UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, D and E accurately reflect good counselling and mentoring practices. A is true because counselling addresses academic, emotional and career issues. B is true as mentoring often pairs newcomers with experienced peers or staff. D is true since confidentiality encourages students to share concerns without fear. E is true because such support contributes to persistence and completion. C is false; counselling is generally voluntary and need-based, and F is false because restricting services to top performers contradicts the inclusive purpose of student support.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect as it omits E and therefore fails to acknowledge the important impact of counselling and mentoring on retention and success outcomes.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes all four true statements about functions, structures, ethics and impact, and excludes C and F, which present counselling as compulsory or elitist.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes C, a false claim about compulsory counselling, and therefore mixes true and false statements instead of presenting a purely correct set.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes F, which wrongly restricts counselling to top performers, and omits B, leaving out a key dimension of mentoring arrangements.

Statements A, B, C and F express core elements of teacher ethics. A is true because honesty, fairness and respect are foundational virtues. B is true as safeguarding student information protects privacy and trust. C is true since exchanging grades for favours breaches integrity, and F is true because professional bodies and institutions often codify ethical expectations. D is false because public ridicule harms dignity, and E is false as ethical obligations extend beyond classroom walls; therefore A, B, C and F only is correct.

Option A:
Option A collects A, B and C but omits F, neglecting the role of formal codes in guiding ethical behaviour. Thus A, B and C only is incomplete.

Option B:
Option B brings together A, C and F, leaving out the important duty of confidentiality expressed in B, so A, C and F only is not fully correct.

Option C:
Option C includes A, B, C and F, capturing virtues, confidentiality, integrity and codified guidelines, while excluding D and E, which condone ridicule and limited responsibility. Hence A, B, C and F only is the correct answer.

Option D:
Option D accepts D and E as if they were ethical, treating ridicule and narrow responsibility as acceptable, which is contrary to professional norms. Therefore B, C, D, E and F only is invalid.

Confidentiality means that researchers safeguard the privacy of participants by ensuring that identifiable information is not revealed to unauthorised persons or reported in a way that could expose individual identities. Data may be stored securely, and results are often presented in aggregate form or with pseudonyms to protect participants. Upholding confidentiality builds trust and encourages honest responses, which are crucial for the integrity of research. Because the stem focuses on preventing disclosure of information that reveals identity, it is referring to the principle of confidentiality.

Option A:
Beneficence is the ethical principle that researchers should maximise possible benefits and minimise potential harms to participants. While maintaining confidentiality can contribute to beneficence, the term itself is broader and does not specifically denote privacy protection. Since the question emphasises non-disclosure of identifiable information, beneficence is not the most accurate completion.

Option B:
Confidentiality requires researchers to design data handling procedures that control who has access to raw data, how long data are kept and how they are destroyed. Participants are often informed about these protections during the consent process. This focus on privacy and non-disclosure of identifying details matches exactly the situation described in the stem, making confidentiality the correct answer.

Option C:
Deception involves intentionally withholding important information from participants or giving them false information about some aspect of the study, typically to prevent bias in behaviour. While some studies may use deception under strict ethical safeguards, it is the opposite of transparency and does not protect identities. Therefore, deception cannot be the appropriate term for the principle described.

Option D:
Randomisation is a methodological technique for assigning participants to groups in an unbiased manner, commonly used in experimental designs to control confounding variables. It is not an ethical principle about protecting the privacy of participant information. As such, randomisation does not fit the context of the stem.

Decryption applies a cryptographic key and algorithm to ciphertext to retrieve the original plaintext. It is the necessary counterpart of encryption in secure communication systems. Without decryption, authorised users could not read protected information. Thus, the process is called decryption.

Option A:
Option A is correct because decryption precisely denotes reversing encryption to recover the original data.

Option B:
Option B, encryption, is the forward process of encoding data and does not describe restoration to readable form.

Option C:
Option C, hashing, produces fixed length digests for integrity checking but is generally one way and not used to recover original data.

Option D:
Option D, scanning, may refer to searching or virus checking and is not related to cryptographic reversal.

Statements A, B, C and E recognise both the opportunities and risks of social media for institutions, while D and F are dangerous misconceptions. Public posts can affect reputation, and policies and training help guide lawful, respectful engagement. Assuming everything is private ignores platform settings and sharing, and encouraging disclosure of confidential data conflicts with information security. Thus the correct set consists of A, B, C and E only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it blends communication benefits with policy guidance and awareness of digital footprints. It excludes D and F, which either overstate privacy or disregard confidentiality, ensuring a realistic and responsible perspective.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it adds F, which would legitimise sharing confidential data publicly. Even though A, B, C and E are true, including F contradicts fundamental privacy and security principles.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A and adds D. Leaving out A ignores the positive use of social media for announcements, and accepting D falsely guarantees privacy, so this option cannot be correct.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B and includes F. It ignores reputational risks and actively promotes sharing sensitive information, making the combination clearly unacceptable.

