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GS Advanced Program 2025

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Communication and Information Technology

Technical Terms
 Information Technology -> A broad field that involves the use of technology and
systems to store, retrieve, process and transmit data.
 Telecommunication -> electronic transmission of information over distances or it
is the exchange of signs, signals, messages, words, writings, images and sounds or
information of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic systems.
 Wireless communication -> free space transmission and reception of data by
means of electromagnetic fields.
 Transmitter –> An electronic device which produces radio waves with the help of
an antenna. It can be a separate piece of electronic equipment or an integrated
circuit (IC) within another electronic device.
 Receiver -> It is any electronic device that receives radio signals and converts them
into sound. But receivers do not transmit these signals. Example – radio receiver,
ultrasonic receiver, etc.
 Transceiver -> It is a radio transmitter and a receiver combined — which means it
can both receive and send information. Example – headsets, wireless microphones,
etc.
 Modulation -> The process by which data is converted into electrical/digital signals
for transferring that signal over a medium is called modulation. It increases strength
for maximum reach of the signals
 Demodulation ->The process of extracting data from the transmitted signal is called
demodulation.
 Multiplexing - > Multiplexing is a method used by networks to consolidate multiple
signals -- digital or analog -- into a single composite signal that is transported over
a common medium, such as a fiber optic cable or radio wave (Combining multiple
signals)
 Multiple Access -> It allows the signals to be shared efficiently among multiple users
 Analog and digital signals -> They two fundamental types of electrical signals used
to transmit information in various electronic systems.
Analog signals Digital signals
Represent continuous data Represent discrete data

Continuous and smooth over time Discontinuous

Vary continuously over time Discrete and quantized i.e. they take on
distinct specific values
Doesn’t uses binary numbers. Uses binary numbers

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How is communication done?

Internet and associated terms:

 Network -> A network consists of two or more computers that are linked in order
to share resources (such as printers and CDs), exchange files, or allow electronic
communications. The computers on a network may be linked through cables,
telephone lines, radio waves, satellites, or infrared light beams.
 Server -> A server is a hardware device or software that processes requests sent
over a network and replies to them. A client is the device that submits a request and
waits for a response from the server. The computer system that accepts requests
for online files and transmits those files to the client is referred to as a “server” in
the context of the Internet.
o A server is where web pages are stored, and it functions similarly to the hard
drive of a computer, except with far greater processing power.
o The server accesses the web page and delivers the right information to your
computer whenever the request arrives.
 Internet -> The internet is a global network of interconnected computers, servers,
phones, and smart appliances that communicate with each other using the
transmission control protocol (TCP) standard to enable a fast exchange of
information and files, along with other types of services.
 Internet Protocol:
o It is a protocol, or set of rules, for routing and addressing packets of data so
that they can travel across networks and arrive at the correct destination
across multiple networks.
o The most common transport protocols are TCP and UDP.
o Internet traffic is composed of data transfers — lots of them — between
servers and devices. That data is transferred via two protocols: TCP and
UDP.
 Transmission control Protocol (TCP)
o It breaks down the data into small bundles and afterward reassembles the
bundles into the original message on the opposite end to make sure that
each message reaches its target location intact.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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o TCP establishes a reliable connection between sender and receiver.

o It ensures error-free, in-order delivery of data packets.
o It uses acknowledgments (ACKs) to confirm receipt.
o It prevents network congestion using various algorithms
o Disadvantages of TCP
 TCP is made for Wide Area Networks; thus, its size can become an issue
for small networks with low resources.
 TCP runs several layers so it can slow down the speed of the network.
 Tt cannot work with a Bluetooth connection.
 No modifications since their development around 30 years ago.
TCP (Transmission control Protocol) UDP (User datagram protocol)
Connection based protocol connectionless
More reliable Less reliable
Transfers data slowly Works more quickly.
Delivery is guaranteed Delivery is not guaranteed

