UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and C correctly capture the fundamental relationship between hardware and software in ICT. Hardware is indeed the tangible part of the computer system, while system software like operating systems manages these resources and supports application software. Application software performs specific user tasks such as document creation or computations. Statement D is incorrect because hardware and software are interdependent and must interact for any ICT operation, so the correct combination of true statements is A, B and C only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it recognises only statement A as correct and treats the others as incorrect by omission. While statement A is true, statements B and C are also true descriptions of system and application software. Leaving out B and C makes this option an incomplete and therefore wrong representation of the correct set of statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes only statements A and B. Although both A and B are true, statement C is also a correct description of application software performing user-specific tasks. By failing to include statement C among the correct statements, this option cannot be accepted.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it groups together all and only the true statements, namely A, B and C. These three statements collectively describe how hardware, system software and application software work together in an ICT system. They show the layered structure where hardware is controlled by system software and used by application software to fulfil user needs, while correctly excluding the false statement D.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it adds statement D to the otherwise correct group of A, B and C. Statement D is false, as hardware and software must interact closely within any ICT system for processing to occur. Including a false statement alongside true ones invalidates this combination as the correct answer.

System software, such as operating systems, coordinates all hardware operations and creates an environment where other programs can run. Application software includes tools like word processors, browsers and statistical packages that address particular user needs. The main difference lies in their role and level of interaction with hardware. This option expresses that distinction clearly.

Option A:
This option correctly shows that applications sit above the system layer and rely on it. It also shows that system software is more fundamental to the functioning of the computer. Such classification is frequently tested in UGC NET ICT questions.

Option B:
Application software does not directly manage CPU scheduling, memory allocation or device control. Assigning these functions to applications confuses their purpose and exaggerates their role.

Option C:
Pricing of software depends on licensing models and business decisions and is not an inherent characteristic separating application and system software. Both can be free or paid.

Option D:
Application software normally depends on system software to execute. Without an operating system, most applications cannot access hardware, so the claim that they can work without it is incorrect.