UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Downward communication moves from higher to lower positions in the organisational hierarchy. When a head of department gives instructions about exam duties to faculty members,orders flow from superior to subordinates. This fits the definition of downward communication.

Option A:
Upward communication would consist of feedback or reports going from faculty to the head,which is not the direction described.

Option B:
Downward communication is used to convey policies,assignments and performance expectations,all of which are implied in examination duty instructions,making option B correct.

Option C:
Diagonal communication crosses both functional units and levels,such as a dean emailing students in another department,which is not the case here.

Option D:
Informal communication may accompany the instructions but the stem clearly refers to formal duty-related messages.

Upward communication flows from lower levels of an organizational hierarchy to higher levels. When teachers collect and forward students’ feedback or issues to the principal, information moves from the operational level to the leadership level. This helps administrators understand ground realities and make informed decisions. Therefore, this example clearly represents upward communication within an educational institution.

Option A:
Option A, principal issuing new rules to all teachers, is a classic example of downward communication, where directives and policies flow from higher authority to subordinate staff. It is not upward communication.

Option B:
Option B involves teachers, who occupy a lower administrative position, sending information to the principal, who occupies a higher position. This direction from lower to higher level is the defining feature of upward communication, making the example appropriate for the concept.

Option C:
Option C, teachers sharing lesson plans among themselves, illustrates horizontal communication, which occurs between individuals at similar levels in the hierarchy rather than upward or downward.

Option D:
Option D, government broadcasting educational messages on television, is an example of mass communication directed to the public at large. It is not part of the internal upward communication structure of a single educational institution.

Downward communication flows from higher level authorities to subordinates. The registrar holds a higher administrative position than most staff. Orders about examination procedures therefore travel from top to bottom. This is typical downward communication.

Option A:
Upward communication would involve staff reporting back to the registrar,not receiving orders.

Option B:
Diagonal communication would cross both levels and departments,such as registrar communicating directly with students.

Option C:
Because the direction is clearly from superior to subordinates,downward is the correct answer.

Option D:
Informal communication is casual and unofficial,while office orders are formal.

Formal communication follows officially recognized channels and is documented for record. A principal’s circular on letterhead is authoritative, written and directed to staff members in their official capacity. It flows from a higher position in the hierarchy to lower levels, making it downward as well as formal.

Option A:
Option A, grapevine communication, is informal and unofficial, arising through personal networks rather than documented channels, so it does not fit a signed circular on letterhead.

Option B:
Option B is correct because the message originates from institutional authority and moves to subordinates through an official medium, exemplifying formal downward communication.

Option C:
Option C, mass communication, applies to messages sent to large, undifferentiated public audiences outside the institution, often via mass media, which is not the case here.

Option D:
Option D, interpersonal communication between two friends, is typically dyadic and personal, not an institutional directive issued to all teachers.

Statements A, B, C and D are correct, while E and F are incorrect. Downward communication covers instructions and policies from top to lower levels, and upward communication provides feedback and reports from lower to higher levels. Lateral communication links departments or colleagues at the same level, and staff meetings often combine downward information sharing with upward questions or suggestions. By contrast, upward communication is not inherently undesirable, and informal chatter in a staff room is not a structured downward flow. Thus the accurate set of statements is A, B, C and D.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it stops at A, B and C and omits D, which correctly notes that staff meetings may involve both upward and downward flows. Since D is an important example of mixed direction communication, leaving it out means the option does not fully capture the correct statements. Therefore A, B and C only cannot be accepted as the right answer.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it groups A, B, C and D, covering the main directions of organisational communication and their examples. It properly excludes E, which wrongly portrays upward communication as undesirable, and F, which mislabels informal talk as downward. As a result this option includes all and only the true statements given in the item.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it adds E to the otherwise correct set A, B, C and D, treating a clearly false claim as true. E contradicts participative and democratic leadership practices where upward feedback is valued. Including E makes this combination inconsistent with the principles of effective institutional communication.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it omits A and includes both E and F, thereby dropping a correct definition and accepting two erroneous statements. B, C and D are correct, but adding that upward communication is always undesirable and that chit-chat is downward makes the overall option logically flawed. Hence B, C, D, E and F only cannot be chosen as correct.

Downward communication consists of directions, policies and information sent by higher authorities to subordinates. In a college or university, this includes circulars, memos and instructions from the principal or head to teachers and non teaching staff. The content often relates to expectations, schedules, rules and feedback about performance. Such communication helps in implementing decisions and maintaining organizational coordination.

Option A:
Option A correctly describes downward communication, where messages originate at higher levels of the hierarchy and move towards lower levels responsible for implementing decisions.

Option B:
Option B describes horizontal communication, which occurs between colleagues at similar levels in the organization. While important for coordination, it is not a downward flow.

Option C:
Option C illustrates upward communication, in which messages such as reports, complaints or suggestions travel from students or lower staff to higher management. This is conceptually distinct from downward communication.

Option D:
Option D focuses on a particular medium (informal social media groups) rather than on direction in the hierarchy. Such groups can carry upward, downward or horizontal messages and therefore do not define downward communication by themselves.

Statements A, C, D and E are correct, while B is incorrect. A is true because downward communication conveys instructions and policies from higher to lower levels. C is true since horizontal communication takes place among peers at similar levels. D is true as effective organisations combine various flows to coordinate work. E is true because upward communication allows staff to give feedback on decisions. B is false because upward communication should also carry problems, suggestions and grievances, not only praise. Therefore, A, C, D and E only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A brings together A, C, D and E, reflecting how downward, horizontal and upward communication all function in an organisation. It leaves out B, which wrongly narrows upward communication to praise alone, so this option contains all and only the true statements and is correct.

