Lok Sabha Question No. 483 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: Modernization of Cooperative Institutes
Ministry: COOPERATION
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 483 TO BE ANSWERED ON  3 rd  FEBRUARY, 2026

## MODERNIZATION OF TRAINING INSTITUTES

## 483. Dr Nishikant Dubey:

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

- (a)   the details of the measures taken by the Government to modernize the functions of cooperative institutes in the country;
- (b)  whether any State Government has raised objections regarding modernization of cooperative institutions; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

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

(a) to (c): In order to strengthening cooperative movement in the country; deepening its reach to  the  grassroots;  modernize  the  functions  of  the  cooperative  institutions,  the  Ministry  of Cooperation (MoC) is continuously reviewing the infrastructure available with its Institutes and modernizing them as per need to strengthen their Computer and Information Technology (CIT) infrastructure to support training, administration, and digital outreach.

Apart from making the classrooms and auditoriums smart, the Government has also taken steps to  upgrade  the  building  infrastructure  of  its  Institutes  to  enhance  academic  and  residential capacities.

- i. A new 3-storied International Hostel has been added to the existing infrastructure at VAMNICOM with 50 twin-sharing rooms and 3 VIP suites. The hostel also has a Kitchen, a Dining Hall, a Reading room, a classroom of 50 capacity, a discussion room, a gymnasium and an office space. This building has been constructed out of the Capital Grant of Rs.30 crore received from the Ministry of Cooperation, Govt. of India.
- ii. Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), a grant of ₹27.29 crore was provided to D.N.S Regional Institute of Cooperative Management (RICM), Patna for the construction of a new hostel facility to attract students and participants for enrolment for the paid programmes.
- iii. Institute of Cooperative Management (ICM), Guwahati and ICM, Madurai both are being  relocated  to  a  new  site  and  their  buildings  will  be  constructed  as  per  the

## ANSWER

modernized requirements.  After construction, both the institutes will have their own future smart buildings.

In  addition,  the  measures  and  initiatives  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  modernize  the functions of cooperative institutions in the country, together with other related initiatives, are provided at Annexure-I.

|   1. | Preparation of Model Bye-Laws for Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS), making them multipurpose, multidimensional, and transparent entities                            |
|------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    2 | Computerization of PACS                                                                                                                                                        |
|    3 | Establishing New Multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives to cover all the Panchayats and launch of related Margdarshika/ SOP:                                           |
|    4 | World's Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector and launch of related Margdarshika/ SOP                                                             |
|    5 | PACS as Common Service Centers (CSCs) for better access to e-services:                                                                                                         |
|    6 | Formation of new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) by PACS:                                                                                                                 |
|    7 | PACS given priority for Retail Petrol/ Diesel outlets:                                                                                                                         |
|    8 | PACS permitted to convert bulk consumer petrol pumps into retail outlets:                                                                                                      |
|    9 | PACS eligible for LPG Distributorship for diversifying its activities;                                                                                                         |
|   10 | PACS as PM Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra for improving access to generic medicines at the rural level;                                                                         |
|   11 | PACS as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK);                                                                                                                        |
|   12 | PACS to carry out O&Mof rural piped water supply schemes (PWS);                                                                                                                |
|   13 | Convergence of PM-KUSUM at PACS level;                                                                                                                                         |
|   14 | Convergence of PM Surya Ghar - Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSG-MBY) at the Cooperative Societies level;                                                                                |
|   15 | NAFCUB,approved by RBI as an Umbrella Organization for UCBs, supports 1,500 banks with IT infrastructure and services like Digi Loan and Digi Pay;                             |
|   16 | Micro-ATMs to Bank Mitra Cooperative Societies for providing doorstep financial services;                                                                                      |
|   17 | Rupay Kisan Credit Card to Members of Milk Cooperatives;                                                                                                                       |
|   18 | Formation of Fish Farmer Producer Organization (FFPO);                                                                                                                         |
|   19 | Cooperative-led "White Revolution 2.0" launched to boost dairy cooperatives, employment, and women's empowerment nationwide;                                                   |
|   20 | Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) have been allowed to open new branches to expand their business and have been allowed by the RBI to offer doorstep services to their customers; |
|   21 | ANodal Officer designated in RBI for regular interaction with UCBs;                                                                                                            |
|   22 | Relief for Urban Cooperative Societies (UCBs) by reducing PSL target from 75% to 60%;                                                                                          |
|   23 | Housing loan limit for Urban Cooperative Banks increased from 10% to 25%;                                                                                                      |
|   24 | Relief in sub-limit of 12% sub-limit (weaker sections) by withdrawing of target of ₹ 2 lakh for women loan repayment;                                                          |
|   25 | Relief to Urban Cooperative Institutions by increasing 50%loan limit from ₹ 1 crore to ₹ 3 crore;                                                                              |
|   26 | Monetary ceiling for Gold Loan has been removed by RBI;                                                                                                                        |
|   27 | Cooperative banks have been allowed to make one-time settlement of outstanding loans, like Commercial Banks;                                                                   |
|   28 | License fee reduced for Cooperative Banks for 'Aadhaar Enabled Payment System' (AePS);                                                                                         |
|   29 | Sahakar Sarathi Pvt. Ltd., approved by RBI, established to strengthen Rural Cooperative Banks with 13 new tech services;                                                       |

30. Task  Force  under  NABARD  formed  to  strengthen  Rural  Co-operative  Banking sector as per National Cooperation Policy 2025;
31. Resolution  of  decades-old  pending  issues  related  to  Income  Tax  of  Sugar Cooperative Mills;
32. Initiative to set up tissue culture facilities for Bananas;
33. Training Programme for PACS for CSC Portal;
34. Computerization of the Central Registrar's Office;
35. Computerization of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs);
36. 'Bharat Taxi':  Cooperative-led  mobility  initiative  to  empower  drivers  and  offer affordable, reliable transport, launching February 2026;
37. Inclusion of Cooperatives as 'buyers' on GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal

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