MPA-017: E-governance (TMA)

Course Code: MPA-017

Assignment Code: Asst/TMA/2018-19
Marks: 50

This assignment consists of Section I and II. There are ? ve questions in each section. You have
to answer a total of ? ve questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least
two questions from each section. Each question carries 10 marks.

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SECTION-I

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1) Explain the concept of e-governance and its models. 10

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2) Discuss computer hardware and computer software. 10

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3) Write a note on Management Information System. 10

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4) ‘ICT brings about an electronic transformation in the traditional functioning of 10

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administration.’ Elaborate.

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5) Describe the role played by ICT in the modernization of agricultural sector. 10

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SECTION-II

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6) ‘E-learning is basically the delivery of learning via the Internet.’ Discu ss. 10

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7) Elucidate the concept of e-commerce and also different modes of e-payments. 10

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8) Explain the concept and functioning of Common Service Centres under National 10

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e-Governance Plan.

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9) Brie? y discuss the modernization of Indian Railways with ICT applications. 10

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 ASSIGNMENT SOLUTIONS GUIDE (2018-2019)
M.P.A.-17
E-Governance
Disclaimer/Special Note: These are just the sample of the Answers/Solutions to some of the Questions given in the

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Assignments. These Sample Answers/Solutions are prepared by Private Teacher/Tutors/Authors for the help and guidance
of the student to get an idea of how he/she can answer the Questions given the Assignments. We do not claim 100%

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accuracy of these sample answers as these are based on the knowledge and capability of Private Teacher/Tutor. Sample
answers may be seen as the Guide/Help for the reference to prepare the answers of the Questions given in the assignment.

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As these solutions and answers are prepared by the private teacher/tutor so the chances of error or mistake cannot be

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denied. Any Omission or Error is highly regretted though every care has been taken while preparing these Sample

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Answers/Solutions. Please consult your own Teacher/Tutor before you prepare a Particular Answer and for up-to-date

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and exact information, data and solution. Student should must read and refer the official study material provided by the
university.

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This assignment consists of Section I and II. There are five questions in each section. You have to

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answer a total of five questions in about 400 words each. It is necessary to attempt at least two questions

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from each section. Each question carries 10 marks.

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SECTION-I

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Q. 1. Explain the concept of e-governance and its models.

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Ans. Concept of E-governance: The term e-governance refers to the processes in which Information and

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Communication Technology (ICT) plays a significant role. The role played by ICT could be wide-ranging: in delivery

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and standards of governance services, to how people access such services, and the participation of people in the

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governance. E-governance uses ICT to induce changes in the delivery and standards of governance services and
more importantly, in the way citizens interact and participate in the governance.

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In case of good governance, information is acquired and used strategically for public good. And in case of bad

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governance, the same information is used for private gains and for suppression of the citizens. In either forms of

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governance, the selective use of information creates hierarchal structures on which power gets unequally distributed.
The skew in the distribution of power at each hierarchical level is proportional to the critical information residing at

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each level.

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The views of e-governance are helpful in drawing attention to particular elements of the use of information and

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communication technologies in the public sector, from the online interface between government and citizens to

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technology’s role in reforming public administration.
We all know that e-governance of ICT in the working of government imply SMART governance: Simple, Moral,

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Accountable, Responsive and Transparent.
“SMART Governance” is about the future of the public services, it’s about greater efficiency, community leadership,
mobile working and continuous improvement through innovations. SMART governance is about using technology to
facilitate and support better planning and decision- making. It helps in transforming the ways that public services are
delivered. It includes e-government, the efficiency agenda and mobile working.
The objectives of the network are to stimulate ideas, encourage and support experience sharing, and to challenge
existing ways of working. It is a new network that is building on, and expanding the scope of the e-champions’
network that was formerly operated by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).
It is a largely virtual network with a slim administrative and operational structure. It will be running experience
sharing events, providing regular updates on SMART governance issues, and encouraging innovation in public service
delivery etc.

