TARGET PRELIMS 2024

BOOKLET-5; S&T-5
COMPUTER & IT - 2
1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Table of Contents............................................................................................................................. 0
2. SUPERCOMPUTERs .......................................................................................................................... 1
1) Supercomputing in India ........................................................................................................................... 1
A) AIRAWAT – PSAI ..............................................................................................................................................................1
B) Other IMportant SUpercomputers of India .....................................................................................................................2
C) National SuperComputing Mission (NSM) .......................................................................................................................2
3. Quantum Computer ......................................................................................................................... 2
1) National Quantum Computing Mission (April 2023) ................................................................................... 4
2) Quantum Entanglement ............................................................................................................................ 5
3) Quantum Gates: Devices that translate Quantum Effects to Computing Awesomness ............................... 6
4) QSIM – (Class Discussion) .......................................................................................................................... 6
4. Cloud Computing ............................................................................................................................. 8
5. Edge Computing (Class Discussion) .................................................................................................. 9
6. Web Browsers: How do they function? ............................................................................................ 9
7. Internet of Things (IOT) .................................................................................................................. 11
8. Industrial Revolution 4.0 ................................................................................................................ 12
9. Big Data ........................................................................................................................................ 13
10. Net Neutrality ............................................................................................................................ 14
11. Topics to be covered in Future Booklets ...................................................................................... 15

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2. SUPERCOMPUTERS
ú A supercomputer is a computer with a high-level computational capacity compared to a general-
purpose computer or Supercomputer is a computer with great speed and memory. They are usually
thousands of time faster than ordinary personal computers made at that time.

ú As per the 62nd edition of TOP500 released in Nov 2023, following are the most powerful
supercomputers currently:
» USA’s Frontier is the most powerful supercomputer in the world reaching 1194 petaflops (1.194
Exaflops)
» USA’s Aurora system is at 2nd spot with a capacity of 585.34 PFlop/s.
­ Note: Aurora is currently being commissioned and will reportedly exceed Frontier with a peak
performance of 2 EFLops/s when finished.
» Eagle (installed in the Microsoft Azure Cloud in the USA), is at 3rd Spot. This is the highest rank a
cloud system has ever achieved. It has the capacity of 561.2 PFlop/s.
» Fugaku (of Japan) is now ranked 4th (it was ranked second till July 2023 and ranked one till Nov
2021). It’s capacity is that of 441.02 PFlop/s.
» LUMI (of European Union, Finland) is ranked 5th with a capacity of 379.70 PFlops.

ú Uses: Super computers are generally used for scientific and engineering applications that must handle
very large databases or do a great amount of computation (or both). Some of the key areas where
supercomputers contribute are:
» Weather forecasting
» Climate research (E.g. Pratyush at IITM, Pune)
» Code-breaking
» Genetic analysis
» Oil and gas exploration – Seismic processing in the oil industry: Supercomputers help to detect
and accelerate deeper geological insights.
» Molecular modelling
» Other jobs that need many calculations including engineering, product design, complex supply
chain optimization (actually any kind of optimization), Bitcoin mining etc.

1) SUPERCOMPUTING IN INDIA

- In India, Indigenous development of Supercomputers began in 1980s. India’s first Supercomputer was
Param 8,000 which was created in 1991.
- Currently, as per the 62nd edition of TOP500 released in Nov 2023, the most powerful supercomputer in
India is AIRAWAT – PSAI which is ranked 75 with a total capacity of 13.17 Petaflops. Thus in terms of
supercomputing power India is way behind the world leaders.

A) AIRAWAT – PSAI
- C-DAC has implemented AI Research Analytics and Knowledge Dissemination Platform (AIRAWAT)
of 200 AI Petaflops at C-DAC, Pune under the initiative of Ministry of Electronics and IT, GoI.
- C-DAC has designed and commissioned the converged HPC-AI dense GPU infrastructure integrated
with the existing PARAM SIDDHI AI (PSAI) system to make the cumulative compute capacity of 410
AI PF (13.17 PF DP).

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 - The system is installed under the National Program on AI by GoI.

- Note: AI FLOPS refers to the floating-point operations per second specifically dedicated to AI
workload. It refers to FLOPS required for training an AI Model.

