Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017 ? 1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city of our country into Smart Cities in a decade. 2. It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country. 3. It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 2 and 3 only
Why the answer is (b)
• Smart India Hackathon (2017), run by the Ministry of HRD/AICTE, invited students to build digital solutions to problems posed by central ministries and departments — an innovation-identification initiative, statement 2.
• It is not the Smart Cities Mission (statement 1), which is a separate urban programme, nor a scheme to digitise all financial transactions (statement 3).
• The hackathon has since become an annual event with hardware and software editions.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statements 1 and 3 describe other programmes, not the hackathon.
- (c) 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: it is not about digitising transactions.
- (d) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.