Computer awareness is the one General Studies topic where a candidate can gain marks quickly and also be tested again later in a practical Computer Proficiency Test. For Group-IV, Junior Assistant, Ward Secretariat and Grama Sachivalayam type papers the questions are rarely deep. They are short, factual and repeated in different words: the full form of an abbreviation, the correct unit of storage, the shortcut key for a command, the section of an Act, the date of a space mission. A candidate who has revised a compact set of facts, and who has actually used a computer for a few hours, usually handles this block comfortably.
This guide covers the whole block in one place: hardware, software, memory and storage units, operating systems, MS Office basics and shortcuts, the internet and email, networks, cyber safety with the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Digital India programme, and the Indian space and technology milestones that appear in Science and Technology sections. It uses worked examples and lists the traps that cost marks. It sits alongside our other notes on general science (physics and chemistry), general science (biology and health) and Andhra Pradesh science, technology and institutions.
A word on scope. Syllabi, marks and the content of any practical test differ from one notification to another and change over time. The Commission and the Grama/Ward Sachivalayam department publish the scheme in each Detailed Notification. This post does not claim a specific syllabus for any recruitment. Where a government fact is time-sensitive it is labelled "As on October 2026" with the source. Anything we could not confirm on an official page is listed at the end.
1. How computer awareness is tested
Read the exam as a set of question patterns rather than a syllabus list. Five patterns cover most of what is asked.
- Full forms and abbreviations: RAM, ROM, CPU, URL, HTTP, DNS, ISP, VPN, OTP, SMTP, PDF, USB, LAN, BIOS.
- Definitions with one correct word: "the brain of the computer", "the smallest unit of data", "a program that translates source code".
- Units and conversions: byte, kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte; the order of memory by speed; the number of bits in a byte.
- Practical knowledge: shortcut keys, spreadsheet formulas, file extensions, what a particular menu does.
- Awareness items: Acts, helplines, government portals, missions and dates.
If a Computer Proficiency Test is part of a recruitment, it is usually a qualifying test of office-automation skills. In the Group-IV Junior Assistant scheme the test is qualifying in nature and is held after the written stages; our Group-IV guide records this from the Commission's scheme and notes that its detailed syllabus was not found in the pages we opened. So the safe plan is to learn the theory in this post and also practise on a real machine: type a letter, make a table, apply a formula, save a file in a named folder and print-preview it.
2. Computer basics: what a computer does
A computer is an electronic device that accepts data (input), processes it by following stored instructions, stores it, and gives results (output). Every question about the "functions of a computer" follows the cycle input, processing, storage, output. Data is raw facts, such as marks of 50 students. Information is processed data, such as the class average. Exam writers like this pair because the wrong option is often the reverse.
Computers are grouped by size and power: supercomputer, mainframe, minicomputer, microcomputer (personal computer, laptop, tablet) and embedded systems. A supercomputer handles very large scientific calculations such as weather forecasting. A mainframe serves many users together, as in banking and railway reservation systems. A microcomputer is meant for one user at a time. An embedded computer sits inside a machine, such as a washing machine controller, and performs one dedicated job.
The "generations" of computers are tracked by the main electronic part used. First generation used vacuum tubes, second used transistors, third used integrated circuits (ICs), fourth used microprocessors (very large scale integration), and the fifth generation is linked to artificial intelligence and advanced parallel processing. The sequence vacuum tube, transistor, IC, microprocessor is the one to memorise, because it is asked far more often than any date.
3. Hardware: the parts you can touch
Hardware is the physical part of a computer. It is easiest to remember in four groups.
Input devices send data in: keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, webcam, touchscreen, barcode reader, light pen, joystick, biometric reader. Output devices show results: monitor, printer, speaker, plotter, projector. A touchscreen is both an input and an output device, and so is a modem when you think of it as sending and receiving signals. Storage devices keep data: hard disk, solid-state drive, pen drive, memory card, optical disc. Processing is done by the central processing unit.
The CPU
The Central Processing Unit (CPU), also called the processor or microprocessor, is called the brain of the computer. It has three parts to remember:
- Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU): performs arithmetic (add, subtract) and logic (compare) operations.
- Control Unit (CU): directs the flow of data and instructions; it does not process data itself.
- Registers: very small, very fast memory inside the CPU that hold the data being used at that moment.