B) OTHER IMPORTANT SUPERCOMPUTERS OF INDIA

- Param Pravega (3.3 Petaflops); setup under National Supercomputing Mission
- Param Siddhi AI (4.6 petaflops) (210 AI Petaflops); Setup under National Supercomputing Mission
- Pratyush (IITM) and Mihir (National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting) (NCMRWF),
Noida are other fast super computers in India.

C) NATIONAL SUPERCOMPUTING MISSION (NSM)

- A visionary program, launched in 2015, to enable India to leapfrog to the league of world class
computing power nations.
- The mission is jointly steered by DST and MEITy.
- Implemented by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC); Indian Institute of
Science (IISc), Bangalore.
- Super Computing Grid: The mission envisages empowering our national academic and R&D
institutions spread over the country by installing a vast supercomputing grid comprising of more
than 70 high performance computing facilities.
- Human Resource: The mission also includes development of highly professional High-
Performance Computing (HPC) aware human resource for meeting challenges of manpower
scarcity in the sector.
- Recent Developments
ú BullSEQUANA Super Computer: French Company Atos have signed an agreement with C-
DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) for designing, building and
installing BullSequana – the super computer in India
ú The supply of Bullsequana XH200 will be used for creating the network of 70 high
performance computing facilities under NSM.
ú The total computing power of the Bullsequena will be greater than 10 petaflops.

3. QUANTUM COMPUTER

ú Basics: How classical computers work:

» Classical Computers have bit as a fundamental unit which can be 0 or 1. These computers take a
series of bits (e.g., 11001100110101) and switch some of these bits to give us output. Here a bit
must be processed in an exclusive binary state at any point of time i.e., either 0 or 1. The millions
of transistors and capacitors at the heart of the computer can only be in one state at any point.
There is a limit as to how quickly these devices can be made to switch state.

ú Classical computers have enabled the information revolution that we are part of today. But these classical
computers can’t do a number of things including Optimization, Simulation of large molecules, factoring
of large numbers etc.

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 ú But Quantum computing may help us solve the above problems someday.

ú Quantum computers are based on the principle of quantum theory. They gain enormous processing
power due to the ability of quantum computer to perform task using all possible permutations
simultaneously.

ú Quantum Computers use qubit (Quantum bit). These qubits can take values 0 or 1 or any of the infinite
superpositions between 0 and 1. When Qubits are in superposition, it has some probability of being in
state 0 and some probability of being in state 1.
» Qubits are usually made of things like electrons, photons or even a nucleus. In case of electron spin
up correspond to state 0 and spin down correspond to state 1.
» According to quantum law, the particle then enters a superposition of states, in which it behaves as
if it were in both states simultaneously. Each qubit utilized could take a superposition of both 0 and
1. Thus, the number of computations that a quantum computer could undertake is 2^n, where n
is the number of qubits used
» Quantum computing also borrows inspiration from another property of quantum mechanics called
entanglement, wherein the two qubits could be connected in such a way that the state of one qubit
intrinsically affects the state of the other qubit.
» Each operation of a quantum computation is performed by a quantum gate, which like classical
gate, changes the state the qubits are in.

ú Quantum Supremacy: It refers to quantum computers being able to solve a problem that a classical
computer cannot. The term was coined by theoretical physicist John Preskill of the Caltech in 2012.
» Google recently used a 53 Qubit processor (Sycamore) to generate a sequence of millions of
numbers, that conform to an algorithm generated by google. A classical supercomputer checked
some of these values and they were correct.
» Google’s Quantum computer claimed ‘Supremacy’ because it reportedly did the task in 200 seconds
that would have apparently taken a supercomputer 10,000 years to complete.

ú Some Problems faced by Quantum Computing Sector: While the above concept sounds promising, but
there are still tremendous obstacles to be overcome.
» Interference: During the computation phase of a quantum calculation, the slightest disturbance in
the quantum system (a stray photon or a wave of EM radiation) causes the quantum computation
to collapse, a process known as Quantum Decoherence.
» Error Corrections: Because truly isolating the quantum system has proven so difficult, error
correction systems for quantum computing have been developed.
» Output observance: Observing the final output also risks corrupting the data.