Statements A, B, C, D and F are correct, while E is the only wrong statement. Over-reliance on personal accounts can create unequal access, so formal channels are still needed. Confidential information must be protected, language should be respectful, and staff acting online need to follow institutional policies. It is never acceptable to spread unverified rumours just to create excitement because this damages trust and can mislead stakeholders. Therefore E only is the wrong statement.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it isolates E as the sole statement that violates ethical communication norms on social media. It recognises the importance of equity, confidentiality, respectful language and policy awareness in institutional messaging. By leaving all those correct statements untouched, this option accurately answers the question.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it also labels A as wrong, even though A rightly warns against announcing crucial dates only through personal accounts. Doing so may exclude students who do not follow those accounts. Hence A and E only cannot be considered the right set of wrong statements.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it treats C and F, both correct statements, as wrong along with E. C recognises the need to protect student data, and F highlights adherence to organisational policies; both align with professional practice. Including them in the wrong set makes this option logically inconsistent.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it misclassifies B and F, which call for formal channels and policy awareness, as wrong. These statements reflect good institutional practice rather than error. Therefore B, E and F only cannot be chosen as the set of wrong statements.

Confidentiality means that information provided by participants is kept secure and is not revealed in a way that would allow individuals to be identified without their permission. Researchers may use codes instead of names and limit access to raw data. This obligation builds trust and protects participants from potential harm resulting from disclosure. Thus, the duty described in the stem is called confidentiality.

Option A:
Anonymity means that even the researcher cannot link data to specific individuals, which is stronger than confidentiality but not always feasible in every study. The stem focuses on the obligation to keep identities private, which more generally describes confidentiality.

Option B:
Confidentiality requires researchers to store data safely, restrict access and report findings in aggregate or masked form. It assures participants that their personal information will not be misused, which fits the idea of not disclosing identities and makes this option correct.

Option C:
Deception involves deliberately withholding or misrepresenting information during a study, which is sometimes used but must be justified and followed by debriefing; it is not about protecting privacy.

Option D:
Replication refers to repeating a study to see whether its results are consistent and has nothing to do with how participants’ data are kept private, so it is not appropriate here.

Encryption transforms plaintext into ciphertext using algorithms and secret keys, protecting information from unauthorised access during storage or transmission. It is fundamental to secure communication over networks. Only those with the correct key can restore the original data. Therefore, the security process described is encryption.

Option A:
Option A is correct because encryption is defined as the process of encoding data to maintain confidentiality and integrity.

Option B:
Option B, decryption, is the reverse process that converts ciphertext back to plaintext and does not match the direction described.

Option C:
Option C, compression, reduces file size but does not by itself secure data.

Option D:
Option D, routing, directs network packets to their destination and is unrelated to transforming data for secrecy.

Statements A, B, D and E are correct, whereas C and F are incorrect. Counsellors actively listen by paraphrasing and summarising, keep information confidential within ethical limits, and use empathic responses to build trust. They also attend to non-verbal signals that reveal emotional states. Interrupting frequently or using judgemental language tends to shut down communication, so statements C and F do not reflect good counselling practice. Therefore A, B, D and E make up the correct set of statements.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits E, ignoring the importance of non-verbal observation in counselling. While A, B and D highlight listening, confidentiality and empathy, they do not capture how body language informs understanding. This omission means A, B and D only cannot be the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes the four statements that match accepted counselling communication principles and excludes the two that conflict with them. It presents a coherent picture of respectful, empathic and observant practice. Consequently A, B, D and E only is the right answer.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since it adds C, which wrongly promotes frequent interruption, to an otherwise sound group. Interruptions can break students’ flow of thought and reduce trust. Including C undermines the accuracy of the option.

Option D:
Option D is wrong because it includes F, which mistakenly claims that judgemental language encourages openness. In reality, students may feel shamed or silenced by such language. For that reason B, D, E and F only cannot be chosen as correct.

Statement C is wrong because fabricating or altering data is a serious ethical violation, regardless of the supposed clarity it might bring to conclusions. Statements A, B, D and E are correct: data should be stored securely, retained for reasonable periods, restricted to authorised users and anonymised when appropriate to protect participants. Therefore, C alone is the incorrect statement.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it treats C and D as wrong, even though D correctly states that access to identifiable data should be restricted to authorised persons. Including D among wrong statements misrepresents a key confidentiality safeguard.