Internet traffic is composed of data transfers — lots of them — between servers and
devices. That data is transferred via two protocols: TCP and UDP.
TCP is best for:
 Email or texting
 File transfers
 Web browsing
UDP is best for:
 Live streaming
 Online gaming
 Video chat
Types of Internet Protocol
 IPv4
o Uses 32 bits
o 4.4 billion IP addresses can be created
o IPv4 addresses got exhausted.
 IPv6
o Uses 128 bits
o 340 trillion trillion trillion IP addresses can be created
o IoT demands numerous IP addresses.
Intranet -> A kind of private network within an organization using TCP and IP. No one
from outside world can access this network. Only meant for company usage.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
 It is the address of a unique resource on the internet.
 It is one of the key mechanisms used by browsers to retrieve published
resources, such as HTML pages, CSS documents, images, and so on.
 It contains domain name and protocols.
 Example – https://www.upsc.gov.in
 Upsc.gov.in – domain name
 https – secured hypertext transfer protocol
o HTTP – It specifies a set of rules and standards that regulate how any
information on the World Wide Web (WWW) can be transmitted.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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o HTML – It stands for Hyper Text Markup Language is a markup language

that is used to create attractive web pages with the help of styling that
appears in a nice format on a web browser.
o The most fundamental difference between HTML and HTTP is that
HTTP is just a protocol used to convey data over the internet, whereas
HTML is a markup language used to design web pages.
o HTTP is an Internet protocol, and HTML is an Internet programming
language. If you want to build your website, you will need to use both.
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web—commonly referred to as WWW, W3, or the Web—is a system of
interconnected public webpages accessible through the Internet. The Web is not the
same as the Internet: The Web is one of many applications built on top of the Internet.
The Web consists of several components:
 The HTTP protocol governs data transfer between a server and a client.
 To access a Web component, a client supplies a unique universal identifier,
called a URL (uniform resource locator) or URI (uniform resource identifier)
(formally called Universal Document Identifier (UDI)).
 HTML (hypertext markup language) is the most common format for publishing
web documents.
Ethernet
Ethernet is defined as a networking technology that includes the protocol, port, cable,
and computer chip needed to plug a desktop or laptop into a local area network (LAN)
for speedy data transmission via coaxial or fiber optic cables.
Medium of signal transmission
 Wired medium
o Electrical wire or cable (Copper)
o Optical fiber (Works on Total Internal Reflection)
 Wireless medium
o Electromagnetic fields
o Light
o Examples – Bluetooth, Wifi, WiMax, Lifi, NFC, FSOC, etc.
Optical Fibre
 Optical fibres are ultra-thin strands of glass fibres made up of silica, of the
diameter of human hair, such that thousands of fibers bundled in an optical
cable to carry numerous telephonic channels in the limited space than copper
cable.
 It consists of inner denser core surrounded by the rarer cladding which further
surrounded by outer most plastic coating.
 OFC works on the principle of Total Internal Reflection of light where light
passes from core of the cable, now the angle of incidence should be greater than
critical angle and light start to travel in denser core.
 Since it uses the light rays to transmit data, they are free of any electromagnetic
interference, giving freedom from crosstalk.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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Applications of Optic fiber

 In telecommunications - transmit data, telephone signals, television signals at speed
of up to 100gbps
 In transportation
 In aerospace and defence – mechanical imaging, technical snag or fault detection in
aero planes, ships, rocket, automobiles and submarines.
 In medical- for medical imaging to detect ulcers, in endoscopic surgery, in dentistry
to check cracks and cavity.
 In broadcasting of TV channels.
 In decorations and lighting.
Types of Networks
 Computer networks are categorized based on their coverage area into Local
Area Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and Wide Area
Networks (WANs).
Personal Area Network (PAN)
 Connect devices centered around a person typically within a range of 10 meters.
 PANs are used for communication among personal devices.
 It can be either wired or wireless.
 Benefits of PANs
o Ease of use
o Ad-hoc connectivity
o Targeted communication among personal devices.
 Drawbacks
o Very limited range
o Susceptibility to interference.
 Examples
Bluetooth
 Bluetooth technology allows devices to communicate with each other without
cables or wires.
 Bluetooth relies on short-range radio frequency.
 Any device that incorporates the technology can communicate as long as it is
within the required distance.
 Signals are transmitted within a short range of 10m, at a speed of 1-2 mbps, at a
frequency of 2.4GHz.
 It allows two different types of devices to communicate with each other.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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 Signals can be transmitted through walls, eliminating the need for line of sight
communication, which means the devices do not need to pointed to each other.
 Signals are omnidirectional.
 Cybersecurity
o Bluejacking – Transmitting unsolicited messages
o Bluesnarfing – Stealing secrets
o Bluebugging – making unwanted calls without the owner’s knowledge.
Infrared
 IR, or infrared, communication is a common, inexpensive, and easy to use
wireless communication technology.
 IR light is very similar to visible light, except that it has a slightly longer
wavelength.
 IR is undetectable to the human eye - perfect for wireless communication.
 It is used for line-of-sight communication between TV remotes, laptops,
printers, etc.
NFC (Near Field Communication)
 A set of short-range wireless technologies, typically requiring a distance of 4 cm
or less to initiate a connection.
 NFC lets you share small payloads of data between an NFC tag and an Android-
powered device, or between two Android-powered devices.
 Active Mode
o Each device generates and receives electromagnetic signals, allowing
for a direct and efficient exchange of information.
o Example – smart phones, smart watches
 Passive Mode
o In passive mode, the emitter device emits an electromagnetic field,
which is modulated by the receiver. The receiving device is fueled by the
strength of the emitter’s electromagnetic field. NFC tags on posters or
payment cards do not have their own power supply. When an active
device approaches a passive tag, the active device’s electromagnetic
field activates the tag, enabling data transfer.
o Example – Credit cards, bank debit cards, etc.
USB (Universal serial bus)
 It connects peripheral devices like printers, scanners, and drives to a computer
using USB cables.
 It is defined as a standard that mentions the specifications used by cables, ports,
and protocols that enable simple and universally accepted connectivity between
a host and peripheral device.
ZigBee
 Zigbee is a wireless protocol used by everything from IoT devices such as light
bulbs, sockets, plugs, motion sensors and other home automation devices to
smart energy, electric vehicle charging and industrial building controls that
communicate with each other over a network.
 3 main types of network
o Point to point – Network of 2 nodes.
o Point to Multi point – A zigbee device communicates with multiple
devices