ú The breakthroughs in the last 20 year including the quantum supremacy achieved by Google have
increased the chances of developing practical quantum computing mechanisms. However, it is not clear
whether the practical application is less than a decade away or a hundred years into the future.

ú Examples of Quantum Computers: While the idea governing quantum computers have been around since
the 1990s, the actual machines have been around since 2011, most notably built by Canadian company D-
Wave systems.

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 ú The recent Google’s 53 qubit Quantum computer is called Sycamore. Google is also spending billions
and targets to build its own working quantum computer by 2029.
ú IBM plans to have a 1,000-qubit quantum computer. For now, IBM allows the use of its machines by
those research organization, institutions etc which are part of its quantum network.
ú Microsoft also offers companies access to quantum technologies via its Azure Quantum Platform.

ú Applications: The potential that this technology offers are attracting tremendous interest from both the
governments and the private sector. The quantum computers have the potential to easily tackle
computational problems that may be tough for the classical computer. The basic advantage is speed as it
can stimulate several classical computers working in parallel.
ú Military Applications include breaking of advanced encryption using brute force searches.
ú Advanced Cryptography: Quantum uncertainties could be used to create private keys for encrypting
messages to be sent from one place to another.
ú Climate Change and Weather Forecasting
ú Faster Data analysis in industrial science applications will enable faster solution to business
problems in the era of big data.
» Improved Optimization for complex problems like NP-hard problems. This may lead to faster
optimization of very large-scale problems involving complex network structures, computational
biological science, and physical sciences.
» Transform Healthcare and Medicine: Drug Development and Discovery
» Other civilian applications include DNA Modelling and complex material science analysis.
» Improved Machine Learning Outcomes by enabling more efficient optimization of these algorithms
so that ML capabilities become more efficient, accurate and fast.
» Teleporting the information from one location to another without physically transmitting the
information. Entangling of quantum particles allow us to achieve this.

ú India and Quantum Computing:

» There are no quantum computers in India yet.
» Cabinet Approves Rs 6003 Crore National Quantum Mission (April 2023)
» In Budget 2020-21, government has announced National Mission on Quantum Technologies and
Applications which will be allocated Rs 8,000 crore over the next 5 years.
» Although the amount is low to begin with but given the advances in technology and India’s ability to
create low-cost solutions, the money may suffice.
» In Aug 2021, India launched QSim to aid Quantum Computing research in India.

1) NATIONAL QUANTUM COMPUTING MISSION (APRIL 2023)

- NQM, planned during 2023-2031, will mainly work towards strengthening India’s research and
development in the quantum arena alongside indigenously building quantum-based computers.

- It entails development of satellite-based quantum communication between ground station and receiver
located 3,000 kms away during the first three year.
- For long distance communication, tests will be conducted in coming years.

- Under NQM, there would be four broad themes:

» Quantum Computing

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 » Quantum Communication
» Quantum Sensing and Meteorology
» Quantum Material and Devices

- Thematic hub for each will be established at research institutes and R&D centres who are already working
in the field of research.

- Department of S&T (DST) will lead the mission, supported by other departments.

- The mission puts India among the top six leading nations involved in the R&D in quantum technologies.
Presently, R&D work in quantum tech is underway in USA, China, Canada, France, Finland and Australia.

2) QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT

» What is quantum entanglement?

ú Two particles, having ‘interacted’ with each other at some stage, were found to have got ‘entangled’
in a way that the behaviour of one produced an instantaneous reaction in the other even if the two
were no longer connected in any way and were separated by large distances.

» 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics has gone to Alain Aspect (France), John F Clauser (USA) and Anton Zeilinger
(Australia). These three scientists over the last four decades, have conclusively established that the
‘entanglement’ phenomenon observed in quantum particles was real, not a result of any ‘hidden’ or
unknown forces, and that it could be utilized to make transformative technological advances in
computing, hack-free communication, and science fiction like concept of ‘teleportation’.

» Details of their contribution:

ú The first half of the 20th century, saw the development of Quantum Physics which explained the
seemingly bizarre behaviour of sub-atomic particles with remarkable accuracy.
ú Quantum theory explained many phenomenon of quantum particles such as Superposition and
Entanglement which were completely against everyday experience.

