UPSC Prelims 2017 Q18: Art & Culture – Music
The term 'Digital Single Market Strategy' seen in the news refers to
- (a) ASEAN
- (b) BRICS
- (c) EU
- (d) G20
Answer: (c) EU
Explanation
Digital Single Market Strategy
Launched by the European Commission in May 2015 to make the EU one digital market.
| Pillar | Aim |
|---|---|
| Access | Better online access to goods and services across the EU (end geo-blocking) |
| Environment | Right conditions for digital networks to grow |
| Economy and society | Maximise the growth of the digital economy |
It led to the end of mobile roaming charges within the EU in 2017 and the GDPR data protection rules (2018).
| Other option | Why wrong |
|---|---|
| ASEAN | Has the ASEAN Economic Community, not this strategy |
| BRICS | No single-market project |
| G20 | A forum, not a market union |
Answer: (c) EU.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. ASEAN has its own economic community plans, but this strategy is the EU's.
- (b) Incorrect. BRICS has no single market or digital market strategy.
- (c) CORRECT. The European Commission launched the Digital Single Market Strategy in 2015.
- (d) Incorrect. The G20 is a forum of major economies, not a single market.
Key point
Digital Single Market Strategy = European Commission (2015); ended EU roaming charges (2017) and paved the way for GDPR.
Remember
Digital Single Market = EU, 2015.
Common mistakes
- Choosing ASEAN because it also seeks deeper integration.
- Not linking 'single market' to the EU, which already has a single market for goods.
- Thinking the G20 runs common market programmes.
Exam tip
'Single market' almost always points to the EU.
Sources
- European Commission — A Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe (COM(2015) 192)
- European Parliament — Fact Sheets on the European Union: Digital Single Market