Consider the following statements : The nation-wide 'Soil Health Card Scheme' aims at 1. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation. 2. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality. 3. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

Statement 3 is correct because the Soil Health Card provides farmers with specific nutrient recommendations for their soil, directly aiming to curb the unbalanced and excessive use of chemical fertilizers. Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect as expanding irrigation is the objective of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), and the scheme has no provision for linking soil quality to bank loan assessments. The core concept tested is the functional objective of the Soil Health Card Scheme in promoting sustainable soil nutrient management and improving crop productivity.