Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q66 (IAS/2022) Science & Technology › ICT, AI, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech › Wireless communication technologies Official Key

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 ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 4 (1, 2 and 3). Short-range devices (SRDs) are communication technologies designed to transmit data over limited distances with low power consumption and minimal interference risk.

  • Closed-circuit Television (CCTV): While the cameras themselves capture video, the communication link between the camera and the monitor/recorder is typically confined to a specific building or site, qualifying it as a short-range application.
  • Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): This technology uses electromagnetic fields to identify and track tags attached to objects. Its operational range is extremely short, varying from a few centimeters to a few meters.
  • Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN): Technologies like Wi-Fi operate within a restricted range (typically 20–100 meters) to provide local connectivity, fitting the definition of short-range wireless communication.

Since all three technologies operate within localized, restricted distances rather than long-range or global scales, Option 4 is the most accurate classification.

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.
50%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full view
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. Consider the following communication technologies : 1. Closed-circuit Television 2. Radio Frequency Identification 3. Wireless Local A…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 3.3/10

This question is less about memorizing a government list of 'Short Range Devices' and more about applying common sense to the definitions. 'Closed-Circuit' and 'Local Area' literally imply limited range. Don't over-research technical manuals; focus on the functional scope (Local vs. Global) of the technology.

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
Is Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) considered a short-range communication device/technology?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Television (T.V.) > p. 83
Strength: 4/5
“Television broadcasting has emerged as the most effective audio-visual medium for disseminating information and educating masses. Initially, the T.V. services were limited only to the National Capital where it began in 1959. After 1972, several other centres became operational. In 1976, TV was delinked from All India Radio (AIR) and got a separate identity”
Why relevant

This snippet explains television as an audio‑visual broadcasting medium and emphasises its role as mass communication via broadcast transmitters.

How to extend

A student could contrast broadcast TV's wide-area transmission infrastructure with CCTV's closed/local distribution to infer CCTV is not a broadcast (hence more likely short‑range/local).

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

Defines telecommunications by the speed and range of message transmission and distinguishes mass media (radio/TV) from other services.

How to extend

Using this rule, a student can ask whether CCTV transmits to broad audiences (mass media) or to limited/local monitors, and treat the latter as short‑range telecom use.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > COMMUNICATIONS > p. 310
Strength: 3/5
“the range of distance over which mail of all kinds could be delivered in comparatively good time and at a very small cost in the form of stamps. With the advent of telecommunications, messages and news could be transmitted almost instantaneously simply by the use of telegraphs, telephones, cable or the telex system, by which written messages sent out from one end of the world can be typed out at the other end by a teleprinter. The development of radio, later television, and more recently space satellites marks the climax of Man's effort in the science of telecommunications. News read out at the BBC, London can be heard simultaneously in any part of the globe by tuning to the right wave-length on the radio sets.”
Why relevant

Describes development of communications from telegraph/telephone to radio/television and highlights differences in transmission reach (global radio/TV reception).

How to extend

A student could use the pattern that technologies labelled 'broadcast' reach large/global audiences, whereas systems lacking broadcast infrastructure (like closed circuits) imply limited range.

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 communication as enabling long‑distance/global connectivity and making distance irrelevant for some services.

How to extend

By contrasting satellite/long‑haul systems with local camera‑to‑monitor links, a student can infer CCTV (if lacking satellite/long‑haul links) is short‑range.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Communication Sector > p. 432
Strength: 4/5
“The communication service is defined as the transmission of messages, particularly sending and receiving information. Development of satellite communication and mobile technologies gives prominence to this sector.”
Why relevant

Gives a compact definition of 'communication service' as transmission of messages and notes the prominence of satellite and mobile technologies in the sector.

How to extend

A student can use this definition to categorize CCTV by checking its transmission method (local wired/wireless vs. satellite/mobile) to judge whether it fits 'short‑range'.