ú Albert Einstein, in particular was very uncomfortable with this. His Special theory of relativity
prohibited any signal from travelling faster than the speed of light. The seemingly instantaneous
communication due to entanglement went against Einstein’s theory. Therefore, Einstein proposed
that something was missing and the Quantum theory was incomplete.
ú However, experimentalists were discovering that almost every prediction made by quantum theory
were being obeyed by sub-atomic particles. Till, that time, experiment to test entanglement didn’t
appear feasible.

ú In 1964, John Bell showed how phenomenon of entanglement could be established by

experimentalists.
» The famous Bell’s inequality, if maintained in the results of the experiment, would mean that
Einstein was right. If violated, it would provide the predictions of quantum theory.

ú John Clauser was the first person to set up an experiment to test entanglement. In 1972, his
experiments produced results that were clear violations of Bell inequality

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 ú Alain Aspect is credited with vastly improving the set-up of Clauser and removing all the loopholes
critics had found. His experiments also produced results that violated Bell’s inequality.

ú Anton Zeilinger meanwhile had already started using entanglement property to open up new
technological possibilities. He demonstrated that it was possible to teleport the quantum states of
particles to another location without the particle moving anywhere and without a medium.
ú These experiments conducted by Clauser, Aspect and Zeilinger have decisively demonstrated that
entanglement was real and in accordance with quantum theory and it was not being driven by any
hidden forces as suggested by Einstein and others.

» The satisfactory theoretical explanation of phenomenon, however, continue to elude scientists.

Application: The entanglement property is now being utilized to build the next generation of computers
called quantum computers which exploit the quantum behaviour of particles to overcome the challenges
considered unsurmountable. It is also being used for quantum cryptography.

3) QUANTUM GATES: DEVICES THAT TRANSLATE QUANTUM EFFECTS TO COMPUTING

AWESOMNESS

- A gate (in traditional computer) is a circuit that changes the states

of bits in a predictable way. The speed with which the gate works
determine how fast the computer is.

- Understanding the limitation of these gates:

» Modern computers use semiconductor transistors to build
circuits that function as gates. A semiconductor chip hosts
more than 100 million transistors on 1 sq mm.
» As transistors become smaller, they become more
susceptible to quantum effects. This is not desirable as this
will make existing technology unreliable for computational
tasks. So, there is a limit to how many transistors a
computer can have.

- A Quantum gate is a physical process or circuit that changes the

state of qubit or a collection of qubit.
» In quantum computers, quantum gates act on qubits to process information. For e.g., a quantum
NOT gate changes the state of qubit from 0 to 1 and vice versa.
» It can be an electromagnetic pulse which changes the state of qubit.

4) QSIM – (CLASS DISCUSSION)

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4. CLOUD COMPUTING
- Intro
ú Cloud computing is a type of Internet-based computing that provides shared computer processing
resources and data to computers and other devices on demand. It is a model for enabling
ubiquitous, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources which can be
rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management efforts.
ú E.g.
§ Computer networks, Storage (OneDrive, Google Drive etc.), Servers, applications, and
services
- Advantages – Reduced upfront cost; focus on core business; Faster deployment of application;
Scalability and Elasticity; pay as you Go model; Agility; Device and Location independence; Maintenance,
Multitenancy, Performance and Better Security.

» Concerns
ú Loss of control over certain sensitive data
ú Limited customization options
E.g., a restaurant with a limited menu is cheaper than a personal chef who can cook anything
you want.

- Technology behind cloud: There are two vital technologies at the heart of Cloud Computing:
▫ Virtualization: It lets computer resource to be shared through multiple virtual machines.
▫ Network: It lets data requests flow to and from the datacenters or the Cloud through the Internet.

In cloud computing hardware resources are distributed across multiple locations and there is diverse
choice of software that is available to consumers.

- Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc represent various cloud service models. They offer different levels of
service and control.
ú Infrastructure as service (IaaS)
o It provides on-demand access to fundamental resources like Virtual Machines, storage,
networking, and servers.
o These are online services that abstract the user from the details of infrastructure like
physical computing resources, location, data partitioning, scaling, security, back up etc.
o E.g. AWS, Microsoft Azure.
o It is ideal for companies with strong technical team and need for high customization.

