Analog Electronic Circuits Course - IIT Madras | Prof. Shanthi Pavan | NPTEL
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 524 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering, VLSI design |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 17 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Unlock the Foundations of Modern Electronics with IIT Madras
Welcome to the world of Analog Electronic Circuits, a cornerstone of modern electrical engineering and VLSI design. This comprehensive 12-week course, offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM), is your gateway to mastering the principles that power everything from smartphones to satellites. Guided by the eminent Prof. Shanthi Pavan, this course is meticulously designed to build a deep, intuitive understanding of analog circuits from the ground up.
Why Study Analog Electronic Circuits?
In an increasingly digital world, the importance of robust, efficient analog circuitry cannot be overstated. Analog circuits form the critical interface between the real, continuous world and our digital processors. They are essential in power management, sensor interfacing, wireless communication, and high-speed data conversion. This course provides the foundational knowledge required for careers in semiconductor design, consumer electronics, telecommunications, and cutting-edge research.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Shanthi Pavan
Learning from an expert is paramount, and this course is led by one of the finest minds in the field. Prof. Shanthi Pavan is a Chair Professor of Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras. A distinguished alumnus of IIT Madras and Columbia University, his research focuses on high-speed analog circuit design and signal processing.
His accolades speak volumes:
- Recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award, one of India's highest scientific honors.
- Winner of the IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Darlington Best Paper Award.
- Co-author of the authoritative text, Understanding Delta-Sigma Data Converters.
- Former Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems: Part I.
- IEEE Fellow and Distinguished Lecturer.
Prof. Pavan's ability to distill complex concepts into clear, intuitive explanations makes this course exceptionally valuable for learners at all levels.
Course Overview & Structure
This undergraduate-level course is structured as a progressive journey, starting with fundamental concepts and building towards complex circuit blocks. No prior knowledge of device physics is assumed, making it accessible to anyone with a foundation in basic circuit theory.
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Nonlinear-circuit analysis using incremental networks |
| Week 2 | Characteristics of an amplifying nonlinear device; the MOSFET |
| Week 3 | The common-source amplifier: gain and swing limits |
| Week 4 | Robust biasing of transistor amplifiers |
| Week 5 | The incremental VCVS and VCCS using negative feedback |
| Week 6 | The incremental CCVS and CCCS using negative feedback |
| Week 7 | The PMOS transistor, active load and CMOS inverter |
| Week 8 | The differential pair and common-mode rejection ratio |
| Week 9 | The basic two-stage opamp; parasitic capacitances |
| Week 10 | Multi-stage amplifiers in a feedback loop: stability and phase margin |
| Week 11 | Dominant pole compensation, the Miller effect |
| Week 12 | Introduction to BJTs and BJT-based circuits |
Who Should Enroll?
- Undergraduate & Graduate Students in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering.
- Aspiring VLSI Design Engineers seeking a strong analog foundation.
- Professionals in the semiconductor industry looking to solidify their core analog knowledge.
- Electronics Enthusiasts with the required prerequisites who want to understand the "how" behind circuit operation.
Prerequisites & Industry Relevance
Prerequisites: High school mathematics and a basic course in Circuit Theory or Electrical Networks are essential to follow the derivations and analysis.
Industry Support: This course covers the fundamental concepts that are directly applicable in all semiconductor design and services companies. Mastery of these topics is a key requirement for roles in analog/mixed-signal IC design at companies like Intel, Texas Instruments, Analog Devices, Qualcomm, and Broadcom, as well as in numerous R&D divisions worldwide.
Learning Methodology: Building Intuition
Unlike rote-learning approaches, Prof. Pavan's teaching philosophy emphasizes intuition. The course derives circuits from first principles, helping you understand not just the equations, but the underlying physical reasoning. You will learn to think like a circuit designer, analyzing trade-offs between gain, bandwidth, power, and stability.
By the end of this 12-week journey, you will have a firm grasp on key analog building blocks like single-stage amplifiers, differential pairs, current mirrors, and operational amplifiers. You will understand critical concepts like negative feedback, frequency compensation, and stability analysis—skills that are directly transferable to real-world design challenges.
Embark on this learning adventure with IIT Madras and Prof. Shanthi Pavan to build a powerful, intuitive foundation in Analog Electronic Circuits, the silent engine of our digital age.
Enroll Now →