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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o Mesh networking - decentralized, meaning each node is capable of self-

discovery on the network.
Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)
 A Wireless Body Area Network or WBAN connects wearable devices and sensors
on, in or around the human body using wireless personal area networks.
 It is used for applications like health monitoring, personalized medicine,
immersive gaming and augmented reality.

 Key characteristics:
o It operates in proximity to the human body - within 1-2 meters.
o It connects small wearable sensors, devices and implants.
o Technologies used include Bluetooth, ZigBee, and Wi-Fi.
Local Area Network (LAN)
 A local area network (LAN) is a collection of devices connected together in one
physical location, such as a building, office, or home.
 A LAN can be small or large, ranging from a home network with one user to an
enterprise network with thousands of users and devices in an office or school.
 Key characteristics:
o Works in close physical proximity
o High speed usually ranging from 10Mbps to 10 Gbps
o Low latency
o High network bandwidth
o Use of Ethernet cables.
 Example - Wifi
WiFi (Wireless Fidelity)
 A wireless local area networking technique that provides network
communication capabilities to different devices in private, public, and
commercial environments.
 It uses radio waves.
 It is also a wireless based transmission system, within a range of 100 m, at a
speed of 11-54 Mbps, at a frequency of 2.4-5 GHz.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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 It allows devices like computers, mobile devices and other equipment to

communicated via internet.
 It creates a wireless based local area network also known as hotspot, from where
information signals can be easily accessed without wire, through wifi enabled
devices like – Router.
Metropolitan Area Network (WAN)
 A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a computer network that is larger than a
single building local area network (LAN) but is located in a single geographic
area that is smaller than a wide area network (WAN).
 Generally, it is several LANs interconnected by dedicated backbone
connections.

Wide Area Network (WAN)

 A wide area network (WAN) lets you connect multiple local communication
networks that are spread out over a geographically large area.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

 A Virtual Private Network or VPN extends a private network across a public
network like the Internet.
 It enables users to send and receive data across shared public infrastructure as
if their devices were directly connected to the private network.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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 Key characteristics:
o It provides secure remote access to a private network over the Internet.
o It encrypts and tunnels all traffic between endpoints.
Other Technologies
WiMax
 Stand for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access.
 It is a faster version of WiFi, allows transmission of information signal at a speed
of 50-70 Mbps, within a high range of 50km, at a frequency of 2.4-11 GHz.
 Referred to as Wifi on steroids - offers higher data rates and broader coverage
than traditional Wi-Fi.
 It can operate in Non-line of sight.
 Range of WiMAX: 15 Kms for Rural area (LOS). 4 Kms for Urban area.
 WiMAX will provide broadband connectivity anywhere, anytime, for any device
and on any network. Examples include: High speed internet access where it is
currently unavailable.
LiFi
 LiFi is a fast and cheap optical version of WiFi and this technology us based on
Visible Light Communication (VLC).
 It is a bidirectional wireless system that transmit data via LED or infrared light.
 Two main components –
o A high brightness white LED bulb – act as communication source.
o A silicon photodetector – serving as receiving element.
 It requires line of sight of communications.
 Speed – More than 100 time that of Wifi