A frequent trap is to say that the control unit performs calculations. It does not; it controls and coordinates. Another is to treat the motherboard as the CPU. The motherboard is the main circuit board that connects the CPU, memory and other parts.
Ports and connectors
A port is the socket through which a device connects. USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the most common; HDMI carries digital video and audio to a display; the Ethernet port connects a network cable; the audio jack carries sound. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are wireless connections, not ports.
4. Memory and storage: the units that are asked every year
Memory has two roles: temporary working space and permanent storage. The two are often confused.
Primary and secondary memory
Primary memory is directly used by the CPU. It includes RAM, ROM and cache.
- RAM (Random Access Memory) is the main working memory. It is volatile, which means its contents are lost when power goes off. Programs that are open sit in RAM.
- ROM (Read Only Memory) is non-volatile. It holds the start-up instructions (firmware, including the BIOS), and its contents stay without power.
- Cache is a small, very fast memory between the CPU and RAM that stores frequently used data to save time.
Secondary memory is permanent storage: hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD), pen drive, memory card, CD, DVD. It is slower than primary memory but cheaper per unit and non-volatile. Order by speed, fastest first: registers, cache, RAM, SSD, HDD. Order by capacity, smallest first, is generally the reverse.
Units of data
The smallest unit of data is the bit (binary digit), which is 0 or 1. Eight bits make one byte. Four bits are sometimes called a nibble. In the common exam convention each larger unit is 1,024 times the one below it.
| Unit | Short form | Equivalent (exam convention) |
|---|---|---|
| Bit | b | 0 or 1 |
| Byte | B | 8 bits |
| Kilobyte | KB | 1,024 bytes |
| Megabyte | MB | 1,024 KB |
| Gigabyte | GB | 1,024 MB |
| Terabyte | TB | 1,024 GB |
| Petabyte | PB | 1,024 TB |
Device makers and some textbooks use 1,000 instead of 1,024 for marketing capacity, which is why a drive sold as 500 GB shows a smaller number in the operating system. If a question gives you options in both conventions, choose the 1,024 option unless the question says otherwise.
Worked example 1. A phone has 2 GB of free space. Each photo is 4 MB. How many photos fit? Convert 2 GB to MB: 2 x 1,024 = 2,048 MB. Divide by 4: 2,048 / 4 = 512 photos.
Worked example 2. How many bits are in 3 KB? 3 x 1,024 bytes = 3,072 bytes; 3,072 x 8 = 24,576 bits.
Worked example 3. Convert binary 1011 to decimal. Place values from the right are 1, 2, 4, 8. So 1 x 8 + 0 x 4 + 1 x 2 + 1 x 1 = 11. Questions on number systems ask for binary to decimal conversion far more often than the reverse, and rarely go beyond six digits.
Storage devices
A hard disk stores data magnetically on spinning platters. An SSD has no moving parts and stores data in flash memory, so it is faster and more shock-resistant. Optical discs (CD, DVD, Blu-ray) use a laser; a CD-ROM is read-only, a CD-R is written once, and a CD-RW can be rewritten. A pen drive and a memory card are flash storage. Cloud storage keeps files on a provider's servers and reaches them through the internet.
5. Software: instructions that run the hardware
Software is the set of programs that tells the hardware what to do. It cannot be touched. The two main classes are system software and application software.
- System software manages the computer: the operating system, device drivers, utility programs and language translators.
- Application software performs tasks for the user: word processors, spreadsheets, browsers, media players, accounting packages.
Language translators convert programs written by people into machine code. An assembler converts assembly language, a compiler converts the whole high-level program at once, and an interpreter converts and runs it line by line. Machine language, made of 0s and 1s, is the only language a computer understands directly. This is a favourite question: "Which is the only language directly understood by a computer?" The answer is machine language.
Types of software licences appear occasionally. Freeware is free to use but not necessarily open. Open-source software makes the source code available for others to study and change, and Linux is the standard example. Shareware is free to try for a limited time. Proprietary software is owned by a company that controls its use. A utility program, such as antivirus, disk cleanup or file compression, maintains and protects the system.
Firmware is permanent software stored in ROM or flash memory in a device, such as the start-up program of a computer or the program inside a router.
6. Operating systems
An operating system (OS) is the system software that manages hardware and software resources and provides an interface between the user and the computer. Without it the machine cannot be used in a practical way. The functions to know are process management (deciding which program uses the CPU), memory management, file management, device management and user interface.
