Q63 · UPSC Prelims 2016 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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'SWAYAM', an initiative of the Government of India, aims at

A Promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas
B Providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs
C Promoting the education and health of adolescent girls
D Providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free

Correct answer: (d) Providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free

Explanation

  1. A

    Promoting the Self Help Groups in rural areas

    Promoting Self Help Groups in rural areas is the terrain of NRLM/DAY-NRLM and related livelihood missions, not SWAYAM. This option is not the key.

  2. B

    Providing financial and technical assistance to young start-up entrepreneurs

    Financial and technical assistance to start-up entrepreneurs describes Start-up India, SIDBI funds or incubation schemes, not SWAYAM. This option is wrong.

  3. C

    Promoting the education and health of adolescent girls

    Education and health of adolescent girls is the space of schemes such as SABLA/RKSK, not the SWAYAM platform. This option is not the key.

  4. D

    Providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free

    SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds) is the Government of India’s MOOC platform to provide affordable, quality education online, including free access to courses from school to postgraduate level. That is why (d) is the official key.

Summary. Official key is (d) providing affordable and quality education to the citizens for free. SWAYAM hosts online courses with video, reading, tests and discussion, and credit transfer is provided for under UGC/AICTE regulations. It is not an SHG, start-up-finance or adolescent-girl scheme. The name is an education-technology brand under the Ministry of Education. Only (d) matches the initiative.