Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting today at 7 LKM to review the progress of India’s cooperative sector. The discussions centered on expanding cooperative organizations through global partnerships, promoting organic products for export, leveraging digital infrastructure, and increasing the participation of women and youth in cooperatives. The meeting also reviewed the draft of the National Cooperation Policy 2025, which aims to accelerate rural economic development under the vision of “Sahkar Se Samruddhi.”
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of forming strategic alliances with global cooperative organizations to strengthen the sector and boost India’s presence in international markets. He highlighted the potential of organic farming through cooperatives and suggested a greater focus on exporting Indian agricultural products. Additionally, he proposed developing a soil testing model through cooperatives to improve agricultural practices and productivity.
Financial inclusion was another key point of discussion, with PM Modi underlining the need to integrate the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with RuPay Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) to facilitate seamless financial transactions for farmers and cooperative members. He also emphasized healthy competition among cooperative organizations to ensure efficiency and innovation. The use of digital public infrastructure, specifically Agristack, was recommended to modernize agriculture and expand cooperative activities, providing farmers with better access to technological advancements.
The Prime Minister also suggested introducing cooperative-focused courses in schools, colleges, and management institutions like IIMs to create awareness and cultivate future leaders in the sector. He emphasized the need to rank cooperative organizations based on performance to encourage transparency and efficiency. Encouraging young graduates to contribute to the cooperative sector was another key priority.
During the meeting, officials briefed PM Modi on the progress made by the Ministry of Cooperation in the past three and a half years. The National Cooperation Policy 2025, developed through extensive consultations, was presented as a framework to strengthen the cooperative movement and deepen its grassroots impact. The policy aims to provide a structured approach to cooperative-based economic development, focusing on rural growth while ensuring that women and youth play a central role. It also seeks to establish a strong legal and institutional foundation for cooperatives in India.
Since its formation, the Ministry of Cooperation has introduced 60 initiatives across seven key areas to promote and strengthen the cooperative sector. Some notable efforts include the digitization of cooperative institutions through the National Cooperative Database and Computerization Projects, as well as measures to enhance the operational efficiency of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). The government has adopted a “whole of government approach” to cooperative development, integrating over 15 schemes from more than 10 ministries at the PACS level. These efforts have led to diversification in cooperative businesses, increased income generation opportunities, and improved access to government schemes in rural areas.
Another significant initiative discussed was the proposed conversion of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) into “Tribhuvan Cooperative University,” which would be designated as an Institution of National Importance. This move aims to promote cooperative education, training, and research, ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals in the sector.
The meeting highlighted the immense contribution of the cooperative sector to India’s economy, particularly in agriculture, rural development, and economic inclusion. Officials noted that one-fifth of India’s population is engaged in the cooperative sector, with over 8.2 lakh cooperative institutions operating across more than 30 sectors, serving over 30 crore members. Cooperatives play a crucial role in several areas, including dairy, sugar production, banking, and rural industries, making them vital to India’s economic growth.
The meeting was attended by Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Principal Secretary to the PM Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary-2 to the PM Shaktikanta Das, Advisor to the PM Amit Khare, and other senior officials. The discussions reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the cooperative movement and ensuring its integration with national economic policies to drive sustainable growth and prosperity.
