Q. Which of the following statements best describes the Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme?

[A] It is a short-term liquidity window opened by the RBI exclusively for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to borrow funds at a rate lower than the Repo Rate.

[B] It is a provision under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) to provide zero-collateral loans to beneficiaries at a fluctuating interest rate.

[C] It is a long-standing government scheme that mandates banks to provide credit to the weakest sections of the community at a concessional and uniform interest rate of 4% per annum.

[D] It is a lending standard where the interest rate on loans is determined by the bank based on the borrower credit rating, with different rates for different risk profiles.

Answer: C
Notes:

Explanation:

The Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) Scheme (or DIR) was launched in 1972. It is a social banking scheme requiring banks to provide loans to the most financially vulnerable groups (e.g., landless laborers, Scheduled Castes/Tribes) for productive purposes at a flat, highly concessional simple interest rate of 4% per annum.

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