Examples: Windows (Microsoft), macOS (Apple), Linux (open source), Android (mostly Google, based on the Linux kernel) and iOS (Apple). A graphical user interface (GUI) lets you use icons, windows and menus; a command-line interface (CLI) needs typed commands. Windows is a GUI-based, multitasking OS, and Linux can run both ways.
A useful distinction: single-user and multi-user systems (one person or many at a time), single-tasking and multitasking (one program or several), and batch, real-time and time-sharing systems. A real-time OS responds within a guaranteed time and is used in systems like air-traffic control and industrial machines.
Other terms that come up: the boot process (loading the OS into RAM when the computer starts, with the BIOS running first), a cold boot (start from power off) versus a warm boot (restart without turning the power off), the desktop, the taskbar, the recycle bin (a folder that holds deleted files until they are emptied) and the task manager (shows and ends running programs). Pressing Shift with Delete removes a file without sending it to the recycle bin, which is a standard trap.
7. MS Office basics: Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Practical questions and the Computer Proficiency Test both draw on word processing, spreadsheet and presentation tools. Learn the shortcuts below until they are automatic.
Common shortcuts (Windows)
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Replace (in Word and Excel) |
| Ctrl + B / I / U | Bold / Italic / Underline |
| Ctrl + N | New document |
| Ctrl + O | Open |
| F12 | Save As (in Office programs) |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
| Ctrl + Home / End | Go to start / end of the document |
Remember that Ctrl + P prints and not "paste", and that Ctrl + H is "Replace" in Office, though it opens History in some browsers. Where a question names a program, answer for that program.
Word
A document has a title bar, ribbon (tabs such as Home, Insert, Layout, References, Review, View), ruler and status bar. Formatting groups are font (typeface, size, colour), paragraph (alignment, spacing, bullets) and styles. Know these terms: header and footer (text repeated at the top and bottom of every page), margin (blank space around the text), orientation (portrait or landscape), mail merge (printing the same letter to many recipients with different names and addresses), and track changes (shows edits made by reviewers). A file saved from Word usually has the extension .docx.
Excel
A workbook holds sheets; each sheet is a grid of cells, named by column letter and row number, like A1. A cell range such as B2:B10 means the cells from B2 to B10. A formula always begins with an equals sign. Common functions are SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, COUNT, IF and ROUND, with VLOOKUP for lookup tables.
Worked example 4. Cells B2 to B6 hold 12, 18, 25, 10 and 35. What does =SUM(B2:B6) return? 12 + 18 + 25 + 10 + 35 = 100. What does =AVERAGE(B2:B6) return? 100 / 5 = 20. What does =MAX(B2:B6)-MIN(B2:B6) return? 35 - 10 = 25.
Worked example 5. A student's marks are in C2. What does =IF(C2>=35,"Pass","Fail") show when C2 is 35? It shows Pass, because the test is "greater than or equal to". The trap is mistaking >= for >.
A cell reference such as A1 is relative, which changes when copied. A reference such as $A$1 is absolute, which does not change when copied. The fill handle is the small square at the corner of a selected cell used to copy a formula or extend a series. An Excel file is saved as .xlsx. A chart turns data into a visual such as a bar, column, line or pie chart; a pie chart shows parts of a whole.
PowerPoint
A presentation is made of slides. Slide layouts decide the arrangement of title and content; a theme sets colours and fonts; a transition is the effect when moving from one slide to the next; an animation is an effect on an object within a slide. F5 starts the slide show from the beginning and Shift + F5 starts from the current slide. A presentation file has the extension .pptx.
File extensions
A file name has a base name and an extension that shows its type: .docx (Word), .xlsx (Excel), .pptx (PowerPoint), .pdf (Portable Document Format), .txt (plain text), .jpg or .png (images), .mp3 (audio), .mp4 (video), .zip (compressed archive), .exe (executable program). A common question asks which extension is not an image or which holds a spreadsheet.
8. The internet, the web and email
The internet is a worldwide network of networks. The World Wide Web (WWW) is a service that runs on the internet: a system of linked pages reached through a browser. They are not the same thing, and "the internet and the web are the same" is a standard wrong option.
Terms to know:
- URL (Uniform Resource Locator): the address of a web page, such as https://www.example.in/page.
- HTTP and HTTPS: the protocols that carry web pages; the S means secure, using encryption.
