Q53.Marks: +2.0UGC NET Paper 2: Computer Science 2nd January 2026 Shift 1
Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R
Assertion A: Asymmetric key cryptography is significant slower than symmetric key cryptography.
Reason R: Asymmetric key cryptography is based on complex mathematical structure to secure data.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below
1.Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A✓ Correct
2.Both A and R are correct but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
3.A is correct but R is not correct
4.A is not correct but R is correct
Solution
The correct answer is Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
Key Points
Asymmetric key cryptography is slower than symmetric key cryptography because it relies on complex mathematical operations, such as modular exponentiation and prime factorization, which require significant computational power.
Symmetric key cryptography, in contrast, uses relatively simpler algorithms like block ciphers or stream ciphers, which are computationally efficient.
The assertion (A) is correct because the computational intensity of asymmetric cryptography makes it slower than symmetric cryptography.
The reason (R) is also correct because the security of asymmetric cryptography depends on the complexity of mathematical problems like factoring large numbers or solving discrete logarithms.
Since the complexity of the mathematical structure directly affects the speed, R correctly explains A.
Additional Information
Asymmetric Key Cryptography:
Uses a pair of keys: a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.
Common algorithms include RSA, ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography), and Diffie-Hellman.
Applications include secure communication, digital signatures, and key exchange mechanisms.
Symmetric Key Cryptography:
Uses the same key for both encryption and decryption.
Common algorithms include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), DES (Data Encryption Standard), and Blowfish.
Applications include encrypting large volumes of data due to its speed and efficiency.
Key Differences Between Symmetric and Asymmetric Cryptography:
Speed: Symmetric cryptography is faster, while asymmetric cryptography is slower.
Key Management: Symmetric cryptography requires secure key distribution, whereas asymmetric cryptography eliminates this issue by using public keys.
Use Cases: Symmetric cryptography is used for bulk data encryption, while asymmetric cryptography is used for secure key exchanges and digital signatures.