ú Platform as Service (PaaS)

o The provider typically develops toolkit and standards for development and channels for
distribution and payment.
o In PaaS model, cloud providers deliver a computing platform, typically including operating
system, programming-language, execution environment, database, and web server.
o E.g. Google App Engine.

ú Software as a Service (SaaS)

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 o User gain access to application software and databases (e.g. Google Photos – In this
consumer pays based on the giga-bytes that is required to store photos, Gmail etc.)
o Cloud providers manage the infrastructure and platforms that run the applications.

5. EDGE COMPUTING (CLASS DISCUSSION)

6. WEB BROWSERS: HOW DO THEY FUNCTION?

- Why in news?
» How do web browser work? (Dec 2023: Source - TH)

- Definition:
» A web browser is software that allows you to find and view websites on the Internet. They translate
code into the dynamic webpage that forms the backbone of our online experience.

» Different Browsers over the years:

» In 1990, the English Computer Scientist Tim Berners-Lee introduced the concept of World Wide Web
and with it came the first web browser, also known as WorldWideWeb.

» The next watershed moment was Mosaic browser in 1993. It was developed by US National Centre
for Supercomputing Application. It introduced the concept of displaying images alongside text. It
revolutionized our interaction with the web and made internet visually engaging.

» In 1994 came the Netscape Navigator and it became the most popular browser of its time. It brough
features like bookmarks and user-friendly URL bar. It simplified the navigation and made the web
more accessible.

» Late 1990s saw the period of the ‘Browser Wars’. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape
Navigator were the primarily contenders. This competition led to a lot of innovation in various
browsers. But, by 2,000 IE emerged as undisputed leader mostly on the back of the success of
Windows operating system which generally shipped with IE as default browser which most of the
people used. But this monopoly also led to stagnation and lack of innovation.

» In 2004-05, this monopoly was broken with the arrival of Mozilla’s Firefox. Firefox was developed
by a community of volunteers and was based on open-source principles. It introduced
groundbreaking features like tabbed browsing, and pop-up blocking. It also allowed users to extend
their personal browsers with add-ons.

» In 2008, Google launched Chrome, which swiftly gained in popularity for its speed and minimalist
design. It also revitalized the browser market and encouraged innovation across the board.

» Today, the most popular browsers are Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft’s Edge and Apple’s Safari.

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- How do Browsers work?
Modern web browsers have multiple core components, each of which is a complex technology in itself.

A) Request and Response

- When you enter a website’s address (in the form of Uniform Resource Locator (URL)) into your
browser’s address bar (or when you click a link), you set in motion a sequence of digital
communication. The browser sends a request to a server, asking for the contents of the
specific web browser you’re interested in. This request travels through a network of servers, like
dispatching a letter through a series of post offices. Upon reaching the server, the request is
received and processed.
- The server then formulates a response containing the information (or data) required to construct
the web pages. This response embarks on its journey back to your browser, carrying the digital
blueprint for the page you requested.
B) Deconstructing The Response
- The response from the server is an amalgam of various files. Typically, these files have information
encoded in three languages: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Each set of information plays a pivotal role
in shaping the final presentation of the web page.
- HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) provides the architectural blueprint of webpage. It defines
structure of the webpage, outline elements like headings, paragraphs, images, and links. HTML is
the foundation on which browser construct a visual layout.
- CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) imparts style and aesthetics to the HTML structure by controlling
attributes like color schemes, fonts, spacing, and positioning. CSS ensures that webpages come with
its unique identity.
- JavaScript is a dynamic engine, making webpages interactive and responsive. It allows interactive
elements like pop-ups, forms, animations, and Realtime updates, creating an engaging user
experience.

C) Rendering
- With HTML, CSS and JavaScript in hand, a browser begins the process of rendering. This involves
deciphering the HTML to understand the structural arrangement, applying CSS for stylistic finesse,
and executive JS to infuse interactivity.
- The process is remarkably swift, assembling the final webpage and presenting it to user in a cohesive
and visually appealing manner in much less than a second, depending on the amount of data.
- Rendering engines are in themselves a key piece of technology that enables screens to display
graphics.

