UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Govt. disputes reports that it plans to seek source codes of phones

Q1. Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) designated by the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) under the Communication Security Certification (ComSec) scheme are authorised to conduct security testing for how many categories of telecommunication equipment and network functions?

• A. 9
• B. 21
• C. 27
• D. 33

Q2. With reference to the Telecommunications Act, 2023, consider the following enactments: 1. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 2. Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933 3. Information Technology Act, 2000 4. Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950 Which of the above is/are correctly identified as having been repealed by the Telecommunications Act, 2023?

1. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
2. Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
3. Information Technology Act, 2000
4. Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. In the context of the recent controversy over alleged source-code disclosure by smartphone makers, what are the 'Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR)'?

• A. A set of baseline security standards issued by the National Centre for Communication Security for telecom equipment, including mobile user equipment
• B. A licensing condition imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on telecom service providers for spectrum allocation
• C. An MeitY-notified certification scheme under the Information Technology Act, 2000 for IT hardware imports
• D. A bilateral mutual-recognition framework between India and the Wassenaar Arrangement on encryption exports

Q4. With reference to the security-standard regime for telecom equipment under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 as compared to the predecessor framework, consider the following statements: 1. The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 expressly empowered the Centre to prescribe minimum security baselines for end-user mobile devices. 2. Unlike its predecessor, the Telecommunications Act, 2023 empowers the central government to specify standards and conformity assessments for telecom equipment, networks and services. 3. The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) for Mobile User Equipment were first issued in 2023 by the National Centre for Communication Security under the Department of Telecommunications. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 expressly empowered the Centre to prescribe minimum security baselines for end-user mobile devices.
2. Unlike its predecessor, the Telecommunications Act, 2023 empowers the central government to specify standards and conformity assessments for telecom equipment, networks and services.
3. The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) for Mobile User Equipment were first issued in 2023 by the National Centre for Communication Security under the Department of Telecommunications.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following functions/roles: 1. Issuing Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR) 2. Designating Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) under the ComSec scheme 3. Functioning as a referral laboratory for telecom security testing 4. Granting access-service licences to telecom service providers under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as a function of the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS)?

1. Issuing Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR)
2. Designating Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) under the ComSec scheme
3. Functioning as a referral laboratory for telecom security testing
4. Granting access-service licences to telecom service providers under the Telecommunications Act, 2023

• A. 1 and 3
• B. 2 only
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 4 only