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GATE 2023 Instrumentation Syllabus

GATE Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus

GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus

Do you aspire to take the GATE Instrumentation Engineering Exam? If you are serious about achieving a high score in the GATE IN Exam, you should analyze the syllabus while preparing for the GATE Instrumentation Engineering Exam. Examining the IN syllabus helps candidates identify the important subject areas and maximize scoring opportunities.

GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus includes 3 primary sections, namely:

  • General Aptitude
  • Engineering Mathematics
  • Instrumentation Engineering Questions

IIT Kanpur, the organizing body of the GATE 2023 Exam, will release the updated GATE IN Syllabus on their official website. In this article, we have provided the topic-wise Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus to help candidates prepare effectively for the GATE 2023 IN Exam.


GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus

1. What is the GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus?

The GATE 2023 IN Exam syllabus will be published on the official GATE website along with the official notification. The GATE IN syllabus is almost the same every year, and it is unlikely that significant changes will be made to the GATE 2023 IN syllabus. There are a total of 11 sections in the GATE IN syllabus, and they are as follows:

  1. General Aptitude
  2. Engineering Mathematics
  3. Electricity and Magnetism
  4. Electrical Circuits and Machines
  5. Signals and Systems
  6. Control Systems
  7. Analog Electronics
  8. Digital Electronics
  9. Measurements
  10. Sensors and Industrial Instrumentation
  11. Communication and Optical Instrumentation

The GATE question paper for Instrumentation Engineering includes questions from two mandatory sections - General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics. Typically, the General Aptitude section carries 15 marks, and the Engineering Mathematics section holds 13 marks, while questions from Instrumentation Engineering subjects make up the remaining 72 marks.

Let us explore all 11 sections individually in detail.

2. GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus

There are two mandatory sections in the GATE 2023 Electrical Engineering paper, which are General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics.

2.1 General Aptitude

The General Aptitude section of the GATE Exam is common to all 29 GATE papers, and it tests a candidate's numerical and verbal abilities. The topics covered in the General Aptitude section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
General Aptitude (Mandatory Section) Numerical Ability Numerical Computation
Numerical Estimation
Logical Reasoning
Data Interpretation
Verbal Ability English Grammar
Sentence Completion
Verbal Analogies
Word Groups Instructions
Critical Reasoning
Verbal Deduction
2.2 Engineering Mathematics

Similar to the General Aptitude section, this section is common for all 29 GATE papers. Both General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics can be high-scoring sections if you prepare effectively and understand the concepts.

The topics covered in the Engineering Mathematics section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Engineering Mathematics (Mandatory Section) Linear Algebra Matrix Algebra
Systems of Linear Equations
Eigen Values & Eigen Vectors
Calculus Mean Value Theorems
Theorems of Integral Calculus
Partial Derivatives
Maxima and Minima
Multiple Integrals
Fourier Series
Vector Identities
Line, Surface, and Volume Integrals
Stokes, Gauss, and Green's Theorems
Differential Equations First-Order (Linear and Non-Linear) Equations
Second-Order Linear Differential Equations with Constant Coefficients
Method of Variation of Parameters
Cauchy's and Euler's Equation
Initial and Boundary Value Problems
Solution of Partial Differential Equations: Variable Separable Method
Analysis of Complex Variables Analytic Functions
Cauchy's Integral Theorem and Integral Formula
Taylor's and Laurent's Series
Residue Theorems
Solution of Integrals
Probability & Statistics Sampling Theorems
Conditional Probability
Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviation, and Variance
Random Variables: Discrete and Continuous Distributions: Normal, Poisson, and Binomial Distributions
Numerical Methods Matrix Inversion
Solutions of Non-Linear Algebraic Equations
Iterative Methods for Solving Differential Equations
Numerical Integration
Regression and Correlation Analysis

2.3. Electricity and Magnetism

Electricity and Magnetism is a branch of Physics; Electricity and Magnetism are products of a single underlying Electromagnetic Force. The topics covered in the Electricity and Magnetism section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Electricity and Magnetism Electricity and Magnetism Coulomb's Law, Electric Field Intensity, Electric Flux Density, Gauss's Law, Divergence, Electric Field and Potential Due to Pont, Line, Plane, and Spherical Charge Distributions, Effect of Dielectric Medium, Capacitance of Simple Configurations, Biot-Savart's Law, Ampere's Law, Curl, Faraday's Law, Lorentz Force, Inductance, Magnetomotive Force, Reluctance, Magnetic Circuits, Self and Mutual Inductance of Simple Configurations

