Master the TCP/IP and OSI reference models, IPv4/IPv6 addressing, subnetting, routing protocols, and modern wireless networks. The Computer Networks section is one of the highest-yield areas for the BCI 2026 exam — every chapter is mapped to past-year questions.
Free preview: Chapter 1 of this subject is fully free — read every lesson, attempt every MCQ, review every flashcard. No sign-up required to read; sign in to save progress.
Syllabus & chapters
Aligned to the official RSSB BCI 2026 syllabus. Each chapter has 7 microtopics with English and Hindi lessons, 10 MCQs per microtopic, 4 spaced-repetition flashcards per microtopic, and a 15-question chapter mock test.
Chapter 1
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Network Fundamentals
- What is a Network · Data Communication
- Characteristics & Components of Data Communication
- Data Flow / Transmission Modes (Simplex · Half · Full Duplex)
- Network Topologies — Mesh · Star · Bus · Ring · Tree · Hybrid
- Network Types — LAN · MAN · WAN · PAN · CAN
- Network Categories — Client-Server vs Peer-to-Peer
- Performance Metrics — Bandwidth · Throughput · Latency · Jitter
Chapter 2
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
OSI & TCP/IP Reference Models
- Why Layered Architecture · Design Principles
- OSI Reference Model — All 7 Layers
- TCP/IP Reference Model — 5 / 4 Layers
- OSI vs TCP/IP — Comparison
- PDU at Each Layer · Encapsulation / Decapsulation
- Protocols-by-Layer Cheat Sheet
- Addressing across Layers — MAC · IP · Port · App-specific
Chapter 3
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Physical Layer
- Signals — Analog · Digital · Bandwidth · Bit Rate
- Guided Media — Twisted Pair · Coaxial · Fiber Optic
- Unguided Media — Radio · Microwave · Infrared · Satellite
- Encoding Techniques — NRZ · Manchester · Differential
- Modulation — ASK · FSK · PSK · QAM
- Multiplexing — FDM · TDM · WDM · CDMA
- Switching — Circuit · Packet · Message · Virtual Circuit
Chapter 4
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Data Link Layer
- DLL Services · Framing Techniques
- Error Detection — Parity · Checksum · CRC
- Error Correction — Hamming Code
- Flow Control — Stop-and-Wait · Sliding Window
- ARQ Protocols — Stop-and-Wait · Go-Back-N · Selective Repeat
- MAC Sublayer — ALOHA · CSMA · CSMA/CD · CSMA/CA
- Ethernet · Hubs · Bridges · Switches
Chapter 5
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Network Layer
- Network Layer Services · Routing vs Forwarding
- IPv4 Addressing — Format · Classes A/B/C/D/E
- Subnetting · VLSM · CIDR
- IPv6 — Format · Features · Transition from IPv4
- ARP · RARP · DHCP · NAT — Address Helpers
- ICMP · IGMP — Diagnostic & Multicast Protocols
- Routing Algorithms — Distance Vector · Link State · RIP · OSPF · BGP
Chapter 6
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Transport Layer
- Transport Layer Services · Process-to-Process Delivery
- TCP — Segment Format · 3-Way Handshake · Connection Close
- TCP Reliability — Sequence Nums · ACKs · Retransmission
- Flow Control — Sliding Window · Window Scaling
- Congestion Control — Slow Start · Congestion Avoidance · Fast Recovery
- UDP — Format · When to Choose UDP
- Ports · Sockets · TCP vs UDP Comparison
Chapter 7
6 microtopics · 60 MCQs · 24 flashcards
Application Layer
- Application Layer Services · Client-Server Architecture
- DNS — Hierarchy · Resolution · Record Types
- HTTP / HTTPS · Web Architecture · Cookies
- Email — SMTP · POP3 · IMAP
- FTP · Telnet · SSH · TFTP — File Transfer & Remote Login
- Firewalls · VPN · TLS / SSL · Digital Signatures
Chapter 8
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Networking Devices
- Connecting Devices Overview · Layer-wise classification
- Hub & Repeater · Layer 1 devices
- Bridge & Switch · Layer 2 devices · MAC learning
- Router & Gateway · Layer 3+ devices · routing
- Modem · NIC · MAC address
- Access Point · Wireless Router · WLAN
- Recap + device comparison table + PYQ tricks
Chapter 9
7 microtopics · 70 MCQs · 28 flashcards
Mobile Communication
- Cellular Communication — cell · base station · handoff
- 1G to 5G evolution · features per generation
- GSM architecture · TDMA · SIM
- CDMA · Spread Spectrum · OFDM (light)
- Bluetooth · Personal Area Network · BLE
- Wi-Fi (802.11) · standards · Wi-Fi 6/7
- Other wireless: Zigbee · NFC · Mobile IP · Recap
How MeritPrep helps you crack Computer Networks
- Microtopic depth: Each concept is broken into a 5-minute focused lesson with worked examples and diagrams, not 50-page chapters.
- RSSB pattern MCQs: Every MCQ is written in the style of past Paper II questions, with detailed explanations.
- Spaced repetition: Flashcards enter your Daily Review queue with intervals tuned to keep concepts fresh through exam day.
- Mock tests: 15-Q chapter mocks plus full-syllabus mocks for Computer Networks when you're ready.
- Bilingual: Every lesson is available in both English and Hindi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Computer Networks content free to read?
Chapter 1 of this subject is fully free, and the entire DBMS subject is free. To unlock the rest of Computer Networks and every other BCI subject, get BCI Full Access for ₹1,499 — valid through 22 August 2026 (BCI Paper II exam day).
How does this prepare me for the BCI 2026 exam?
The Computer Networks chapters mirror the official BCI Paper II syllabus exactly. Past-year questions (PYQs) are tagged on relevant MCQs so you know which topics are highest-yield. The combination of focused microtopic lessons, RSSB-pattern practice, and spaced repetition is designed for the exam format.
Is content available in Hindi?
Yes — every lesson, MCQ, and flashcard has a Hindi version. Toggle between English and Hindi from the language button at the top of the app.