Information & Communication Technology

Information & Communication Technology — PYQs

Figure 1: ICT concepts frequently tested in UPSC examinations.

1. Introduction — ICT Terms in News

• Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a rapidly evolving field with frequent UPSC Prelims questions.
• This section covers key ICT terms asked in previous year questions.

KNOWLEDGE NUGGET

• ICT: Technologies that provide access to information through telecommunications
• Key Areas: Networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, AI, blockchain, IoT, AR/VR

2. Information & Communication Technology — Previous Year Questions

2023 — OPEN-SOURCE DIGITAL PLATFORM

• A software framework freely available to everyone, allowing users to view, modify, and distribute the code.
• These platforms foster innovation and collaboration by providing a foundation for developing applications and services without proprietary constraints.

2022 — WEB 3.0 (Semantic Web / Decentralized Web)

• The next phase in the evolution of the World Wide Web.
• Leverages AI, machine learning, and blockchain technology to process data with greater context and understanding.
• Enables peer-to-peer (seller-to-buyer) transactions by eliminating the intermediary role; users will have ownership stakes in platforms and applications.

2022 — SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SaaS)

• A subscription-based software licensing model that enables users to access software over the Internet from external servers.
• Allows software and data access on any device with internet connectivity and a web browser without local installation.

2022 — PaaS (PLATFORM AS A SERVICE)

• A model in which a third-party provider hosts application development platforms and tools on its own infrastructure and makes them available to customers over the internet.

2022 — IaaS (INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE)

• A model in which a third-party provider hosts servers, storage and other virtualized computer resources and makes them available to customers over the internet.

2022/2020 — VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION (VLC) TECHNOLOGIES

• A wireless method that enables high-speed transmission of data with visible light (380-780 nm wavelength).
• Data is transmitted by modulating the intensity of light given off by a light source.
• Light Emitting Diodes (LED) are used as the primary light source in VLC systems.

2022 — SHORT RANGE DEVICES

• Radio devices that offer a low risk of interference with other radio services, usually because their transmitted power, and hence their range, is low.

2022 — QUBIT (Quantum Bit)

• The fundamental unit of quantum information, analogous to a bit in classical computing.
• Unlike a bit, which can be 0 or 1, a qubit can exist simultaneously in a state of 0, 1, or both, leveraging quantum superposition to perform complex computations efficiently.

2022 — QUANTUM COMPUTING

• Harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, entanglement and interference to process information.
• Uses qubits as their fundamental unit of information and solves complex problems in optimization, material science, and cryptography at unprecedented speeds.

2022 — CLOUD SERVICES

• Delivery of various computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud").
• Includes on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid expansion, and measured service.

2022 — RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)

• A technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.
• Two basic parts: tags and readers.
• Example: One Nation One Tag FASTag Scheme.

2022 — WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK (WLAN)

• A group of colocated computers or other devices that form a network based on radio transmissions rather than wired connections.
• Supports high-speed data exchange, network connectivity without physical cables, and facilitates secure, encrypted communications.

2020 — PUBLIC KEY INFRASTRUCTURE (PKI)

• A framework that secures communications between parties over the internet through the use of a pair of cryptographic keys: a public key and a private key.
• Enables secure data transmission, authentication, digital signing, and encryption, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Fundamental in managing digital certificates for secure email, electronic commerce, and confidential communications.

2019 — LTE (LONG-TERM EVOLUTION)

• A standard for wireless broadband communication, designed to increase the capacity and speed of mobile telephone networks.
• Provides high throughput, reduced latency, improved spectral efficiency, and enhanced support for mobile devices as compared to 3G technology.
• Although LTE is commonly referred to as 4G LTE, LTE is technically slower than 4G but still faster than normal 3G. LTE may also be called 3.95G.
• LTE speeds reach 100 Mbps, true 4G offers speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

2019 — VoLTE (VOICE OVER LONG-TERM EVOLUTION)

• A technology that allows voice communication and data services to be carried over LTE networks.
• Provides superior call quality, reduced call setup times, and the ability to use voice and high-speed data simultaneously.