 Advantages
o Higher bandwidth.
o Lower latency
o Enhanced security
o Can be deployed in areas like undergrounds, garages, airplanes, etc.
o Less interference as most of the devices deploy radio waves
 Disadvantages
o High cost
o Line of sight requirement.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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 Applications
o Can be used for under water communications.
o Can be used to protect critical information from cyber threats.
o LiFi can be used at place where it is difficult to lay out optical fibres like
– hospitals, explosive industries, petrochemical industries.
o Can be used in Aircrafts.
o Can be used in traffic signals.
FLOC (Free space optical communication)
 Free Space Optics is a line-of-sight technology that uses invisible beams of light
to provide optical bandwidth connections that can send and receive voice,
video, and data information.
 Key characteristics
o Doesn't require expensive fiber-optic cable
o Doesn’t require spectrum licenses.
o High data rates
o Low latency
o Weather sensitive like rain, fog, etc.
o Line of sight communication.
o Limited range.
 A case in point is the Starlink broadband Internet developed by SpaceX to
establish a global network unbounded by the limitations of ground
infrastructure. The low-orbit satellite constellation is deployed based on
conventional as well as FSO communication technologies.
 Established in Kohima by ERNET and MEITY.
Artificial Intelligence
 Artificial intelligence (AI) involves creating machines that can think like humans
and imitate their actions.
 This field uses various technologies to enable computers to do things that
normally need human intelligence, like recognizing images, understanding
speech, making decisions, and translating languages.
 AI programming focuses on three cognitive skills:
o Learning processes: acquiring data and creating rules →these rules are
called algorithms,
o Reasoning processes: choosing the right algorithm to reach a desired
outcome.
o Self-correction processes continually fine-tune algorithms to ensure
most accurate results.
 Three types
o Narrow AI
 AI is designed to perform a specific task or a limited range of
tasks.
 It is the most common type of AI and is widely used in various
applications such as facial recognition, speech recognition,
image recognition, natural language processing, and
recommendation systems.
o General AI
 AI that is designed to perform any intellectual task that a human
can do.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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General AI would be able to reason, learn, and understand


complex concepts, just like humans.
 The development of General AI could have significant ethical
implications, as it could potentially surpass human intelligence
and become a threat to humanity.
 It could also lead to widespread unemployment, as machines
would be able to perform tasks that were previously done by
humans.
 Example – Siri, ChatGPT
o Super AI
 Super AI refers to AI that is capable of surpassing human
intelligence in all areas. It is a hypothetical form of AI that is not
yet possible to achieve. Super AI would be capable of solving
complex problems that are beyond human capabilities and
would be able to learn and adapt at a rate that far exceeds human
intelligence.
Terms related to AI
 Large Language Models (LLMs)
o Imagine having a conversation with a knowledgeable computer that can
understand what you’re saying and respond in a way that makes sense.
That’s what large language models (LLMS) can do. They’re powerful
systems that can generate human-like text and help us with tasks like
writing articles or answering questions.
 Machine learning
o Machine learning allows computers to learn from data. For instance, it
allows a computer to recognize cats in pictures by being trained on
many examples of images labeled as cats and images labeled as not cats.

 Neural networks
o Neural networks are like a team of tiny brains inside a computer. They’re
computational models inspired by how our brains work, designed to
recognize patterns and solve complex problems.
 Natural language processing

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
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o Natural language processing (NLP) is a subset of AI that helps computers

