New Delhi: On June 30, 2025, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired a high-impact “Manthan Baithak” with Cooperation Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi. The meeting was convened as part of the Government of India’s observance of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, and aimed to galvanize cooperative movements across the country.
The gathering brought together key officials including State Cooperation Ministers, Principal Secretaries, and departmental Secretaries. The discussions centered on reviewing progress, sharing best practices, and aligning cooperative efforts with the government’s broader vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation).
🇮🇳 Cooperatives in Every Village: Government’s 5-Year Target
In his keynote address, Shri Amit Shah emphasized that the Modi Government’s aim is to ensure that every village in India has at least one cooperative institution within the next five years. To achieve this, he highlighted the utility of the National Cooperative Database, which maps out gaps in the cooperative landscape and identifies villages that lack cooperatives.
He also underlined the government’s commitment to job creation through cooperatives, calling them “the most viable option for employment generation for 140 crore Indians.”
📜 National Cooperative Policy 2025–2045 in the Pipeline
Shri Shah revealed that the National Cooperative Policy will be launched soon and will remain in effect till India’s centenary of independence in 2047. Each state will be required to draft its own cooperative policy based on local needs by January 31, 2026. The Model National Cooperative Policy Act is expected to bring uniformity, discipline, and innovation across state-level cooperative systems.
🏫 Tribhuvan Sahkari University to Anchor Cooperative Training
To address systemic issues like nepotism and skill gaps, Shri Shah recommended that every state affiliate at least one cooperative training institution with Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU). This move is expected to standardize and elevate the quality of cooperative education and training.
🏗️ PACS Expansion, Dairy & Fisheries Promotion
The meeting reviewed the plan to set up 2 lakh Multi-Purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS) across the country. Ministers were urged to complete their 2025–26 PACS targets by February 2026. The forum also stressed promotion of dairy and fisheries cooperatives as vehicles for rural empowerment and efficient service delivery.
Notably, India’s grain storage scheme—the world’s largest within the cooperative sector—was a major discussion point.
🐄 White Revolution 2.0 and Organic Push
Shri Shah advocated for a second White Revolution, focused on creating a sustainable, circular dairy economy. The meeting encouraged natural and organic farming and urged state Cooperation Ministers to work in sync with Agriculture Ministers to ensure food security, health, and environmental sustainability.
💻 Digitalization and Financial Reforms
Several digital transformation measures were discussed, including:
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Computerization of PACS and RCS offices
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Strengthening cooperative banks via Shared Service Entities (SSEs)
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Formation of an umbrella body for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)
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Implementation of the National Cooperative Database as a planning tool
The importance of merit-based recruitment and greater transparency in UCBs and Credit Societies was strongly emphasized.
🌾 Support for Multi-State Cooperative Societies
The role of states in enabling the success of the newly formed National Multi-State Cooperative Societies—NCEL (Exports), NCOL (Organics), and BBSSL (Seeds)—was also reviewed. These institutions are set to play a crucial role in exports, organic supply chains, and agricultural inputs.
🌐 States Reaffirm Commitment to Cooperative Federalism in ‘Manthan Baithak’
Delegates presented their planned contributions to the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 and pledged stronger cooperation through the model of “Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives,” an initiative that has shown strong results in Gujarat.
The Manthan Baithak concluded with a collective commitment to transform India’s cooperative sector into a pillar of inclusive, self-reliant, and job-generating economic growth, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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