2019 — AUGMENTED REALITY (AR)

• A technology that superimposes computer-generated information, such as images, sounds, or text, onto the real world, enhancing one's perception of reality.

2019 — VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)

• A technology that creates a simulated environment, immersing users in a digital landscape that replaces their real-world surroundings.

2019 — WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

• A category of electronic devices that can be worn as accessories, embedded in clothing, implanted in the user's body, or even tattooed on the skin.
• Examples: Sports watches, Fitness Trackers, head-mounted displays, smart jewelry, etc.

2018 — BORDER GATEWAY PROTOCOL (BGP)

• The principal routing protocol used to facilitate data exchange on the internet, enabling different networks, or autonomous systems, to communicate with each other.
• Determines the best paths for data transmission.
• Applications: Ensuring internet stability, managing route policies for efficient data flow, and enhancing network security by controlling path selection and traffic flow.

2018 — INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)

• Refers to billions of physical devices worldwide connected to the Internet, collecting and sharing data.

2018/2011 — VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK (VPN)

• An encrypted connection over the Internet from a device to a network.
• Creates a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts personal data, masks IP addresses, and lets users sidestep website blocks and firewalls on the internet.
• Applications: Secure access to corporate networks remotely, safe public Wi-Fi use, bypassing geo-restrictions on content, and protecting sensitive data from cyber threats.

2018 — INTERNET PROTOCOL (IP)

• A set of rules governing the format of data sent over the internet or local networks.
• It segments data into packets, each tagged with IP information to guide them through routers based on the IP address assigned to every online device or domain.
• Ensures data delivery to the correct location.

2016 — LiFi (LIGHT-FIDELITY)

• A wireless communication technology that uses light waves instead of radio frequencies to transmit data.
• Offers high-speed internet access through LED light bulbs, with the potential for faster and more secure data transmission than traditional WiFi.
• Unique features include use in electromagnetic sensitive areas, underwater communication, and its capacity for data density.

2015 — NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) TECHNOLOGY

• The set of protocols that enables electronic devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching the devices together or bringing them into proximity to a distance of typically 10 cm or less.

2014 — BIOMETRIC

• The technology-based method of identifying an individual based on unique physiological or behavioral characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial patterns, iris or voice recognition.
• Enhances security and access control systems by providing a high level of accuracy in verifying identities.
• Widely applied in law enforcement, secure access, and financial transactions.

2011 — BLUETOOTH

• A wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength UHF radio waves) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security.
• Application: Connecting smartphones, speakers, headphones, and computers, facilitating hands-free calling, wireless audio streaming, and data transfer.

3. Important Terms in News

ADVANCED PERSISTENT THREAT (APT)

• Describes the most capable offensive cyber actors, often nation-states, that are able to maintain sustained campaigns against even the most hardened targets.

ADWARE

• Pop-up advertisements or banners that show up when visiting certain internet sites.

BIOCOMPUTERS

• Involve coupling of lab-grown brain cultures with real-world devices to harness brain power and investigate human cognition, learning, and neurological disorders.
• Bio-computers would be built by merging brain organoids with machine learning.

BRAINWARE

• Combination of real human brain tissue with electronics to make a new kind of biocomputer.

BLUEBUGGING

• A perpetrator illicitly taps into a Bluetooth device, commandeering capabilities such as calling, messaging, and data theft.
• Grants full access and control of the device.

BLUEJACKING

• An attacker broadcasts unwelcome messages or ads to nearby Bluetooth devices, typically for social engineering or promotional purposes.
• Grants limited access to send messages or ads.

BLUESNARFING

• An intruder covertly breaches a Bluetooth device to extract contacts, emails, and additional information without the owner's approval.
• Grants full access to the device's data.