- IP address: a unique number identifying a device on a network. IPv4 has four numbers from 0 to 255 separated by dots; IPv6 is the longer, newer format.
- DNS (Domain Name System): converts a domain name such as a website's name into an IP address.
- ISP (Internet Service Provider): the company that gives internet access.
- Browser: software to view pages, for example Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari.
- Search engine: a website that finds pages for a query; it is not the same as a browser.
- Hyperlink: a clickable link; HTML is the markup language of web pages.
- Download and upload: bringing a file from the internet to your device, and sending a file the other way.
- Cookie: a small file a website stores on your device to remember you.
- Wi-Fi: wireless local network access; hotspot: sharing a phone's internet with other devices.
Email (electronic mail) needs an address in the form username@domain. When you write a message the fields are To (the main recipient), Cc (carbon copy: visible to all recipients) and Bcc (blind carbon copy: the recipient is hidden from the others). The Subject line states the topic. The protocols are SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) for sending, and POP3 or IMAP for receiving. Attachments are files sent along with a message. Spam is unwanted bulk email, and the Inbox, Sent, Drafts and Trash (or Deleted items) folders hold messages in their stages.
Worked example 6. You send one email to Rao in To, to Devi in Cc and to Kumar in Bcc. Who can see all three names? Only you, the sender. Rao and Devi can see each other, but neither can see Kumar. Kumar sees Rao and Devi.
9. Networks
A computer network connects two or more computers to share data and resources. By size the main types are:
- PAN (Personal Area Network): a few metres, such as Bluetooth between a phone and earphones.
- LAN (Local Area Network): a building or campus, such as an office or a school lab.
- MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): a city or a large campus.
- WAN (Wide Area Network): countries and continents; the internet is the largest WAN.
Topology is the layout of a network: bus (one common cable), star (all devices linked to a central hub or switch), ring (a closed loop) and mesh (every device linked to many others). The star topology is the most common in offices because one failed cable affects only one device, but the failure of the central switch stops the whole network.
Network devices: A modem converts digital signals to analog and back so data can travel over telephone or cable lines. A router connects different networks and directs data between them, such as your home network and the internet. A switch connects devices inside one network and sends data only to the intended device. A hub connects devices but sends data to all of them, which is why it has largely been replaced by switches. A network interface card (NIC) lets a computer connect to a network. A firewall filters network traffic to block unauthorised access.
Protocols are the agreed rules for communication. TCP/IP is the basic protocol suite of the internet. FTP transfers files, SMTP sends mail, and HTTP and HTTPS carry web pages.
Data transfer modes: simplex (one way only, such as a keyboard to a computer), half duplex (both ways but one at a time, such as a walkie-talkie) and full duplex (both ways at once, such as a phone call). Bandwidth is the amount of data a connection can carry in a given time, measured in bits per second.
10. Cyber safety: habits that prevent fraud
Cyber safety questions are about recognising threats and choosing the correct response. The main threats are these.
- Malware: malicious software, an umbrella term. A virus attaches itself to files and spreads when they are opened. A worm spreads by itself across networks. A Trojan pretends to be useful software while doing harm. Spyware watches what you do. Ransomware locks files and demands payment. Adware shows unwanted advertisements.
- Phishing: a fake message, usually email, SMS or a call, that tries to make you reveal passwords, OTPs or card details by posing as a bank or a government office. Vishing is phishing by voice call and smishing is phishing by SMS.
- Identity theft: using another person's personal details, such as passwords or identification numbers, for fraud.
- Hacking: gaining unauthorised access to a system.
- Social engineering: tricking people instead of breaking into systems.
Good practice:
- Use long passwords that mix letters, numbers and symbols, and a different password for each important account.
- Switch on two-factor authentication, so a password alone does not open the account. Never share an OTP, even with someone who claims to be from a bank or a government office.
- Install updates for the operating system and apps, and keep an antivirus program running.
- Do not click links or open attachments from unknown senders; check the address before you enter any detail.
- Look for https and the correct domain before paying or logging in.
- Take regular backups, kept apart from the main device.
If you are a victim of online financial fraud, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal is at cybercrime.gov.in and the cyber crime helpline is 1930, which the Press Information Bureau describes as working round the clock. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) is an attached office of the Ministry of Home Affairs set up to deal with cyber crime in a coordinated way. Report quickly: for financial fraud, time matters.
