Smart Card, Digital Technology and Digital Library — UPSC Prelims PYQ 2004

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 media 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?

1. 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct: A smart card is a plastic card embedded with a microchip capable of storing and processing data. It is widely used in banking, identification, and access control systems.
• Statement 2 is correct: Digital technology is extensively used in modern communication systems, particularly through advanced transmission media such as satellites and fibre optics, which enable high-speed and reliable data transfer.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A digital library is an organized collection of electronic documents and resources. It need not be available only on the Internet; it can also exist on local networks, institutional repositories, or offline storage systems.

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only