UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Pan-India Testing of Indigenous Cell Broadcast System Underway for Rapid Disaster Alerts
Q1. With reference to the institutional architecture of India's Cell Broadcast System (CBS) for disaster alerts, consider the following pairings of body and role:
1. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) — developer of the indigenous Cell Broadcast technology
2. Department of Telecommunications — parent department under which the developer functions
3. National Disaster Management Authority — collaborating authority for authoring the alerts
4. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) — nodal ministry for the CBS
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) — developer of the indigenous Cell Broadcast technology
- Department of Telecommunications — parent department under which the developer functions
- National Disaster Management Authority — collaborating authority for authoring the alerts
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) — nodal ministry for the CBS
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q2. With reference to a comparison between the SACHET Integrated Alert System and the newly launched Cell Broadcast System (CBS), consider the following statements:
1. SACHET disseminates alerts primarily via SMS, whereas the CBS broadcasts a single message to all handsets in a defined area simultaneously.
2. Both SACHET and the CBS were developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
3. Unlike SACHET, the CBS requires the recipients' phone numbers to be held in a database before an alert can be delivered.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- SACHET disseminates alerts primarily via SMS, whereas the CBS broadcasts a single message to all handsets in a defined area simultaneously.
- Both SACHET and the CBS were developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
- Unlike SACHET, the CBS requires the recipients' phone numbers to be held in a database before an alert can be delivered.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. With reference to the SACHET Integrated Alert System, consider the following statements:
1. It is built on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
2. The Common Alerting Protocol it uses is a standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
3. It is operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India.
4. Its alerts are disseminated in more than 90 Indian languages.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is built on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
- The Common Alerting Protocol it uses is a standard recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
- It is operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India.
- Its alerts are disseminated in more than 90 Indian languages.
- A. 1 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 2 only
Q4. The SACHET Integrated Alert System, which delivers geo-targeted disaster alerts by SMS across the country, is operationalised and run by which one of the following?
- A. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
- B. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
- C. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- D. India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Q5. With reference to the functional characteristics of India's Cell Broadcast System (CBS), consider the following statements:
1. Alerts reach mobile users who are roaming within the targeted area.
2. Individual users can opt out of, or disable, the alerts on their handsets.
3. Delivery of the alerts is unaffected by network congestion.
4. Geo-targeting can be done down to the level of an individual cell tower.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Alerts reach mobile users who are roaming within the targeted area.
- Individual users can opt out of, or disable, the alerts on their handsets.
- Delivery of the alerts is unaffected by network congestion.
- Geo-targeting can be done down to the level of an individual cell tower.
- A. 1, 3 and 4
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q6. In the context of the Cell Broadcast System, the term 'cell broadcast' is best described as which one of the following?
- A. A one-to-many message transmitted to all mobile devices within a defined cell-tower footprint without using individual phone numbers
- B. A bulk SMS pushed to all numbers stored in a pre-registered subscriber database of an area
- C. An alert delivered only to smartphones that have installed a designated government mobile application
- D. A point-to-point voice-call alert placed automatically to registered emergency contacts
Q7. With reference to the pan-India testing and the formal launch of the Cell Broadcast System (CBS) in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The pan-India testing of the system was conducted before its formal nationwide launch.
2. The system was launched by the Union Minister of Communications, while the initiative was guided by the Union Home Minister.
3. The test messages were sent only in Hindi and English, excluding regional languages.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The pan-India testing of the system was conducted before its formal nationwide launch.
- The system was launched by the Union Minister of Communications, while the initiative was guided by the Union Home Minister.
- The test messages were sent only in Hindi and English, excluding regional languages.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The Cell Broadcast System launched in May 2026 was formally launched by which one of the following Union Ministers?
- A. Union Minister of Communications
- B. Union Minister of Home Affairs
- C. Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology
- D. Union Minister of Earth Sciences
Q9. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is chaired ex-officio by which one of the following?
- A. The Prime Minister of India
- B. The Union Home Minister
- C. The Cabinet Secretary
- D. The Vice-Chairperson of the NDMA
Q10. With reference to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), consider the following statements:
1. It is chaired ex-officio by the Prime Minister of India.
2. It was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
3. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
4. The Act mandates that the Authority must always consist of exactly nine members including the Chairperson.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It is chaired ex-officio by the Prime Minister of India.
- It was constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- The Act mandates that the Authority must always consist of exactly nine members including the Chairperson.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 3 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q11. With reference to national public warning/cell broadcast alert systems and the countries/blocs that operate them, consider the following pairings:
1. United States — Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
2. Japan — J-Alert
3. European Union — EU-Alert
4. Canada — SACHET
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- United States — Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
- Japan — J-Alert
- European Union — EU-Alert
- Canada — SACHET
- A. 4 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q12. The Cell Broadcast System issues near-real-time alerts for time-critical hazards such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes and gas leaks, coordinated by India's apex disaster management authority. That apex authority was established under which one of the following?
- A. The Disaster Management Act, 2005
- B. The National Disaster Management Act, 1999
- C. The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897
- D. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986