POKHARA UNIVERSITY

Level: Bachelor                                  Semester: Spring                                   Year: 2023

Programme: BBA/BI/TT/BCIS/BHCM/BHM                                              Full Marks: 100

Course: Data Analysis and Modeling                                                            Pass Marks: 45

Time: 3 hrs. 

Candidates are required to answer in their own words as far as practicable The figures in the margin indicate full marks.

                                                             Section "A"

                                                Very Short Answer Questions

Attempt all the questions. [10×2] 

1. Define sociology and list out the subject matters of sociology.

2. Discuss any 2 features of postmodernism.

3. How is ascribed status different from achieved status?

4.What do you mean by norms and values? 

5. With examples, differentiate 'sacred' and 'profane' aspects of religion.

6. What is meant by dynamics of social capital? Give an example.

7. Write down any four features of totalitarianism.

8. Define group dynamics and explain briefly how it is important to business organisations.

9. Differentiate between 'sex' and 'gender".

10. What are the four major impacts of education on social change?

                                                               Section "B"

                                            Descriptive Answer Questions 

Attempt any six questions. [6×10]

11. Why is sociology a social science? Describe the causes that led to the emergence of sociology as a particular discipline.

12.  What is meant by perspective? Describe the contributions made by Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons in the functionalist perspective of Sociology. 

13. Define bureaucracy. Discuss the merits and demerits of bureaucracy in Nepalese organizations.

14. Define sexuality. Explain any three sexual issues faced by Nepalese society today.

15. Define social stratification. Explain functionalist and conflict approach to social stratification.

 16. Define social institutions. Describe marriage along with types, function and changing patterns in the Nepalese context. 

17. Define social change. Discuss the forces of social change in societies.

                                                                  Section "C

                                                         Case Analysis [20] 

18. Read the case situation given below and answer the questions that follow

              How Nepali’s vulnerability grows amid changing nature of cyber crimes

Cyber-crimes have become a global, borderless phenomena. The rapid growth of internet connectivity and information technology has created ample opportunities for criminals. Nepal too is at a high risk of cybercrimes as the country does not have proper legal procedures to address the ever- evolving cybercrimes. In the past few years the country has faced many security breaches on government websites; in late January, about 1.500 government websites were shut down. 

Cybercrimes refer to criminal activities that are done with the help of computers, the internet and digital technologies. These include activities like digital identity theft, hacking, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, phishing. and other forms of fraud with the use of the internet and electronic devices. They have emerged as a new challenge to the economy, security, social harmony as well as individual well-being. According to Statista, an online platform specialised in market and consumer data which offers statistics and reports, as of January this year, there were 5.16 billion internet users worldwide, which is 64.4 percent of the global population.. There were 38.38 million internet subscribers in the country as of mid-October 2022, according to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority. Internet penetration in the country has now reached far and wide . The impact of cybercrimes on an individual level is still more alarming. According to the Bhotahity-based cyber bureau of Nepal Police, in the past four years a total of 16,190 complaints have been lodged. It gets an average of 60 to 70 complaints a day, most of them related to the hacking of email. social media passwords and other general issues. According to cyber bureau, of the total complaints in the past eight months, 36 were of online child sexual abuse. "Children are more vulnerable because we have found! many predators grooming children through online gaming, gifts, and then abusing or exploiting them in some way." said bureau spokesperson Ray. Meanwhile, in the past four years, the cyber bureau has recorded 16,190 cases of cyber crimes under different categories like online financial fraud, revenge porn, ransomware attack, defamation, hacking, unauthorised access, among others. The bureau's data shows that in the fiscal year 2019- 2020 there were only 2,301 cases of cyber crimes lodged. This fiscal year, the number has increased three-fold, to 6,297. Most recorded cybercrimes in Nepal in the past four years are linked to Facebook (4,730), followed by Tik-Tok (447), Instagram (434) and WhatsApp (181). Other platforms such as Twitter, Viber, IMO, and digital wallets are also used by digital fraudsters. Website and email hacking have also become headaches for the victims and the police.

According to the bureau's data for the past eight months, IT-related financial frauds were the most common cybercrimes. At 955, financial frauds made up 20 percent of the total online crimes in the country. followed by 901 cases of revenge porn, according to Ray. Financial crimes include phishing (attempting to acquire sensitive data such as bank account numbers under a guise), lottery scam including fraudulent offers of work from home and online shopping Cases of fake profiles on social media come third, with 898 complaints registered. There were 799 complaints for online blackmailing, and 700 cases of online defamation aimed at assassinating the complainant's character. In the same period, 648 cases of online harassment and 36 cases of online child sexual abuse were filed. The country has the Electronic Transaction Act, 2008 as its cyber law. But due to lack of necessary amendments, it fails to cover the ever-evolving cyber crimes or to add to the security of a country's online infrastructure. The Cybercrime Act-2018 is yet to see the light of the day. With weak laws on online security, Nepal's cyberspace has become a gold mine for innovative hackers.

Questions:

a) The internet and new technologies have made peoples' lives easier. However, there are negative consequences on society. What are these negative consequences and who are victimised the most? 

b) How can such social evil and criminal acts be reduced in societies?