Option B:
Option B includes A and C but omits D and E, thereby ignoring the importance of using multiple directions of flow and the feedback role of upward channels. Although it contains no false statements, A and C only is incomplete and cannot be the best answer.

Option C:
Option C groups A, C and D, but it still fails to mention E, which correctly identifies upward feedback to management. The absence of E means this option does not account for all the true statements provided.

Option D:
Option D lists C, D and E only, leaving out A, even though the definition of downward communication is central to understanding vertical flow. By excluding A, this combination does not fully represent the correct information in the item.

A notice board message is a written document issued by an authority such as the principal or office. It is addressed to a larger student body rather than a single individual. The language and format are typically formal, following institutional norms. This makes it a written, formal, largely downward communication from higher to lower levels.

Option A:
Option A correctly identifies the notice as written and formal. It is a structured message disseminated officially to inform students about rules, events or deadlines, and it is typically one to many communication from administration to students.

Option B:
Option B describes informal oral communication, which might occur spontaneously among students or staff in corridors or canteens. A printed notice on a board is neither oral nor informal chit chat.

Option C:
Option C, upward communication from students to the principal, would involve reports, petitions or suggestions sent from lower to higher levels of authority. A notice board item usually flows in the opposite direction.

Option D:
Option D refers to interpersonal communication between two close friends, which is a private, face to face exchange and not an institutional announcement to a large group.

Statements A and B are correct, while C and D are wrong and therefore form the required combination of wrong statements. A is true because downward communication usually refers to messages flowing from higher levels of authority to lower levels, such as administration to teachers. B is true since teachers’ reports, suggestions and grievances sent upward are classic examples of upward communication. C is false because upward communication can also be distorted due to fear, filtering or misrepresentation. D is false because educational institutions need horizontal and diagonal communication as well as upward and downward flows to function effectively.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it marks C only as wrong and ignores D. Although C is indeed wrong, D also misrepresents institutional communication needs by privileging only downward flow. As the question demands identification of all wrong statements, this option is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it selects D only as wrong and leaves out C. While D is a false claim about the sufficiency of downward communication, C also wrongly asserts that upward messages are always distortion-free. Excluding C means this option does not capture the full set of wrong statements.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it treats A, C and D as wrong, even though A correctly describes typical downward communication. Including A among wrong statements makes the combination inconsistent with organisational communication theory. Hence it cannot be accepted.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it recognises that C and D both misstate how communication operates in institutions. It acknowledges that both directions of flow can be distorted and that institutions require multiple communication directions. By excluding A and B, which are true, this option exactly matches the pattern of wrong statements in the item.

Formal communication follows authorised organisational channels and uses officially recognised formats. University circulars about exam schedules are written documents issued through the administrative hierarchy. They therefore represent formal communication. Such messages are recorded and binding.

Option A:
Informal communication occurs through casual conversations and personal contacts,not official circulars.

Option B:
Formal communication uses official channels,standard formats and authorised messages,which is exactly what university circulars are.

Option C:
Grapevine communication is unofficial and may carry rumours rather than approved information.

Option D:
Mass communication addresses the general public via media,while circulars are internal institutional messages.

Downward communication moves from higher positions to lower ones in an organisation. A principal issuing a circular that assigns duties to staff members is giving instructions from superior to subordinates. This clearly fits the pattern of downward communication.

Option A:
Horizontal communication would take place among staff members of the same level rather than from principal to staff.

Option B:
Upward communication would consist of reports or feedback from staff to the principal,not instructions from principal.

Option C:
Downward messages typically convey decisions,policies and assignments,making option C the best descriptor.

Option D:
Diagonal communication would involve crossing both hierarchies and departments,which is not indicated in the stem.

Statements A, B, C and D are correct, whereas E is incorrect. A is true because downward communication typically carries directives and policy information. B is true since upward channels allow employees to send feedback and complaints. C is true as horizontal communication links units at the same level. D is true because diagonal communication cuts across both departmental and hierarchical boundaries. E is false because effective organisations rely on multi-directional communication, not just downward flow. Thus, A, B, C and D only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A lists A and B only and overlooks C and D, ignoring the roles of horizontal and diagonal communication in coordination across the organisation. As the question explicitly refers to different directions, A and B only is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B adds C to A and B, but still omits D, failing to mention diagonal flows that connect different levels and departments. Consequently, A, B and C only does not represent the full set of correct statements.

Option C:
Option C assembles A, B, C and D, correctly summarising downward, upward, horizontal and diagonal communication, and excludes E, which wrongly privileges only downward communication. Because it includes all and only true statements, this option is correct.

Option D:
Option D groups B, C and E, but E is incorrect as it denies the necessity of multi-directional communication for effectiveness. Including E in a “correct” set makes B, C and E only invalid.

Formal communication follows the official lines of authority and uses prescribed formats such as circulars and memos. A principal's circular to teachers about duty is written through legitimate channels and carries official instructions. Hence it is formal communication.

Option A:
Informal communication is casual and not channelled through official procedures,so it does not match the circular described.

Option B:
The structured,recorded nature of the circular fits the idea of formal communication,making this option correct.

Option C:
Grapevine communication is unrecorded and spreads through personal talk rather than written orders.

Option D:
Mass communication is addressed to a very large anonymous public,not just to staff within an institution.

Formal communication follows officially prescribed channels and formats within an organisation. A memo from the registrar to department heads is an official written instruction moving through hierarchical lines. This clearly represents formal communication.

Option A:
Informal communication occurs through casual talk and personal networks,not through official memoranda.

Option B:
Formal communication follows authorised channels and standard formats,which is exactly what an official memo represents.

Option C:
Grapevine communication is unofficial and often based on rumours,so it does not describe an official memo.

Option D:
Mass communication involves media organisations addressing large public audiences,not internal administrative notices.