The Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) will soon start providing services like the one offered by Common Service Centres (CSC).

A Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) is a basic unit and smallest co-operative credit institution. It works on the grassroots level. 

The Government of India is to increase the number of PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) to two lakhs in the next five years. Also, GoI will create a multi-purpose PACS in every Panchayat.

Under as Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the PACS will provide services like the one offered by Common Service Centres (CSC).

Terms of the agreement

According to the agreement, PACS will operate as CSC and offer more than 300 services. More than 13 crores of farmer -members will be directly benefitted from this. With this PACS will provide the following services:

Services listed on the Digital Seva Portal

• Banking

• Insurance

• Legal services

• Aadhar Enrolment

• Agricultural inputs like harvesters, and other farm equipment

• IRCTC, PAN Card, Bus, and Air Tickets

PACS

PACS are the soul of cooperatives.

PACS will now be able to undertake 20 different activities including water distribution, storage, Bank Mitra.

The government intends to provide services provided by the CSCs available to the rural population through PACS.

PACS

It is the smallest cooperative credit society in India. It is regulated by the Cooperatives Societies Act. RBI also has the power to regulate these societies. It works at village levels. It provides loans to farmers.

Significance

• The PACS are the soul of cooperatives

• PACS play a huge role in the rural sector

• 50% of the Indian population is associated with cooperative societies in one way or the other