Microtheme: Emerging TechXCommunication —
14 questions asked in Prelims in the past.

1. [2025] Consider the following statements:
   I. Indian Railways have prepared a National Rail Plan (NRP) to create a future ready railway system by 2028.
   II. ‘Kavach’ is an Automatic Train Protection system developed in collaboration with Germany.
   III. ‘Kavach’ system consists of RFID tags fitted on track in station section.
   Which of the statements given above are not correct?
   • (a) I and II only
   • (b) II and III only
   • (c) I and III only
   • (d) I, II and III
   Correct Answer: (A) I and II only
2. [2022] Consider the following communication technologies :
   1. Closed-circuit Television
   2. Radio Frequency Identification
   3. Wireless Local Area Network
   Which of the above are considered Short-Range devices/technologies?
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
3. [2020] With reference to Visible Light Communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?
   (1) VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780 nm.
   (2) VLC is known as long-range optical wireless communication.
   (3) VLC can transmit large amounts of data faster than Bluetooth,
   (4) VLC has no electromagnetic interference.
   Select the correct using the code given below:
   • (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
   • (b) 1, 2 and 4 only
   • (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
   • (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
   Correct Answer: (C) 1, 3 and 4 only
4. [2019] In the context of wearable technology, which of the following tasks is/are accomplished by wearable devices?
   1. Location identification of a person
   2. Sleep monitoring of a person
   3. Assisting the hearing impaired person
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
5. [2019] With reference to communication technologies, what is/are the difference / differences between LTE (Long-Term Evolution) and VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution)?
   1. LTE ‘is commonly marketed as 3G and VoLTE is commonly marketed as advanced 3G.
   2. LTE is data-only technology and VoLTE is voice-only technology.
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) Both 1 and 2
   • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Correct Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2
6. [2018] When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day’s weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step’ out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about
   traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly.
   In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?
   • (a) (a)Border Gateway Protocol
   • (b) Internet of Things
   • (c) Internet Protocol
   • (d) Virtual Private Network
   Correct Answer: (B) Internet of Things
7. [2018] In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used ?
   1. Mobile phone operations
   2. Banking operations
   3. Controlling the power grids
   Select the correct answer using the code given below :
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3
8. [2016] With reference to ‘LiFi’, recently in the news, which of the following statements is/are
   correct?
   1. It uses light as the medium for high-speed data transmission.
   2. It is a wireless technology and is several times faster than ‘WiFi’.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 only
   • (c) Both 1 and 2
   • (d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Correct Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
9. [2015] With reference to ‘Near Field Communication (NFC) Technology’, which of the following statements is/are correct :
   (1) It is a contactless communication technology that uses electromagnetic radio fields.
   (2) NFC is designed for use by devices which can be at a distance of even a metre from each other.
   (3) NFC can use encryption when sending sensitive information.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below.
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
10. [2011] What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices?
    • (a) Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency band, whereas Wi-Fi can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band.
    • (b) Bluetooth is used for wireless local area networks (WLAN) only, whereas Wi-Fi is used for wireless wide area networks (WWAN) only.
    • (c) When information is transmitted between two devices using Bluetooth technology, the devices have to be in the line of sight of each other, but when Wi-Fi technology is used the devices need not be in the line of sight of each other.
    • (d) The statements (a) and (b) given above are correct in this context.
    Correct Answer: (A) Bluetooth uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency band, whereas Wi-Fi can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency band.
11. [2011] What is a “Virtual Private Network”?
    • (a) It is a private computer network of an organization where the remote users can transmit encrypted information through the server of the organization.
    • (b) It is a computer network across a public internet that provides users access to their organization's network while maintaining the security of the information transmitted.
    • (c) It is a computer network in which users can access a shared pool of computing resources through a service provider.
    • (d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is the correct description of virtual private networks.
    Correct Answer: (B) It is a computer network across a public internet that provides users access to their organization's network while maintaining the security of the information transmitted.
12. [2010] Consider the following :
    1. Bluetooth device
    2. Cordless phone
    3. Microwave oven
    4. Wi-Fi device
    Which of the above can operate between 2-4 and 2-5 GHz range of radio frequency band ?
    • (a) 1 and 2 only
    • (b) 3 and 4 only
    • (c) 1,2 and 4 only
    • (d) 1,2,3 and 4
    Correct Answer: (D) 1,2,3 and 4
13. [2010] Which among the following do/does not belong/belongs to the GSM family of wireless technologies ?
    • (a) EDGE
    • (b) LTE
    • (c) DSL
    • (d) Both EDGE and LTE
    Correct Answer: (C) DSL
14. [2009] WiMAX is related to which one of the following ?
    • (a) Biotechnology
    • (b) Space Technology
    • (c) Missile Technology
    • (d) Communication Technology
    Correct Answer: (D) Communication Technology