UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The digital divide describes disparities in access to devices, connectivity and digital skills across social and geographic groups. This gap can reinforce existing economic and educational inequalities. Policy efforts often focus on reducing the digital divide through infrastructure and training programmes. Thus, the missing word in the phrase is divide.

Option A:
Option A is correct because the widely used term digital divide precisely captures the inequality in ICT access highlighted in the stem. It is a key concept in ICT and development discussions.

Option B:
Option B, literacy, refers to the ability to read, write or use digital tools, and while related, it does not complete the standard phrase used in the literature.

Option C:
Option C, footprint, is associated with the data trail left by users online and not with inequality in access.

Option D:
Option D, piracy, concerns unauthorised copying of software or digital media and does not describe gaps in access to ICT.