UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — TRAI releases Recommendations on the Auction of Radio Frequency Spectrum in the Frequency Bands Identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT)

Q1. Which one of the following is the statutory body primarily responsible for making recommendations to the Government on the reserve price, band plan and quantum of spectrum to be auctioned?

  • A. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
  • B. Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
  • C. Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) Wing
  • D. Digital Communications Commission (DCC)

Q2. With reference to the respective roles of TRAI and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in spectrum auctions, consider the following statements: 1. TRAI's recommendations on spectrum pricing under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 are binding on the DoT. 2. The final decision on whether and how to conduct a spectrum auction is taken by the DoT, not by TRAI. 3. Where the DoT disagrees with a TRAI recommendation, it may refer the matter back to TRAI for reconsideration. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. TRAI's recommendations on spectrum pricing under Section 11(1)(a) of the TRAI Act, 1997 are binding on the DoT.
  2. The final decision on whether and how to conduct a spectrum auction is taken by the DoT, not by TRAI.
  3. Where the DoT disagrees with a TRAI recommendation, it may refer the matter back to TRAI for reconsideration.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In the 2026 IMT band plan, the 26 GHz spectrum recommended for auction is classified as millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum. Which one of the following best characterises such spectrum?

  • A. It offers very high capacity and data rates but has limited propagation range and poor obstacle penetration, requiring dense small-cell deployment
  • B. It provides the widest rural coverage and excellent building penetration, making it the primary 5G coverage layer
  • C. It lies below 1 GHz and is chiefly used for deep indoor coverage
  • D. It is a mid-band that balances coverage and capacity for most 5G traffic

Q4. Once TRAI's recommendations are accepted, which one of the following bodies actually conducts the auction of IMT spectrum and assigns it to telecom service providers?

  • A. Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications
  • B. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
  • C. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
  • D. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)

Q5. With reference to the treatment of the upper 6 GHz bands in TRAI's 2026 recommendations, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike the nine bands recommended for immediate auction, the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz bands were deferred pending an international decision. 2. TRAI recommended that the upper 6 GHz bands be entirely delicensed for Wi-Fi use in the current round. 3. Global technology firms and the Wi-Fi Alliance favoured unlicensed (delicensed) use of the 6 GHz band, whereas mobile operators sought its identification for IMT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike the nine bands recommended for immediate auction, the 6425-6725 MHz and 7025-7125 MHz bands were deferred pending an international decision.
  2. TRAI recommended that the upper 6 GHz bands be entirely delicensed for Wi-Fi use in the current round.
  3. Global technology firms and the Wi-Fi Alliance favoured unlicensed (delicensed) use of the 6 GHz band, whereas mobile operators sought its identification for IMT.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. TRAI deferred auctioning the upper 6 GHz bands until after the outcome of a specific forthcoming international conference. Under whose authority will this global decision on the 6 GHz band be taken?

  • A. The World Radiocommunication Conference 2027 (WRC-27) of the ITU
  • B. The World Radiocommunication Conference 2023 (WRC-23) of the ITU
  • C. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
  • D. The ITU Plenipotentiary Conference

Q7. In India's 2010 spectrum auction, spectrum was auctioned for '3G' as well as 'BWA' services. The abbreviation 'BWA' stands for which one of the following?

  • A. Broadband Wireless Access
  • B. Bandwidth Wave Allocation
  • C. Broadcast Wireless Authority
  • D. Base-station Wireless Assignment

Q8. In which year was 5G spectrum auctioned in India for the very first time?

  • A. 2022
  • B. 2010
  • C. 2016
  • D. 2024

Q9. The Consultation Paper and the Open House Discussion that preceded TRAI's February 2026 recommendations were carried out by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
  • B. Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
  • C. Digital Communications Commission (DCC)
  • D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Q10. The 'International Mobile Telecommunications' (IMT) framework, under which 5G is designated as IMT-2020, is defined and maintained by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  • B. 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
  • C. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • D. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)

Q11. Under the TRAI Act, 1997, apart from the Chairperson, what is the maximum number of other members (whole-time and part-time combined) that the Authority may have?

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

Q12. With reference to the fiscal aspects of spectrum auctions in India, consider the following statements: 1. The reserve price is the minimum price set for a spectrum block, below which it will not be sold. 2. In the 2016 auction the entire 700 MHz band was sold, whereas in the 2022 auction it remained completely unsold. 3. Receipts from spectrum auctions are treated as non-tax revenue of the Union Government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The reserve price is the minimum price set for a spectrum block, below which it will not be sold.
  2. In the 2016 auction the entire 700 MHz band was sold, whereas in the 2022 auction it remained completely unsold.
  3. Receipts from spectrum auctions are treated as non-tax revenue of the Union Government.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3