Notes BCA 103T

BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes for GGSIPU BCA Sem 1

BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes cover all 4 units of the GGSIPU BCA Semester 1 paper for the batch admitted in 2024-25, in 90 pages. You get 116 solved exam questions (86 two-mark, 30 ten-mark), 36 worked binary numericals and 52 labelled figures, from computer memory to IP addresses.

BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes cover all 4 units of the GGSIPU BCA Semester 1 paper for the batch admitted in 2024-25, in 90 pages. You get 116 solved exam questions (86 two-mark, 30 ten-mark), 36 worked binary numericals and 52 labelled figures, from computer memory to IP addresses.

Written by Prateek Talwar, Founder, Unnati Educations · Reviewed by Ritik Rawat, B.Tech, Senior Full Stack Developer · Checked against GGSIPU BCA first-year syllabus (syllBCA1styr240124.pdf, 24 Jan 2024) and scheme of examination (syll4yrBCA240124.pdf) · Updated 12 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Scheme: BCA scheme of examination 2024-25 | Applies to: batch admitted in academic session 2024-25 | Verified against: syllBCA1styr240124.pdf, 24 Jan 2024

  1. BCA 103T at a glance
  2. Unit-wise notes
    1. Unit 1: Fundamentals of Computers
    2. Unit 2: Interaction with Computers
    3. Unit 3: Number System and Binary Arithmetic
    4. Unit 4: Computer Network and Internet
  3. Excerpt: network devices (page 80)
  4. Exam corner
  5. Who writes and checks the notes
  6. Syllabus coverage map
  7. How to write answers
  8. BCA 103P lab and Sem 1 papers
  9. FAQs
  10. Get the full notes

BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology at a glance: GGSIPU BCA Sem 1 credits, units and exam pattern

BCA 103T is the computer basics paper of BCA Semester 1.

BCA 103T facts from the official GGSIPU BCA syllabus and scheme (2024-25 batch)
ItemBCA 103T
Code and titleBCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology (syllabus prints "Fundamental of")
Semester and typeBCA Semester 1 · CCT (core course, theory)
L-T-C4-0-4 (4 credits)
Marks40 internal + 60 end-term = 100
End-term patternQ1: 10 compulsory 2-mark questions (2+ per unit); then one 10-mark question per unit, from two
Exam durationNot printed in the syllabus PDF; set by the GGSIPU examination ordinance
Units4 (12, 12, 12 and 10 hours)
Paired labBCA 103P Fundamentals of Information Technology Lab, L-P-C 0-2-2

BCA 103T facts from the official GGSIPU BCA syllabus and scheme (2024-25 batch)

Item
Code and title
BCA 103T
BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology (syllabus prints "Fundamental of")
Item
Semester and type
BCA 103T
BCA Semester 1 · CCT (core course, theory)
Item
L-T-C
BCA 103T
4-0-4 (4 credits)
Item
Marks
BCA 103T
40 internal + 60 end-term = 100
Item
End-term pattern
BCA 103T
Q1: 10 compulsory 2-mark questions (2+ per unit); then one 10-mark question per unit, from two
Item
Exam duration
BCA 103T
Not printed in the syllabus PDF; set by the GGSIPU examination ordinance
Item
Units
BCA 103T
4 (12, 12, 12 and 10 hours)
Item
Paired lab
BCA 103T
BCA 103P Fundamentals of Information Technology Lab, L-P-C 0-2-2

Q1 (20 marks) touches every unit and four 10-mark answers complete the 60, so no unit is safe to skip. That is why these GGSIPU BCA Sem 1 Fundamentals of Information Technology notes give every unit its own two-mark and ten-mark set. The other GGSIPU BCA Semester 1 papers share this pattern.

BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes unit-wise: 116 solved questions and 36 binary numericals

BCA 103T Unit 1: Fundamentals of Computers

Starts with the definition and characteristics, five generations from vacuum tubes to ULSI, and micro-to-super classes, with Indian examples like PARAM. Then the inside: block diagram, CPU, memory hierarchy, RAM and ROM types, cache and storage.

Pages 4-28 · 20 two-mark and 8 ten-mark answers · 18 figures.

