The Government has approved setting up of three  national  level  multi-state  cooperative societies; one each for Exports, Organic produce  and  Seed.  These societies have  been registered under MSCS Act, 2002. The cooperative societies of all  levels,  who  are  interested in activities specified for each of above societies, are eligible to become member. The details are as under:

1. National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL): The NCEL is promoted by Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India  Limited  (NAFED), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC). GCMMF is the Chief  Promoter of the NCEL.  The NCEL will have an initial paid up capital of Rs. 500 Cr with contribution of Rs.  100Cr each  by the five promoters and authorized share capital of Rs. 2000 Cr.  The NCEL will  undertake  direct export of goods and services of cooperatives and related entities and to take up other promotion activities. The NCEL will help in increasing exports of surplus goods & services produced in the cooperative sector thereby promoting “Make in India”  and  leading  to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Higher exports through the NCEL will increase linkages  of  goods  &  services amongst the cooperatives at various levels thus leading to more employment in the cooperative sector.

2. National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL): The NCOL is promoted by NDDB, GCMMF, NAFED, National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF) and NCDC. NDDB is the Chief Promoter of the NCOL.  The  NCOL will have an initial paid up  capital of Rs. 100 Cr with contribution of Rs. 20 Cr each by the five promoters and authorized  share capital of Rs. 500 Cr. The NCOL will provide institutional support for aggregation, certification, testing, procurement, storage, processing, branding, labelling, packaging, logistic facilities, marketing of organic products and facilitate in arranging financial assistance to the organic farmers through its member Cooperatives including PACS/FPOs and will take up all promotion and development related activities of organic products with the help  of  various  schemes and agencies of the Government. The NCOL will help marketing of authentic and  certified organic products to increase production of organic products by the cooperatives  at  various levels.
3. Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Limited (BBSSL): The BBSSL is promoted by IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NAFED, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and NCDC. KRIBHCO is the Chief Promoter of the BBSSL. The BBSSL will have an initial paid up capital of Rs. 250 Cr with contribution of Rs. 50 Cr each by the five promoters and authorized share capital of Rs. 500 Cr.  The BBSSL will undertake production, procurement & distribution of quality seeds under single brand through cooperative network to improve crop yield and develop a system for preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds. The BBSSL will help in increasing the production of quality seeds in India through cooperatives thereby reducing the dependence on imported seeds, enhancing agriculture production, providing boost to rural economy, promoting “Make in India” and leading to Atmanirbhar Bharat. Quality seeds production through BBSSL will increase the agriculture production in the country thereby leading to more employment in the agriculture and cooperative sector.

In order to achieve the vision of “Sahakar se  Samriddhi”, the Ministry of Cooperation has  taken the following 48 new initiatives including the above:

Making Primary Cooperatives transparent and economically vibrant (14 initiatives)

1.  Model Bye-Laws for PACS making them multipurpose, multidimensional and

 transparent entities: Prepared and circulated to all the States/ UTs for adoption as per their respective State Cooperatives Act to enable PACS to undertake more than 25 business activities. Model byelaws have been adopted by 27 States/ UTs.

2.  Strengthening of PACS through Computerization: Process to  onboard  63,000 PACS on an ERP based national software, with an outlay of ₹2,516 Crore started.

3.  New Multipurpose PACS/ Dairy/ Fishery Cooperatives in uncovered Panchayats:  A plan has been approved to set up 2 lakh new multi-purpose PACS or  primary  dairy/  fisheries cooperatives covering every Panchayat/ village in the next five years.

4.  World’s Largest Decentralized Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector to

 ensure food security: Pilot Project is under implementation to create godowns and other agri-infra for grain storage at PACS level.

5.  PACS as Common Service Centers (CSCs) for better access to e-services:  More than 17,000 PACS onboarded as CSC to improve their viability, provide e-services and  generate employment in rural areas.

6.  Formation of new Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) by PACS: 1,100 additional FPOs to be formed by PACS in those blocks where FPOs have not yet been formed or the blocks are not covered by any implementing agency.

7.  PACS given priority for Retail Petrol/ diesel outlets: PACS have been included in  the Combined Category 2 (CC2) for allotment of retail petrol/ diesel outlets. Existing PACS with wholesale petrol pump license permitted to convert into retail outlets.

8.  PACS eligible for LPG Distributorship for diversifying its activities: PACS have now been allowed to apply for LPG Distributorships.

9.  PACS as Jan Aushadhi Kendra for improving access to generic medicines at

 rural level: PACS have been allowed to operate Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya  Janaushadhi  Kendras which will provide additional income source to them.

10.  PACS as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK) for fertilizer

 distribution: PACS have been allowed to operate PMKSK for ensuring easy accessibility of fertilizer & related services to farmers in the country.

11.  Convergence of PM-KUSUM at PACS level for energy security:  Farmers  associated with PACS can adopt solar agricultural water pumps and install photovoltaic modules in their farms.