D) Managing Data
- Browsers serve as adept custodians for your digital footprint, so they also implement instruments
like cookies and cache to enhance your online experience.
- Cookies are small snippets of data stored on your computer by websites you visit. They retain
information such as login status, site preference, and shopping cart content. This allows you to
navigate seamlessly, without having to re-login to a site when you close and reopen it in a short
span of time.
- Cache is a repository of frequently accessed files. When you revisit a webpage, the browser checks
its cache to see if it already has a copy of the required files. If so, it retrieves them from the cache
itself rather than re-downloading them from the server.

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 E) Security

- Web browsers use an array of security measures to protect your data as they fly between your
computer to various servers, via the internet, and even when they’re stored on your computer. They
do this by using encryption protocols, such as HTTPS, to create secure tunnels for data exchange
shielding the information from prying eyes.

- Browsers also use warning systems to alert you about potentially malicious websites, preventing
inadvertent exposure to threats.

Future of Internet Browsers:

- As technology hurtles forward, web browsers evolve in tandem. They are embracing new technologies
like Web Assembly, a format that enables near-native performance within the browser environment.
o Note: Web Assembly is a type of code that can run on modern webbrowsers – it is low-level
assembly-like language with a compact binary format that runs with near native performance
and provides languages such C/C++ with a compilation target so that they can run on web. It is
also designed to run along JavaScript, allowing both to work together.

- Support for VR and AR experience is also on the horizon, promising immersive online interactions.
- Privacy features are being bolstered, providing users a greater control over their digital footprint.

7. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

- Introduction
ú IoT is a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for
connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems via the internet.
ú A thing on the internet of Things, can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a
biochip transponder, an automobile with a built-in-sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low -
or any other natural or manmade object that can be assigned an IP address and provided with the ability
to transfer data over a network.

ú This is achieved by sensors and finally fabricated micro-controllers.

o Microcontrollers are small computers themselves and are used internally by various single board
computers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
o Sensors are used to detect and collect information and micro controllers to transport information.
o Together, they can make anything to a thing in IoT.

ú Movement from IPV4 (32 bit address) to IPV6 (128 bit address) also played a role in making IoT possible.

- Advantages
ú Reduce waste, loss, and cost -> by early detection of problems and taking corrective steps
ú We would know what things needed replacing, repairing, or recalling and whether they were fresh or
past their best. This helps in increasing the reliability of a device.

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- Applications
a. Health Care Sector: IoT can improve the reliability and performance of the life-critical system. For e.g.,
the IOT based devices can be used in combination with cardiact monitor to raise an alarm to the doctors
in case of abnormality.
b. Agriculture Sector: IoT can be used to gather live pedological data that can be used by scientists to
improve the yield of the land. It can also help in implementing precision agriculture.
c. Transportation Sector:
ú Early detection of wear and tear (preventing accidents)
ú Self-Driving Cars – will need IOT for real time decisions
ú Traffic Management – real time traffic data -> better traffic management.
d. Energy Management
ú Managing temperature in a Nuclear Power Plant (using sensors and IoT)
ú Real time efficiency analysis of Solar Power panels.
e. Research and Development:
ú E.g. – Recent development of wireless communication system for satellites by NASA through which
Satellites can communicate with each other.
f. Safety and Security
ú Real time tracking of criminals – using tagging and IoT.

- Some Limitations of IoT

» High Initial cost of set up -> Since IoT is based on expensive sensors
» Increased cyber security concerns -> with increased number of devices connected to internet
» Compatibility issues -> due to lack of the international standardization on IoT devices.

8. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION 4.0

- The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production.

- The Second used electric power to create mass production.

- The Third used electronics and information technology to automate production.

- Now a Fourth Industrial Revolution is building on the Third. It is characterized by a fusion of technologies
that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres.
ú It is characterized by integration of advanced technologies such as AI, IOT, Robotics, big data, and more
into various industries and aspects of society.
ú It combines Machine to Machine Communication, Industrial Big Data Analytics technology, cyber
security, and automation. It’s driving new levels of efficiency and productivity.

- Three reasons why 4th IR is not merely a prolongation of the 3rd IR, but rather the arrival of a Fourth and
distinct one: Velocity, Scope and Systems impact.
ú The speed of current breakthroughs has no historical precedent. The 4th Industrial Revolution is evolving
at an exponential rather than a linear pace.
ú It is disrupting almost every industry in the country.
ú The breadth and depth of these changes herald the transformation of entire systems of production,
management, and governance.