Quick look: cache levels (from page 20)
LevelWhereSizeSpeed
L1Inside each CPU core32-64 KB per coreFastest
L2On chip, per core or shared256 KB to a few MBFast
L3On chip, sharedA few MB to 64 MB+Faster than RAM

Quick look: cache levels (from page 20)

Level
L1
Where
Inside each CPU core
Size
32-64 KB per core
Speed
Fastest
Level
L2
Where
On chip, per core or shared
Size
256 KB to a few MB
Speed
Fast
Level
L3
Where
On chip, shared
Size
A few MB to 64 MB+
Speed
Faster than RAM

BCA 103T Unit 2: Interaction with Computers

Starts with translators, linkers and loaders, moves to Word, Excel (=SUM()) and PowerPoint, then OS types and DOS, and ends with algorithms, flowcharts and pseudo code.

Pages 29-52 · 22 two-mark and 8 ten-mark answers · 6 logic examples · 13 figures.

Quick look: DOS command types (from page 41)
BasisInternalExternal
Stored inCOMMAND.COM, loaded at bootSeparate .EXE or .COM files on disk
AvailabilityAlways, after bootingOnly if the file is on disk
ExamplesDIR, CD, COPY, DELFORMAT, CHKDSK, XCOPY, TREE

Quick look: DOS command types (from page 41)

Basis
Stored in
Internal
COMMAND.COM, loaded at boot
External
Separate .EXE or .COM files on disk
Basis
Availability
Internal
Always, after booting
External
Only if the file is on disk
Basis
Examples
Internal
DIR, CD, COPY, DEL
External
FORMAT, CHKDSK, XCOPY, TREE

BCA 103T Unit 3: Computer Number System and Binary Arithmetic

Also covered as "Number System and Binary Arithmetic". It rewards practice: base conversions, the four binary operations, 1's and 2's complement subtraction, and BCD, ASCII and EBCDIC, each with a worked example.

Pages 53-71 · 36 worked examples · 20 two-mark and 6 ten-mark answers · 6 figures.

Quick look: -5 in 8 bits (from page 63)
Method+5-58-bit range
Sign-magnitude0000010110000101-127 to +127
1's complement0000010111111010-127 to +127
2's complement0000010111111011-128 to +127

Quick look: -5 in 8 bits (from page 63)

Method
Sign-magnitude
+5
00000101
-5
10000101
8-bit range
-127 to +127
Method
1's complement
+5
00000101
-5
11111010
8-bit range
-127 to +127
Method
2's complement
+5
00000101
-5
11111011
8-bit range
-128 to +127

BCA 103T Unit 4: Computer Network and Internet

Transmission modes, baud rate, twisted pair to optical fibre, modulation, then LAN, MAN and WAN and network devices (see the excerpt). Then protocols, IPv4 and IPv6, DNS, URLs, client-server and IT uses from UPI to e-governance.

Pages 72-90 · 24 two-mark and 8 ten-mark answers · 15 figures.

Quick look: how a search engine answers a query (from page 85)

  1. Crawling: bots follow links to find pages.
  2. Indexing: page content goes into a giant database.
  3. Ranking: matches are ordered by relevance, quality and popularity.
  4. Results: the ranked links appear on the SERP.

Hub, switch, router, gateway and firewall in computer networks: excerpt from page 80 of the BCA 103T notes

Excerpt from page 80

4.9 Network Devices

Network devices (networking hardware) are used to connect computers and networks, and to control, forward and protect the flow of data.

1. Hub

A hub is a simple device that connects many computers in a star topology. When data comes in on one port, the hub sends (broadcasts) it to all ports, and only the intended computer accepts it. It is a "dumb" device working at the physical layer. It wastes bandwidth and causes collisions. Types: passive, active (amplifies the signal) and intelligent hubs.

2. Switch

A switch also connects many computers in a LAN, but it is intelligent: it reads the MAC address of the destination and sends the data only to the correct port. It keeps a MAC address table and works at the data link layer. It reduces traffic and collisions and gives better speed and security than a hub. Switches have replaced hubs in modern LANs.

3. Router

A router connects two or more different networks (for example, a home LAN and the Internet) and forwards data packets between them. It reads the IP address of each packet and selects the best path (routing) using a routing table. It works at the network layer. A home Wi-Fi router also gives out IP addresses (DHCP) and often has a built-in firewall.

