Section-A | ICT Previous Year Solved Question Paper (Nov-2018) | ICT

Section A

1) a) How ICT can be used in education system?

Answer:

Schools use a diverse set of ICT tools to communicate, create, disseminate, store, and manage information.

Some common educational applications of ICT include:

• One laptop per child: Less expensive laptops have been designed for use in school on a 1:1 basis with features like lower power consumption, a low cost operating system, and special re-programming and mesh network functions. Despite efforts to reduce costs, however, providing one laptop per child may be too costly for some developing countries.
• Tablets: Tablets are small personal computers with a touch screen, allowing input without a keyboard or mouse. Inexpensive learning software (“apps”) can be downloaded onto tablets, making them a versatile tool for learning. The most effective apps develop higher order thinking skills and provide creative and individualized options for students to express their understandings.
• Interactive White Boards or Smart Boards: Interactive white boards allow projected computer images to be displayed, manipulated, dragged, clicked, or copied.Simultaneously, handwritten notes can be taken on the board and saved for later use. Interactive white boards are associated with whole-class instruction rather than student-centred activities. Student engagement is generally higher when ICT is available for student use throughout the classroom.
• E-readers: E-readers are electronic devices that can hold hundreds of books in digital form, and they are increasingly utilized in the delivery of reading material.(19) Students—both skilled readers and reluctant readers—have had positive responses to the use of e-readers for independent reading.) Features of e-readers that can contribute to positive use include their portability and long battery life, response to text, and the ability to define unknown words. Additionally, many classic book titles are available for free in e-book form.
• Flipped Classrooms: The flipped classroom model, involving lecture and practice at home via computer-guided instruction and interactive learning activities in class, can allow for an expanded curriculum. There is little investigation on the student learning outcomes of flipped classrooms. Student perceptions about flipped classrooms are mixed, but generally positive, as they prefer the cooperative learning activities in class over lecture.

b) List the ICT tools used in Agriculture.

Answer:

• Wireless technology: Wireless technologies have numerous applications in agriculture. One major usage is the simplification of closed-circuit television camera systems; the use of wireless communications eliminates the need for the installation of coaxial cables.
• Global Positioning System (GPS): In agriculture, the use of the Global Positioning System provides benefits in geo-fencing, map-making and surveying. GPS receivers dropped in price over the years, making it more popular for civilian use. With the use of GPS, civilians can produce simple yet highly accurate digitized map without the help of a professional cartographer.
• Geographic information systems:  Geographic information systems, or GIS, are extensively used in agriculture, especially in precision farming. Land is mapped digitally, and pertinent geodetic data such as topography and contours are combined with other statistical data for easier analysis of the soil. GIS is used in decision making such as what to plant and where to plant using historical data and sampling.
• Automated Systems: Automatic milking systems are computer controlled stand alone systems that milk the dairy cattle without human labor. The complete automation of the milking process is controlled by an agricultural robot, a complex herd management software, and specialized computers.
• Mobile Phones: Several smartphone apps are available for agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and farm machinery.

C) What contribution the mobile applications can make to agriculture and rural development?

Answer:

Mobile phones help in increasing income, improving the efficiency of markets, reducing transaction costs, and offer a great opportunity for innovative interventions, especially in service delivery.

Some of the ICT contributions are:

• market information
• weather forecasting
• input supplies
• credit availability
• early warning about disease/ pest problems
• Entertainmant 
• Education
• Government services at door steps

d) Do you think ICT can improve productivity? How?
Answer:
Yes, ICT help in increasing productivity. It had already helped various sectors, including agriculture by providing:
- Timely information
- Increasing income
- Better management of resources
- Providing new opportunities of income and employment
- Increasing the standard of living by providing more new and efficient resources

e) How ICT Strengthening the agriculture marketing in developing countries?
Answer:
ICT is strengthening the agricultural marketing in developing countries by providing:
- Access to new potential markets
- Better techniques of soil, water and pest management techniques
- New tools for accessing pre and post harvesting resources
- More accurate weather condition and other risks in advance
- New innovative ways of learning
- More efficient way of dealing with problem and implementing their solution

f) To what extend have rural development enhance the quality of information and communication technology in rural area ?
Answer: 
Rural development definitely enhances the quality of ICT in rural area, by:
- Improving the basic infrastructure
- Educating local masses
- Improving the usage quality of ICT

g)What are the consequences for farmers not using ICT?
Answer:

• Loss of competitiveness

• Loss of production and management efficiency

• Loss of contact with innovations

• Loss of contact with timely information

• Problems in the future

h) How does the M-pesa work?

Answer:

Working of M-Pesa 

M-Pesa is a virtual banking system that provides transaction services through a SIM card. Once the SIM has been inserted into the card slot of the mobile device, users can make payments and transfer money to vendors and family members using SMS messages. Users with no bank accounts can access the numerous M-Pesa outlets favorably distributed across the country. The money that needs to be stored is given to the kiosk attendant, who transfers the amount in digital form to the user’s M-Pesa’s account. For example, a farmer who has no bank account and wants to deposit his commodity sale proceeds of 1,000 shillings would head to an M-Pesa outlet and deposit the money with the kiosk agent or attendant. The agent would, in turn, use her phone to access the client’s account with the client’s registered phone number and credit the account for 1,000 shillings. The farmer gets an SMS notification on his cellphone within seconds of the deposit confirming how much was deposited and what his current account balance holds.

The farmer can also easily withdraw cash from his account by using the M-Pesa attendant's or agent's number provided at the outlet and a personal PIN.

Cash collected from M-Pesa depositors are deposited in bank accounts held by Safaricom. The bank accounts serve as regular checking accounts and are insured up to a maximum of 100,000 shillings (or $1000) by the Deposit Protection Fund.

M-Pesa provides receipts as proof of a transaction. For a transaction to take place, both parties have to exchange each other’s phone numbers because the phone numbers act as account numbers. After settlement, both parties would receive an SMS notification with the full name of the counterparty and the amount of funds deposited to or withdrawn from the user’s account. The mobile receipt, which is received within seconds, helps to promote transparency for all individuals involved in a transaction.

i) Write any two achievements in area of ICT for agriculture and rural development.
Answer:
Achievements of ICT in

• Agriculture Dveleopment

- Improved farming practices
- Provided more and much needed timely information

• Rural Development

- Improved health services
- Improved learning and education system

j) Use of ICT in india.
Answer:
- Forecast
- Increasing productivity
- Fair transparent market
- Disseminating information
- Disaster management