Statement 2
Are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems considered short-range communication devices/technologies?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"NFC is an offshoot of radio-frequency identification (RFID) with the exception that NFC is designed for use by devices within close proximity to each other. NFC requires 4 cm or less to initiate the connection with the tag."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links NFC to RFID and states NFC is designed for very close proximity, indicating that at least some RFID-derived technologies are short-range.
  • Gives a concrete short-range distance (4 cm) for NFC, showing RFID can encompass very short-range contactless communication.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology that enables contactless transmission of information via radio waves."
Why this source?
  • Defines RFID as a technology that enables contactless transmission of information via radio waves, a form commonly associated with short-range wireless communication.
  • Lists use cases like personal identification and access control, which typically use short-range contactless communication.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"RFID, most RFID systems (especially UHF and long-range types) are **not** NFC."
Why this source?
  • Notes that many RFID systems (especially UHF and long-range types) are not NFC, indicating variability in RFID ranges and that some RFID variants are long-range while others (like NFC) are short-range.
  • Provides the nuance that RFID covers both short-range (NFC) and longer-range systems, so RFID can be considered short-range in some forms but not universally.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Why Are Microwaves And Some Radio Waves Not Reflected By The Ionosphere? > p. 278
Strength: 4/5
“• Radio waves with frequencies more than the critical frequency of the ionosphere cannot be used for communication using skywave propagation. This is because the refractive index of the ionosphere becomes very high for frequencies higher than the critical frequency.• High-frequency electromagnetic waves like microwaves cannot be transmitted as ground waves due to high energy losses. Moreover, these waves are absorbed by the ionosphere hence they cannot be transmitted via skywave propagation.”
Why relevant

Explains that high-frequency waves (microwaves) are not reflected by the ionosphere and suffer ground-wave losses, implying higher-frequency radio links tend to be limited to line-of-sight/shorter-range propagation.

How to extend

A student could check typical RFID operating frequencies (e.g., LF/HF/UHF bands) and note that if they lie above ionospheric reflection ranges and rely on near-field/line-of-sight, they are likely short-range.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Explanation: > p. 279
Strength: 4/5
“• Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. They range from the length of a football to larger than our planet. The ionosphere contains a high proportion of free electrons. High Frequency (HF) radio waves, whose frequency is below the critical frequency of the ionosphere, hit the free electrons in the ionosphere causing them to vibrate, and the vibrating electrons re-radiate the energy back down at the same frequency.• Hence, it's not the long or short wavelength that matters. The wavelength (inversely proportional to frequency of the wave) must be in a suitable range for the waves to be reflected by the ionosphere.”
Why relevant

States the rule that whether radio waves are reflected by the ionosphere depends on frequency (wavelength), so propagation mode (long-range skywave vs local) depends on frequency.

How to extend

Compare RFID frequency bands to the frequencies that support skywave propagation; if RFID bands are outside those, expect short-range/local communication.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 5: Earths Magnetic Field (Geomagnetic Field) > Effects of Geomagnetic Storms > p. 68
Strength: 3/5
“• The ionosphere gets heated & distorted, which means that long-range radio communication that is dependent upon sub-ionospheric reflection can be difficult.• Ionospheric expansion can increase satellite drag, and it may become difficult to control their orbits.• Geomagnetic storms disrupt satellite communication systems like GPS.• Astronauts would face high radiation levels.• Electric power grids would see a high increase in voltage that would cause blackouts.”
Why relevant

Notes that ionospheric effects disrupt long-range radio communication that depends on sub‑ionospheric reflection, distinguishing long-range radio modes from those that do not use the ionosphere.

How to extend

Use this to infer that systems not relying on ionospheric reflection (e.g., near-field RFID) are likely short-range and more localised.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 68
Strength: 3/5
“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

Describes satellite communication and mobile phones as technologies that enable global/long-range connectivity, implicitly contrasting with other radio uses that are local or ground‑based.