4. Gateway

A gateway is a device (or software) that connects two networks using different protocols or architectures and translates data from one format to another, like a language interpreter between networks. Examples: an e-mail gateway, a gateway between a company network and the Internet, and IoT gateways. It can work at all layers. Every gateway can act as a router, but not every router is a gateway.

5. Firewall

A firewall is a security system (hardware, software or both) placed between a private network and the Internet. It monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic and allows or blocks data according to a set of security rules. It protects the network from hackers, viruses and unauthorised access.

BCA 103T exam corner: 86 two-mark and 30 ten-mark solved questions by unit

Solved BCA 103T questions per unit
Unit2 Marks10 MarksWorked examples
1 Fundamentals of Computers2080
2 Interaction with Computers2286 logic examples
3 Number System and Binary Arithmetic20636 numericals
4 Computer Network and Internet2480
Total863042

Solved BCA 103T questions per unit

Unit
1 Fundamentals of Computers
2 Marks
20
10 Marks
8
Worked examples
0
Unit
2 Interaction with Computers
2 Marks
22
10 Marks
8
Worked examples
6 logic examples
Unit
3 Number System and Binary Arithmetic
2 Marks
20
10 Marks
6
Worked examples
36 numericals
Unit
4 Computer Network and Internet
2 Marks
24
10 Marks
8
Worked examples
0
Unit
Total
2 Marks
86
10 Marks
30
Worked examples
42

The BCA 103T notes solve 86 two-mark and 30 ten-mark questions across 4 units, plus 36 binary numericals and 6 algorithm, flowchart and decision-table examples.

One question per unit; more sit in BCA 103T important questions.

  • Unit 1 (2 Marks): Why is RAM called volatile memory? Its contents vanish when power goes off; ROM keeps the BIOS.
  • Unit 2 (2 Marks): Differentiate between a compiler and an interpreter. Compiler: whole program, object file. Interpreter: line by line, stops at the first error.
  • Unit 3 (2 Marks): Convert (11010111)2 to octal and hexadecimal. Group bits in threes, then fours, from the right: (327)8, (D7)16.
  • Unit 4 (2 Marks): What is a domain name? What is DNS? A site's readable name (ipu.ac.in); DNS turns it into an IP address.

Who writes and checks the BCA 103T Fundamentals of IT notes?

  • Prateek Talwar, author. Founder, Unnati Educations. Associate Company Secretary (ACS), ICSI, membership no. 58704, since 15 May 2019; B.Com, University of Delhi (School of Open Learning), 2012. Bio
  • Ritik Rawat, subject-expert reviewer. Senior Full Stack Developer, Unnati Educations; B.Tech. Reviews our BCA and B.Tech notes for technical accuracy. Bio
  • Sheetal Kirola, language and pedagogy reviewer only (Academic Head, M.Ed., 7 years). Checks wording only. Bio

These BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology IPU notes follow the 2024-25 first-year syllabus unit by unit; the marks pattern comes from its paper-setter instructions. Last updated 12 October 2026. Our team also writes GGSIPU notes for other courses, and corrections follow our editorial policy.

Do the BCA 103T notes cover the full GGSIPU syllabus?

Yes. Every topic in the four official BCA 103T units has its own numbered section in the notes; we found no gaps. Extras: topologies (4.8) and IT trends (4.15).

Official BCA 103T syllabus topics mapped to sections and pages of the notes
Official unitOfficial topicsWhere in the notesStatus
Unit ICharacteristics of Computer System; Generations, First to Fifth; Micro, Mini, Mainframe and super computers; Components of a digital computer, Block Diagram, Input-output devices, CPU; Memory Hierarchy, RAM, ROM, Secondary Memory, Cache; Hard Disk, CD, DVD, Flash memory1.1 to 1.14, pages 4 to 24Covered
Unit IIAssemblers, Compilers, Interpreters, linkers, loaders; MS-Word, MS Power point, MS-Excel; Operating System concepts and types; DOS booting sequence, File and Directory, DOS commands; Algorithms, flow chart, decision tables, pseudo code, low and high level languages2.1 to 2.16, pages 29 to 48Covered
Unit IIIPositional and Non-positional systems; Binary, Decimal, Octal, Hexadecimal and inter-conversion; Binary addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; 1's and 2's complement and subtraction; BCD, ASCII, EBCDIC3.1 to 3.16, pages 53 to 68Covered
Unit IVCommunication system elements; transmission modes, speed and media; Digital and Analog Transmission; LAN, WAN, MAN; Hub, Switch, Router, Gateway, Firewall; Protocol, Domain name, IP address, URL, WWW; Client-Server Model, Search Engine, IT applications4.1 to 4.14, pages 72 to 85Covered