understand, interpret, and generate human language. It teaches
computers to understand and talk like humans do, similar to how we
interact with virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa.
 Big data
o Big data refers to massive collections of information or data that AI uses
to learn and make decisions humans might miss. AI images analyze a
large amount of data, such as images, texts, or numbers, to find patterns
and insights.
 Deep learning
o Deep learning uses neural network algorithms to process complex data
and achieve high accuracy in tasks like recognizing faces in photos or
understanding spoken language.
 Generative AI
o Generative AI focuses on creating new and original content, chat
responses, designs, synthetic data or even deepfakes.
o Large language models are a powerful form of this AI.
o Applications
 Text generation – ChatGPT
 Image generation – DALL-E
 Video and speech generation – Deepbrain
 Data Augmentation – Synthesis AI
 Generative Adversarial Networks
o A generative adversarial network (GAN) is a deep learning architecture.
o It trains two neural networks to compete against each other to generate
more authentic new data from a given training dataset.
o For instance, you can generate new images from an existing image
database or original music from a database of songs. A GAN is called
adversarial because it trains two different networks and pits them
against each other. One network generates new data by taking an input
data sample and modifying it as much as possible. The other network
tries to predict whether the generated data output belongs in the
original dataset. In other words, the predicting network determines
whether the generated data is fake or real. The system generates newer,
improved versions of fake data values until the predicting network can
no longer distinguish fake from original.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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Government Measures
o AIRAWAT
o AI Action Summit – 3rd Edition
o PM Modi co-chaired the third edition of the AI Action Summit in Paris.
o The summit emphasized sustainable AI growth and energy efficiency,
aligning with global climate imperatives.
o Its objectives include:
 Providing access to independent, safe, and reliable AI for a wide
range of users.
 Developing environmentally friendly AI with lower energy
demands.
 Ensuring effective and inclusive global AI governance.
o The event focused on five key themes: Public service AI, Future of work,
Innovation and culture, Trust in AI, and Global AI governance.
o AI Declaration
 The US and UK refused to sign the summit’s declaration on
“inclusive and sustainable” AI, citing concerns over excessive
regulation.
 60 nations, including India and China, supported the
declaration, which promotes AI accessibility, sustainability,
human rights, and transparency.
o Current AI Launched
 A new global public interest AI Foundation called Current AI was
launched at the AI Action Summit in Paris.
 With an initial $400M investment, Current AI aims to reshape
the existing AI landscape by developing and supporting large-
scale initiatives that serve the public interest.
 It was launched to promote AI for public good, aiming to
counterbalance private-sector dominance. I
 t will foster public-private collaboration in the field of AI.
o Coalition for Environmentally Sustainable AI
 The coalition will be spearheaded by France, the UN
Environment Program (UNEP) and the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Blockchain Technology
o Blockchain technology is a decentralized, distributed ledger that stores the
record of ownership of digital assets.
o Any data stored on the blockchain is unable to be modified, making the
technology a legitimate disruptor for industries like payments, cybersecurity,
and healthcare.
o It records, stores, and verifies data using decentralized techniques to eliminate
the need for third parties, like banks or governments.
o Every transaction is recorded and then stored in a block on the blockchain.
o Each block is encrypted for protection and chained to the preceding block —
hence, “blockchain” — establishing a code-based chronological order.
o This means that, without the consensus of a network, data stored on a
blockchain cannot be deleted or modified.
o Technologies powering blockchain

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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o Peer to peer network - each computer keeps a complete copy of the

ledger and verifies its authenticity with other nodes to guarantee the
data is accurate
 A decentralized network architecture in which participants,
called peers, interact directly with each other without needing a
central authority or server.
 In a P2P network, each participant acts as both a client and a
server, enabling them to share resources and services directly
with other peers
o Private key cryptography - uses a single key to encrypt and decrypt data.
 In private key cryptography, to encrypt a message, the sender
uses a key to scramble the plaintext into ciphertext. Cipher text
can only be decrypted with the same key, known only to the
sender and receiver.

Cryptocurrency
o Cryptocurrencies are digital tokens secured by cryptography (science of
protecting information by transforming it into a secure format through
encryption).
o They are a type of digital currency that allows people to make payments directly
to each other through an online system.
o Cryptocurrencies have no legislated or intrinsic value; they are simply worth
what people are willing to pay for them in the market.
o Medium of exchange where the ownership data is stored in a computerized
database
o Based on Blockchain technology
o How it functions:

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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Web 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0

 Web 3.0
o Web 3.0 or Web3 is the third generation of the World Wide Web (WWW),
which involves direct immersion into the digital world.
o Web 3.0 encompasses individual control of personal data and the use of
cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
o Currently a work in progress, it is a vision of a decentralized and open
web with greater utility for its users.
o Users will retain ownership of data unlike tech giants like Google,
Microsoft, etc.
o Web 3.0 applications will run on blockchains or decentralized peer-to-
peer networks.
o As it is based upon open source software.
o Web 3.0 will also use machine learning, which is a branch of artificial
intelligence (AI) that uses data and algorithms to imitate how humans
learn, gradually improving its accuracy.
o Decentralization: “No permission is needed from a central authority to
post anything on the web, there is no central controlling node, and so