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E-governance and E-government
The development of e-government and e-governance takes place in a very specific environment and contextual
pressure which we must understand and learn, in order to steer at best. This overall change can be identified as
manifold, although producing a composed impact on our lifestyle, level of wealth and relationships inter-regionally and
internationally.
E-government rests on the pillars of knowledge and recognition of this set of knowledge by the decision-makers
and people alike. Digitization of this entire set of knowledge within a network which is open to all individuals (an
inclusive network by design) opens up possibilities for all to access and use this knowledge – paving the way for
e-governance.
Introduction of e-governance ensures that citizens can participate in, and influence decision-making processes
which affect them closely. Citizens no longer remain passive recipients of governance services provided to them, but

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can proactively decide the types and standards of governance services they want and the governance structures
which can best deliver to them.

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ICT can influence governance processes possibly in the following three ways:
Technical Role: Automation of repetitive governance tasks and thereby improving efficiency of governance

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processes. For instance, automated filing of tax forms, e-voting, periodic information reporting etc.
Supportive Role: Use of ICT to complement existing efforts and processes to improve governance. For

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instance, use of Internet to catalyse existing efforts towards transparency in government information and

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functioning, or embedding use of e-mails in connecting decision-makers with their constituencies.
Innovative Role: Use of ICT to initiate new governance services or new mechanisms for improved service

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delivery which would be impossible through non-ICT modes. For instance, online checking of status of an

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application (from remote and beyond office hours); providing instant access to the same information to all

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individuals through e-mails and website; ability to instantly access, compare or triangulate information from

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outside of the constituency or government sources etc.

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Models of E-governance

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Based on different classes of information, their sources and frequency of updation and exchange, various models

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of e-governance projects can be evolved. The National e-governance Action Plan of the Government of India [NeGP]

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can act as a model for such projects. The models are classified in the following categories:

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l Broadcasting Model

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Critical Flow Model

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l Comparative Analysis Model

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l E-Advocacy/Lobbying and Mobilization Model

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l Interactive Service Model
Now we will discuss these models separately:

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Broadcasting Model: The model is based on broadcasting or dissemination of useful governance information

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which already exists in the public domain into the wider public domain through the use of ICT and convergent media.

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The utility of this model is that a more informed citizenry is better able to benefit from governance related services

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that are available for them.
Critical Flow Model: The model is based on dissemination information of ‘critical’ value (which by its very

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nature will not be disclosed by those involved with bad governance practices) to targeted audience using ICT and
convergent media. Targeted audience may include media, opposition parties, judicial bench, independent investigators
or the wider public domain itself.
Comparative Analysis Model: Comparative Analysis Model is one of the least used, but a highly significant
model for developing a country which is now gradually gaining acceptance. The model can be used for empowering
people by matching cases of bad governance with those of good governance, and then analyzing the different aspects
of bad governance and its impact on the people.
E-advocacy Model/Mobilization and Lobbying Model: E-Advocacy/Mobilization and Lobbying Model is one
of the most frequently used Digital Governance Models and has often come to the aid of the global civil society to
impact on global decision-making processes. The strength of this model is in its diversity of the virtual community, and
the ideas, expertise and resources accumulated through this virtual form of networking.

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 Interactive Service Model: Interactive Service Model is a consolidation of the earlier presented digital
governance models and opens up avenues for direct participation of individuals in the governance processes.
Fundamentally, ICT have the potential to bring in every individual in a digital network and enable interactive (two-
way) flow of information among them.
Q. 2. Discuss computer hardware and computer software.
Ans. Computer Hardware: The computer hardware is the physical part of the computer system; it includes
electronic devices, which have the potential for performing the task of solving a problem. The computer hardware is
composed of three main components, namely:
l Central Processing Units (CPU)
l Memory Units (Storage Devices)

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l Input/Output Devices
In addition, computer hardware is very important part because it handles the interconnection of each device. It is

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a set of different computer parts such as motherboard, hard disk drive and cable wire connection, and also it is a main

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function of the computer application or software and technically requirements needs.