Official BCA 103T syllabus topics mapped to sections and pages of the notes

Official unit
Unit I
Official topics
Characteristics of Computer System; Generations, First to Fifth; Micro, Mini, Mainframe and super computers; Components of a digital computer, Block Diagram, Input-output devices, CPU; Memory Hierarchy, RAM, ROM, Secondary Memory, Cache; Hard Disk, CD, DVD, Flash memory
Where in the notes
1.1 to 1.14, pages 4 to 24
Status
Covered
Official unit
Unit II
Official topics
Assemblers, Compilers, Interpreters, linkers, loaders; MS-Word, MS Power point, MS-Excel; Operating System concepts and types; DOS booting sequence, File and Directory, DOS commands; Algorithms, flow chart, decision tables, pseudo code, low and high level languages
Where in the notes
2.1 to 2.16, pages 29 to 48
Status
Covered
Official unit
Unit III
Official topics
Positional and Non-positional systems; Binary, Decimal, Octal, Hexadecimal and inter-conversion; Binary addition, subtraction, multiplication, division; 1's and 2's complement and subtraction; BCD, ASCII, EBCDIC
Where in the notes
3.1 to 3.16, pages 53 to 68
Status
Covered
Official unit
Unit IV
Official topics
Communication system elements; transmission modes, speed and media; Digital and Analog Transmission; LAN, WAN, MAN; Hub, Switch, Router, Gateway, Firewall; Protocol, Domain name, IP address, URL, WWW; Client-Server Model, Search Engine, IT applications
Where in the notes
4.1 to 4.14, pages 72 to 85
Status
Covered

Official source: BCA first-year syllabus on ipu.ac.in (2024-25 batch). Every paper in our GGSIPU BCA notes gets the same topic-by-topic map.

How to write BCA 103T answers: labelled-diagram ten-mark answers and step-by-step number conversions

BCA 103T tests two skills: Units 1, 2 and 4 reward clear theory with diagrams, Unit 3 rewards clean working.

Ten-mark theory answers. Use the order the notes follow: definition, a labelled diagram, points, a comparison table, then a one-line conclusion. The diagrams the notes single out are the block diagram, memory hierarchy, hard disk structure, translation process, OS layers, booting sequence, DOS directory tree and a flowchart. Label every box.

Generations and DOS answers. For each generation, write the period, technology, language, two examples, two merits and two demerits, then close with the comparison table. For DOS, open with the internal vs external table and give syntax plus one example for eight to ten commands, such as COPY CON and XCOPY.

Unit 3 numericals. Show every step, write the base as a subscript and finish with a decimal check. A worked example from the notes:

Convert (725)8 to hexadecimal.

Step 1, octal to binary (3 bits per digit): 7 = 111, 2 = 010, 5 = 101, so (725)8 = (111010101)2.

Step 2, regroup in fours from the right: 0001 | 1101 | 0101 = 1 | D | 5, so the answer is (1D5)16.

Check: 7 × 64 + 2 × 8 + 5 = 469, and 1 × 256 + 13 × 16 + 5 = 469.

There is no direct octal-to-hex short-cut, so the notes always go through binary. Two slips: reading remainders the wrong way (integer part bottom to top, fraction part top to bottom) and forgetting padding zeros when grouping bits. In complement subtraction, the carry is added back to the LSB in 1's complement but simply dropped in 2's complement. For timed practice across papers, use GGSIPU BCA important questions.

BCA 103P Fundamentals of IT lab notes (2 credits) shares its course outcomes with BCA 103T. Its practical list comes from your teacher in week one. Two theory sections feed it most: section 2.5 on Word, Excel and PowerPoint (CO3), and sections 2.8 to 2.11 on booting, file names and DOS commands (CO2).