How to extend

A student can contrast RFID with satellite/mobile tech: if RFID does not use satellites or wide-area mobile networks, it's plausibly short-range.

FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Tertiary and Quaternary Activities > Telecommunications > p. 49
Strength: 2/5
“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

Highlights that radio and television relay to vast audiences (mass media) and that mobile telephony enables wide-area direct communications, implying a spectrum of radio uses from wide-area to local.

How to extend

Recognise RFID as one point on that spectrum; by checking how RFID is actually deployed (local tags/readers vs networked cellular/satellite), one can judge it as short-range.

Statement 3
Are Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN / Wi‑Fi) systems considered short-range communication devices/technologies?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Public Wi-Fi Hotspots > p. 463
Presence: 4/5
“• Public Wi-Fi hotspots ensure last-mile delivery of broadband to users and are much easier ò to scale than adding new mobile towers. It bolsters connectivity inside buildings, airports, etc., and it allows for offloading from telecom networks to ease congestion.• Wi-Fi networks offer affordable, scalable and versatile technologies that can facilitate the ۰ spread of Internet access in rural and urban areas.• Till August 2019, more than 463 public Wi-Fi hotspots were operational across India.”
Why this source?
  • Describes public Wi‑Fi hotspots delivering last‑mile broadband and bolstering connectivity inside buildings and airports — implying localized coverage.
  • Mentions Wi‑Fi as scalable, affordable technology for spreading Internet access in rural and urban areas, consistent with local hotspot deployment.
  • Notes Wi‑Fi can offload traffic from wider telecom networks, a role typical of short‑range/local access technologies.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC tests technologies by their 'Functional Constraints' rather than just their specs. They grouped these three not because they use the same physics, but because they serve 'localized' purposes unlike Satellite or Broadcast Radio.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Logic-based Sitter. While CCTV seems like an outlier (often wired), the 'Closed' nature defines its range limitation compared to Broadcast TV.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Science & Tech > ICT > Classification of Networks (PAN vs LAN vs WAN).
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the range hierarchy: NFC (<4cm), Bluetooth (~10m), Wi-Fi/WLAN (~100m), ZigBee (Home Automation), Li-Fi (Optical/Room). Contrast these with WANs: LoRaWAN, Cellular (4G/5G), and Satellite (GNSS).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading about any comms tech, tag it with three labels: Medium (Wired/Wireless), Range (Short/Long), and Direction (One-way/Two-way). This taxonomy solves 90% of S&T classification questions.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Mass media vs personal communication
💡 The insight

Communications can be classified as mass media (broadcast to many) or personal (direct two-way exchange).

High-yield for questions on communication systems and policy: helps distinguish technologies used for broadcasting (radio, television) from those for individual communication (telephone, telegraph). Links to media regulation, information dissemination, and infrastructure planning; enables elimination-style answers about intended audience and function of devices.

📚 Reading List :
  • Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 12: Transport, Communications and Trade > Radio, Television, and Cinema > p. 44
  • FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Tertiary and Quaternary Activities > Telecommunications > p. 49
🔗 Anchor: "Is Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) considered a short-range communication devic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Satellite communication and global reach
💡 The insight

Satellite systems enable connection of remote regions and make communication range effectively global.

Important when assessing technologies by coverage and strategic impact: explains why some services (cellular roaming, national TV networks) rely on satellites; connects to topics on digital divide, national broadcasting policy, and transport/communication geography.

📚 Reading List :
  • FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 68
  • INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Television (T.V.) > p. 84
🔗 Anchor: "Is Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) considered a short-range communication devic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Local vs long-distance communication (range implications)
💡 The insight

Communication methods differ in typical operational range — local delivery systems contrast with telecommunications that span long distances.

Useful for classifying technologies (e.g., local surveillance systems vs satellite links) and answering questions about infrastructure suitability, cost, and policy; links to service-sector studies and technological choices in planning and security.

