Which of the following statements is true regarding applications of Information Technology?

Question

Which of the following statements is true regarding applications of Information Technology?

1. A. E-governance eliminates the need for physical government offices.
2. B. E-commerce only involves buying physical goods through websites.
3. C. Telemedicine allows doctors to provide consultation using communication networks. (Correct answer)
4. D. Online education requires students to be physically present in a digital classroom.

Correct Answer

Option C — Telemedicine allows doctors to provide consultation using communication networks.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Telemedicine allows doctors to provide consultation using communication networks.

Key Points

• Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare at a distance using information and communication technology — video consultation, transmission of diagnostic images, remote monitoring of patients and electronic prescription. The statement describes it accurately.
• Why the other statements are wrong:
  • E-governance does not eliminate physical government offices. It digitises service delivery and internal workflow, but offices remain necessary for verification, enforcement, field operations and citizens without digital access.
  • E-commerce is not limited to physical goods. It covers digital goods and services — software, e-books, streaming subscriptions, ticketing, insurance and banking.
  • Online education does not require physical presence. Asynchronous modes such as recorded lectures and self-paced modules require no simultaneous presence at all; the phrase "physically present in a digital classroom" is self-contradictory.

Additional Information

• India's telemedicine framework:
  • eSanjeevani, the National Telemedicine Service, launched in 2019, is among the world's largest such platforms, having handled hundreds of millions of consultations.
  • The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020, issued by the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India together with NITI Aayog, gave legal standing to remote consultation.
  • The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) provides the digital health identity and records infrastructure.
• Applications of IT in governance: DigiLocker, UMANG, e-Courts, GeM procurement, PFMS for fund transfers, and DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) built on the Aadhaar-enabled payment system.
• Relevance to forest administration: e-Green Watch and PARIVESH (a single-window clearance system for environment, forest, wildlife and CRZ approvals) are the equivalent applications in the forest and environment sector, alongside the M-STrIPES patrolling system for tiger reserves.