  • BCA 101T Programming for Problem Solving using C notes turn the problem-solving logic of Unit 2 into C programs.
  • BCA 105T Web Technologies notes build on the World Wide Web basics of Unit 4.
  • Also in Semester 1: BCA 107T Mathematical Foundation, BCA 141T Writing Skills, BCA 181T Bridge Course and BCA 191T Understanding India.

BCA 103T Fundamentals of IT notes FAQs

How do I get the full BCA 103T notes?

Tap "Get Full Notes" at the top of this page, or the WhatsApp button at the end, and send the pre-filled message. Our desk replies with the price and payment details. After payment, the complete 90-page PDF of the BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes reaches you as a PDF on WhatsApp, so you can read it on your phone.

Are these BCA 103T notes official university material?

No. These BCA 103T notes are written by Unnati Educations, an independent education provider in Vikaspuri, Delhi, and they are not issued, checked or approved by the university. We map every section to the official BCA first-year syllabus for the 2024-25 batch. For official rules, exam dates, results and notices, always check the university website, ipu.ac.in, directly.

I joined BCA in 2025-26 or later. Is BCA 103T my paper?

Most likely not. The university's scheme for students admitted from 2025-26 at affiliated institutes lists this subject as BCA 105 Fundamentals of Computers & IT, a 3-credit paper, in the 2025-26 BCA scheme. BCA 103T is the code for the 2024-25 batch and its re-appear students. Check your admit card code before you buy.

Which BCA 103T unit has the most numericals?

Unit 3, Computer Number System and Binary Arithmetic. It has 36 numbered worked examples on pages 55 to 67, covering conversions between all four bases, binary addition to division, 1's and 2's complement subtraction, BCD and ASCII. Several of its two-mark questions are numericals too, so practise this unit with pen and paper; GGSIPU important questions add more.

What is the passing mark for BCA 103T?

We do not state passing marks, grace marks or re-appear rules for BCA 103T, because the university sets them in its ordinances and they can change between sessions. Please check the official ordinance and examination notices on ipu.ac.in, or ask your institute's examination cell. The notes prepare you for the question pattern, which the official syllabus does print.

Are the BCA 103T notes useful for the BCA 103P lab?

Partly. BCA 103P shares its course outcomes with BCA 103T, so the MS Office and DOS sections of Unit 2 support your lab work. These are theory notes, though, with no practical file or record. Your teacher notifies the actual practical list in the first week of the semester, so follow that list for the lab.

Get the full BCA 103T Fundamentals of Information Technology Notes on WhatsApp

One 90-page PDF with a clickable index, 52 figures and a revision table per unit: Fundamentals of Information Technology notes in English, in plain words.

Pages and solved questions per unit in the BCA 103T PDF
UnitPages2 Marks + 10 Marks
1 Fundamentals of Computers4 to 28 (25)20 + 8
2 Interaction with Computers29 to 52 (24)22 + 8
3 Number System and Binary Arithmetic53 to 71 (19)20 + 6, plus 36 numericals
4 Computer Network and Internet72 to 90 (19)24 + 8

Pages and solved questions per unit in the BCA 103T PDF

Unit
1 Fundamentals of Computers
Pages
4 to 28 (25)
2 Marks + 10 Marks
20 + 8
Unit
2 Interaction with Computers
Pages
29 to 52 (24)
2 Marks + 10 Marks
22 + 8
Unit
3 Number System and Binary Arithmetic
Pages
53 to 71 (19)
2 Marks + 10 Marks
20 + 6, plus 36 numericals
Unit
4 Computer Network and Internet
Pages
72 to 90 (19)
2 Marks + 10 Marks
24 + 8
  • Format: one PDF, sent on WhatsApp after payment
  • Price and payment details: shared by our desk on WhatsApp
Get the full BCA 103T notes on WhatsApp (4 units, 90 pages)

Unnati Educations is an independent education provider based in Vikaspuri, Delhi. We are not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU). 'GGSIPU' and 'IPU' are used only to describe the syllabus our notes follow. For official information, visit ipu.ac.in.

Ready for the full notes?

Discuss coverage and delivery with our team.