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 ú Need of Industry 4.0:
» Impetus to next surge of growth
» Harness the potential of Big Data, AI etc in every field.
» Improve governance by using new age tech.

9. BIG DATA
- Intro
» Big Data is a collection of data that is huge in volume (petabytes and exabytes of data) yet growing
exponentially with time. It is a data with so large size and complexity that none of the traditional data
management tools can store or process it efficiently. Big Data can be structured, semi-structured and
Unstructured. But they generally have potential to be mined for information.

» Examples of Big Data:

o BSE which generates Gigabytes of data per day
o Social media – Around 500+ terabytes of new data get ingested into the database of social media
site Facebook every day.
o Data from search engines (like Google, Bing etc.) and Online portals like Amazon.

- Challenges include capture, analysis, data curation, search, sharing, storage, transfer, visualization, querying,
updating, and information privacy.

- Big data is characterized by 3 Vs – Volume, Velocity and Variety.

- Advantages – Accuracy, Better Correlation

- Key areas where it can be used

» Internet
» Finance
» Urban Informatics
» Business informatics
» Meteorology
» Genomics and healthcare
• Find new cures, optimize treatment, and even predict diseases before any physical symptoms
appear
» Complex physical simulations
» Environment research
» Improve the performance of Individuals
ú (At sports, at home or work), where data from wearable sensors in equipment and wearable
devices can be combined with video analytics to get insights that traditionally where impossible to
achieve)

» Security Agencies
ú To prevent cyber attack
ú Detect credit card frauds
ú Foil terrorism

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 ú Even predict criminal activity

» Improve our homes, cities, and countries

ú Optimizing heating and lighting in our homes
ú Optimizing traffic flow in our cities
ú Optimizing Energy Grid across the country

- Relation between cloud computing and big data

» Cloud computing is very important in BIG data analytics due to its application sharing and cost-effective
properties

10. NET NEUTRALITY

- Why in news?
» 120+ startups have written to TRAI opposing Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) push for regulating
over the top (OTT) services (Oct 2023)

- Net Neutrality (also network neutrality, internet neutrality or net equality) is the principle that ISPs and
Governments should treat all data on the internet equally, not discriminating or charging differentially
by user, content, site, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or mode of communication.
- The term was coined by Columbia University media law professor Tim Wu in 2003 as an extension of
the long-standing concept of a common carrier.

- Arguments for Net Neutrality

» Free Flow of Data

» User Intolerance for slow loading sites

» Competition and Innovation

» Preserving Internet Standards
» The advocates also argue that authorizing network providers to override a transport and
application layer separation on the internet would signal the decline of fundamental internet
standards and international consensus authority.
» Preventing Pseudo Services
» End to End Principle
o Network neutrality is needed in order to maintain the end-to-end principle. It is this simple
but brilliant end to end aspect that has allowed the internet to act as a powerful force for
economic and social good.
- Arguments against Net Neutrality
» Financing Infrastructure Improvements
» Counterweight to server-side non-neutrality.
» May prevent overuse of bandwidth.
» May prevent access to useless websites.

- Net Neutrality in India:

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 » In 2016, TRAI banned Free Basics service (Internet.Org) in India based on “Prohibition of
Discriminatory Tariffs for Data Services Regulations”.
» In Sep 2020, TRAI recommended the creation of a multi-stakeholder body (MSB) to ensure that
Internet access providers adhere to the provisions of net neutrality. TRAI also said that the net
neutrality principles adopted by DoT were technology neutral and would apply equally to 5G
technology.

11. TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN FUTURE BOOKLETS

- Encryption/Decryption – Public Cryptography, Digital Signature

- Quantum Cryptography
- BlockChain – BitCoin- Other Crypto Currencies
- NFTs
- AR/VR/Meta Verse
- Web 3.0
- Wireless Communication (5G/6G), Bluetooth, WiFi, NFC, RFID etc.
- Optical Fiber Communication / FSOC
- Electronics – Basics
- Semiconductor manufacturing in India
- LED; (OLED) (PMOLED), Flexible LED Display
- LASER and other optoelectronics
- Wireless Charging
- 3D Printing
- BarCode / QR Code

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