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The typical computer consists of following parts:
Motherboard: A motherboard is the central printed circuit board (PCB) in many modern computers and holds

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many of the crucial components of the system, while providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is

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sometimes alternatively known as the main board or system board.
Central Processing Unit: The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the portion of a computer system that carries

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out the instructions of a computer programme and is the primary element carrying out the computer’s functions. The

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central processing unit carries out each instruction of the Programmes in sequence, to perform the basic arithmetical,

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logical, and input/output operations of the system. This term has been in use in the computer industry at least since the

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early 1960s. The form, design and implemen-tation of CPUs have changed dramatically since the earliest examples,

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but their fundamental operation remains much the same.

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Random Access Memory: RAM is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated

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circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order (that is, at random). “Random” refers to the idea that any

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piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether it is related to the

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previous piece of data.

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Buses: In computer architecture, a bus is a subsystem that transfers data between computer components inside

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a computer or between computers.

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Early computer buses were literally parallel electrical buses with multiple connections, but the term is now used

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for any physical arrangement that provides the same logical functionality as a parallel electrical bus. Modern computer

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buses can use both parallel and bit-serial connections, and can be wired in either a multidrop (electrical parallel) or

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daisy chain topology, or connected by switched hubs, as in the case of USB.

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Storage Controllers: Hardware that keeps data inside the computer for later use and remains persistent even
when the computer has no power.

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Video Display Controllers: Video Display Controller or VDC is an integrated circuit which is the main component
in a video signal generater, a device responsible for the production of a TV video signal in a computing or game
system. Some VDCs also generate an audio signal, but in that case it’s not their main function.

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Computer Bus Controllers: They are used to connect the computer to external peripheral devices.
Removable Media Writer: CD (Compact Disc): The most common type of removable media, suitable for
music and data.
CD-ROM Drive: A device used for reading data from a CD.
CD Writer: A device used for both reading and writing data to and from a CD.
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): A popular type of removable media that is the same dimensions as a CD, but
stores up to 12 times as much information. It is the most common way of transferring digital video, and is popular for
data storage.
DVD-ROM Drive: A device used for reading data from a DVD.
DVD Writer: A device used for both reading and writing data to and from a DVD.
DVD-RAM Drive: A device used for rapid writing and reading of data from a special type of DVD.

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 Floppy Disk: An outdated storage device consisting of a thin disk of a flexible magnetic storage medium used
today mainly for loading RAID drivers.
Iomega Zip Drive: An outdated medium-capacity removable disk storage system, first introduced by Iomega in
1994. It is a flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB interface, typically small, lightweight, removable,
and rewritable. Capacities vary, from hundreds of megabytes (in the same ballpark as CDs) to tens of gigabytes
(surpassing, at great expense, Blue-ray discs).
Tape drive: A device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape, used for long term storage and backups.
Internal Storage: Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components and
recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time. Computer data storage provides
one of the core functions of the modern computer, that of information retention. It is one of the fundamental components
of all modern computers. There are mainly two devices which are helpful in storing the data:

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Hard Disk: A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is a non-volatile, random access device for digital data. It works on
rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read and written on

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the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the platters.
Disk Array Controller: A disk array controller is a device which manages the physical disk drives and presents

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them to the computer as logical units. It almost always implements hardware RAID, thus it is sometimes referred to
as RAID controller. It also often provides additional disk cache.

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Sound Card: A sound card (also known as an audio card) is a computer expansion card that facilitates the input

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and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programmes. Typical uses of sound
cards include providing the audio component for multimedia applications such as music composition, editing video or

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audio, presentation, education, and entertainment (games). Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while
others require additional expansion cards to provide for audio capability.

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Networking: It is used in connecting Internet and also used to connect various computers together. It uses

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following devices:

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Modem: A modem modulates outgoing digital signals from a computer or other digital device to analog signals

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for a conventional copper twisted pair telephone line and demodulates the incoming analog signal and converts it to a
digital signal for the digital device.

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Network Card: A network card is an expansion card which installs into a computer and enables that computer

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to physically connect to a local area network.

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Other Peripherals: In spite of all these computer also contain following devices:

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Input Devices: An input device is any peripheral (piece of computer hardware equipment) used to provide data

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and control signals to an information processing system (such as a computer). Input and output devices make up the

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hardware interface between computer as a scanner.