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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no single point of failure...and no ‘kill switch’! This also implies freedom

from indiscriminate censorship and surveillance.”
o Bottom-up design: “Instead of code being written and controlled by a
small group of experts, it was developed in full view of everyone,
encouraging maximum participation and experimentation.”
 Web 1.0
o Age of static webpages.
o Email usage
o Content creation in its infant stage
 Web 2.0
o Web 1.0 was replaced by Web 2.0’s interactivity, social connectivity, and
user-generated content.
o Web 2.0 makes it possible for user-generated content to be viewed by
millions of people around the world, virtually in an instant.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
 Software as a service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which a cloud
provider hosts application and makes them available to end users over the
internet.
 SaaS applications are typically accessed via web browsers.
 Companies using SaaS applications are not tasked with the setup and
maintenance of the software.
 Users simply pay a subscription fee to gain access to the software, which is a
ready-made solution.
 Organizations can integrate SaaS applications with other software using
application programming interfaces (APIs). For example, a business can write its
software tools and use the SaaS provider's APIs to integrate those tools with the
SaaS offering.
 Many SaaS applications offer a degree of customization for the user interface
and allow users to modify data fields to some extent. This means that
organizations can tailor the software to better fit their business processes and
preferences.
 Email services like Outlook (part of Microsoft 365), Hotmail (now Outlook.com),
and Yahoo! Mail are indeed forms of SaaS. These services are accessed over the
internet, and the software and data are hosted on the service provider’s servers.
Cloud Services
 Cloud services are application and infrastructure resources that exist on the
Internet.
 Third-party providers contract with subscribers for these services, allowing
customers to leverage powerful computing resources without having to
purchase or maintain hardware and software.
 Examples of SaaS cloud service providers include Dropbox, G Suite, Microsoft
Office 365, and Slack.
 Under SaaS providers offer subscribers the use of their software running on a
cloud infrastructure, which means the application can be widely distributed and
accessed.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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Augmented Reality
 Augmented reality is an interactive experience that enhances the real world
with computer-generated perceptual information.
 AR blends virtual content with the real world, enhancing the user's perception
of reality in the physical world.
 AR enables users to interact with virtual and physical objects in their immediate
surroundings.
 AR provides a partially immersive experience, allowing users to perceive virtual
and real-world elements simultaneously.
 AR experiences can be accessed through smartphones, tablets, or specialized
AR glasses.
Virtual Reality
 VR completely immerses users in a simulated environment, totally
disconnecting them from the physical world.
 VR restricts interaction to only the virtual environment by requiring specialized
controllers or hand-tracking devices to interact.
 VR offers a fully immersive experience, placing users in a virtual environment
with minimal external stimuli.
 VR experiences can often only be accessed through a dedicated VR headset with
controllers and other sense-tracking devices.
Mixed Reality
o A view of the real world—physical world—with an overlay of digital elements
where physical and digital elements can interact.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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Internet of Things (IoT)

o It is a network of interrelated devices that connect and exchange data with
other IoT devices and the cloud.
o A network of physical devices, vehicles, appliances, and other physical objects
that are embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity, allowing
them to collect and share data.
o Applications
o monitoring environmental conditions in farms
o managing traffic patterns with smart cars and other smart automotive
devices
o controlling machines and processes in factories
o tracking inventory and shipments in warehouses

Metaverse
o It refers to a virtual or digital universe where people can interact with each other
and digital objects in a shared online space.
o The metaverse is essentially an interconnected network of virtual worlds,
augmented reality, and virtual reality environments accessible through the
internet.
o In this digital realm, users can create avatars, socialize with others, engage in
various activities, explore virtual landscapes, and even conduct business or
trade virtual goods and services.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
 Page 19 of 22