2.4. Electrical Circuits and Machines

An Electrical Circuit is the path in which electrons from a voltage or current source flow. The topics included in the Electrical Circuits and Machines section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Electrical Circuits and Machines Voltage and Current Sources Independent, Dependent, Ideal and Practical
V-I Relationships of Resistor, Inductor, Mutual Inductance and Capacitor
Transient Analysis of RLC Circuits with DC Excitation
Electrical Circuits and Machines Kirchhoff's Law, Mesh and Nodal Analysis, Superposition, Thevenin, Norton, Maximum Power Transfer and Reciprocity Theorems
Peak -, Average - and RMS Values of AC Quantities 
Apparent-, Active- and Reactive Powers
Phasor Analysis, Impedance and Admittance
Series and Parallel Resources, Locus Diagrams, Realization of Basic Filters with R, L, and C Elements
Transient Analysis of RLC Circuits with AC Excitation
One-Port and Two-Port networks, Driving Point Impedance and Admittance, Open and Short Circuit Parameters
Single Phase Transformer Equivalent Circuit, Phasor Diagram, Open Circuit and Short Circuit Tests, Regulation and Efficiency
Three Phase Induction Motors: Principle of Operation, Types, Performance, Torque-Speed Characteristics, No-Load and Blocked Rotor Tests, Equivalent Circuit, Starting and Speed Control
Types of Losses and Efficiency Calculations of Electric Machines

2.5. Signals and Systems

A Signal is a single-valued function of time that conveys information. A System is any process that produces an output signal in response to an input signal. The concepts included in the Signals and Systems section of the GATE IN syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Signals and Systems Signals and Systems Periodic, Aperiodic, and Impulse Signals
Laplace, Fourier, and Z-Transforms
Transfer Function, Frequency Response of First- and Second-Order Linear Time-Invariant Systems, Impulse Response of Systems
Convolution, Correlation
Discrete-Time System: Impulse Response, Frequency Response, Pulse Transfer Function
DFT and FFT
Basics of IIR and FIR Filters

2.6. Control Systems

A Control System manages, commands, directs, or regulates the behavior of other devices or systems using control loops. The topics covered in the Control Systems section of the GATE IN syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Control Systems Control Systems Feedback Principles, Signal Flow Graphs, Transient Response, Steady-State Errors, Bode Plot, Phase and Gain Margins, Routh and Nyquist Criteria, Root Loci, Design of Lead, Lag and Lead-Lag Compensators, Steady-Space Representation of Systems
Time-Delay Systems
Mechanical, Hydraulic, and Pneumatic System Components, Synchro Pair, Servo and Stepper Motors, Servo Valves
On-Off, P, PI, PID, Cascade, Feedforward, and Ratio Controllers
Tuning of PID Controllers and Sizing of Control Valves

2.7. Analog Electronics

Analog Electronics are electronic systems that use continuously variable signal. Concepts covered in the Analog Electronics section of the GATE IN syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Analog Electronics Analog Electronics Characteristics and Applications of Diode, Zener Diode, BJT, and MOSFET
Small Signal Analysis of Transistor Circuits, Feedback Amplifiers
Characteristics of Ideal and Practical Operational Amplifiers
Applications of Op-Amps: Adder, Subtractor, Integrator, Differentiator, Difference Amplifier, Instrumentation Amplifier, Precision Rectifier, Active Filters, Oscillators, Signal Generators, Voltage Controlled Oscillators, and Phase-Locked Loop, Sources and Effects of Noise and Interference in Electronic Circuits

2.8. Digital Electronics

Digital Electronics is a field of Electronics involving the study of digital signals and the engineering of devices that use or produce digital signals. The topics included in the Digital Electronics section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Digital Electronics Digital Electronics Combinational Logic Circuits, Minimization of Boolean Functions
IC Families: TTL and CMOS
Arithmetic Circuits, Comparators, Schmitt Trigger, Multi-Vibrators, Sequential Circuits, Flipflops, Shift Registers, Timers, and Counters
Sample-and-Hold Circuit, Multiplexer, Analog-to-Digital (Successive Approximation, Integration, Flash and Sigma-Delta) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (Weighted R, R-2R Ladder and Current Steering Logic)
Characteristics of ADC and DAC (Resolution, Quantization, Significant Bits, Conversion/Setting Time)
Basics of Number Systems, Embedded Systems: Microprocessor and Microcontroller Applications, Memory and Input-Output Interfacing
Basics of Data Acquisition Systems, Basics of Distributed Control Systems (DCS), and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

2.9. Measurements

Measurement is the process of determining the amount, degree, and capacity by comparison (direct or indirect) with the accepted standards of units. The topics covered in the Measurements section of the GATE IN syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Measurements Measurements SI Units, Standards (R, L, C, Voltage, Current, and Frequency)
Systematic and Random Errors in Measurement
Expression of Uncertainty - Accuracy and Precision, Propagation of Errors, Linear and Weighted Regression
Bridges: Wheatstone, Kelvin, Megohm, Maxwell, Anderson, Schering and Wien for Measurement of R, L, C and frequency, Q-Meter
Measurement of Voltage, Current and Power in Single and Three Phase Circuits
AC and DC Current Probes
True RMS Meters, Voltage and Current Scaling, Instrumentation Transformers, Time/Counter, Time, Phase and Frequency Measurements, Digital Voltmeter, Digital Multimeter
Oscilloscope, Shielding and Grounding

