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Q66 (IAS/2018) Science & Technology › ICT, AI, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech › Internet of Things Official Key

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 ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is **Option B: Internet of Things**.

The scenario describes Smart Farming's underlying technology - the Internet of Things (IoT) - which involves sensors, drones[1] and robots connected through internet which function automatically and semi-automatically performing operations and gathering data.[1] In the given scenario, multiple devices (smartphone, geyser, smart mirror, refrigerator, lights, fans, car) are interconnected through the internet, sensing their environment and communicating with each other to perform tasks automatically without human intervention.

IoT employs hardware and software to capture data and give actionable insights to manage operations, with data organized and accessible all the time from anywhere.[1] This perfectly matches the described scenario where devices monitor conditions (water levels, grocery stock, traffic), make decisions (switching off appliances, ordering groceries), and communicate information (sending meeting delay messages).

The other options are incorrect: Border Gateway Protocol is a routing protocol for internet backbone networks, Internet Protocol is a basic communication protocol for data transmission, and Virtual Private Network creates secure connections over public networks - none of these specifically describe the automated, interconnected smart device ecosystem presented in the question.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Smart Farming > p. 359
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. 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 …
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Applied Science' question. While standard books (like Vivek Singh) define IoT under specific sectors like Agriculture, the question tests general awareness of how technology integrates into daily life. The strategy is to study tech buzzwords by their 'function' (what they do for you), not just their engineering definition.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
In emerging communication technologies, which term best describes a scenario where household and vehicle devices (smartphone alarm, geyser, smart mirror, refrigerator auto-ordering, home automation, car traffic warnings) are networked to sense, communicate, and act autonomously?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Smart Farming > p. 359
Presence: 5/5
“• Smart Farming represents the application of modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into agriculture. Smart farming employs hardware (IoT) and software (SaaS i.e. Software as a service) to capture the data and give actionable insights to manage all the operations on the farm, both pre and post-harvest. The data is organized, accessible all the time and on every aspect of finance and field operations that can be monitored from anywhere in the world.• IoT (Internet of Things) in agriculture involves sensors, drones and robots connected through internet which function automatically and semi automatically performing operations and gathering data aimed at increasing efficiency and predictability.• Semi-automatic robots with arms can detect weeds and spray pesticides in the affected plants, saving up the plants as well as overall pesticide costs.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names and defines IoT use in agriculture: sensors, devices connected through internet that function automatically/semi‑automatically.
  • Describes hardware (IoT) and software integration to capture data and give actionable insights—matches sensing, communication, autonomous action.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Smart City (Intelligent City or Digital City) > p. 75
Presence: 4/5
“Te term 'smart city' is still a vague term as it has been defned diferently by diferent urban geographers and planners. According to the British urban planners, 'smart city' is a dynamic concept, but a process by which cities become more 'liveable' 'resilient' and 'enjoyable' and which respond quicker to new challenges. In the opinion of Smart City Council 'A smart city is one that has digital technology embedded across all city functions'.”
Why this source?
  • Defines 'smart city' as having digital technology embedded across city functions, implying networked devices across urban systems.
  • Conceptually links ubiquitous digital embedding to responsive, automated urban services consistent with device networking.
Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: GLOBALISATION AND THE INDIAN ECONOMY > Containers for transport of goods > p. 62
Presence: 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 this source?
  • Describes rapid developments in information and communication technology, computers and Internet entering almost every field—provides the enabling context for networked devices.
  • Mentions telecommunication and satellite facilitation which underpin connectivity required for autonomous device interactions.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves 'Scenario-based' Tech questions. They rarely ask 'What is X?'. Instead, they describe a morning routine or a farming practice and ask 'Which tech enables this?'. Study technology by its applications (Smart Homes, Precision Farming), not its specs.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. This is a fundamental concept covered in every basic Science & Tech compilation and Economy books (e.g., Vivek Singh, Ch 11, under 'Smart Farming').
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Awareness in the fields of IT and Computers (GS-3 Syllabus). Specifically, the shift from 'Internet of People' to 'Internet of Things'.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: If IoT is the answer, you must master its siblings: Edge Computing (processing data near the source), Fog Computing, Li-Fi (Light Fidelity), RFID vs NFC, Web 3.0, and 5G Network Slicing.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not memorize definitions in isolation. Visualize the ecosystem. If a question describes a 'scenario' of connected devices, map the flow: Sensors → Data → Internet → Action. This flow defines the term.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Internet of Things (IoT)
💡 The insight

Reference [7] explicitly uses IoT and describes sensors/devices connected via the internet that act automatically—this directly matches the scenario in the statement.

High‑yield: IoT is central to questions on digital infrastructure, automation and sectoral applications (agriculture, smart homes, transport). Mastering IoT helps answer interdisciplinary UPSC questions linking technology to governance, economy and rural/urban development.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Smart Farming > p. 359
🔗 Anchor: "In emerging communication technologies, which term best describes a scenario whe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Smart City / Digital City
💡 The insight

Reference [3] defines a 'smart city' as digital technology embedded across city functions, which covers networked household and vehicle devices as part of urban systems.

Important for urban governance and public policy topics: explains how ICT integration shapes service delivery, resilience and livability. Useful for questions on urban planning, e‑governance and technology‑driven public services.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 12: Major Crops and Cropping Patterns in India > Smart City (Intelligent City or Digital City) > p. 75
🔗 Anchor: "In emerging communication technologies, which term best describes a scenario whe..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Role of ICT and Satellite Communication in Connectivity
💡 The insight

References [1] and [10] describe the spread of Internet, telecommunications and satellite support—these are the infrastructure foundations enabling networked autonomous devices.

High relevance for fundamentals of communication infrastructure, digital divides and development policy. Knowing this helps link technology to economic and social outcomes in mains and prelims questions on infrastructure and ICT policy.

📚 Reading List :
  • Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: GLOBALISATION AND THE INDIAN ECONOMY > Containers for transport of goods > p. 62
  • FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Tertiary and Quaternary Activities > Telecommunications > p. 49
🔗 Anchor: "In emerging communication technologies, which term best describes a scenario whe..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Edge Computing. The scenario mentions a car warning about traffic. For a car to react instantly, it cannot wait for data to travel to a central cloud and back (latency). It must process data locally. This 'local processing' is Edge Computing—the necessary sibling to IoT.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Literal Translation' technique. The scenario lists physical objects (Geyser, Mirror, Fridge, Car) = 'Things'. They are communicating via a network = 'Internet'. The term 'Internet of Things' literally describes the paragraph. Options A (BGP) and C (IP) are invisible protocols, and D (VPN) is a privacy tool, not an automation system.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link this to Agriculture (GS-3 Mains). The Vivek Singh source explicitly links IoT to 'Smart Farming' (Precision Agriculture). Use this in Mains answers: 'IoT can reduce input costs by using soil sensors to automate irrigation, minimizing water wastage.'

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