SSC JE Electrical Engineering Syllabus
The same topic list serves both SSC JE papers, which means 400 of the 500 merit marks come from the syllabus below. Paper 1 tests it at 100 marks and Paper 2 at 300.
Electrical candidates should also note the normalisation rule. Where Electrical and Mechanical compete for the same posts, Paper 2 marks are normalised across the two branches before merit is prepared.
Where the branch paper sits
Paper | Questions | Marks | Negative marking |
Paper 1, General Engineering | 100 | 100 | 0.25 |
Paper 2, General Engineering | 100 | 300 | 1 mark |
SSC JE Electrical Engineering syllabus, topic wise
Basic concepts
Resistance, inductance and capacitance and the factors affecting them. Current, voltage, power and energy with their units.
Circuit law
Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, equivalent circuits and the analysis of simple circuits with DC excitation.
Magnetic circuits
Flux, magnetomotive force and reluctance. Different kinds of magnetic materials, magnetic calculations for straight, circular and solenoidal conductors, electromagnetic induction, plus self and mutual induction.
AC fundamentals
Instantaneous, peak, RMS and average values of alternating waves. Representation of the sinusoidal waveform, simple series and parallel AC circuits with R, L and C, resonance and tank circuits. Polyphase systems with star and delta connection, three phase power, plus DC and sinusoidal response of R-L and R-C circuits.
Measurement and measuring instruments
Measurement of power and energy in single phase and three phase, both active and reactive, including the two wattmeter method. Measurement of frequency and phase angle. Ammeters and voltmeters of moving coil and moving iron type, extension of range, wattmeters, multimeters, meggers, energy meters and AC bridges. Use of the CRO, signal generator, current transformer and potential transformer, plus earth fault detection.
Electrical machines
DC machines covering construction, principles of motors and generators, characteristics, speed control, starting, braking, losses and efficiency. Single phase and three phase transformers covering construction, principles, equivalent circuit, voltage regulation, open circuit and short circuit tests, losses, efficiency, parallel operation and auto transformers. Three phase induction motors covering the rotating magnetic field, principle of operation, equivalent circuit, torque speed characteristics, starting and speed control.
Fractional kilowatt motors and single phase induction motors
Characteristics and applications.
Synchronous machines
Generation of three phase EMF, armature reaction, voltage regulation, parallel operation of alternators, synchronising, control of active and reactive power, plus starting and applications of synchronous motors.
Generation, transmission and distribution
Types of power stations, load factor, diversity factor, demand factor, cost of generation and interconnection of power stations. Power factor improvement, tariffs, types of faults and short circuit current for symmetrical faults. Switchgear covering circuit breaker ratings and arc extinction, HRC fuses, protection against earth leakage and overcurrent, Buchholz relay, Merz-Price protection, feeder and busbar protection and lightning arresters. Transmission and distribution systems, conductor materials, system efficiency and cables with their ratings and derating factors.
Estimation and costing
Estimation of lighting schemes and electrical installation of machines, relevant IE rules, plus earthing practices.
Utilisation of electrical energy
Illumination, electric heating, electric welding, electroplating, electric drives and motors.
Basic electronics
Working of PN junction diodes, NPN and PNP transistors, BJT and JFET, along with simple circuits using these devices.
How to prepare the branch paper
Electrical machines and the generation, transmission and distribution block are the two largest areas in most years. Build them first and build them properly, because they also carry the most numerical questions.
Measurement is the topic candidates most often under-prepare relative to its weight. It is largely factual, which makes it fast to learn and fast to answer.
Keep a formula sheet and revise it weekly. Paper 2 deducts a full mark per error against three for a correct answer, so an approximate formula is worse than no answer.
Work from previous years’ Paper 2 sets rather than Paper 1 sets once the basics are secure. The depth is different and practising at the wrong depth is the most common preparation error in this branch.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SSC JE electrical syllabus the same for both papers?
Yes. The same topic list serves Paper 1 and Paper 2, with Paper 2 set at greater depth.
How many electrical engineering questions are asked?
100 in Paper 1 for 100 marks and 100 in Paper 2 for 300 marks.
Is basic electronics part of the SSC JE electrical syllabus?
Yes, covering diodes, transistors, BJT and JFET with simple circuits.
Are electrical marks normalised against mechanical?
Paper 2 marks are normalised across the two branches where they compete for common posts.
Which topics carry the most weight?
Electrical machines and generation, transmission and distribution appear most consistently.
Topics, marks, negative marking and normalisation on this page follow the scheme of examination in the latest SSC JE notification published on ssc.gov.in.