India's First Cooperative University Named After Tribhuvan Das Patel Passes in Lok Sabha

Amit Shah praised Patel’s legacy, stating that Amul's journey from 250 litres of milk in 1946 to a turnover of over ₹60,000 crore today is a testimony to the power of cooperatives.

In a landmark development for India’s cooperative movement, the Lok Sabha passed the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill 2025, establishing the country’s first university dedicated solely to cooperative education, innovation, and research. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the House during the discussion, emphasizing the revolutionary impact this institution will have on rural development, self-employment, and the cooperative ecosystem at large.

Cooperation: A Deep-Rooted National Legacy

Highlighting the importance of the cooperative sector, Shri Amit Shah said, “Cooperation touches every Indian family in some way. Every village is home to some form of cooperative, playing a crucial role in agricultural development, employment generation, and grassroots economic empowerment.” He emphasized that the passage of this bill marks a historic moment—India’s first university focused on the cooperative sector is being established 75 years after independence.

A Tribute to Tribhuvan Das Patel and Cooperative Pioneers

The university is named after Tribhuvan Das Patel, a key figure in India’s cooperative revolution and one of the founding architects of Amul, under the guidance of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Amit Shah praised Patel’s legacy, stating that Amul's journey from 250 litres of milk in 1946 to a turnover of over ₹60,000 crore today is a testimony to the power of cooperatives.

Shri Shah criticized opposition parties for politicizing the naming of the university, saying, “They protest only because it is not named after a particular family. But Tribhuvan Das Patel was once their own leader too.”

A University to Shape the Future of Cooperation

The newly proposed Tribhuvan Sahkari University will be capable of educating up to 8 lakh students annually, with affiliated colleges planned in nearly every district. It will offer degrees, diplomas, PhDs, and certificate courses, including a one-week training module for existing cooperative employees. The curriculum has already been designed to meet the real-world needs of the cooperative ecosystem, even before the physical establishment of the university.

Shah said the university will train future leaders of cooperatives, boost research and innovation, and create a common educational standard across the country’s thousands of cooperative training institutions. This is expected to fuel a new-age cooperative culture and improve participation in both domestic and global cooperative value chains.

Expanding the Cooperative Sector: Achievements and Initiatives

Since the formation of the Ministry of Cooperation in 2021, the government has launched a series of transformative steps:

• Creation of 2 lakh new Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS), one in every Panchayat.

• Formation of a national cooperative database, offering detailed, real-time information on over 8 lakh cooperatives and their 30 crore members.

• Model by-laws for PACS adopted across states, enabling linkage with over 25 economic activities and enhancing transparency and governance.

• Digital transformation of 67,000+ PACS, of which over 43,000 are fully computerized with online audits and reconciliations.

• Establishment of Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Jan Aushadhi Kendras in thousands of PACS to deliver government benefits and affordable medicines.

• Creation of storage infrastructure under the world’s largest grain storage scheme with PACS godowns now operational for storing paddy and wheat.

National-Level Cooperative Societies and Global Reach

The Modi government also formed three national-level cooperative societies to enhance market access and export capabilities:

1. National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL): Linked with 8,000 PACS; already exported 12 lakh tonnes of goods.

2. Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti (BBSSL): Preserving and promoting traditional Indian seeds.

3. National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL): Certifying organic goods under the ‘Bharat Brand’ label, promoting 100% organic products nationwide.

These organizations are driving forward and backward linkages, ensuring farmers and cooperative members benefit directly from profits.

Financial and Tax Reforms to Empower Cooperatives

Amit Shah listed a number of tax and policy reforms aimed at leveling the playing field for cooperative entities:

• Surcharge on cooperative societies reduced from 12% to 7%.

• MAT (Minimum Alternate Tax) lowered from 18.5% to 15%.

• Income tax exemptions for small transactions and manufacturing cooperatives.

• TDS threshold raised from ₹1 crore to ₹3 crore.

• Cash deposit limit increased from ₹20,000 to ₹2 lakh for PACS and cooperatives.

NCDC and Cooperative Banks: Driving Growth with Zero NPA

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) reported zero Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) while doing business worth ₹1.28 lakh crore. It has:

• Financed 44 sea trawlers for coastal fishermen.

• Sanctioned ₹10,000 crore for cooperative sugar mills.

• Created 3,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and 1,070 Fisherman FPOs.

• Generated a record profit of ₹800 crore this fiscal year, up from ₹100 crore.

Restoring Faith in Cooperative Banking

The government has revamped policies for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) and rural banks, including:

• Permission for UCBs to open new branches (up to 10% annually).

• Launch of ‘doorstep banking’ and ‘one-time settlement’ provisions.

• Designation of an RBI nodal officer for cooperative bank issues.

• Creation of an umbrella organization under NAFCUB to finance weak cooperative banks.

• Deposit insurance increased from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for depositors.

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Boosting the Dairy and Pulses Sectors

Under White Revolution 2.0, the government targets milk procurement of 1000 lakh litres per day by 2028-29, up from 660 lakh litres today. Key facts:

• Milk production has increased from 14.6 crore tonnes in 2014-15 to 24 crore tonnes in 2023-24.

• Over 70% of dairy members are women, enhancing women’s economic participation.

• Cooperative dairies will now offer animal feed, vaccination, biogas production, and disposal services in a circular economy model.

On the pulses front, for the first time, pulses and maize are being procured at 100% Minimum Support Price (MSP) from registered farmers through NAFED and NCCF platforms.

Fostering Transparency and Recognition through Ranking Framework

Amit Shah introduced a Cooperative Ranking Framework with seven parameters to evaluate the performance of cooperatives. This will include PACS, dairy cooperatives, fisheries, housing credit societies, and Khadi & Village Industries. High-ranking cooperatives will gain preferential access to loans and district, state, and national-level awards.

Looking Ahead: Taxi Services and Cooperative Insurance

In the coming months, two major initiatives are expected to launch:

1. A nationwide cooperative taxi service—including two-wheelers, autos, and cars—ensuring drivers retain a larger share of profits.

2. A cooperative insurance company, which will function as the largest private insurer in India, supporting cooperative entities with customized, affordable insurance plans.

A Vision for Empowered Rural India

In his concluding remarks, Shri Amit Shah said that PM Modi’s vision of 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation) is being realized with dedicated policy support and on-ground transformation. He emphasized that Tribhuvan Sahkari University is not just a university, but the foundation of a future-oriented cooperative economy.

He added, “This is a tribute to the vision of Tribhuvan Das Patel Ji, who believed that profits of the cooperative movement must reach every poor woman. This bill will ensure that dream becomes a reality.”