Which one of the following best describes the key objective of India’s ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) initiative?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) To break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by enabling interoperability across networks
ONDC is a government-backed open network under DPIIT. Its first stated objective is to break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by letting buyers and sellers on different platforms transact through interoperable networks. It does not centralise control, replace private platforms or mandate a payment mode.
- ✓ (c) This is how PIB lists ONDC’s objective under ‘Democratization of Commerce’; the other stated objectives are inclusivity, lower costs and market expansion.
- ✗ (a) Government control over transactions is not among the objectives; ONDC aims to open up commerce, not control it.
- ✗ (b) The aim is interoperability across networks, not replacing private platforms.
- ✗ (d) Mandating UPI is not among the listed objectives.
Remember · ONDC = open, interoperable network to reduce the dominance of a few large e-commerce platforms; it lowers entry barriers for small sellers.
Sources
- PIB: Revolutionizing Digital Commerce: The ONDC Initiative ↗ “Democratization of Commerce: Break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by enabling interoperability across networks.”
Question and answer: UPSC's provisional GS Paper I (2026, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·