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Difficulty: HardAnalytical Decision Making and Criteria Selection

The following criteria must be satisfied for approving a financial grant under the State Sustainable Agriculture Scheme as of June 1, 2026:

1. The farming cooperative must be officially registered for at least 5 years.
2. The cooperative must have a minimum of 100 active organic farmers as registered members.
3. The annual financial turnover for FY 2025–26 must be at least ₹50 Lakhs.
4. The cooperative must possess an official State Organic Soil Health Certification.

However, the following exceptions apply:
- If a cooperative does not satisfy criterion 1, but is led by a women's self-help group with at least 3 years of registered operation, the case is to be referred to the State Women Development Board.
- If a cooperative does not satisfy criterion 3, but has established a solar-powered micro-irrigation facility covering over 50 acres, the turnover requirement is waived and the grant can be approved directly by the Agricultural Sanctioning Committee.
- If a cooperative does not satisfy criterion 4, but has submitted soil test reports from an ICAR-accredited laboratory certified within the last 6 months, the case is to be referred to the Chief Agricultural Officer for relaxation.

Case Information:
Green Valley Organic Producers Cooperative was registered in August 2020. As of June 1, 2026, it has 120 active organic farming members. Its audited turnover for FY 2025–26 was ₹38 Lakhs. It has installed a solar-powered micro-irrigation system covering 65 acres. Although it lacks the State Organic Soil Health Certification, it submitted ICAR-accredited laboratory soil reports certified in January 2026.

Which of the following is the correct administrative decision regarding the grant application of Green Valley Organic Producers Cooperative?

  1. The case should be referred to the Chief Agricultural Officer for relaxation.Answer
  2. B
    The grant should be approved directly by the Agricultural Sanctioning Committee.
  3. C
    The grant application should be rejected immediately due to non-fulfillment of annual turnover and certification criteria.
  4. D
    The case should be referred to the State Women Development Board.

Answer

The case should be referred to the Chief Agricultural Officer for relaxation.
The cooperative satisfies Criterion 1 (registered for over 5 years) and Criterion 2 (120 members). While it fails Criterion 3 (turnover of ₹38 Lakhs vs ₹50 Lakhs required), its 65-acre solar-powered micro-irrigation system meets the exception clause to waive the turnover deficit. For Criterion 4, although it lacks the State certification, its ICAR laboratory report certified in January 2026 is within 5 months (less than the 6-month threshold), triggering the clause to refer the application to the Chief Agricultural Officer for relaxation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate Primary Criteria 1 and 2
Criterion 1 (registered August 2020 to June 2026 = 5 years 10 months ≥ 5 years) is SATISFIED. Criterion 2 (120 members ≥ 100 members) is SATISFIED.
The cooperative meets both core organizational requirements directly.
2
Evaluate Criterion 3 and its Exception Clause
Turnover is ₹38 Lakhs (< ₹50 Lakhs), failing primary Criterion 3. However, it has solar micro-irrigation on 65 acres (> 50 acres), so the turnover condition is waived.
The exception clause for turnover is completely satisfied, avoiding disqualification on financial grounds.
3
Evaluate Criterion 4 and its Exception Clause
Lacks State Certification, failing primary Criterion 4. However, ICAR soil reports from January 2026 are within the 6-month limit (5 months old as of June 1, 2026).
The exception condition for soil certification is met, dictating a specific administrative referral rather than direct approval or outright rejection.
4
Determine Final Administrative Status
Since Criterion 3 is waived and Criterion 4 qualifies for referral, the application must be sent to the Chief Agricultural Officer.
Following statutory protocol requires executing the specified referral procedure.

Key Concept

Analytical Decision Making and Criteria Selection
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Analytical Decision Making and Criteria Selection

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