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o Elements of the metaverse include virtual reality (VR) platforms, augmented

reality (AR) experiences, online games, social media, virtual commerce, and
virtual art galleries, among others.
o The metaverse aims to offer a seamless and immersive experience, blurring the
lines between the physical and digital worlds.
Open-source digital platform
o Open-source software (OSS) is computer software that is released under a
license in which the copyright holder grants users the rights to use, study,
change, and distribute the software and its source code to anyone and for any
purpose.
o Arogya Setu, COWIN, Digilocker, and DIKSHA are built on open-source digital
platforms
o Advantages
o Democratization: Open-source software prevents the digital economy
from being dominated by a few large tech companies.
o Affordability: Open-source software is typically more affordable than
proprietary software.
o Accelerated innovation: Open-source software benefits from
crowdsourcing, which leads to faster development and more effective
troubleshooting.
o Technological advancements: Open-source software fosters innovation
in areas such as 5G/6G, microprocessor technology, artificial
intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
o Cloud integration: Companies like Amazon and Google release open-
source code to make it easier for other companies to integrate with their
cloud services.
Application programming Interface (APIs)
o An API, or application programming interface, is a set of rules or protocols that
enables software applications to communicate with each other to exchange
data, features, and functionality.
o APIs simplify and accelerate application and software development by allowing
developers to integrate data, services, and capabilities from other applications,
instead of developing them from scratch.
o It’s useful to think about API communication in terms of a request and response
between a client and a server. The application submitting the request is the
client, and the server responds. The API is the bridge establishing the
connection between them.
Millimeter wave Technology
o Also known as millimeter band, is a range of electromagnetic frequencies
between microwaves and infrared.
o Its frequency spectrum is used for wireless high-speed communications.
o It is also known as the extremely high frequency, or EHF, band by the
International Telecommunication Union.
o Millimeter waves are used for military fire-control radar, airport security
scanners, short range wireless networks, and scientific research.
4G and 5G
o 1G: First-generation systems; analog mode; only voice traffic.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
 Page 20 of 22

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o 2G: Digital signals; first data transmission services - SMS (Short Message
Service), multimedia messages MMS (Multimedia Message Service);
o 3G: standardizing vendors’ network protocol; allowed international roaming;
video streaming, video conferences, and live video chat.
4G
o LTE
o LTE is a standard for high-speed cellular data communication systems.
o It provides a download speed of about 100 Mbps and an upload speed of
about 50 Mbps.
o It does not provide good-quality voice calls while using the data
services.
o A series of 4G network.
o ITU (The International Telecommunication Union) recognises the lack
of clarity in the term 4G and has determined LTE-Advanced and
Wireless MAN-Advanced or WiMAX 2 as “True” 4G.
o VoLTE
o VoLTE is a much-standardized system to make high-definition voice
calls.
o It is a technology update to the LTE protocol.
o It allows the users to make voice calls while using the data services
without changing the quality of the voice.
o Both data and voice technology.
o Difference between LTE and VoLTE
LTE VoLTE
It is a type of network. It is the services offered on the network.
It turns off the data connection while It does not turn off the data connection
making voice calls. while making voice calls.
Call connection between two users is If both users are on VoLTE, the call
slower (almost takes 7 seconds). connection is faster.

5G
o 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone
and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
o 5G utilizes variety of frequency bands one of which is millimeter-wave or
“mmWave.”
o 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds,
ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased
availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users.
o Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences
and connects new industries.
o Technologies used:
o Technologies used
o OFDM (Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing)
 Combination of Modulation and Complexing
 Encoding digital data on multiple carrier frequencies.
 By dividing the information to be transmitted into multiple
carrier waves (subcarriers) with different frequencies and

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]
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sending them together, a large amount of information can be

sent at once.
o mmWave generally refers to 24-100 GHz; a frequency range that can
carry an incredible amount of data and, when coupled with
advancements in coding techniques.
o Massive MIMO
 Aype of wireless communications technology in which base
stations are equipped with a very large number of antenna
elements to improve spectral and energy efficiency.

o Beamforming
 A technique used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of
received signals, eliminate undesirable interference sources,
and focus transmitted signals to specific locations.
 In this technique, each antenna element is fed separately with
the signal to be transmitted. The phase and amplitude of each
signal is then added constructively and destructively in such a
way that they concentrate the energy into a narrow beam or
lobe.

Forum Learning Centre: Delhi - 2nd Floor, IAPL House, 19 Pusa Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi - 110005 | Patna - 2nd floor, AG Palace, E Boring Canal
Road, Patna, Bihar 800001 | Hyderabad - 1st & 2nd Floor, SM Plaza, RTC X Rd, Indira Park Road, Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad, Telangana 500020
9311740400, 9311740900 | https://academy.forumias.com | [email protected] | [email protected]