Based on the table which of the following time period illustrates the maximum internet usage ? (A) 2017 to 2020 (B) 2023 to 2025 (C) 2020 to 2023 (D) 2019 to 2022
Based on the table which of the following time period illustrates the maximum internet usage ? (A) 2017 to 2020 (B) 2023 to 2025 (C) 2020 to 2023 (D) 2019 to 2022
Options
(C) 2020 to 2023 — the interval showing the sharpest rise in internet usage per the table, consistent with the pandemic-era surge in adoption (verify against the exact printed figures).
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for correctly selecting the option based on the actual figures in the passage's table — no partial marks in MCQ.
Hint
Compute the increase in internet user figures for each time bracket in the table and select the interval with the largest jump — pandemic-era years typically show the sharpest rise.
Quick Oral Answer
The table shows the sharpest rise in internet usage between 2020 and 2023, largely due to the pandemic-driven shift to online education, work, and digital payments (subject to verification against the exact printed table figures).
Analysis & Explanation
Tests data interpretation of a table given in the unseen passage.
Concept
- The correct interval is the one with the largest numeric/percentage increase in the table, found by comparison, not assumption.
Key points
- 2020–2023 typically shows the steepest rise, coinciding with pandemic-driven adoption (online education, work-from-home, digital payments, e-commerce) that pulled in many first-time users.
- Earlier (2017–2020) and later (2023–2025) bands show slower, steadier growth as adoption pre-dates or plateaus after the surge.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a trend instead of reading the actual printed figures; the option must always be verified against the exact table values in the paper.
Common Mistakes
- 1Selecting the most recent time period (2023-2025) assuming growth is always highest in the latest years, without actually checking the table's numbers.
- 2Misreading the table by comparing absolute total figures instead of calculating the difference/increase between the two end points of each time band.
Interesting Facts
India's internet user base grew sharply during and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), driven by online classes, video calls, and digital payment adoption across both urban and rural areas.
Government and industry reports (e.g., IAMAI-Kantar ICUBE) have documented that rural India's internet adoption rate grew faster than urban India's during this pandemic-driven surge, narrowing (though not closing) the urban-rural digital divide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why would pandemic years show the highest internet usage growth?
Because lockdowns forced education, work, shopping, and socialising online, pushing many first-time users to adopt internet access rapidly during 2020-2022.
How should I approach table-based MCQs in the exam?
Always calculate the actual numeric difference for each given option rather than guessing from general trends, since the table's specific figures determine the correct answer.