Public Section Preview
Predicted Questions with Model Answers
Q1 (5 marks — 50 words): What is blockchain? State three applications beyond cryptocurrency.
Model Answer:
Blockchain is a distributed ledger — a chain of cryptographically linked blocks containing transaction records, replicated across a peer-to-peer network. Properties: decentralised (no single authority), immutable (records cannot be altered), transparent. Applications beyond cryptocurrency: (1) Land records — Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh piloting blockchain land registries to prevent tampering; (2) Supply chain — IBM Food Trust + Walmart trace food provenance in 2.2 seconds; (3) Healthcare — secure sharing of patient records across hospitals without single-point-of-failure risk.
Q2 (5 marks — 50 words): Differentiate between the Digital Rupee (e₹) and cryptocurrency. What is a CBDC?
Model Answer:
CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) is a digital form of a country's fiat currency, issued by the central bank — legal tender. India's Digital Rupee (e₹), launched by RBI, has two variants: Wholesale e₹ (November 1, 2022) for interbank settlement; Retail e₹ (December 1, 2022) for citizens. Unlike cryptocurrency (decentralised, no issuer, volatile, not legal tender), e₹ is centralised, issued by RBI, stable in value, and legally recognised for all transactions in India.
Q3 (5 marks — 50 words): What is edge computing? How does it differ from cloud computing and why is it needed?
Model Answer:
Edge computing processes data at or near its source (IoT device, local server) rather than in distant cloud data centres. Cloud computing centralises processing in remote data centres with ~50–200 ms latency. Edge computing latency: < 5 ms. Needed for: (1) Autonomous vehicles — split-second braking decisions cannot wait for cloud round-trip; (2) Industrial robots — real-time control in factories; (3) Remote surgery (5G + edge) — surgeon controls robot with sub-millisecond response; (4) Data privacy — sensitive medical/factory data processed locally, not transmitted to cloud.
Q4 (5 marks — 50 words): What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? State three applications with examples.
Model Answer:
IoT (Internet of Things) is the network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and internet connectivity to collect and exchange data. By 2025, ~75 billion IoT devices globally. Applications: (1) Smart Agriculture — soil moisture sensors trigger irrigation automatically, reducing water use by 30%; (2) Healthcare — wearable ECG monitors transmit real-time heart data to doctors, enabling remote cardiac monitoring; (3) Smart City — Pune's smart grid monitors energy consumption in real time, reducing waste and enabling dynamic pricing.
Q5 (5 marks — 50 words): What is 5G? State its key features and three use cases different from 4G.
Model Answer:
5G is the 5th generation mobile network. India launched commercially on 13 October 2022 (Airtel + Jio). Key features: peak speed 20 Gbps (4G: 1 Gbps), latency < 1 ms (4G: 30–50 ms), connectivity for 1 million devices/km². Use cases unique to 5G: (1) Autonomous vehicles — real-time vehicle-to-vehicle communication for collision avoidance; (2) Remote surgery — surgeon operates robot with sub-millisecond response from another city; (3) Massive IoT — smart cities with millions of sensors (traffic, pollution, energy) operating simultaneously.
Q6 (5 marks — 50 words): What are the key provisions of India's IT Rules 2021 regarding social media and OTT platforms?
Model Answer:
IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 under the IT Act 2000 have two key parts: (1) Social media intermediaries with > 5 million users (e.g., WhatsApp, Facebook) must appoint a Chief Compliance Officer, Nodal Officer, and Grievance Officer (all India residents); publish monthly compliance reports; trace first originator of messages if legally required. (2) OTT platforms must self-classify content (U/U-A/A ratings); establish 3-tier grievance redressal; the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has oversight.