COOKIES

• Text files with small information like login details that identify computers on the internet and enhance web browsing experience by recognizing specific users.
• India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 mandates explicit user consent for websites to collect or process personal data via cookies.
• Cookies help in authentication, ensuring personalized experience, analytics, and marketing.

DARK WEB (DARKNET)

• An encrypted portion of the internet not visible to the general public via a traditional search engine such as Google.
• Constitutes a large part of illegal activity on the internet. To a lesser extent, it is also used for lawful reasons by legitimate users such as those who want to protect the privacy of certain information.

DARK PATTERNS

• Deceptive design choices on websites or apps intended to manipulate users into taking unintended actions, often benefiting the service provider at the user's expense.
• Endanger the experience of Internet users and make them more vulnerable to financial and data exploitation by Big Tech firms.
• Confuse users, introduce online obstacles, make simple tasks time-consuming, have users sign up for unwanted services/products.
• Example: "Baseless" countdowns for online deals; Multi-step cancellation process; Making cancellation buttons hard to find.

DENIAL-OF-SERVICE (DoS) ATTACK

• A coordinated attack that aims to overwhelm the resources of a targeted system to crash that system.

DEEP NEURAL NETWORK

• Deep learning neural networks, or artificial neural networks, attempt to mimic the human brain through a combination of data inputs, weights, and biases.
• Comprises numerous small nodes akin to brain neurons.
• When hit by a stimulus, the system activates processes in these nodes, which are generally grouped into layers.

DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY

• Refers to the ability to exercise control over digital assets, such as data, content or digital infrastructure, or over the use of those assets.
• Represents a regulated, secure, and values-based digital realm aimed at addressing complex issues around individual rights, security, legal authority, and fair economic competition.

EDGE COMPUTING

• The process of bringing information storage and computing abilities closer to the devices that produce that information and the users who consume it.
• Processes data near where it's collected, like on a smartphone or a local network device, reducing delay and saving bandwidth.

END-TO-END ENCRYPTION (E2EE)

• Guarantees that only the intended recipient, with a unique decryption key for each message, can decipher the message.
• Even the service provider can't decrypt it.
• Offered by WhatsApp, Signal, Apple's iMessage, and FaceTime by default.

FIREWALL

• A security system that uses hardware and/or software mechanisms to prevent unauthorized users from accessing an organization's internal computer network.

FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (Industry 4.0)

• Refers to the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector driven by disruptive trends, including the rise of data and connectivity, cyber-physical systems, human-machine interaction, and improvements in robotics.

GPS SPOOFING

• Involves overriding a device's actual location by broadcasting false GPS signals with a radio transmitter, causing nearby GPS receivers to show incorrect locations.
• GPS spoofing can put aircraft off its intended course and result in intrusion or collision.

GATEKEEPERS

• Companies to face the highest level of scrutiny under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the EU.
• Tech companies namely Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft were named as Gatekeepers by the EU.

LARGE LANGUAGE MODEL (LLM)

• An advanced artificial intelligence mechanism trained on vast datasets to comprehend, generate, translate, or summarize human language.
• Utilizes deep learning in natural language processing and generation.
• Initiatives like Bhasini focus on AI-powered translation for local languages, while models such as Indic Transliterate and Indic Natural Language Generation enhance script conversion and content creation in multiple Indian languages.

MACHINE-TO-MACHINE (M2M) COMMUNICATION

• Involves direct communication between devices via any communication route, including wired and wireless.

METADATA

• Amassed data that is used to describe large amounts of other Internet data.

METAVERSE

• The next evolution in social connection and the successor to the mobile internet.
• Like the internet, the metaverse will help you connect with people when you aren't physically in the same place and get us even closer to that feeling of being together in person.

MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION (MFA)

• A process for allowing access that goes beyond the mere use of a username and password.
• MFA may include at least three tests:
  • Something you know
  • Something you have
  • Something you are

ORGAN ON CHIP

• Microfluidic devices lined with living human cells for drug development, disease modeling, and personalized medicine.
• Used to minimise the environment in human organs, including blood flow and breathing movements, serving as synthetic environments in which to test new drugs.

SPAMOUFLAGE

• An online Chinese spam operation which uses multiple accounts across all major social media platforms to spread disinformation and harass individuals critical of China.
• Example: Meta has removed thousands of Facebook accounts linked to the 'Spamouflage' campaign.

SMISHING (SMS Phishing)

• A phishing cybersecurity attack carried out over mobile text messaging.
• Victims are deceived into giving sensitive information to a disguised attacker.

SECURITY SOCKETS LAYER (SSL) CERTIFICATES

• Digital certificates that provide a secure and encrypted connection between a user's web browser and a website's server.

SATELLITE INTERNET

• Offers internet connectivity by wirelessly transmitting information through a satellite network in space.
• Serves as a reliable backup during land-based outages, such as post-disaster scenarios, and is suitable for connecting moving vehicles like aircraft, UAVs, ships, and trains.

SPATIAL COMPUTING

• An overarching term for AR, MR, and VR, along with other immersive experiences such as 3D movies and telepresence.

EXTENDED REALITY (XR)

• Refers to all real-and-virtual combined environments generated by computer technology and wearables.
• Includes representative forms such as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), etc.

MIXED REALITY (MR)

• A blend of virtual reality and augmented reality, offering a seamless and immersive experience where users can interact with both the real and digital worlds.
• Enables real-time interaction with virtual objects through gestures, voice commands, or other input methods.
• Fosters immersion by making users feel like they're interacting with the virtual world as if it were real.
• Examples: Microsoft HoloLens, Magic Leap One, Oculus Quest, Meta Quest.

PHISHING

• A method of trying to gather personal information using deceptive emails and websites.
• Phishing attacks are often successful because they mimic legitimate communications from trusted entities or groups such as false emails from a bank or a retail website.

SOFTWARE AS MEDICAL DEVICES (SaMD)

• Refers to software that is intended to be used for medical purposes without being part of a physical medical device.
• Operates on general-purpose computing platforms like smartphones, tablets, or personal computers.
• Performs its function independently of any medical equipment or hardware.
• Example: Mobile Electrocardiogram (ECG).

SOFTWARE IN MEDICAL DEVICES (SiMD)

• Refers to software that is incorporated into a medical device to control its performance or provide specific functions.
• Operates as an integral component of a physical medical device, contributing to its functionality and performance.
• Cannot be used independently and relies on the associated medical device to perform its intended purpose.
• Example: Any software that is run or helps run things like an MRI, EKG, EHR, X-ray, insulin pump.

RANSOMWARE

• A type of malware (malicious software) which encrypts all the data on a PC or mobile device, blocking the data owner's access to it.
• After the infection happens, the victim receives a message that tells him/her that a certain amount of money must be paid (usually in Bitcoins) in order to get the decryption key.

TROJAN HORSE

• A computer program that appears to have a useful function, but also has a hidden and potentially malicious function that evades security mechanisms, sometimes by exploiting legitimate authorizations of a system entity that invokes the program.

WORM

• A computer program that can run independently, can propagate a complete working version of itself onto other hosts on a network, and may consume computer resources destructively.

ZERO-CLICK ATTACK

• Takes advantage of vulnerabilities in software to carry out an attack without user interaction.
• Example: Pegasus spyware.

ZERO-DAY (0DAY) EXPLOIT

• A cyber attack targeting a software vulnerability which is unknown to the software vendor or to antivirus vendors.
• The attacker spots the software vulnerability before any parties interested in mitigating it, quickly creates an exploit, and uses it for an attack.