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Output Devices: An output device is any piece of computer hardware equipment used to communicate the

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results of data processing carried out by an information processing system (such as a computer) to the outside world.

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Computer Software
Computer software, or just software, is the collection of computer programmes and related data that provide the

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instructions telling a computer what to do and how to do it. We can also say software refers to one or more computer
programmes and data held in the storage of the computer for some purposes. Programmes software performs the
function of the programmes it implements, either by directly providing instructions to the computer hardware or by

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serving as input to another piece of software. The term was coined to contrast to the old term hardware (meaning
physical devices). In contrast to hardware, software is intangible, meaning “it cannot be touched”. Software is also
sometimes used in a more narrow sense, meaning application software only. Sometimes the term includes data that
has not traditionally been associated with computers, such as film, tapes, and records.
Types of Computer Software: Different types of computer software are available in the global computer
market. Programming software, system software and application software are the three main types of computer
software used in computer networking. System software is the most commonly used variety types of software.
System software offers a protective shield to all software applications. It also provides support to the physical
components of computers. System software coordinates all external devices of computer system like printer, keyboard
etc.

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 Programmers use different software to develop the programming languages necessary to run computer software.
Compilers, interpreters, linkers and text editors are some of the basic tools used in Programming software.
Application software is used for commercial purpose. The Application software is widely used in educational,
business and medical fields. Computer games are the most popular forms of Application software. Industrial automation,
databases, business software and medical software prove to be of great help in the respective fields. Educational
software is widely used in educational institutes across the globe.
Q. 5. Describe the role played by ICT in the modernization of agricultural sector.
Ans. ICT (Information and Communication Technology) finds a significant place in Rural Development, not only
in terms of technological advancement, but also in terms of reducing poverty. The incessant efforts towards
computerization of RD sector have facilitated the planning and monitoring processes which are of direct significance

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to the public. ICT activity comprises of two components i.e. ICT infrastructure, Application Software.

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Convergence of ICT efforts at various layers of Rural Development has made it possible to bring the relevant
information and services into the public domain, thereby easing the life of a common man. On top of the backbone IT

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services, application software packages of direct public relevance are being developed to form a Citizen-IT interface.

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Over the past decade, India has become the worlds test bed for innovations in information and communication

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technologies (ICT) serving the rural user. Various reasons explain this emergence.

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The most obvious is the search for a solution to a long-intractable problem: that rural India’s institutional infrastructure
is woefully inadequate. The hope that ICT will help to manage rural India’s social, political and administrative challenges

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and become a viable technology for the provision of health, education and other social services is thus ICT’s strongest

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calling card. An additional expectation is that ICT will improve access to the large underserved market that rural

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India’s 700 million people represent. Both expectations’ salience increases with the argument that India has the

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resources to build an ICT infrastructure, i.e. its large, skilled, cost-effective IT workforce.

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ICT Applications in Agriculture: The application of Information and Communi-cation Technology (ICT) in

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agriculture is increasingly important.

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E-agriculture is an emerging field focusing on the enhancement of agricultural and rural development through

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improved information and communication processes. More specifically, e-agriculture involves the conceptualization,

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design, development, evaluation and application of innovative ways to use information and communication technologies
(ICT) in the rural domain, with a primary focus on agriculture. E-agriculture is a relatively new term and we fully

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expect its scope to change and evolve as our understanding of the area grows.

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E-agriculture is one of the action lines identified in the declaration and plan of action of the World Summit on the

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Information Society (WSIS).
The main phases of the agriculture industry are: Crop cultivation, Water management, Fertilizer Application, Pest

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management, Harvesting, Post-harvest handling, Transporting of food/food products, Packaging, Food preservation,

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Food processing/value addition, Food quality manage-ment, Food safety, Food storage, Food marketing, etc.

