Lok Sabha Question No. 2672 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-16
Subject: Amendments to Cooperative Societies Act
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Shri Haribhai Patel, Shri Devusinh Chauhan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2672 ANSWERED ON 16 th  DECEMBER, 2025

## Amendments to Cooperative Societies Act

## 2672. Shri Devusinh Chauhan: Shri Haribhai Patel:

Will the Minister of COOPERATION ( सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified specific legal and regulatory gaps across States/UTs that  necessitate  amendments  to  their  respective  Cooperative  Societies Acts  for  achieving  the objectives outlined under the National Cooperation Policy, 2025;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether any timeline has been set for achieving real-time integration of State-level cooperative databases with the National Cooperative Database (NCD) and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps being taken to promote inclusivity in the cooperative sector, particularly regarding the participation of women, youth, SC/ST members and weaker sections?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)

- (a) No Sir
- (b) Nil, in view of the (a) above.
- (c) As and when the States/UTs are ready for integration of the State-level Cooperative Database with  National  Cooperative  Database (NCD) ,  the  necessary  technical  supports  are  being provided to them.

The Ministry of Cooperation developed a standard API for States to fetch cooperative societies data from the NCD portal and shared the Standard API Specification Document and database schema on 27.05.2025. Push APIs were subsequently developed for live, event-driven  data  pushing  from  RCS  applications  to  the  NCD  Portal,  and  all  related documents  and  SOPs  were  shared  with  State  on  22.09.2025. An  advisory  with comprehensive check lists for completion of RCS computerization and API integration was also issued on 14.11.2025. Rajasthan has already completed API integration with NCD portal. As per the integration plan, States/UTs must ensure development of reverse/pull API  and complete RCS  computerization for successful two-way  integration and synchronization of cooperative data .

- (d) The  Following  steps  have  been  taken  to  ensure  greater  participation  of  women,  youth, Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes and vulnerable sections in the Cooperative sector-
- i. The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) (Amendment) Act & Rules, 2023 have been  notified  on  03.08.2023  and  04.08.2023,  respectively  to  strengthen  governance, enhance transparency, increase accountability and reform electoral process, etc.in the Multi State Cooperative Societies by supplementing existing legislation and incorporating the provisions of Ninety-seventh Constitutional Amendment.

To increase the representation of Women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes in the boards of Multi-State Co-operative societies, provision for reservation of two seats for women and one seat for SC or ST in the Board of multi-State cooperative societies have been made.

- ii. Provisions have also been made to make the membership of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies  (PACS)  more  inclusive  and  broad-based,  giving  adequate  representation  to women and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. So far, 32 States/ UTs have adopted Model Bye-laws or their existing bye-laws are in line with Model Bye-laws.
- iii. National  Cooperative  Development  Corporation  (NCDC)  is  taking  multiple  steps  to enhance the participation of women, youth, Scheduled Castes/Tribes and other vulnerable sections in the cooperative sector, which are detailed as under:
- a) NCDC operates dedicated schemes such as Nandini Sahakar, Swayam Shakti Sahakar, Ayushman Sahakar and Yuva Sahakar, which provide concessional finance, interest subvention  and  start-up  support  to  women-led,  youth-led,  SC/ST  and  innovative cooperatives. The details are as under
- b) During 2024-25, assistance of ₹1,355.61 crore was disbursed to women cooperatives benefiting over 41 lakh women members. Cumulatively as on 31.03.2025, NCDC has disbursed financial assistance of ₹7,781.97 crore for the development of cooperative societies exclusively promoted by women.
- c) Schemes for SC/ST cooperatives provide support for marketing, working capital and infrastructure creation, during FY 2024-25, an amount of ₹0.18 crore was disbursed to SC cooperatives and ₹29.63 crore to ST cooperatives. As on 31.03.2025, cumulative disbursements  of  ₹323.52  crore  for  SC  cooperatives  and  ₹5308.02  crore  for  ST cooperatives.

Further, NCDC supports weaker section cooperatives in fisheries, livestock, handloom, sericulture and labour sectors, benefiting lakhs of members which includes SC, ST, Women members. NCDC has introduced sector-specific schemes and focused products to align with the evolving needs of the cooperative sector, with special emphasis  on women  empowerment,  digitization  of cooperatives, and rural healthcare.

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