4. Summary: ICT PYQs at a Glance

Year	Term	Key Description
2023	Open-Source Digital Platform	Freely available software framework; users can view, modify, distribute code
2022	Web 3.0	Semantic/Decentralized Web; AI, ML, blockchain; peer-to-peer transactions
2022	SaaS / PaaS / IaaS	Cloud service models — Software, Platform, Infrastructure as a Service
2022/2020	Visible Light Communication (VLC)	Wireless data transmission using visible light (LED)
2022	Qubit / Quantum Computing	Quantum bit; superposition, entanglement; solves complex problems
2022	RFID	Electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags; FASTag
2020	Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)	Cryptographic keys (public/private) for secure communication
2019	LTE / VoLTE	4G wireless broadband; voice over LTE networks
2019	AR / VR	Augmented Reality (superimposes digital info) / Virtual Reality (simulated environment)
2018	Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)	Principal routing protocol for data exchange on internet
2018	IoT	Billions of physical devices connected to internet, collecting and sharing data
2018/2011	VPN	Encrypted connection; point-to-point tunnel; masks IP addresses
2016	LiFi	Wireless communication using light waves (LED)
2015	NFC	Radio communication between devices within 10 cm
2014	Biometric	Identification based on physiological/behavioral characteristics
2011	Bluetooth	Wireless data exchange over short distances (UHF radio waves)

Key Takeaways for UPSC

• Web 3.0: Semantic/Decentralized Web — AI, ML, Blockchain
• Quantum Computing: Uses qubits — superposition, entanglement
• LiFi: Wireless communication using light waves (LED)
• VPN: Encrypted connection — point-to-point tunnel
• PKI: Public/Private cryptographic keys for secure communication
• RFID: Electromagnetic fields for identification — FASTag
• AR/VR/MR/XR: Immersive technologies — extended reality umbrella
• Zero-Day Exploit: Attack on unknown software vulnerability
• Dark Patterns: Deceptive design choices to manipulate users
• SaMD vs SiMD: Software as Medical Device vs Software in Medical Device

High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (ICT)

Q1. Web 3.0 is also known as:

Correct Answer: B. Web 3.0 is also called the "Semantic Web" or "Decentralized Web" and leverages AI, machine learning, and blockchain technology.

Q2. A qubit is the fundamental unit of:

Correct Answer: B. A qubit, or quantum bit, is the fundamental unit of quantum information, analogous to a bit in classical computing. It can exist in a state of 0, 1, or both simultaneously.

Q3. LiFi technology uses which medium for data transmission?

Correct Answer: B. LiFi (Light-Fidelity) is a wireless communication technology that uses light waves instead of radio frequencies to transmit data, offering high-speed internet access through LED light bulbs.

Q4. Which technology is used in FASTag for automatic toll collection?

Correct Answer: B. FASTag uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects.

Q5. What is the maximum distance for Near Field Communication (NFC)?

Correct Answer: C. NFC enables electronic devices to establish radio communication with each other by bringing them into proximity to a distance of typically 10 cm or less.

Q6. Which cyber attack targets a software vulnerability unknown to the software vendor?

Correct Answer: B. A Zero-Day (0day) Exploit is a cyber attack targeting a software vulnerability which is unknown to the software vendor or to antivirus vendors.

Q7. End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) ensures that:

Correct Answer: B. End-to-End Encryption guarantees that only the intended recipient, with a unique decryption key for each message, can decipher the message. Even the service provider can't decrypt it.

Q8. Which term refers to deceptive design choices on websites to manipulate users?

Correct Answer: C. Dark Patterns are deceptive design choices on websites or apps intended to manipulate users into taking unintended actions, often benefiting the service provider at the user's expense.

Q9. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the EU designates certain companies as:

Correct Answer: B. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the EU designates certain companies as Gatekeepers. Apple, Amazon, Alphabet, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft were named as Gatekeepers.

Q10. What does VoIP (Voice over IP) enable?

Correct Answer: B. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) enables voice communication over IP networks, allowing phone calls to be made over the internet rather than traditional phone lines.

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