Operating system role – UGC NET Question

The operating system is the core system software that coordinates interactions between hardware and application programs. It handles tasks such as memory allocation, process scheduling, file management and device control. Without an operating system, most applications cannot run effectively. Hence, the managing software described in the stem is the operating system.

Option A:
Option A is correct because definitions of operating systems consistently emphasise resource management and service provision for applications. Examples include Windows, Linux and macOS, all of which perform the roles listed in the question.

Option B:
Option B, word processor, is a specific application for creating and editing documents and does not manage hardware resources. It itself depends on the operating system to function.

Option C:
Option C, browser extension, is an add-on module that enhances browser capabilities and cannot perform system-wide resource management.

Option D:
Option D, device driver, is a specialised program that allows the operating system to communicate with a specific hardware component, but it is not the overarching manager of all resources.