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All stakeholders of agriculture industry need information and knowledge about these phases to manage them

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efficiently. Any system applied for getting information and knowledge for making decisions in any industry should
deliver accurate, complete, concise information in time or on time. The information provided by the system must be in

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user-friendly form, easy to access, cost-effective and well protected from unauthorized accesses.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can play a significant role in maintaining the above mentioned
properties of information as it consists of three main technologies. They are: Computer Technology, Communication
Technology and Information Management Technology. These technologies are applied for processing, exchanging
and managing data, information and knowledge. The tools provided by ICT are having ability to
l Record text, drawings, photographs, audio, video, process descriptions, and other information in digital formats.
l Produce exact duplicates of such information at significantly lower cost.
l Transfer information and knowledge rapidly over large distances through communication networks.
l Develop standardized algorithms to large quantities of information relatively rapidly.
l Achieve greater interactivity in communi-cating, evaluating, producing and sharing useful information and
knowledge.

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 SECTION-II
Q. 7. Elucidate the concept of e-commerce and also different modes of e-payments.
Ans. Electronic commerce or e-commerce is a term for any type of business, or commercial transaction, that
involves the transfer of information across the Internet. It covers a range of different types of businesses, from
consumer-based retail sites, through auction or music sites, to business exchanges trading goods and services between
corporations. It is currently one of the most important aspects of the Internet to emerge.
E-commerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services with no barriers of time or distance.
Elect ronic commerce has expanded rapidly over the past five years and is predicted to continue at this rate, or even
accelerate. In the near future the boundaries between “conventional” and “electronic” commerce will become
increasingly blurred as more and more businesses move sections of their operations onto the Internet.
A key requirement in today’s business environment is the ability to communicate more effectively, both internally

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with your employees and externally with your trading partners and customers.

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Electronic Payments
An Electronic Payment System (EPS) is a system of financial exchange between buyers and sellers in the online

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environment that is facilitated by a digital financial instrument (such as encrypted credit card numbers, electronic

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checks, or digital cash) backed by a bank, an intermediary, or by legal tender.

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EPS plays an important role in e-commerce because it closes the e-commerce loop. In developing countries, the

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underdeveloped electronic payments system is a serious impediment to the growth of
e-commerce. In these countries, entrepreneurs are not able to accept credit card payments over the Internet due to

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legal and business concerns. The primary issue is transaction security. There are different modes of electronic

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payments like:

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Electronic Cash

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Electronic cash (e-cash) is a new concept in online payment system because it combines computerized convenience

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with security and privacy that improve on paper cash. Its versatility opens up a host of new markets and applications.
E-cash is an electronic or digital form of value storage and value exchange that have limited convertibility into other

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forms of value and require intermediaries to convert.

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Electronic Cheques

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Electronic cheques address the electronic needs of millions of businesses, which today exchange traditional paper

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cheques with the other vendors, consumers and government. The e-cheque method was deliberately created to work

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in much the same way as conventional paper cheque. An account holder will issue an electronic document that

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contains the name of the financial institution, the payers account number, the name of payee and amount of cheque.

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Most of the information is in uncoded form. Like a paper cheque e-cheque also bear the digital equivalent of signature:

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a computed number that authenticates the cheque from the owner of the account. Digital chequing payment system
seeks to extend the functionality of existing chequing accounts for use as online shopping payment tools.

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The process of electronic cheque system can be described using the following steps:

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Step 1: A purchaser fills a purchase order form, attaches a payment advice (electronic cheque), signs it with

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his private key (using his signature hardware), attaches his public key certificate, encrypts it using

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his private key and sends it to the vendor.
Step 2: The vendor decrypts the information using his private key, checks the purchaser’s certificates, signature

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and cheque, attaches his deposit slip, and endorses the deposit attaching his public key certificates.
This is encrypted and sent to his bank.
Step 3: The vendor’s bank checks the signatures and certificates and sends the cheque for clearance. The
banks and clearing houses normally have a private secure data network.
Electronic Payment Cards
It seeks to extend the functionality of existing credit cards for use as online shopping payment tools. This payment
system has been widely accepted by consumers and merchants throughout the world, and by far the most popular
methods of payments especially in the retail markets. This form of payment system has several advantages, which
were never available through the traditional modes of payment. Some of the most important are: privacy, integrity,
compatibility, good transaction efficiency, accepta-bility, convenience, mobility, low financial risk and anonymity.
However, there are some barriers for e-payments like:

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Incompatibility
The relatively undeveloped credit card industry in many developing countries is also a barrier to e-commerce.
Only a small segment of the population can buy goods and services over the Internet due to the small credit card
market base.
Inconvenience
The absence or inadequacy of legal infra-structures governing the operation of e-payments is also a concern.
Hence, banks with e-banking operations employ service agreements between themselves and their clients.
Lack of Security
The lack of trust is one main reason why customers are unwilling to accept e-commerce due to privacy and
security concerns.

