UPSC Prelims PYQ 2017: Smart India Hackathon — Purpose and Nature

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Smart India Hackathon 2017?

It is a centrally sponsored scheme for developing every city of our country into Smart Cities in a decade.
It is an initiative to identify new digital technology innovations for solving the many problems faced by our country.
It is a programme aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade.

The Smart India Hackathon (SIH) is a national initiative launched by the Ministry of Education, with support from the Innovation Cell and AICTE. This event offers students an opportunity to engage in innovative problem-solving, addressing some of the most pressing challenges faced by the nation and the world. It aims to foster a culture of product innovation, problem-solving, and out-of-the-box thinking in students.
Since its inception in 2017, SIH has grown to become the world’s largest open innovation model, bringing together students from across India to solve real-life problems through creativity, innovation, and technical expertise. SIH is being run in two formats: SIH Software and SIH Hardware Editions for higher education students.

Watch for extreme words like “every city” and “all transactions. Statement 1 uses “every city”, which is an exaggeration and relates more to the Smart Cities Mission. Statement 3 uses “all financial transactions”, another extreme claim, which is unrealistic.