11. The Information Technology Act, 2000: basics for exams
The Information Technology Act, 2000 is Act 21 of 2000. It received the President's assent on 9 June 2000, and the Central Government notified 17 October 2000 as the date on which its provisions came into force (notification G.S.R. 788(E) dated 17 October 2000). Its stated purpose, in the long title of the Act as published, is to give legal recognition to transactions carried out by electronic data interchange and other electronic communication, commonly called electronic commerce, and to facilitate electronic filing of documents with government agencies. Its preamble refers to the United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/51/162 of 30 January 1997, which adopted the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce. The Act extends to the whole of India and also applies to an offence or contravention committed outside India by any person, subject to its terms.
What the Act covers
The original Act gave legal recognition to electronic records and digital signatures, set up the regime for Certifying Authorities and Digital Signature Certificates, defined offences and penalties, and provided for a Cyber Appellate Tribunal. It also amended the Indian Penal Code, the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1891 and the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, so that electronic records could be used as evidence. Learn the Act as "legal recognition for electronic records and digital signatures plus cyber offences".
Key sections to recognise
| Section | Subject |
|---|---|
| 43 | Penalty and compensation for damage to a computer, system or network |
| 65 | Tampering with computer source documents |
| 66 | Computer-related offences (called hacking in the original Act) |
| 66C | Identity theft |
| 66D | Cheating by personation using a computer resource |
| 66E | Violation of privacy |
| 66F | Cyber terrorism |
| 67 | Publishing obscene material in electronic form |
| 69 | Power to direct interception, monitoring or decryption |
| 70 | Protected systems |
| 70B | Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) |
Penalties we verified from the Act's text: in the original 2000 text, tampering with computer source documents under section 65 carries imprisonment up to three years, or a fine up to two lakh rupees, or both; and under section 66C and section 66D, as given on India Code, imprisonment up to three years and a fine up to one lakh rupees. Section 67 as originally enacted carried up to five years and a fine of one lakh rupees on first conviction. The amending Act of 2008 changed several provisions, so for any penalty figure, check the current text on indiacode.nic.in before relying on a number from memory or from this note.
The 2008 amendment and Section 66A
The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 added or changed many provisions, including the identity theft and cheating offences, and came into force on 27 October 2009. It also added Section 66A, which punished sending offensive messages through communication services. The Supreme Court struck down Section 66A as unconstitutional on 24 March 2015 in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, holding that it violated the freedom of speech under Article 19(1)(a) and was not saved by Article 19(2). A common trap is to list 66A as a live offence. It is not.
CERT-In and data protection
CERT-In is the national agency for cyber security incidents under section 70B of the Act. It was appointed by a notification dated 27 October 2009. Its work includes collecting and analysing information about cyber incidents, issuing alerts and advisories, and coordinating response.
Alongside the IT Act, India now has the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which the Press Information Bureau reports was enacted on 11 August 2023, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, notified on 14 November 2025 with an eighteen-month period of phased compliance. For an exam, the safe fact is that data protection now has its own dedicated law in addition to the IT Act.
12. Digital India: initiatives you should be able to place
Digital India was launched on 1 July 2015, according to the programme's official page, with the vision of transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. The programme is organised around three core vision areas: digital infrastructure as a utility to every citizen, governance and services on demand, and digital empowerment of citizens. A longer-standing framework often quoted in textbooks lists nine pillars: broadband highways, universal access to mobile connectivity, public internet access, e-governance, e-Kranti, information for all, electronics manufacturing, IT for jobs, and early harvest programmes. The nodal ministry is the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Initiatives that appear on the programme's official pages include DigiLocker, UMANG, MyGov, Jeevan Pramaan, Common Services Centres and Bhashini. The same page records the Bharat Interface for Money app in 2016, the Goods and Services Tax Network in 2017, the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan in 2018 and the Aarogya Setu app in 2020.
A quick reference to the commonly asked ones, using Press Information Bureau information:
| Initiative | What it is | Year or date |
|---|---|---|
| DigiLocker | Cloud storage of official documents and certificates | 2015 |
| UMANG | Single mobile app for many government services (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) | Dedicated to the nation on 23 November 2017 |
| BHIM | Payment app using UPI, from NPCI | December 2016 |
| UPI | Unified Payments Interface from NPCI | Pilot April 2016; public rollout August 2016 |
| GeM | Government e-Marketplace for public procurement | 2016 |
| PMGDISHA | Rural digital literacy scheme | 2018 |
NPCI stands for the National Payments Corporation of India. UPI lets a user link bank accounts to a mobile app and pay by a virtual payment address. Never confuse UPI (a payment system) with BHIM (an app built on it) in a question that asks which is which.
