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Question

The CPU retrieves the upcoming instruction for execution from which system component?

This question was previously asked in
RRB NTPC 2025 Graduate CBT 2 Question Paper PDF (10-Jul-2026) (Shift 1)
The correct answer is

System program counter

During the fetch phase of the instruction cycle, the CPU needs the memory address of the next instruction to be executed.

This address is held in a special register called the Program Counter (PC), which automatically points to the location of the upcoming instruction.

After each fetch, the Program Counter is incremented so that it points to the following instruction in sequence.

The output register, secondary memory, and input buffer do not hold the address of the next instruction, so they cannot supply it.

Hence, the CPU fetches the next instruction from the Program Counter.

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