Context:

• The first meeting of the National Level Policy Implementation and Monitoring Committee, constituted under the National Cooperation Policy-2025, was organized in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Meeting Chaired by: Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation and Chairman of the Committee.
• Whole-of-Government Approach: For the successful implementation of the policy, a coordinated action plan was discussed with various ministries such as Center, States/UTs, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, Agriculture, and Farmers Welfare.
• Digital Transformation: To bring transparency and speed to the cooperative sector, special emphasis was laid on strengthening the National Cooperative Database, Cooperative Ranking Framework, and data-driven monitoring mechanisms.
• Capacity Building and Education: Reviewed the institutionalization of cooperative education, research, and training through the "Tribhuvan" Cooperative University.
• Innovation and Inclusiveness: Emphasis was placed on promoting startup culture in the cooperative sector, connecting youth, and ensuring the participation of women and small farmers.

National Cooperation Policy 2025:

• Launch: July 2025, by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
• Main Objective: To establish at least one professional, financially independent, and transparent cooperative organization in every village of India.

Policy Vision and Goal:

Key Targets:

Focus Areas:

• Village and agriculture-based cooperatives
• Participation of women, tribals, and Dalits
• New sectors like Taxi, Tourism, Insurance, and Green Energy
• Multi-functional model of PACS (e.g., Fuel, Pharmacy, LPG distribution)
• Global Marketing and Export Cooperatives

Features of the Policy:

Institutional Framework and Reforms:

• 83 Intervention Points: Out of which work has been completed on 58.
• Reforms in Laws: Provision to update every 10 years.
• Model Byelaws: Adopted by all states.

Financial and Global Outlook:

• Scheduled Cooperative Banks given status equivalent to commercial banks.
• Establishment of Export Cooperatives $\rightarrow$ Access of Indian cooperative products to the global market.
• Making PACS active in fuel, pharmacy, solar energy, seed distribution, etc.

Future Plans:

• ‘Sahkar Taxi’ scheme (Direct benefit to the driver)
• White Revolution 2.0 $\rightarrow$ Increasing women's participation in the dairy sector
• At least 1 PACS in every Panchayat
• Completion of the computerization process for all societies

Social and Inclusive Development:

Cooperative Society:

• It is a voluntary association where people come together collectively to meet their economic, social, and cultural needs, and operate the institution in a democratic manner.

Cooperative Movement in India:

• The Cooperative Movement in India is a socio-economic movement aimed at protecting the economic interests of weaker sections such as farmers, laborers, artisans, milk producers, etc., by bringing them together.
• This movement is based on the principle of "Sahkar se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through Cooperation).

Types of Cooperative Societies:

In addition, cooperative societies exist at multiple levels:

• Primary Cooperative Societies: Work at the local level
• Central Cooperative Societies: At the district or regional level
• State Cooperative Societies: At the state level
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies: Societies operating across multiple states

Key Organizations:

Cooperation in the Constitution:

• Cooperation is recognized as an important and structurally sound institution in the Constitution.
• Cooperatives were granted constitutional status through the 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011.
• Before this, cooperative societies were merely legal entities, but now they enjoy constitutional protection.

97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011:

This amendment became effective from October 12, 2011. Three main changes were made through this Act:

Key Features of Part IX-B (Article 243ZH to 243ZT):

• Democratic Election: Mandatory to conduct timely, free, and fair elections every 5 years.
• Number of Members: Maximum number of board members fixed at 21.
• Reservation: Reservation on the board for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and women.
• Tenure: The tenure of the elected board of cooperative societies shall be a maximum of 5 years.
• Supersession: Clear conditions for the suspension of the board — generally not exceeding 6 months.
• Audit: Mandatory annual audit by registered auditors.
• Robust Structure: The autonomy, transparency, and accountability of the societies received strength from the Constitution.

Cooperation - A State Subject:

• Cooperation is included in the 'State List' of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. Therefore, making laws related to cooperative societies is the right of the State Legislatures.
• Meanwhile, Multi-State Cooperative Societies come under the Center, on which the Parliament can make laws.

Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU):

• It is India's first National Cooperative University.
• It has been declared an 'Institution of National Importance'.
• Foundation Stone: July 2025, by Union Cooperation and Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Location: Anand, Gujarat.
• Passed in Lok Sabha: March 26, 2025; Passed in Rajya Sabha: April 1, 2025.
• Naming: This university is named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, the pioneer of the cooperative movement in India and the founder of 'AMUL'.
• Nodal Ministry: This university functions under the Ministry of Cooperation.