Explanation: Surat has emerged as the leading city under the Smart Cities Scheme, excelling in project completion, fund utilization, and overall performance. The city has effectively implemented numerous smart infrastructure projects, including advanced public transportation systems, waste management solutions, and urban planning initiatives. Surat’s success is attributed to its efficient use of allocated funds, rapid project execution, and a strategic approach to urban development. The city's proactive measures in leveraging technology and improving infrastructure have set a benchmark for other cities under the scheme, demonstrating significant advancements in urban smart city planning and execution.

Explanation: On December 3, 2023, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the iGOT Karmayogi Platform introduced a new Accessibility Widget to enhance inclusivity. The widget includes features such as Screen Reader, Smart Contrast, Text Spacing, Dyslexia Friendly options, Saturation adjustments, Pause Animations, and improved Page Structure. These tools are designed to accommodate various needs and make the platform more accessible for users with disabilities. iGOT Karmayogi is an online learning portal aimed at government officials, providing comprehensive resources for skill development and capacity building, with the new widget ensuring an equitable learning environment for all users.

Explanation: My iGOT and VIKAS are part of the Mission Karmayogi initiative, which focuses on enhancing the competency and capacity of government officials through continuous learning and development. My iGOT is a personalized dashboard on the iGOT Karmayogi Platform, offering tailored learning experiences, progress tracking, and skill development resources. VIKAS is designed to facilitate the creation of customized learning paths and training modules. Together, they support the mission’s goal of transforming civil services by providing comprehensive, accessible, and effective training tools for officials, thus improving governance and public service delivery.

Explanation: The Supreme Court of India’s Witness Protection Scheme addresses the critical issue of witness safety, essential for the integrity of the justice system. Witnesses often face intimidation or harassment, leading them to turn hostile during trials. This scheme provides a structured approach to ensure their security. It includes a thorough threat assessment process and categorizes threats into three levels: minor, moderate, and severe. Depending on the threat level, the scheme offers various protective measures such as confidentiality of identity, safe housing, and police protection. This initiative aims to safeguard witnesses, thereby reinforcing the legal process and ensuring justice.

Explanation: The Ministry of Communication launched the ‘5G & Beyond Hackathon 2023’ to foster innovation and advance technological development in the 5G domain. This initiative aims to encourage participants to develop solutions that leverage 5G technology and explore its potential beyond current applications. The hackathon invites developers, startups, and tech enthusiasts to create innovative applications and services that can harness the power of 5G and future technologies. By facilitating this competition, the Ministry seeks to stimulate research and development, promote entrepreneurship, and enhance India’s position in the global technology landscape.

Explanation: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying initiated a project to install transponders on sea vessels to enhance maritime safety and monitoring. This initiative aims to improve the tracking and management of fishing vessels, ensuring compliance with regulations and reducing illegal activities at sea. The transponders will provide real-time data on vessel locations, helping authorities monitor fishing operations, safeguard marine resources, and enhance the overall safety of maritime navigation. By implementing this technology, the ministry seeks to modernize the fishing industry, improve regulatory oversight, and promote sustainable practices in India’s maritime sector.