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Q. 9. Briefly discuss the modernization of Indian Railways with ICT applications.
Ans. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is key towards bringing in a substantial change in the

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Indian Railways. The transportation industry today has to be on the move, constantly, in more ways than one. It has

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to deal with the increasing demands of customers and suppliers, while simultaneously trying to optimise the entire

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business operation at minimum cost. To keep pace with changing business paradigms, transporters need more than
ever to use ICT, not merely as an enabler of operations, but as a strategic driver and critical business tool.

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Centre or Railway System

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In 1982, Government conceived a project for analysing a Freight Operations Information Systems (FOIS) with
Railways. Subsequently in 1986, Ministry of Railways established the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS)

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to be an umbrella organisation for all computer activities on Indian Railways (IR).
CRIS

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A separate organization was considered better suited to take up all the computer activities mainly for the following
reasons:
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l To avoid duplication of efforts by individual railways.

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l To ensure standardization of computer hardware and software on the railways.

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Important Indian Railways IT projects being handled by CRIS are:

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l Passenger Reservation System

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l National Train Enquiry System
l Alpha Migration

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l Internet Enquires

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l Booking of Tickets on Internet

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l Unreserved Ticketing System
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Freight Operations Information System

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Let’s discuss each one of them individually:

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Indian Railway has got a full proof reservation system that is known as Passenger Reservation System or PRS. It has
got a vast network of reservation terminals and satellite reservation offices. This is to help passenger get reservation

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easily. To facilitate hassle free reservation Indian Railway has divided the entire network into five reservation hubs.
The five hubs are Secunderabad, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. Now these five hubs are joined together

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to facilitate reservation. The integrated system is useful for passenger in getting reservation from anywhere and in
any train. Earlier, such reservation was not possible and a passenger was facing a lot of hardship to get reservation for
the return journey or in different trains that was not touching a particular station.
National Train Enquiry System
The Indian Railways National Train Enquiry System (NTES) tracks the status of 6,000 commutator trains so that
the general public can find out in real-time whether each train is running on schedule as it arrives at and departs from
any one of India’s 9,000 train stations. To allow the general public and customer service representatives that respond
to trainstatus requests over the phone to quickly check on each train, Indian Railways deployed five Sybase ASE
servers across five geographical zones within the country. The ASE servers download data from a train charting
application, and Sybase Replication Server then allows the ASE servers to exchange information bi-directionally in
real-time so that each server possesses up-to-date information on all 6,000 trains. Because of Sybase’s ability to
communicate with other heterogeneous database technologies, the ASE servers can then upload information to

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Microsoft SQL Server that provides train data to the publicfacing Website as well as to four Oracle servers accessed
by Indian Railways call center personnel.
Alpha Migration
One of CRIS’s key technical achievements is a sophisticated reservation and ticketing application called Country-
wide Network for Enhanced Reservation and Ticketing (CONCERT).
The primary challenge for CRIS is to provide an efficient passenger service by ensuring maximum uptime for its
reservation/ticketing and inquiry application. The Railway must prepare charts that map passengers with their seats,
and must paste these charts outside each coach. CONCERT software enables the preparation of skeleton charts in
advance for each train for the next three journey days.
Indian Railway’s current CONCERT application represents a steady progression of using the latest technologies
available. In the mid-1980s, Indian Railways first computerized its reserved ticketing operation on VAXT systems

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running VMST. This was done from five regional passenger reservation centres, each of which was a stand alone site
with its own local database. During the mid to late 1990s, CRIS introduced CONCERT, which linked the five passenger

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reservation centres so that reserved tickets from any station of Indian Railways could be issued to any other station

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from a single window.