📚 Reading List :
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > COMMUNICATIONS > p. 310
  • Understanding Economic Development. Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 4: GLOBALISATION AND THE INDIAN ECONOMY > Containers for transport of goods > p. 62
🔗 Anchor: "Is Closed-circuit Television (CCTV) considered a short-range communication devic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Frequency-dependent radio propagation (ionospheric reflection)
💡 The insight

Radio wave frequency determines whether waves are reflected by the ionosphere or remain confined, which governs potential communication range.

High-yield for questions on types of communication systems and their reach; links physics of electromagnetic waves to practical telecom classification and policy issues. Mastery enables elimination-style reasoning about whether a system is inherently long- or short-range.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Why Are Microwaves And Some Radio Waves Not Reflected By The Ionosphere? > p. 278
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Explanation: > p. 279
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 5: Earths Magnetic Field (Geomagnetic Field) > Effects of Geomagnetic Storms > p. 68
🔗 Anchor: "Are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems considered short-range communi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Satellite versus terrestrial communication ranges
💡 The insight

Satellite systems provide global reach while terrestrial systems (radio/TV/mobile) operate over limited areas, a core distinction when classifying device range.

Useful for questions on infrastructure planning, digital inclusion, and technology choice; connects to geopolitics of connectivity and economic development. Helps compare technologies by operational footprint.

📚 Reading List :
  • FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Transport and Communication > Satellite Communication > p. 68
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 30: World Communications > COMMUNICATIONS > p. 310
🔗 Anchor: "Are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems considered short-range communi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Role of mobile and terrestrial telecom in local/instant connectivity
💡 The insight

Mobile telephony and terrestrial networks deliver direct, near-instant communication across local and regional scales, illustrating examples of non-satellite, limited-range systems.

Important for answering policy and development questions on communication access and service sectors; links technology to socioeconomic outcomes and regulatory considerations.

📚 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
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 14: Service Sector > Communication Sector > p. 432
🔗 Anchor: "Are Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems considered short-range communi..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Wi‑Fi/WLAN as last‑mile and local connectivity
💡 The insight

Wi‑Fi is used to provide last‑mile broadband and to bolster connectivity inside buildings and airports, i.e., local coverage.

High‑yield for questions on digital infrastructure and connectivity solutions: it links telecom policy, rural/urban access strategies, and practical deployment (hotspots). Mastering this helps answer questions comparing access technologies and planning last‑mile interventions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 15: Infrastructure > Public Wi-Fi Hotspots > p. 463
🔗 Anchor: "Are Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN / Wi‑Fi) systems considered short-range co..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network). It is the 'Evil Twin' of this question—it is low power (like RFID) but Long Range (km). Expect a question comparing Wi-Fi (High Bandwidth/Short Range) vs LoRaWAN (Low Bandwidth/Long Range).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Etymology Hack'. 'Closed-Circuit' = Closed loop (not public/wide). 'Local Area' = Local (not wide). RFID is used for scanning tags (requires proximity). Since 2 and 3 are definitely short-range, and 1 is 'Closed', Option D is the only coherent set.

🔗 Mains Connection

Smart Cities & Internal Security (Mains GS-3). These three technologies form the 'Surveillance Triad': CCTV (Visual), RFID (Identity/FASTag), and WLAN (Data). Cite them as the backbone of 'Integrated Command and Control Centres' (ICCC) in Smart Cities.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2010 · Q12 Relevance score: 0.92

Consider the following : 1. Bluetooth device 2. Cordless phone 3. Microwave oven 4. Wi-Fi device Which of the above can operate between 2-4 and 2-5 GHz range of radio frequency band ?

IAS · 2020 · Q69 Relevance score: -2.01

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 :

IAS · 2015 · Q32 Relevance score: -2.30

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.

IAS · 2004 · Q144 Relevance score: -2.42

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?

CDS-I · 2010 · Q15 Relevance score: -2.58

Bluetcoth technology allows