A method for determining the operating status of a MV switching apparatus , said switching apparatus comprising: - one or more electric poles, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact adapted to be coupled/uncoupled during the switching operations of said switching apparatus; - an electromagnetic actuator for actuating one or more movable contacts of the electric poles, said electromagnetic actuator having at least a test winding wound around a magnetic element; - a capacitor bank for providing electric power to said electromagnetic actuator; characterised in that it comprises the following steps: - providing a test signal (ST) to said test winding for an observation period of time (To), said test signal having a waveform capable of exciting said magnetic element; - receiving sensing signals indicative of electrical quantities (V C , V L , I L ) at said capacitor bank and at said test winding during said observation period of time from sensor means of said MV switching apparatus; - calculating first measuring data (Vc) indicative of a voltage at first terminals (T1) of said capacitor bank during said observation period of time by processing said sensing signals; - calculating second measuring data (V L , I L ) indicative of a voltage at second terminals (T2) of said test winding and/or indicative of a current circulating along said test winding during said observation period of time by processing said sensing signals; - calculating estimation data ( Ĉ , I CD , I C ) indicative of the operating status of said capacitor bank at the end of said observation period of time by using a recursive calculation procedure that processes said first and second measuring data at different instants within said observation period, said first estimation data comprising a first estimation value (C) indicative of the capacitance of said capacitor bank. - one or more electric poles, each comprising a movable contact and a fixed contact adapted to be coupled/uncoupled during the switching operations of said switching apparatus; - an electromagnetic actuator for actuating one or more movable contacts of the electric poles, said electromagnetic actuator having at least a test winding wound around a magnetic element; - a capacitor bank for providing electric power to said electromagnetic actuator; - providing a test signal (ST) to said test winding for an observation period of time (To), said test signal having a waveform capable of exciting said magnetic element; - receiving sensing signals indicative of electrical quantities (V C , V L , I L ) at said capacitor bank and at said test winding during said observation period of time from sensor means of said MV switching apparatus; - calculating first measuring data (Vc) indicative of a voltage at first terminals (T1) of said capacitor bank during said observation period of time by processing said sensing signals; - calculating second measuring data (V L , I L ) indicative of a voltage at second terminals (T2) of said test winding and/or indicative of a current circulating along said test winding during said observation period of time by processing said sensing signals; - calculating estimation data ( Ĉ , I CD , I C ) indicative of the operating status of said capacitor bank at the end of said observation period of time by using a recursive calculation procedure that processes said first and second measuring data at different instants within said observation period, said first estimation data comprising a first estimation value (C) indicative of the capacitance of said capacitor bank. <EOS>