USOF, Prasar Bharati & ONDC Partnered to Offer Digital Services across Rural India

Current Context: On March 12, 2024, in New Delhi, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), Prasar Bharati, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

• The objective of this strategic alliance is to extend affordable and accessible digital services throughout the country, leveraging the BharatNet infrastructure under USOF.
• This collaboration aims to synergize connectivity, content, and commerce to empower rural India.
• The USOF will ensure efficient and high-speed broadband services in rural and remote areas.
• Prasar Bharati, with its unparalleled legacy content, consumer reach, and brand recall, will source and produce content that will run on its OTT platform.
• In addition, the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) will provide the technical expertise and necessary framework in enabling digital commerce in products & services. This will be expanded to cover more services like education, health, training, credit, insurance, agriculture amongst others.

Question:

Q.1 What is the main objective of the strategic alliance between USOF, Prasar Bharati, and ONDC?
a. To extend affordable and accessible digital services throughout the country
b. To ensure efficient and high-speed broadband services in urban areas
c. To source and produce content for OTT platforms
d. To provide technical expertise in enabling digital commerce in products & services