For Andhra Pradesh candidates, remember that the State has its own digital delivery channels, such as the Grama and Ward Sachivalayam system. Details of any such platform change often, so for any named portal or app, rely on the department's current page.
13. Indian space and technology milestones
Science and Technology questions about space are fact-based and repeat the same milestones. The dates below were checked against ISRO and Press Information Bureau pages as noted.
| Milestone | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISRO formed | 15 August 1969 | Under the Department of Atomic Energy, after INCOSPAR of 1962 |
| Aryabhata | 19 April 1975 | India's first satellite; launched from Kapustin Yar on a Soviet Kosmos-3M rocket |
| Bhaskara | 7 June 1979 | Early Earth observation satellite |
| SLV-3 and Rohini | 18 July 1980 | India's first satellite launch by its own launch vehicle |
| APPLE | 19 June 1981 | Experimental communication satellite |
| Rakesh Sharma in space | 3 April 1984 | First Indian citizen in space, aboard a Soviet mission |
| Chandrayaan-1 | 22 October 2008 | First Moon mission; PSLV-C11 from Sriharikota; lunar water molecules reported |
| Mars Orbiter Mission | 5 November 2013 launch; 24 September 2014 orbit insertion | PSLV-C25; India's first interplanetary mission, inserted into Mars orbit on the first attempt |
| Chandrayaan-2 | 22 July 2019 | Lunar mission |
| Chandrayaan-3 | 14 July 2023 launch; 23 August 2023 landing | LVM3-M4; soft landing near the lunar south polar region |
| Aditya-L1 | 2 September 2023 | PSLV-C57; first Indian space-based solar observatory; halo orbit at L1 on 6 January 2024 |
| Ax-4 mission | Launched 25 June 2025; splashdown 15 July 2025 | Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla flew as mission pilot to the International Space Station |
The Moon-landing date of 23 August is now observed as National Space Day. The Government of India notified it after the Chandrayaan-3 landing, and the first National Space Day was observed in 2024. Aditya-L1 observes the Sun from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L1), about 1.5 million km from Earth, with seven payloads, according to ISRO.
Two traps are common. The first is to confuse the launch date of Chandrayaan-3 (14 July 2023) with its landing date (23 August 2023). The second is to name Aryabhata as launched from Sriharikota. It was launched from a Soviet site on a Soviet rocket; Sriharikota hosted the launches of later missions, including SLV and PSLV. Our Andhra Pradesh science, technology and institutions note covers Sriharikota (SDSC SHAR) itself.
Gaganyaan is India's human spaceflight programme. Government replies to Parliament published by PIB describe work on uncrewed missions before any crewed flight and give a target of 2027-28 for the first crewed mission. Mission schedules move, so treat any date for Gaganyaan as "check the latest ISRO or PIB release", and do not state a launch as having happened unless you have seen the official announcement.
Other technology terms worth a line each: satellite types (communication such as INSAT and GSAT; remote sensing such as IRS; navigation such as NavIC, India's regional navigation system); launch vehicles (SLV, ASLV, PSLV, GSLV, LVM3); and National Science Day on 28 February, which marks the announcement of the Raman Effect and was designated by the Government of India in 1986.
14. Exam traps in one place
- RAM is volatile; ROM is not. A question that says "contents lost when power is off" means RAM.
- The control unit does not calculate; the ALU does.
- 1 KB is 1,024 bytes in exam convention, and 1 byte is 8 bits.
- The internet is not the web; a browser is not a search engine.
- Bcc recipients are hidden from the others; Cc recipients are visible.
- Ctrl + P is print, not paste; Shift + Delete bypasses the recycle bin.
- A formula starts with =, and >= includes equality.
- Only machine language is directly understood by a computer.
- Section 66A of the IT Act was struck down on 24 March 2015.
- The IT Act was assented on 9 June 2000 but came into force on 17 October 2000.
- UPI is the payment system; BHIM and others are apps.
- Chandrayaan-3: launch 14 July 2023, landing 23 August 2023.
- A cold boot starts from power off; a warm boot is a restart.
- A switch sends data to the intended device; a hub sends to all.
