UPSC Prelims 2022
Current Affairs Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 3 only

The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to create a digital health ecosystem by providing unique Health IDs to citizens, enabling seamless access to health records across the country. However, participation in ABDM is voluntary for both citizens and healthcare facilities (public or private), and it does not mandate universal coverage.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Adoption of ABDM by private and public hospitals is voluntary, not mandatory. Healthcare facilities can choose to participate based on their management decisions.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: While ABDM aims to facilitate digital health infrastructure, it does not mandate every citizen to be part of it. Participation is consent-based and voluntary for all citizens.

✅ Statement 3 – Correct: ABDM provides seamless portability across India through a unique Health ID (Personal Health Identifier), allowing citizens to access their health records from anywhere in the country.

📝 Short Notes: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

• Launch: Launched on 27 September 2021 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Objective: To create a national digital health ecosystem that supports universal health coverage in an efficient, accessible, and affordable manner
• Key Components: Health ID (unique 14-digit identification number), DigiDoctor (registry of doctors and healthcare professionals), Health Facility Registry, and Personal Health Records (PHR)
• Voluntary Participation: Participation is voluntary for citizens, doctors, and healthcare facilities (both public and private)
• Data Privacy: Follows strict consent-based framework where citizens have full control over their health data
• Portability: Enables seamless access to health records across different states and healthcare providers through unique Health ID
• Integration: Integrates with existing health schemes like Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and other government health programs

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Neither 1 nor 2

Both statements contain inaccuracies regarding the institutional nature and funding of the India Sanitation Coalition and the National Institute of Urban Affairs.

❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The India Sanitation Coalition (ISC) is a multi-stakeholder platform launched in 2015 that brings together private sector, government, civil society, and experts to work on sanitation issues. It is not funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). ISC operates through a partnership model involving various stakeholders but WHO is not listed as a funding agency.

❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act since 1976, functioning as India's premier urban think tank. It is not an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, but rather an autonomous institution that works closely with the ministry and other stakeholders to provide research and innovative solutions for urban challenges.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2, 3 and 4

All four digital platforms mentioned are built on open-source frameworks, making their source code publicly available for transparency, collaboration, and innovation. While Aarogya Setu was initially proprietary, the government later released its source code as open-source in 2020.

✅ Aarogya Setu – Correct: Initially closed-source but was made open-source by the government in May 2020, with code published on GitHub.
✅ CoWIN – Correct: Built using open-source technologies and the government released its source code as open-source in June 2021.
✅ DigiLocker – Correct: Developed on an open-source Digital Locker System platform, enabling secure storage and sharing of documents.
✅ DIKSHA – Correct: Built on the open-source Sunbird platform developed under the EkStep Foundation initiative.

📝 Short Notes: Government Open-Source Digital Platforms

• Aarogya Setu: COVID-19 contact tracing app; source code made public on GitHub in May 2020 for Android and iOS versions
• CoWIN (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network): Vaccination registration and certificate platform; made open-source in June 2021 to enable global adoption
• DigiLocker: Digital document storage platform under Digital India; uses open-source architecture for secure document issuance and verification
• DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing): National teacher platform and learning resource repository; built on Sunbird open-source platform developed by EkStep Foundation
• Benefits of Open-Source: Transparency, security through public scrutiny, cost-effectiveness, customization, and collaborative improvement
• India Stack: These platforms align with India's broader open-source digital public goods approach, enabling scalability and reusability