12.  PACS to carry out O&M of rural piped water supply schemes (PWS): PACS have been allowed to carry out the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of PWS in rural areas.

13.  Micro-ATMs to Bank Mitra Cooperative Societies for providing doorsteps

 financial services: Micro-ATMs now being given to cooperative societies like Dairy,  Fisheries, PACS by the Cooperative Banks.

14.  Rupay Kisan Credit Card to Members of Milk Cooperatives: Rupay Kisan Credit Cards being provided to the members of cooperatives through Cooperative Banks  for  providing credit at comparatively lower interest rates.

Strengthening the Urban and Rural Cooperative Banks (9 initiatives)

15. UCBs have now been allowed to open new branches to expand their business.

16. UCBs have been allowed by RBI to offer doorstep services to their customers.

17. UCBs have been allowed to make one-time settlement of outstanding loans, like Commercial Banks.

18. Time limit increased to achieve Priority Sector Lending (PSL) targets given to UCBs.

19. A Nodal Officer designated in RBI for regular interaction with UCBs.

20. Individual housing loan limit more than doubled by RBI for Rural and Urban Co- operative Banks.

21. Rural Co-operative Banks will now be able to lend to commercial real  estate/  residential housing sector, thereby diversifying their business.

22. License fee for onboarding Cooperative Banks to ‘Aadhaar Enabled Payment System’ (AePS) has been reduced by linking it to the number of transactions.

23. Non-scheduled UCBs, StCBs and DCCBs notified as Member Lending Institutions (MLIs) in CGTMSE Scheme to increase share of cooperatives in lending.

Relief to Cooperative Societies in Income Tax Act (6 initiatives)

24. Surcharge reduced from 12 % to 7% for co-operative  societies  having  income  between Rs. 1 to 10 Cr.

25. MAT reduced for cooperatives from 18.5% to 15%.

26. A clarification has been issued to remove difficulties in cash transactions by cooperatives under Section 269ST of IT Act.

27. A flat lower tax rate of 15% will be charged, compared with current rate of upto 30% plus surcharge, for new cooperatives commencing manufacturing activities till March 31, 2024.

28. Limit increased from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 2 lakh per member for deposits and loans in  cash by PACS and PCARDBs.

29. Increase in cash withdrawal limit for cooperatives from Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 3 Crore, per annum, without being subjected to TDS.

Revival of Cooperative Sugar Mills (4 initiatives)

30.  Relief from Income Tax to Sugar Cooperative Mills: Sugar cooperative mills not to be subjected to additional income tax for paying higher sugarcane prices to farmers up to Fair and Remunerative or State Advised Price.

31.  Resolution of decades old pending issues related to Income Tax of Sugar

 Cooperative Mills: Sugar cooperatives allowed to claim as expenditure their payments to sugarcane farmers for the period prior to assessment year 2016–17, giving a relief  of  nearly  Rs. 10,000 crores.

32.  Rs. 10,000 crore loan scheme launched by NCDC for strengthening of Sugar

 Cooperative Mills: Scheme can  be  used for setting up ethanol  plants or cogeneration plants  or for working capital or for all three purposes.

33.  Preference to Cooperative Sugar Mills in purchase of ethanol: Cooperative Sugar Mills will be put at par with private companies for ethanol procurement by Government  of India under the Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).

Three new Multi-State Societies at the National Level (3 initiatives)

34.  New National Multi-State Cooperative Seed Society for certified seeds: New apex multi- state cooperative seed society established under the MSCS Act, 2002 as umbrella organization for quality seed cultivation, production and distribution under a single brand.

35.  New National Multi-State Cooperative Organic Society for organic farming: New apex multi-state cooperative organic society established under the MSCS Act, 2002 as umbrella organization to produce, distribute and market certified and authentic organic products.

36.  New National Multi-State Cooperative Export Society for  promoting  exports:  New  apex multi-state cooperative export society established under the MSCS Act, 2002 as umbrella organization to give thrust to exports from cooperative sector.

Capacity Building in Cooperatives (3 initiatives)

37.  Establishment of the World’s Largest Cooperative University: National Cooperative University being established for Cooperative education, training, consultancy, research and development and a sustainable and quality supply of trained manpower.

38.  New Scheme of Cooperative Education and Training: To strengthen the cooperative movement, build capacity of faculty of VAMNICOM, NCCT and JCTC, promote quality research  and studies on important areas of Cooperative sector, etc.

39.  Promotion of training and awareness through National Council for Cooperative

 Training (NCCT): NCCT conducted 3,287 training programs and provided training to about 2,01,507 participants in FY 2022-23.

Use of Information Technology for ‘Ease of Doing Business’ (2 initiatives)

40.  Computerization to strengthen the Central Registrar’s Office: This will create a digital ecosystem for Multi-State Cooperative Societies, which will assist in processing applications and service requests in a time bound manner.