Electrical Engineering

What is Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering deals with the understanding, designing of electronic devices and equipment, and application of concepts to electricity. They test and supervise electrical equipment production too. Electrical engineering is a branch of science concerned with power electronics and creates efficient and reliable electronic systems. It focuses on physics, mechanics, optics, and related mathematics.

As technology is rapidly increasing, the demand for electrical engineers is also growing. The study of Electrical engineering is often combined in the stream with Electronics engineering as they learn about similar concepts.

To be an electrical engineer, one must get enrolled in an engineering college for graduation in technology. The duration of Bachelor of Technology in Electrical engineering program is for four years, and its master’s program is for two years.

Many institutes provide electrical engineering course and teach them about electrical devices, semiconductors and microprocessors as well. Switching the lights on and off in your room or checking the time on your smartphone, it takes a group of electrical engineers to make that happen. Electric energy is one of the most used energy in our day to day life.

Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Electrical Engineering

To get into an engineering field, one must satisfy some basic criteria laid down by the authorities associated. These standards are required to be fulfilled by every student to appear for their entrance examination, for the preferred college he/ she wants to take admission in and pursue electrical engineering.

For undergraduates:

• An aspirant must have passed class 12th board examination from a recognized board.

• In 12th standard, the student must secure passing mass in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics.

• The candidate must have at least 60% marks in his/her 12th board exams.  This may vary from college to college.

• There is no age limit.

For Post-graduates:

• The applicant must be a graduate in electrical engineering from a recognized university/ college

• Must have secured a minimum of 60% marks during the graduation program

Electrical Engineering Entrance Exams

Joint Entrance Exam (JEE Main) JEE Main is an online assessment organized by the National Testing Agency for aspirants who wish to study in the esteemed Indian Institute of Engineering (IITs) or other government colleges like NITs and GITs. A student can appear twice for the exam (January and April) in one year. With the best score out of the two is considered when preparing the merit list. It is a preliminary test for the IIT JEE Advanced exam. Out of, approximately 9 lakh students, 2.5 lakh are shortlisted for the advanced exam.

Joint Entrance Exam (JEE Advanced) -JEE Advanced is the second round of examination, after JEE Mains. It is also an online exam conducted by IIT, Delhi. Students, who wish to pursue engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science and IISER, take this test. The level of difficulty is tough and every year 2.5 lakh applicants participate. The test has two papers for 3 hours each.

Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission Test (BITSAT) - This exam is conducted by Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, every year. It is an online test which lasts for 3hours. The minimum marks to be scored in 10+2 are 75%, to be able to apply for the examination. This institute has three branches- Pilani, Hyderabad and Goa.

Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) - Around 10 lakh students apply for this computerized test every year for Master of Engineering, Master of Technology and PhD at government colleges in India. It is conducted by all the IITs and Nation Coordination Board. Final year graduation students can apply too. 

Required Skillset for Electrical Engineering

Whether someone is a fresh engineering graduate or an experienced engineer, with knowledge, one must have some skill set, making it easier to work at their office. It’s important to develop job-specific hard skills, but to achieve success, soft skills are also necessary for smooth work life. So, if an electrical engineering graduate is looking to accelerate in their career, he/ she must have the following set of hard and soft skills.

Hard Skills:

Analytical thinking to identify and define problems, collect data and design a solution to the issue.

Critical thinking to understand intricate circuits and complicated mechanisms of modern machinery.

Proficient in using:

• Computer-aided design (CAD)

• Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB) for deep learning and machine learning, signal processing and communications, control systems, test and measurement.

• Autodesk or AutoCAD is a software which helps make software products and software for architecture and engineering.

Soft Skills:

• Attentive- Electrical engineers work on multiple projects at one time. They must be alert and focused as they juggle with different elements and their different characteristics.

• Interpersonal Skills- Ability to work in a team is an important skill for electrical engineers during the production process to make sure that procedures are being conducted properly and simultaneously according to the schedule. This also comprises the capability to interact and discuss among colleagues about the issues and solutions to the problems.

• Quantitative Aptitude- The talent for solving advanced mathematical problems and calculus to be able to examine and create equipment.

• Initiative- Electric engineers must have the quality of inventiveness and apply their creativity while working on new projects. They must also keep updating themselves about new inventions in the industry and technology.

• Communication skills – Electrical engineers need to interact with a lot of people including technicians and other engineers to explain their ideas, designs and instruct during the manufacturing and development process.