UPSC Prelims 2018 Q36: Current Affairs – Indian Government Schemes & Initiatives
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 3 only
Explanation
Digital India Programme - Aims
Digital India (launched July 2015) has three vision areas: (i) Digital infrastructure as a utility, (ii) Governance and services on demand, (iii) Digital empowerment of citizens.
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aim: form India's own Internet companies like China | FALSE | Digital India is NOT about protectionist creation of domestic tech giants like the Chinese Great Firewall model. It focuses on digital infrastructure, e-governance and digital empowerment. |
| 2 | Aim: force MNCs to build data centres in India (data localisation) | FALSE | While RBI (2018) mandated payment data storage in India and PDP Bill later touched data localisation, these are NOT stated aims of the Digital India programme itself. |
| 3 | Aim: Connect villages to Internet + Wi-Fi in schools, public places, tourist centres | TRUE | Core Digital India pillar - BharatNet (formerly NOFN) connects gram panchayats via fibre. Public Wi-Fi at schools, hospitals, tourist places, railway stations is a stated objective. |
Answer: (b) 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Neither creating Indian Internet giants (Statement 1) nor forcing data centres (Statement 2) is a stated Digital India aim.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Statement 3 (connectivity in villages and public Wi-Fi) is a core Digital India pillar.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is not a stated Digital India aim.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 1 and 2 do not appear in Digital India's stated objectives.
Key point
Digital India (2015) 9 pillars: Broadband highways, universal mobile, public Internet access, e-Kranti (services), Information for all, Electronics manufacturing, IT for jobs, Early harvest, e-governance. Not protectionism or forced data centres.
Remember
The Digital India Plan (2015) aims to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy through nine pillars including broadband highways, universal mobile access, and public Internet access. Connecting villages to the Internet via BharatNet and providing Wi-Fi at schools, hospitals and tourist centres is central. Forcing global companies to build data centres in India or creating Chinese-style domestic Internet giants is not a stated aim.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Digital India (positive programme for infrastructure) with regulatory measures like RBI's 2018 payments data localisation.
- Attributing Chinese-style Internet protectionism to Digital India - India's approach is open, inclusive.
- Missing BharatNet - the massive rural fibre backbone that operationalises Statement 3.
Exam tip
Digital India = access + governance + empowerment. Not about killing foreign firms or forced localisation. Flagship components: BharatNet, UMANG, DigiLocker, e-Sign, Common Service Centres.
Sources
- MeitY - Digital India Programme Handbook
- PIB - Digital India Vision, Pillars and Progress