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Government SchemesMedium

To what level does the effective loan interest rate for a PACS fall under the Plan?

  1. A.1 per cent
  2. B.3 per cent
  3. C.4 per cent
  4. D.7 per cent

Correct answer

A. 1 per cent

Explanation

The correct answer is 1 per cent. The Plan uses NABARD's special refinance facility to lighten the burden on participating cooperatives, and when that is combined with the 3 per cent interest subvention available under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, the effective loan interest rate for a PACS comes down to 1 per cent. Option B is the strongest distractor, since 3 per cent is the subvention itself rather than the rate the society finally pays. Options C and D do not appear in the document. Two related financial measures are worth remembering with this: the subsidy under the Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure scheme was raised from 25 per cent to 33.33 per cent, and the margin money requirement was reduced to 10 per cent, while cost norms for godown construction were revised. Together these steps were taken to improve the viability of storage projects and draw more societies in.

Read the full article: Grain Storage Plan: Godowns Built in 313 PACS by July 2026

Practice Questions

Q1.Government SchemesMedium

Which body is the implementing agency of the Decentralised Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector?

  1. A.Food Corporation of India
  2. B.National Cooperative Development Corporation
  3. C.NABARD
  4. D.Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority
Show answer
Correct answer: B. National Cooperative Development Corporation

The backgrounder names it as the implementing agency, supported by coordination at the national, state and district levels through an Inter-Ministerial Committee, a National Level Coordination Committee, and State and District Cooperative Development Committees.

Q3.Government SchemesHard

Under Special Campaign 6, the number of e-waste recyclers, refurbishers and producers enrolled on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) rose from 38 to:

  1. A.More than 75
  2. B.More than 100
  3. C.More than 200
  4. D.More than 500
Show answer
Correct answer: C. More than 200

Building on the e-waste focus of the previous campaign, Special Campaign 6 worked with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Boards and the recycling industry to link government offices with authorised recyclers, refurbishers and producers.

Q4.Government SchemesMedium

Which ministry earned the highest revenue from scrap disposal during Special Campaign 6?

  1. A.Ministry of Coal
  2. B.Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)
  3. C.Ministry of Defence (Department of Military Affairs)
  4. D.Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Ministry of Railways (Railway Board)

It was followed by the Department of Military Affairs with ₹88.96 crore, the Ministry of Coal with ₹61.41 crore and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas with ₹34.81 crore.