UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Opens Online Portal for Telecommunication Service Authorisations and License Migration under Telecommunications Act, 2023

Q1. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the term 'authorisation' (as used in Section 3) most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Permission granted by the Central Government to provide telecommunication services, or to establish, operate, maintain or expand a telecommunication network, or to possess radio equipment
  • B. The administrative or auction-based assignment of spectrum to a telecommunication entity
  • C. The mandatory registration and type-approval of telecommunication equipment before it may be sold in India
  • D. A No Objection Certificate issued to international carriers for landing submarine cables on Indian shores

Q2. Unlike the colonial-era statutes it replaced, the Telecommunications Act, 2023 did not repeal but instead amended which one of the following laws?

  • A. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
  • B. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
  • C. Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
  • D. Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950

Q3. On its enactment, the Telecommunications Act, 2023 repealed how many pre-existing colonial/early-republic era telecom statutes?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five

Q4. Among the statutes repealed by the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which one is the oldest (earliest enacted)?

  • A. Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
  • B. Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950
  • C. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
  • D. Indian Telegraph Rules, 1951

Q5. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, spectrum is assigned by auction by default, with certain entries assigned through an administrative process. Consider the following purposes: 1. National security and defence 2. Disaster management 3. Commercial cellular mobile (access) services 4. Services by BSNL and MTNL Which of the above are correctly identified as purposes for which spectrum is assigned through the administrative (non-auction) process under the Act?

  1. National security and defence
  2. Disaster management
  3. Commercial cellular mobile (access) services
  4. Services by BSNL and MTNL
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the assignment of spectrum is to be done by auction except for entries listed in which Schedule of the Act, for which assignment is made through an administrative process?

  • A. First Schedule
  • B. Second Schedule
  • C. Third Schedule
  • D. Fourth Schedule

Q7. With reference to the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the regulatory architecture it establishes, consider the following: 1. The Universal Service Obligation Fund is renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi. 2. The Act provides for an adjudication mechanism headed by an adjudicating officer with an appellate Designated Appeals Committee. 3. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, is amended by the Act. 4. The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, is repealed by the Act. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Universal Service Obligation Fund is renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi.
  2. The Act provides for an adjudication mechanism headed by an adjudicating officer with an appellate Designated Appeals Committee.
  3. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, is amended by the Act.
  4. The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, is repealed by the Act.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. With reference to the changes brought about by the Telecommunications Act, 2023, consider the following statements: 1. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is abolished and replaced by a new statutory regulator. 2. The Universal Service Obligation Fund is renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi. 3. The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, is repealed by the Act. 4. The Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950, is repealed by the Act. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is abolished and replaced by a new statutory regulator.
  2. The Universal Service Obligation Fund is renamed the Digital Bharat Nidhi.
  3. The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, is repealed by the Act.
  4. The Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950, is repealed by the Act.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q9. Parliament's exclusive competence to enact the Telecommunications Act, 2023 is traceable to which one of the following entries of the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule?

  • A. Entry 31 — Posts and telegraphs; telephones, wireless, broadcasting and other like forms of communication
  • B. Entry 24 — Shipping and navigation on inland waterways
  • C. Entry 22 — Railways
  • D. Entry 92A — Taxes on the sale or purchase of goods in inter-State trade

Q10. The online portal for telecommunication service authorisations and migration of licences under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications
  • B. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • D. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Q11. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, which one of the following is the primary mode of user identification that an authorised entity is required to use for verifying the identity of its telecommunication service subscribers?

  • A. Verifiable biometric-based identification
  • B. Self-attested paper-based Know Your Customer (KYC) declaration
  • C. Permanent Account Number (PAN) authentication
  • D. Voter identity card-based offline verification

Q12. In the context of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the term 'message' is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. Any sign, signal, writing, text, image, sound, video, data stream, intelligence or information sent through telecommunication
  • B. The transmission, emission or reception of any information by wire, radio, optical or other electro-magnetic systems
  • C. Any unsolicited commercial communication transmitted for advertising or promotional purposes
  • D. Any data generated, transmitted, received or stored in a telecommunication network for the purpose of interception