The National Cooperation Policy 2025 is a comprehensive policy framework notified by the Government of India to strengthen, modernise and expand the cooperative sector. It provides a strategic roadmap to make cooperatives more democratic, transparent, inclusive and economically viable, in alignment with India’s long-term development goals.
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 was released in July 2025 by the Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, following extensive consultations with states, cooperative institutions and sector stakeholders.
India’s earlier cooperative policy framework had not undergone a comprehensive update for over two decades. The new policy was introduced to address governance gaps, technological limitations, uneven growth across states, and emerging economic opportunities, while aligning cooperatives with contemporary economic and social needs.
The policy aims to position cooperatives as key drivers of inclusive and sustainable development, contributing to India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047 (Viksit Bharat @2047), under the guiding principle of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi”.
The policy is structured around six core mission pillars:
- Strengthening the cooperative foundation
- Promoting vibrancy and economic viability
- Making cooperatives future-ready
- Deepening inclusivity and outreach
- Expanding cooperatives into new and emerging sectors
- Engaging youth and building future cooperative leadership
The policy supports the transformation of PACS into multipurpose service centres, enabling them to provide credit, storage, input supply, procurement, digital services and other community-based economic activities, supported by digitalisation and governance reforms.
Yes. Digital governance and technology adoption form a key component of the policy. It promotes:
- Digital record-keeping
- Integration with national databases
- Transparency in financial and administrative operations
- Use of technology to improve service delivery and member participation
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 emphasises greater participation of women, youth, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other underrepresented groups through leadership opportunities, capacity building and targeted institutional support.
Since cooperatives are largely a State subject, the policy encourages states to align their cooperative laws, rules and administrative practices with the policy’s objectives, while maintaining federal autonomy and cooperative principles.
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 is a policy framework, not a statute. Its implementation depends on coordinated action by the Ministry of Cooperation, state governments, cooperative institutions and allied agencies through legislative amendments, schemes and administrative reforms.
The policy envisages monitoring through performance indicators such as:
- Expansion of cooperative coverage
- Financial health and transparency of societies
- Adoption of digital systems
- Increased participation of women and youth
- Improved service delivery and economic outcomes
With over 8 lakh cooperative societies and more than 32 crore members, cooperatives play a crucial role in agriculture, rural livelihoods, financial inclusion and community development. The policy seeks to unlock this potential more effectively, making cooperatives stronger contributors to economic growth and social equity.
The official policy document is available here at the Ministry of Cooperation’s website.
For members, the policy aims to deliver:
- Better governance and accountability
- Improved access to services and markets
- Enhanced income opportunities
- Stronger institutional support at the grassroots level
The National Cooperation Policy 2025 represents a strategic shift toward recognising cooperatives as modern economic institutions, capable of contributing meaningfully to India’s development while preserving their democratic and people-centric character.