15. A short revision plan
For a candidate with two weeks, a workable plan is as follows. Days 1 to 3: hardware, memory, units and software, with all worked examples redone by hand. Days 4 to 6: operating system, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, typing every shortcut on a real keyboard. Days 7 to 9: internet, email, networks and cyber safety. Days 10 to 11: IT Act sections, Digital India and the space table. Days 12 to 13: mixed practice. Day 14: only the traps list and a timed set. Keep a one-page sheet of abbreviations and re-read it every day; the same twenty abbreviations explain a large share of the questions.
If your recruitment includes a practical Computer Proficiency Test, spend the extra hours on hands-on tasks: set up a page with margins, type a paragraph at a steady speed, format a table, sort a column in a spreadsheet, apply SUM and AVERAGE, and save, rename and move files. A qualifying test cannot raise your rank, but it can remove you from the list, so give it the time it needs.
Key facts for exams
- Eight bits make a byte; the exam convention is 1 KB = 1,024 bytes.
- Fastest to slowest: registers, cache, RAM, SSD, HDD. RAM is volatile; ROM and secondary storage are non-volatile.
- The CPU has the ALU, the control unit and registers.
- Machine language is the only language a computer directly understands.
- DNS converts domain names to IP addresses; HTTPS is the secure web protocol.
- A router connects networks; a switch connects devices inside a network; a modem converts signals.
- Information Technology Act, 2000: Act 21 of 2000, assent 9 June 2000, in force 17 October 2000.
- Section 66A: inserted by the 2008 amendment, in force 27 October 2009, struck down 24 March 2015.
- CERT-In is the national agency under Section 70B; the cyber crime helpline is 1930 and the portal is cybercrime.gov.in.
- Digital India was launched on 1 July 2015; UMANG was dedicated to the nation on 23 November 2017.
- Aryabhata: 19 April 1975. Chandrayaan-1: 22 October 2008. Mars Orbiter Mission: launched 5 November 2013, in Mars orbit on 24 September 2014. Chandrayaan-3: landed 23 August 2023. Aditya-L1: launched 2 September 2023.
- National Space Day: 23 August. National Science Day: 28 February.
10 practice MCQs with answers
1. Which of the following is a volatile memory? A. ROM B. RAM C. Hard disk D. DVD Answer: B. RAM loses its contents when power is switched off; the other options retain data without power.
2. Which part of the CPU performs arithmetic and logic operations? A. Control Unit B. Register C. Arithmetic Logic Unit D. Cache Answer: C. The control unit directs operations and registers hold data; the ALU calculates and compares.
3. A pen drive has 8 GB capacity. How many files of 16 MB each can it hold, using 1 GB = 1,024 MB? A. 256 B. 512 C. 1,024 D. 128 Answer: B. 8 x 1,024 = 8,192 MB; 8,192 / 16 = 512 files.
4. In an email you place one address in Bcc. What is true? A. Every recipient sees that address B. Only the Bcc recipient sees the other recipients, and the others cannot see the Bcc address C. The message is not delivered D. It is treated as spam Answer: B. Bcc hides the recipient from the others, while that recipient can see the To and Cc names.
5. Which keyboard shortcut is used to undo the last action in MS Word? A. Ctrl + Y B. Ctrl + U C. Ctrl + Z D. Ctrl + X Answer: C. Ctrl + Z undoes; Ctrl + Y redoes; Ctrl + U underlines; Ctrl + X cuts.
6. If cells A1 to A4 hold 10, 20, 30 and 40, what is the result of =AVERAGE(A1:A4)? A. 25 B. 100 C. 20 D. 30 Answer: A. The sum is 100 and there are four values, so 100 / 4 = 25.
7. Which device connects different networks and directs data between them? A. Hub B. Router C. Repeater D. Switch Answer: B. A router joins separate networks, such as a home network and the internet. A switch works inside one network, and a hub broadcasts to all devices.
8. The Information Technology Act, 2000 came into force on which date? A. 9 June 2000 B. 15 August 2000 C. 17 October 2000 D. 27 October 2009 Answer: C. The Act was assented on 9 June 2000 and brought into force by a notification appointing 17 October 2000. The date 27 October 2009 relates to the 2008 amendment.
9. Which section of the IT Act, inserted in 2008, was struck down by the Supreme Court on 24 March 2015? A. Section 66C B. Section 67 C. Section 66A D. Section 70B Answer: C. In Shreya Singhal v. Union of India the Court struck down Section 66A.
