Q32 (IAS/2015) Science & Technology › ICT, AI, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech › Wireless communication technologies Official Key

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.

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: C

Explanation

The correct answer is option C (statements 1 and 3 only).

**Statement 1 is correct:** NFC is a technology for contactless data exchange in near-field ranges and is based on high-frequency RFID technology (13.56 MHz)[1], and near-field communication transmits data through electromagnetic radio fields to enable two devices to communicate with each other[2].

**Statement 2 is incorrect:** NFC is explicitly designed for very short-range communication, not for distances of a meter. The distance is often no more than four centimeters[3], and the transmission range of NFC will typically be 10 centimeters but varies significantly depending on the device used[4]. This is far less than one meter.

**Statement 3 is correct:** Mobile security solutions protect NFC transactions by encrypting data transmission between devices and ensuring secure authentication protocols[5], confirming that NFC can indeed use encryption for sensitive information.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option C the right answer.

Sources

[2] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/near-field-communication-nfc.asp
[5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11644477/

How others answered

Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.

Community Performance

Out of everyone who attempted this question.

25%

got it right

Web / Current Affairs

Online pages / news items supporting the statement

Web source

Presence: 5/5

"It is a technology for contactless data exchange in near-field ranges and is based on high-frequency RFID technology (13.56 MHz)."

Why this source?

Explicitly labels NFC as 'contactless' and describes it as contactless data exchange.
Links NFC to RFID-based, near-field contactless authentication and data exchange, directly matching the statement.

Web source

Presence: 4/5

"Near-field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless technology that makes your smartphone, tablet, wearables, payment cards, and other devices even smarter."

Why this source?

Defines NFC as a short-range wireless technology used to transfer information between devices with a single touch.
Describes NFC as transmitting data through electromagnetic radio fields, supporting a contactless interpretation.

Web source

Presence: 4/5

"Near Field Communication, commonly abbreviated as NFC, is defined as a wireless personal area network (PAN) technology that connects two compatible devices in very close proximity to each other,"

Why this source?

Defines NFC as a wireless personal area network (PAN) technology connecting two devices in very close proximity.
Emphasizes short-range, wireless communication between compatible devices—consistent with contactless operation.

Indirect textbook clues (5)

How books hint at the answer

Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: GLOBALISATION AND THE INDIAN ECONOMY > Containers for transport of goods > p. 62

Strength: 3/5

“Even more remarkable have been the developments in information and communication technology. In recent times, technology in the areas of telecommunications, computers, Internet has been changing rapidly. Telecommunication facilities (telegraph, telephone including mobile phones, fax) are used to contact one another around the world, to access information instantly, and to communicate from remote areas. This has been facilitated by satellite communication devices. As you would be aware, computers have now entered almost every field of activity. You might have also ventured into the amazing world of internet, where you can obtain and share information on almost anything you want to know.”

Why relevant

Mentions rapid developments in information and communication technology and lists mobile phones as means to 'contact one another' and access information.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the basic fact that many modern mobile features (like payments or short-range data exchange) rely on wireless/contactless interfaces to test if NFC fits that role.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 68

Strength: 4/5

“Today Internet is the largest electronic network on the planet connecting about 1,000 million people in more than 100 countries. Satellites touch human lives in many ways. Every time you use a cell phone to call a friend, send an SMS or watch a popular programme on cable television. You are using satellite communication. Communication through satellites emerged as a new area in communication technology since the 1970s after U.S.A. and former U.S.S.R. pioneered space research. Artificial satellites, now, are successfully deployed in the earth's orbit to connect even the remote corners of the globe with limited onsite verification. These have rendered the unit cost and time of communication invariant in terms of distance.”

Why relevant

Explains satellite and cell-phone use as examples of communication technologies that enable contactless exchange (calls, SMS) without physical transport of messages.

How to extend

One can generalize that technologies enabling communication without physical contact include short-range wireless methods, so the student could check whether NFC is a short-range wireless standard.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Tertiary and Quaternary Activities > Telecommunications > p. 49

Strength: 4/5

“The use of telecommunications is linked to the development of modern technology. It has revolutionised communications because of the speed with which messages are sent. The time reduced is from weeks to minutes. Besides, the recent advancements like mobile telephony have made communications direct and instantaneous at any time and from anywhere. The telegraph, morse code and telex have almost become things of the past. Radio and television also help to relay news, pictures, and telephone calls to vast audiences around the world and hence they are termed as mass media. They are vital for advertising and entertainment. Newspapers are able to cover events in all corners of the world.”

Why relevant

States that mobile telephony and related advancements revolutionised communication by making messages direct and instantaneous from anywhere.

How to extend

Use the pattern that modern mobile-related tech often employs wireless protocols; a student can check whether NFC is a wireless protocol used by mobile devices for direct exchanges.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Tertiary and Quaternary Activities > Communication > p. 48

Strength: 4/5

“Communication services involve the transmission of words and messages, facts and ideas. The invention of writing preserved messages and helped to make communication dependent on means of transport. These were actually carried by hand, animals, boat, road, rail and air. That is why all forms of transport are also referred to as lines of communication. Where the transport network is efficient, communications are easily disseminated. Certain developments, such as mobile telephony and satellites, have made communications independent of transport. All forms are not fully disassociated because of the cheapness of the older systems. Thus, very 48 Fundamentals of Human Geography”

Why relevant

Notes that developments like mobile telephony and satellites made communications independent of transport, highlighting a class of communication that is non-physical/contactless.

How to extend

From this rule, a student could categorize NFC as potentially part of non-transport-dependent (i.e., contactless/wireless) communications and then verify NFC's operational characteristics (range, medium).

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Factors of Production > Technology: An Enabler of Production > p. 176

Strength: 3/5

“Technology means the application of scientific knowledge. For example, a camera converts light into electrical signals to create a digital image. Any production-related activity uses some form of technology. Some early forms of technology that have existed since ancient times are still in use today. Today, newer and advanced technological developments are applied in various areas, making our lives easier. For example, payments can be made at the click of a button through UPI (Unified Payments Interface); farmers can get advance weather updates; Global Positioning Systems (GPS) can discover the shortest routes for transporting goods, and so on. Fig. 7.19.”

Why relevant

Gives an example of digital payments (UPI) as modern technological conveniences linked to mobile and ICT.

How to extend

Since NFC is commonly used for mobile payments in practice, a student could connect the example of mobile-based payments to investigate whether NFC is one of the contactless methods enabling such payments.

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 answer using the code given below :

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With reference to 'Direct Air Capture', an emerging technology, which of the following statements is/are correct? I. It can be used as a way of carbon sequestration. II. It can be a valuable approach for plastic production and in food processing. III. In aviation, it can be a source of carbon for combining with hydrogen to create synthetic low-carbon fuel. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Consider the following statements: 1. Smart Card is a plastic card with an embedded microchip. 2. Digital technology is primarily used with new physical communication medium such as satellite and fibre optics transmission. 3. A digital library is a collection of documents in an organised electronic form available on the Internet only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Explanation

PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

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.