Sahkar Se Samriddhi: India’s Cooperative Push in 2025
Why in the news
The year 2025 was marked by the UN as International Year of Cooperatives. India used it to push its cooperative agenda and present itself as a leading cooperative nation.
Key facts
- Vision: Sahkar Se Samriddhi, meaning prosperity through cooperation.
- Goal: make India a global leader in cooperative enterprise, supporting financial inclusion, rural livelihoods and women’s empowerment.
- Legal base: cooperatives register under cooperative societies laws, such as the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912, or state laws.
What are cooperatives
- Member-owned and member-managed bodies formed to meet shared economic, social or cultural needs.
- One member, one vote, whatever the shareholding.
- Surplus is shared among members or reinvested for them.
- Priority is serving members, not just maximising profit.
Why they matter
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credit access | PACS give short-term liquidity to underserved farmers; being computerised and linked with NABARD |
| Market integration | Amul (GCMMF) links millions of milk producers to global supply chains |
| Food storage | 112 PACS godowns hold 68,702 MT |
| Sustainable livelihoods | NCOL promotes organic farming under the Bharat Organics brand and pesticide testing |
| Affordable services | 800+ PACS run as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras |
Key initiatives
- Digitalisation: ₹2,925 crore ERP project for PACS in 14 languages.
- Apex multi-state societies: NCEL (exports), NCOL (organics), BBSSL (seeds).
- White Revolution 2.0: aim of 50% more milk procurement in five years through 20,070 new dairy cooperative societies.
- Reforms: surcharge down from 12% to 7%; 25+ new business activities for PACS under Model Bye-laws.
Exam angle
- Vision slogan: Sahkar Se Samriddhi.
- Expansions: NCEL exports, NCOL organics, BBSSL seeds.
- Old law cited: Cooperative Societies Act, 1912.