UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Software as a Service delivers fully functional applications via the web, with providers handling servers, storage and updates. Users typically pay through subscriptions and access the software using browsers or thin clients. This model shifts responsibility for maintenance away from the user and offers scalability on demand. Thus the description in the stem matches SaaS.

Option A:
Option A, Network as a Service, focuses on providing network connectivity or virtualised network functions and is not the standard label for delivering complete applications to end-users. It operates at a different service layer.

Option B:
Option B is correct because SaaS expressly denotes cloud-hosted software that customers use without installing or managing it on local machines. Common examples include web-based email, office suites and learning platforms.

Option C:
Option C, Infrastructure as a Service, offers virtual machines, storage and networks on which customers can install their own software, meaning users still manage operating systems and applications. It does not match the application-focused description.

Option D:
Option D, Platform as a Service, provides a development and deployment environment with tools and middleware, aimed mainly at developers rather than end-users seeking finished applications.

Cloud computing means using shared remote resources (servers, storage, applications) on demand over the Internet. Hosting LMS and files in the cloud lets users log in from anywhere without local installation.

Option A:
This describes typical cloud use: remote servers provide applications and storage, accessed via the Internet, scalable and centrally managed.

Option B:
Purely local installation with no networking is the opposite of cloud: no shared online infrastructure or on-demand services.

Option C:
Purely printed notes with no digital component do not use any cloud resources at all.

Option D:
A single offline desktop concentrates everything in one machine and has none of the elasticity or remote access of cloud computing.

Software as a Service provides complete software applications to users over the internet, eliminating the need for installation and maintenance on local machines. Users typically subscribe to the service and access it through browsers or thin clients. The provider manages updates, security and infrastructure, allowing users to focus on using the application. Therefore, the description in the stem corresponds to SaaS.

Option A:
Option A, Platform as a Service, offers a development and deployment environment rather than ready to use applications, so users still build their own software on top of it.

Option B:
Option B, Infrastructure as a Service, supplies virtualised hardware resources like servers and storage, leaving operating systems and applications to be managed by the customer.

Option C:
Option C, Desktop as a Service, streams a full desktop environment to clients and is conceptually different from providing specific applications as standalone services.

Option D:
Option D is correct because SaaS is defined by delivering software functionality over the web with the provider handling all backend responsibilities, exactly as stated in the question.

Cloud computing provides scalable computing resources over networks without requiring users to manage physical servers. In education, this often appears as web based learning systems and storage services that can be reached from any connected device. The scenario described shows both applications and data residing on remote infrastructure. This is a clear example of academic cloud use.

Option A:
This option correctly reflects the on demand, network based access characteristic of cloud computing. It implies central management, easier collaboration and reduced local maintenance, which are key motivations for universities to adopt cloud services.

Option B:
Storing all data on a personal pen drive is a local and fragile solution. It lacks redundancy, collaboration features and remote accessibility that cloud services offer.

Option C:
Typewriters and filing cabinets represent purely manual processes and do not use shared virtual resources. They are the opposite of cloud based systems.

Option D:
Writing only on chalkboards creates no digital trail and cannot be accessed remotely. It does not exhibit any properties of cloud computing.