Option B:
Option B is correct since it singles out C as the only unethical statement and implicitly affirms the ethical principles expressed in A, B, D and E. It highlights that integrity and confidentiality are central to responsible data management.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it pairs A, which correctly emphasises secure storage, with C, implying both are wrong. This not only fails to isolate the unethical behaviour but also discourages proper data security.

Option D:
Option D is also incorrect because it misclassifies B and D alongside C as wrong, even though B and D describe good practice in data retention and access control. This combination confuses ethical and unethical actions.

Encryption uses mathematical algorithms to transform plaintext into ciphertext that appears meaningless without the correct key. This protects the confidentiality of sensitive data as it travels over networks or resides on storage devices. Even if attackers intercept the data, they cannot easily interpret it without decryption keys. Thus, the protective process described in the stem is encryption.

Option A:
Option A, compression, reduces the size of data for efficient storage or transmission but does not intentionally hide the content from unauthorised viewers.

Option B:
Option B is correct because encryption is explicitly defined as encoding information to prevent unauthorised disclosure and is a cornerstone of contemporary ICT security practices.

Option C:
Option C, formatting, prepares storage media or arranges document appearance and does not inherently provide confidentiality.

Option D:
Option D, duplication, involves making copies of data, which can actually increase exposure rather than protect against access.

Statement C is the only wrong statement because symmetric-key encryption requires the same secret key at both ends, not different keys. A rightly states that encryption transforms plaintext into ciphertext using an algorithm and key, B is correct about protecting confidentiality in transit, and D reflects the use of encryption in secure web protocols such as those used for online payments. Therefore the combination that selects only C as wrong is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it treats both B and C as wrong. B accurately describes the role of encryption in protecting confidentiality during transmission, so grouping it with the false statement C misidentifies a true property as wrong. This option therefore overstates the set of wrong statements.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it isolates C, which mischaracterises symmetric-key encryption as using different keys. By recognising that A, B and D are standard descriptions of encryption and that only C is false, this option precisely matches the requirement to select the wrong statement(s).

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it considers A and C together as wrong. A is a fundamental definition of encryption, so including it among wrong statements contradicts basic ICT knowledge. Mixing one false statement with one true statement makes this combination invalid.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats C and D as wrong even though D correctly notes that secure web protocols rely on encryption. Since only C is wrong, adding D expands the set of wrong statements beyond what the question requires.

Data privacy requires both organisational policies and technical safeguards. Access control ensures that only staff with legitimate roles can view or modify sensitive records. Strong authentication mechanisms and encryption prevent unauthorised disclosure during storage and transmission. Together, these measures align with ethical and sometimes legal responsibilities in educational ICT use.

Option A:
Option A correctly combines the ideas of “need to know” access and technological protection. It reflects best practices recommended for student information systems and learning platforms.

Option B:
Option B openly exposes credentials, which is a serious security breach and violates privacy principles.

Option C:
Option C allows unrestricted access to grades, undermining confidentiality and trust in the institution.

Option D:
Option D sends sensitive data without protection and to unknown parties, greatly increasing the risk of misuse or leakage.

Statements A, B and D correctly characterise research ethics. Ethics committees review proposals involving human or animal subjects, plagiarism and data falsification are clear misconduct, and informed consent with confidentiality is central to human research. Statements C, E and F are false because ethics apply to all disciplines, institutions should have formal review mechanisms and researchers at all levels benefit from ethics training.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D and therefore does not include informed consent/confidentiality.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it includes A, B and D and excludes C, E and F.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it omits A and therefore misses the role of ethics committees.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it includes C (false), so it mixes true and false statements.

Statements A, B and D are correct, while C is the only wrong statement. A is correct because ethical feedback must be honest but also respectful in language and tone. B is correct as publicly shaming or negative comparisons can damage students’ dignity and should be avoided. D is correct because sarcastic remarks that belittle students undermine trust and should not be used in feedback. C is wrong since confidential aspects of performance should not be discussed openly in public spaces; doing so violates privacy.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it groups A and C as wrong statements. A is in fact a correct ethical guideline emphasising honesty combined with respect. Although C is wrong, the inclusion of A makes this option an inaccurate representation of the wrong statements.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it lists B and C as wrong, even though B correctly highlights the harm caused by public negative comparisons. By treating B as wrong, the option misrepresents accepted ethical standards in assessment communication. Therefore B and C only cannot be chosen.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it pairs C and D as wrong statements. While C is wrong, D is correct in warning against sarcastic remarks that ridicule students’ efforts. Including D among wrong statements makes this combination logically inconsistent.

Option D:
Option D is correct because it singles out C only as the wrong statement. C wrongly suggests that confidential aspects of student performance may be openly discussed, which violates privacy and ethical norms. By keeping A, B and D outside the wrong set as correct principles, this option aligns with ethical communication practices.