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The entire CONCERT application since its inception had been hosted on 5 VAX-VMS clusters located at the five
PRS sites New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Secunderabad.

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With the tremendous growth of PRS terminals all over the country and the extra load of various interface

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software such as Internet enquiries, the overall load on the backend PRS system had increased manifold.
A need was felt to move the existing application from the VAX-VMS servers to Alpha VMS servers. The entire

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migration from the existing VAX VMS to Alpha VMS was done in a record time frame. The new platform also

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delivers significant cost savings and time saving another significant benefit of Indian Railway’s state-of-the-art IT

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platform.

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Internet Enquiries

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Indian Railway is becoming technologically advanced and the fact that people can book their tickets online

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confirms the statement. The people who know how to access Internet on computers, can easily get reservation done

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on the Internet itself. Indian Railway Online Booking has certainly changed the system of reservation in India. The

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best thing about this service is that one can get reservation done, sitting at home before the computer.

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One can book his/her tickets at IRCTC’s online reservation site (www.irctc.co.in). Indian Railway Catering and
Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is a subsidiary or the marketing division of Indian Railways. IRCTC handles the

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programme of online ticket booking. On 3rd August, 2002, the system of online reservation was launched in collaboration

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with the Centre for Railway Information Systems. Earlier, people used to stand in long queues before the counters at

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the reservation centres, but online ticket booking has made things easier to a great extent.
Booking of Tickets on Internet
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Online reservation is the easiest and reliable mode of booking tickets sitting at home. You just need to have access

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to a computer and hold a debit or a credit card. This is a very popular site among all Indians and even foreigners who

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book tickets online for their visit to India. This site provides all sorts of information related the train number, fares,

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rules and days of departure of a particular train, the route of the train as well as availability of reserved accommodation. You
can even check the status of your wait-listed or RAC ticket on this Website by just entering your PNR number.

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To book an online ticket, one has to fill in the necessary data on the first page displayed on the Website. Fill in the
details regarding the originating station, destination, date of journey, class of accommodation and number of
passenger. Once when you fill the complete details the system ask for payment. You can either use the debit card
accepted by the Indian Railways Website for direct transaction from your bank account or you can even use a credit
card for payment.
Passengers can access Rail Reservation site www.irctc.co.in for information and booking for which one should
register on site. Initially, booking on credit cards, after the train date and class is chosen and other particulars filled in,
the transaction is processed through Electronic Payment Gateway of ICICI Bank which authorises the payment.
Thereafter, ticket is booked and PNR is generated and advised to the customer. Entire transaction is fully secured and
all information remains confidential and travels in encrypted form through tele-communication channels and credit
card details are not stored in IRCTC database or anywhere. Tickets can also be booked for children and senior

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citizens. Ticket will be delivered at door step through courier and the option of collection of ticket from nominated
counters is also available. However, initially tickets will be delivered in Delhi area. A service charge of 1.8% is levied
on total value of transaction for credit card usage. In addition, passengers have to pay Rs. 30 per ticket for sleeper/
ordinary chair car and Rs. 50 for upper classes. Internet booking can be availed from 0800 hrs to 2000 hrs from
Monday to Saturday and from 0800 hrs to 1400 hrs on Sundays. The tickets can be cancelled from any Railway PRS
counter. Refund amount will be reflected in your credit card bill. There will be no cash refund.
Freight Operations Information System
FOIS is an on line system for management and control of freight movement and enables freight customers to
have instant access to information regarding the current status of their consignments in transit. The FOIS application
comprises the core module of Rake Management System (RMS) for handling train operations and Terminal Management

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System (TMS) for commercial transactions.

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Security
In recent times with advent of computers, computerized information is become really essential. In order to fulfil

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this requirement a set up of Computer Emergency Response Team takes place, it is a name given to expert groups

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that handle computer security incidents. Most groups append the abbreviation CERT or CSIRT to their designation

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where the latter stands for Computer Security Incident Response Team. For some teams the spelling of CERT refers

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to Computer Emergency Readiness Team while handling the same tasks.
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