National Cooperative Policy 2025
The National Cooperative Policy 2025 was revealed to modernise and revitalise India’s cooperative sector. It replaces the 2002 policy and aims to build a vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready cooperative ecosystem. The policy targets tripling the sector’s GDP contribution by 2034 and expanding cooperative membership and societies . The policy supports sectors like tourism, taxi services, insurance, and green energy. The government plans to create new cooperative entities in these areas, ensuring profits benefit rural Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).
Six Pillars of the Policy
The policy rests on six pillars – strengthening cooperative foundations, promoting vibrancy, future preparedness, enhancing inclusivity, expanding reach, and youth engagement. These pillars aim to build a robust cooperative network that is resilient and adaptive to economic changes. They encourage innovation and expansion into emerging sectors.
Targets and Implementation
The policy sets ambitious goals. It aims to triple the cooperative sector’s GDP share by 2034. It plans to increase cooperative societies by 30%, from 8.3 lakh to over 10.7 lakh. The government intends to bring 50 crore inactive or non-members into active cooperative participation. By February 2026, the target is to establish 2,00,000 PACS, ensuring cooperatives reach every village.
Modernisation and Legal Reforms
The policy addresses outdated laws and practices that hindered cooperative growth. It introduces legal amendments and the establishment of Tribhuvan Sahkari University to improve governance and professional training. Cooperative banks are now regulated under the Banking Act, with the Reserve Bank of India adopting a flexible stance to resolve sectoral issues.
Inclusive and Participatory Approach
The policy was developed through a consultative process. A 48-member committee led by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu included representatives from various cooperative levels and sectors. Seventeen meetings and four regional workshops gathered 648 stakeholder suggestions, ensuring broad-based inputs shaped the policy.
Future Outlook and Sectoral Expansion
The policy encourages cooperatives to expand into non-traditional sectors such as tourism, taxi services, insurance, and green energy. This diversification aims to create more employment and income opportunities, especially in rural areas. The government’s support is round-the-clock, but cooperatives must strengthen internally to succeed.
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