The 8th National Conference on Cooperation met in Srinagar on 25 June 2026 under the theme “Sahkar se Samriddhi — From Vision to Ground Reality” to set a roadmap for cooperative‑sector reforms focused on technology, professional management and measurable grassroots outcomes.
Key decisions and targets
- Date & location: 25 June 2026, Srinagar.
- Six‑month targets: States and Union Territories tasked with strict six‑month implementation timelines.
- Reform measures: Computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), adoption of model bye‑laws, formation of multipurpose PACS, dairy and fishery cooperatives.
- Value‑chain strategy: Promotion of national cooperatives in exports, organic products and seeds to build integrated cooperative value chains.
Technology and governance
- National Cooperative Database 2.0: Platform for direct cooperative data updates and validation to enable data‑driven governance.
- Digital financial integration: Cooperative banks encouraged to adopt UPI and digital financial services platforms.
- Professionalisation: Emphasis on modern IT systems and professional management at PACS and federational levels.
Institutions and regional focus
- Participating institutions: NABARD, NDDB, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NCCF and NCDC on finance, capacity building and market support.
- North‑East priority: Specific measures proposed to strengthen cooperatives across North‑Eastern states.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- PACS: Primary tier rural cooperatives providing short‑term agricultural credit and allied services at village level.
- Legal framework: Cooperative policy is centralised under the Ministry of Cooperation; state cooperative laws govern most societies; Multi‑State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 applies to multi‑state bodies.
- Roles: NDDB focuses on dairy development; NABARD provides refinancing, development finance and capacity building for rural cooperatives.