10. Chandrayaan-3's lander touched down on the Moon on which date? A. 14 July 2023 B. 23 August 2023 C. 2 September 2023 D. 22 October 2008 Answer: B. The launch was on 14 July 2023; 23 August is now National Space Day. 2 September 2023 is the launch of Aditya-L1 and 22 October 2008 the launch of Chandrayaan-1.
Frequently asked questions
Is computer awareness compulsory in AP Group-IV and Sachivalayam exams? It depends on the recruitment. Check the scheme in the Detailed Notification. Where a post is named "cum Computer Assistant", expect office-automation skills to matter, and a Computer Proficiency Test may apply as a qualifying stage.
Is the Computer Proficiency Test a scoring test? In the Junior Assistant cum Computer Assistant scheme as described in our Group-IV guide, the test is qualifying. It cannot improve your rank but you must pass it. Always confirm in the current notification.
Do I need to learn programming? Not for the typical General Studies computer questions. You need to know what a language translator is and the difference between machine and high-level language, but not to write programs.
How should I memorise shortcut keys? Use them on a real keyboard while typing a short document each day. Reading a list helps less than doing the action ten times.
Which IT Act sections matter most? Learn the dates (assent, commencement), the purpose, and the sections in the table above, plus the fact that 66A was struck down. Check current penalty figures on India Code rather than relying on a list in a forwarded document.
Where should I check government digital programmes and space missions? Use the programme's official page (digitalindia.gov.in), the Press Information Bureau, and the ISRO website. Treat dates for future missions as subject to change.
Are space dates in the syllabus for State exams? Science and Technology often includes them as general awareness. The milestones table in this post covers the ones asked most often.
Related reading
- APPSC Group-IV guide: scheme, syllabus, CPT and preparation
- Grama and Ward Sachivalayam: Secretary guide
- Municipal Junior Assistant guide
- General science: physics and chemistry notes
- Andhra Pradesh science, technology and institutions
- Top 100 AP GK questions
- Static GK: days, awards and organisations
- Telugu version of this post
- Andhra Pradesh state guide: history, geography, government and every AP exam
- Telangana state guide (same syllabus for the general-studies sections)
- Telangana government exams 2026
Practise on pareeksha.in
Revise the theory here, then test yourself in timed conditions with a mock test on pareeksha.in, where the platform offers 10 Lakh+ MCQs, 100+ Exams and 5,000+ Full-Length Mocks. Confirm the scheme and syllabus for your exact post in the official notification.
Sources and verification
Pages opened:
- Digital India programme, About page and Initiatives page, digitalindia.gov.in (launch date, vision areas, initiative list and the milestones shown there).
- The Information Technology Act, 2000 as originally enacted (Act 21 of 2000, Gazette text, meity.gov.in copy): assent date, long title, preamble, sections 1, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 72.
- Notification G.S.R. 788(E) dated 17 October 2000 appointing the date of commencement of the Act (meity.gov.in, IT Act and Rules compilation).
- ISRO: Chandrayaan-3 page, Aditya-L1 page and Timeline page (isro.gov.in).
Confirmed from official-site excerpts returned by search (the full pages were not opened): India Code summaries of sections 66C and 66D; India Code and Supreme Court listings for the 66A judgment of 24 March 2015 and the 2008 amendment's effective date of 27 October 2009; CERT-In appointment under section 70B by notification of 27 October 2009; PIB releases on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (11 August 2023) and DPDP Rules, 2025 (14 November 2025); PIB on the cyber crime helpline 1930 and I4C; PIB and MeitY pages on UMANG (23 November 2017), BHIM (December 2016), UPI (April and August 2016) and DigiLocker (2015); ISRO pages for Aryabhata, Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission; ISRO and PIB on Ax-4 and Gaganyaan; PIB on National Space Day.
Not verified and hedged: the detailed syllabus of the Computer Proficiency Test and of any Sachivalayam or Junior Assistant recruitment (check the current notification); the present penalty figures after the 2008 amendment (check India Code); the exact date of the first crewed Gaganyaan flight (check ISRO and PIB); the standard textbook list of the nine Digital India pillars (taken from a secondary summary, labelled as such); the computer generation and basic hardware facts, which are standard textbook knowledge and were not checked against a government page.
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