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Cryptography & Network Security (CNS) AKTU PYQ analysis – unit-wise weightage

We analysed 240 questions from 10 AKTU Cryptography & Network Security papers (2018–2026). Here is how marks are spread across units and which topics keep coming back.

Cryptography & Network Security unit-wise weightage

  • Unit 1: Security Foundations, Classical Encryption and Modern Block Ciphers – 32% of questions, about 29 marks per paper
  • Unit 2: Mathematical Foundations, AES and Public Key Cryptography – 35% of questions, about 32 marks per paper
  • Unit 3: Message Authentication, Hash Functions and Digital Signatures – 29% of questions, about 26 marks per paper
  • Unit 4: Key Distribution, Authentication Applications and Email Security – 30% of questions, about 28 marks per paper
  • Unit 5: IP Security, Secure Transactions and System Security – 25% of questions, about 22 marks per paper

Most repeated Cryptography & Network Security topics in AKTU PYQs

  • IP Security
  • Classical Encryption Techniques
  • Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA)
  • Kerberos
  • Extended Euclidean Algorithm

Unit 1 (Security Foundations, Classical Encryption and Modern Block Ciphers) – top topics

  • Classical Encryption Techniques – asked 10 times, last in 2026
  • Data Encryption Standard (DES) – asked 8 times, last in 2026
  • Block Cipher Modes of Operation – asked 6 times, last in 2026

Unit 2 (Mathematical Foundations, AES and Public Key Cryptography) – top topics

  • Extended Euclidean Algorithm – asked 9 times, last in 2026
  • Chinese Remainder Theorem – asked 8 times, last in 2026
  • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) – asked 7 times, last in 2026

Unit 3 (Message Authentication, Hash Functions and Digital Signatures) – top topics

  • Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) – asked 10 times, last in 2026
  • Digital Signatures – asked 8 times, last in 2026
  • Message Authentication Codes – asked 6 times, last in 2026

Unit 4 (Key Distribution, Authentication Applications and Email Security) – top topics

  • Kerberos – asked 10 times, last in 2026
  • X.509 Certificates – asked 8 times, last in 2026
  • Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) – asked 8 times, last in 2025

Unit 5 (IP Security, Secure Transactions and System Security) – top topics

  • IP Security – asked 11 times, last in 2026
  • Intrusion Detection – asked 7 times, last in 2026
  • Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) – asked 6 times, last in 2026