Which institutional mechanism deals with banks’ shortfalls in meeting Priority Sector Lending (PS

• If commercial banks fail to achieve their PSL targets, the shortfall is not left idle. Instead, they are required to deposit the shortfall amount into the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). • The RIDF is managed by NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development). • These funds are then deployed towards financing rural infrastructure projects such as irrigation, roads, bridges, health centers, and other development schemes in rural areas. • This mechanism ensures that even if banks fail to lend directly to priority sectors, the shortfall still contributes to strengthening rural development and infrastructure.