2.10. Sensors and Industrial Instrumentation

Sensors and Instrumentation devices are used in industrial applications for condition monitoring, flow monitoring, stability monitoring, pressure and temperature data collection for process control. The topics covered in the Sensors and Industrial Instrumentation section of the GATE IN syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Sensors and Industrial Instrumentation Sensors and Industrial Instrumentation Resistive, Capacitive, Inductive, Piezoelectric, Hall Effect Sensors and Associated Signal Conditioning Circuits
Transducers for Industrial Instrumentation: Displacement (Linear and Angular), Velocity, Acceleration, Force, Torque, Vibration, Shock, Pressure (including Low Pressure)
Flow (Variable Head, Variable Area, Electromagnetic, Ultrasonic, Turbine and Open Channel Flow Meters)
Temperature (Thermocouple, Bolometer, RTD (¾ wire), Thermistor, Pyrometer and Semiconductor)
Liquid Level, pH, Conductivity and Viscosity Measurement
4-20 mA Two-Wire Transmitter

2.11. Communication and Optical Instrumentation

Optical instrumentation is the science of developing, manufacturing, and utilizing tools for optical purposes. The topics covered in the Communication and Optical Instrumentation section of the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus are:

Subjects Topics Sub-Topics
Communication and Optical Instrumentation Communication and Optical Instrumentation Amplitude-and Frequency Modulation and Demodulation
Shannon's Sampling Theorem, Pulse Code Modulation
Frequency and Time Division Multiplexing, Amplitude-, Phase-, Frequency-, Quadrature Amplitude, Pulse Shift Keying for Digital Modulation
Optical Sources and Detectors: LED, Laser, Photo-Diode, Light Dependent Resistor, Square Law Detectors and their Characteristics
Interferometer: Applications in Metrology
Basics of Fiber Optic Sensing
UV-VIS Spectro Photometers, Mass Spectrometer

GATE Question Papers 2023

Now that you have checked the GATE Exam Syllabus, enhance your preparation by practicing using GATE Exam question papers.

Candidates can now download the unofficial GATE 2023 question paper for Instrumentation from this page once the official GATE website has released them.

Keep following our page to check GATE 2023 CE, CS, EE, ME, and EC questions papers.

3. GATE Instrumentation Engineering 2023 Books

Gathering the best resources available in the market and equipping yourself with top-rated GATE IN books is crucial for optimal GATE preparation and improving your GATE score. Here are some of the highly-rated GATE IN books that assist you in your GATE Exam prep.

GATE Instrumentation Engineering 2023 Books
Name of the Book Author
Fundamentals of Microelectronics Behzad Razavi
Signals and Systems Alan V. Oppenheim
Modern Digital and Analog Communication System B.P. Lathi
Electrical and Electronic Measurements A.K. Sawhney
Automatic Control Systems B.C. Kuo
Process Control: Modeling, Design, and Simulation B. Wayne Bequette
Introduction to Measurements and Instrumentation Arun K Ghosh
Engineering Circuit Analysis Steven M. Durbin, William H. Hayt, Jack E. Kemmerly

4. GATE 2023 IN Exam Pattern

After analyzing the GATE Instrumentation Engineering syllabus, it is also vital to check out the GATE IN Exam pattern to know more about the exam and prepare accordingly. Find the GATE IN Exam pattern below.

GATE Instrumentation Engineering Paper Code IN
Examination Mode Online - Computer-Based Test
No. of Questions 65
Total Marks 100
Question Types Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ), Multiple Style Questions (MSQ), & Numerical Answer Types (NAT)
Exam Duration 3 Hours (180 Minutes)
Sectional Time-limit None
Number of Sections 3 (General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Instrumentation Engineering Topics)
Section-wise Weightage General Aptitude - 15 Marks
Engineering Mathematics - 13 Marks
IN Subjects - 72 Marks
Marking Scheme 1 Marks/ 2 Marks for each correct answer
Negative Marking 1/3 marks deducted for each wrong answer (1 Mark MCQ)
2/3 marks deducted for each wrong answer (2 Mark MCQ)
No negative marking for MSQ and NAT

5. Frequently Asked Questions - GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering Syllabus

GATE candidates can download the GATE IN syllabus from the official GATE website. We have also presented the GATE IN syllabus on this page.
There are 11 sections in the GATE 2023 IN syllabus, including the two mandatory sections - General Aptitude and Engineering Mathematics.
The GATE syllabus has almost remained unchanged in recent years, and it is unlikely that there will be significant changes in the GATE 2023 IN syllabus.
Yes, negative marking applies to incorrect MCQ answers. There is no negative marking for NATs and MSQs
The GATE IN Exam comprises 65 questions, and the total mark is 100.

Takeaway Thoughts

We hope the information presented on this page gives you a clear idea of the GATE 2023 Instrumentation Engineering syllabus. Analyzing the GATE IN syllabus presents an opportunity to identify the important subjects and prepare accordingly to improve your GATE IN Exam score. Consider registering in a GATE IN online coaching program to improve your chances of securing a high rank in the GATE Exam.

All the Best!!

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