UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B and D are correct descriptions of hardware, system software and firmware, while statement C is clearly incorrect. Hardware consists of tangible components, system software covers operating systems and drivers, and firmware is stored permanently in device memory. Application software does not need to be soldered onto a motherboard; it is stored on storage media and loaded into memory for execution. Therefore, the combination that includes A, B and D but excludes C is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it includes only A and B and omits D. While A and B are true, firmware as described in D is also an important software category. Since one true statement is missing, this option does not capture the full set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B includes B and D but leaves out A, even though A accurately defines hardware. Although system software and firmware are correctly identified, this option fails to mention that hardware refers to physical components and so is not complete.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it groups A, B and D, the three true statements, and excludes the false idea in C that software must be physically soldered. It gives a coherent picture of hardware, system software and firmware within ICT systems.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it treats all four statements as correct, thereby accepting C. Including the absurd notion that application software must be soldered onto the motherboard makes this option conceptually wrong.

Statements A, B and C correctly describe major categories of computer software, while statement D is incorrect. System software does manage hardware and provide a base for other programs, application software does handle specific user tasks, and utilities support maintenance and optimisation. Firmware, however, is typically stored in non-volatile memory on hardware devices and not always on removable media. Therefore, the combination that includes A, B and C but excludes D is the only correct answer.

Option A:
Option A includes statements A, B and C and omits D, so it contains exactly the true statements. It recognises the distinct roles of system, application and utility software in a computer system. Because it does not include the false claim about firmware storage, this option accurately represents the set of correct statements.

Option B:
Option B combines A and D only, which makes the set both incomplete and partly wrong. While statement A is true, statement D wrongly suggests that firmware is always stored only on removable media. It also ignores statements B and C, which are correct, so this option cannot represent the full set of correct statements.

Option C:
Option C groups B, C and D together, mixing true and false information. Statements B and C are correct descriptions of application and utility software, but statement D is incorrect about firmware. By excluding statement A, which is also true, and including a false statement, this option cannot be accepted as correct.

Option D:
Option D includes all four statements, so it brings in the incorrect statement D along with the true ones. Because a correct answer must contain only true statements, including D makes this option invalid. Even though A, B and C are correct, the presence of the false statement prevents this combination from being the right answer.