation, unlike humanities subjects.
3. You can earn marks through diagrams, circuits, flowcharts, and numerical problems.
4. Even the theoretical portion of this subject is scoring, provided your writing is clear and accurate.
5. Roughly 50% of the questions asked in the IAS exam are repeated, and they are direct and straightforward. With good practice and a solid grasp of concepts, you should be able to score well. So, the questions are predictable, and the difficulty level is not typically very high.
6. If you choose this optional, you can also write the engineering services (IES) exam. You can compare the Indian Engineering Services and Indian Civil Services examinations to determine if you are eligible for both.
7. In the worst-case scenario, you have a backup plan with this optional. You can take the IES exam, as mentioned above, or other engineering-related exams.

Disadvantages of Taking Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional

There are also some disadvantages associated with choosing Electrical Engineering as an optional subject. These include:

1. The subject is challenging and demands a lot of effort from the students. A considerable amount of practice is required, especially in solving numerical problems.
2. The syllabus of electrical engineering is extensive.
3. There is no overlap with the general studies papers, which may make it harder for candidates to balance their preparation for both the optional and general studies papers.
4. It is advisable to avoid this optional subject unless you are confident in your knowledge of the subject matter and have a good grasp of university-level concepts. In general, it is better to choose an optional subject that has significant overlap with the general studies papers.

UPSC Electrical Engineering Optional Subject Strategies

To excel in electrical engineering as an optional subject for the IAS exam, candidates must adopt an effective study plan that emphasizes daily practice of numerical problems, among other things. Here are some tips and strategies to help you prepare better:

1. Practice numerical problems daily and use calculators to help speed up the process. Regular practice will help you build your speed and accuracy in solving numerical problems.
2. Avoid making silly mistakes while solving numerical problems. Double-check your calculations and avoid overlooking small details while solving problems.
3. Enroll in a test series for your optional subject. This will provide you with a good opportunity to simulate the exam environment and develop better time management and problem-solving skills.
4. Focus on presentation when solving numerical problems. Use a pencil to draw neat diagrams and graphs, so that any mistakes can be easily corrected. You can also use a box to highlight your main answer, making it more visible.
5. Solve numerical problems in the same manner as they are solved in standard textbooks. This will help you develop a good understanding of the concepts and also make it easier for you to learn and remember the formulas.
6. Prepare a separate sheet of formulas, divided into topics, for quick and easy revision. This will help you to quickly recall formulas and improve your efficiency during the exam.

By following these tips and developing a consistent study routine, you can boost your chances of scoring well in electrical engineering as an optional subject for the IAS exam.

List of Books To Study From For Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional

• Circuit Theory: Analysis And Synthesis by Abhijit Chakrabarti
• Signals and Systems by Ramesh Babu
• Signals and Systems by Alan V. Oppenheim
• Principles of Electromagnetics by Mathew Sadiku
• Electromagnetic Theory by Bakshi
• Analog Electronics published by Technical Publications (authored by Godse and Bakshi)
• Digital Electronics by Godse and Godse (Technical Publications)
• Electric Machine by Ashfaq Husain
• Power Electronics by PS Bimbhra
• Modern Digital and Analog Communication Systems by BP Lathi
• An Introduction to Analog and Digital Communications by Simon Haykin
• Communication Systems by Sanjay Sharma
• Control Systems by A. Anand Kumar
• Fundamentals of Microcontrollers and Applications in Embedded Systems by Ramesh Gaonkar
• Measurements and Instrumentation by AK Sawhney
• Electrical Power Systems by CL Wadhwa
• A Course in Power Systems by JB Gupta
• Data Communications and Networking by Behrouz A. Forouzan

Electrical Engineering UPSC Optional Strategy: FAQs