UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 15: Communication Technologies (27 MCQs)

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UPSC Science and Technology – Chapter 15: Communication Technologies (27 MCQs) – 27 questions, subject: Science & Technology. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

Frequency is measured in:

Correct Answer: C [hertz]

Explanation:

The hertz is the SI unit of frequency, equal to one cycle per second.

2.  

Which generation of mobile technology first offered SMS with digital voice?

Correct Answer: B [2G]

Explanation:

2G in the 1990s digitised voice and introduced SMS through GSM and CDMA networks, after 1G's analog voice-only phones.

3.  

VoLTE stands for:

Correct Answer: D [Voice over Long-Term Evolution]

Explanation:

VoLTE means Voice over Long-Term Evolution: voice calls carried as data packets over the 4G LTE network.

4.  

India's 5G services were launched on:

Correct Answer: D [1 October 2022]

Explanation:

India's 5G services were launched on 1 October 2022.

5.  

FASTag toll payment on Indian highways is based on:

Correct Answer: C [RFID]

Explanation:

FASTag is an RFID tag fixed on the windscreen and read by radio waves at toll plazas; it became mandatory in February 2021.

6.  

NFC works at a frequency of:

Correct Answer: B [13.56 MHz]

Explanation:

NFC uses electromagnetic radio fields at 13.56 MHz and works only over about 4–10 centimetres.

7.  

A cellular mobile network divides an area into small cells mainly so that:

Correct Answer: C [the same frequencies can be reused in cells that are not next to each other]

Explanation:

Dividing an area into cells lets the same frequencies be reused in non-adjacent cells, saving scarce spectrum.

8.  

The term Li-Fi was popularised by:

Correct Answer: D [Harald Haas]

Explanation:

Harald Haas popularised the term Li-Fi in 2011 for high-speed wireless data transmission using visible light.

9.  

The Bharat 6G Vision document was released in:

Correct Answer: A [March 2023]

Explanation:

The Bharat 6G Vision was released in March 2023, aiming at Indian leadership in 6G technology.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Li-Fi signals cannot pass through walls.
2. LEO satellite internet has lower latency than geostationary satellite internet.
3. NFC cannot use encryption.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Light cannot pass through walls and LEO satellites are much closer than GEO, giving lower latency; statement 3 is false.

11.  

Assertion (A): Visible light communication causes no electromagnetic interference with radio equipment.

Reason (R): Visible light communication uses light waves, not radio waves, to carry data.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

VLC carries data on visible light, not radio waves, so it does not interfere with radio equipment; R explains A.

12.  

In 1895 Jagadish Chandra Bose publicly demonstrated wireless signalling with microwaves in:

Correct Answer: B [Calcutta]

Explanation:

Bose, then at Presidency College, demonstrated wireless signalling with microwaves in Calcutta in 1895.

13.  

GLONASS belongs to:

Correct Answer: A [Russia]

Explanation:

GLONASS is Russia's global navigation satellite system, alongside the USA's GPS, the EU's Galileo and China's BeiDou.

14.  

In Centre for Public Interest Litigation v. Union of India (2012), the 2G spectrum case, the Supreme Court:

Correct Answer: B [cancelled 122 telecom licences and held that spectrum should be allotted fairly, as by auction]

Explanation:

The Court cancelled 122 licences issued in 2008 and favoured fair, transparent allotment such as auctions.

15.  

The 5G feature that creates separate virtual networks on one physical network is called:

Correct Answer: C [network slicing]

Explanation:

Network slicing divides one physical 5G network into separate virtual networks suited to different users and services.

16.  

India's first mobile phone call was made in 1995 in:

Correct Answer: D [Kolkata]

Explanation:

India's first mobile phone call was made in Kolkata on 31 July 1995.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. First mobile phone call in India
2. Setting up of TRAI
3. Setting up of C-DOT
4. Launch of 5G services in India

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [3-1-2-4]

Explanation:

1984, 1995, 1997, 2022.

18.  

Radar finds the distance of an object by:

Correct Answer: C [timing the echo of radio waves]

Explanation:

Radar sends out radio waves and times their echoes; half the round-trip time multiplied by the speed of light gives the distance.

19.  

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi commonly operate in the band of:

Correct Answer: A [2.4 GHz]

Explanation:

Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi use the licence-free 2.4 GHz band; Wi-Fi also uses the 5 GHz band.

20.  

Which institution was set up in 1984 to develop indigenous telecom technology?

Correct Answer: B [C-DOT]

Explanation:

C-DOT, the Centre for Development of Telematics, was set up in 1984 to develop indigenous digital exchanges and telecom technology.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2023

Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System?

Correct Answer: D [Japan]

Explanation:

Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS).

22.  
UPSC Prelims 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 ?

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

CCTV links, RFID and wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) all work over short distances at low power, so all three are short-range devices.

23.  
UPSC Prelims 2020

With reference to visible light communication (VLC) technology, which of the following statements are correct?

1. VLC uses electromagnetic spectrum wavelengths 375 to 780nm
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 answer using the code given below

Correct Answer: C [1, 3 and 4 only]

Explanation:

VLC is short-range.

24.  
UPSC Prelims 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.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [Neither 1 nor 2]

Explanation:

both are 4G technologies.

25.  
UPSC Prelims 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 wireless technology and is several times faster than 'WiFi'.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]

Explanation:

Li-Fi uses light for high-speed wireless data transmission and can be several times faster than Wi-Fi, so both statements hold.

26.  
UPSC Prelims 2016

'Project Loon', sometimes seen in the news, is related to:

Correct Answer: B [wireless communication technology]

Explanation:

internet through high-altitude balloons.

27.  
UPSC Prelims 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 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:

Correct Answer: C [1 and 3 only]

Explanation:

NFC works over a few centimetres.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U17 · Science and Technology (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-science-technology

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