**Executive Summary**
This report details the Ministry of Cooperation’s initiatives to strengthen the national cooperative sector, specifically highlighting the expansion and computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). It notes that while schemes are uniformly applicable, West Bengal’s participation remains lower than other states, with several key decisions pending. The document outlines a five-year plan to cover all panchayats with new cooperatives and a ₹2925.39 Crore project for national digital integration.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**National Cooperative Expansion and Diversification**
* The government aims to establish new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives to cover every panchayat and village within the next five years.
* PACS activities are being diversified to include Common Service Centres (CSCs), PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK), and Jan Aushadhi Kendras to create additional income streams.
* New national cooperative institutions have been established, including NCOL, NCEL, and BBSSL.
**Digital Transformation and Infrastructure**
* A financial outlay of ₹2925.39 Crore has been approved for the computerization of functional PACS across India.
* The project involves migrating all functional PACS to a common ERP-based national software.
* This digital infrastructure will link PACS with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) through State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs).
**Status of West Bengal Participation**
* West Bengal shows significantly lower achievement rates compared to other states; for example, achievement against targets for MPACS is at 2%, and participation in PMKSK is at 0%.
* Decisions from the state are awaited regarding Paani Samitis, petrol/diesel outlets, and registrations on the NCCF and NAFED portals.
* The Ministry of Cooperation is actively engaging with the State Government to address these implementation gaps and facilitate wider participation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: West Bengal State Government**
**Impact**
The state’s cooperative sector currently lacks the full benefits of national programs due to pending decisions and lower participation rates compared to the rest of the country.
**Action Required**
The state must finalize decisions regarding initiatives such as Jan Aushadhi Kendras, CSCs, and PMKSK, and coordinate with the Ministry to facilitate effective implementation.
**Stakeholder: Cooperative Societies and PACS**
**Impact**
Cooperatives are currently limited from accessing national income-generating streams and the common ERP-based national software.
**Action Required**
Functional PACS need to transition to the common national software and register on national portals like NCCF and NAFED to access broader benefits.
**Stakeholder: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)**
**Impact**
NABARD serves as the central link in the new computerized hierarchy for PACS through StCBs and DCCBs.
**Action Required**
Support the integration of functional PACS onto the common ERP-based national software platform.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Cooperation: The central government ministry responsible for strengthening and expanding the cooperative sector through various initiatives.
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS): The primary cooperative entities targeted for diversification, computerization, and expansion into multipurpose activities.
West Bengal: The specific state identified for its lower participation in national cooperative initiatives compared to other states.
Computerization of functional PACS project: A central initiative with a ₹2925.39 crore outlay to bring PACS onto a common ERP-based national software.
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD): The apex regulatory body through which PACS are being linked via state and district central cooperative banks.
Ministry of Cooperation
Exclusion of West Bengal from new national
cooperative initiative
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 4:59PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Cooperation has undertaken several initiatives aimed at strengthening and expanding the
cooperative sector across the country, including diversification of activities of Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies (PACS) such as operation of CSCs, PMKSKs, Jan Aushadhi Kendras, etc thereby creating
additional income streams. Further, the Government of India has approved the plan to establish new
multipurpose PACS/dairy/fisheries cooperatives, aiming to cover all panchayats and villages in the
country over the next five years. To strengthen PACS, a project for the Computerization of functional
PACS with a total financial outlay of ₹2925.39 Crore has been approved by the Government of India,
which entails bringing all functional PACS in the Country onto a common ERP-based national software,
linking them with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) through StCBs and
DCCBs.
An assessment of the status of West Bengal in respect of some of the major initiatives has been compiled
and placed at Annexure.
As per the available data reflected in the Annexure, the participation of cooperative societies from West
Bengal in some major initiatives is comparatively lower than other States, indicating significant scope for
further expansion.
The schemes and initiatives of the Ministry of Cooperation are uniformly applicable to all States/UTs. In
the case of West Bengal, decisions are awaited in respect of initiatives such as PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras,
Common Service Centres (CSCs), PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSK), Paani Samitis, petrol/diesel
outlets, and participation in national cooperative institutions such as NCOL, NCEL and BBSSL, as well as
registrations on NCCF and NAFED portals, thereby limiting West Bengal cooperatives from benefits of
these national programmes. The Ministry continues to engage with the State Government to facilitate
wider participation and effective implementation of these initiatives.
*****
Annexure
S.No. STATE 2 Lakh MPACS/DCS/ % PACS % of % of
FCS Formation + digitised vis-à- PACS PACS as
Strengthening- % vis sanctioned as PMKSK
Achievement vis-a-vis- PACS under CSC
targets PACS
computerization
MPACS DCS FCS1 ANDHRA 1% 19% 52% 99% 91% 66%
PRADESH
2 ARUNACHAL 6% 0% 200% 9% 5% 0%
PRADESH
3 ASSAM 45% 71% 138% 68% 47% 4%
4 BIHAR 32% 61% 5% 100% 62% 20%
5 CHHATTISGARH 75% 25% 202% 100% 78% 82%
6 GOA 123% 10% 150% 59% 27% 4%
7 GUJARAT 29% 156% 38% 92% 23% 31%
8 HARYANA 6% 19% 28% 88% 59% 92%
9 HIMACHAL 51% 371% 167% 73% 41% 34%
PRADESH
10 JHARKHAND 12700% 109% 113% 53% 46% 10%
11 KARNATAKA 111% 41% 130% 74% 37% 28%
12 KERALA* 0% 125% 47% - 1% 64%
13 MADHYA 51% 21% 76% 83% 81% 87%
PRADESH
14 MAHARASHTRA 36% 47% 132% 99% 40% 3%
15 MANIPUR 7% 16% 198% 65% 34% 12%
16 MEGHALAYA 5% 65% 39% 3% 14% 0%
17 MIZORAM 13% 3% 10% 25% 15% 0%
18 NAGALAND 1% 13% 60% 44% 1% 0%
19 ODISHA 1696% 17% 35% 0% 35% 59%
20 PUNJAB 0% 56% 93% 91% 73% 71%21 RAJASTHAN 438% 65% 51% 72% 59% 46%
22 SIKKIM 77% 600% 67% 82% 49% 0%
23 TAMIL NADU 1% 532% 16% 99% 100% 71%
24 TELANGANA* 0% 28% 56% - 62% 86%
25 TRIPURA 39% 3% 100% 56% 34% 0%
26 UTTARAKHAND 83% 43% 245% 55% 63% 48%
27 UTTAR PRADESH 36% 102% 94% 49% 66% 83%
28 WEST BENGAL 2% 9% 13% 79% 1% 0%
29 ANDAMAN AND 0% 0% 63% 100% 11% 2%
NICOBAR
ISLANDS
30 JAMMU AND 26% 657% 195% 76% 69% 22%
KASHMIR
31 LADAKH 3% 0% 25% 100% 5% 0%
32 PUDUCHERRY 44% 7% 43% 100% 51% 11%
33 DAMAN AND DIU 21% 0% 100% 44% 44% 0%
& DNH
*Kerala and Telangana are not part of PACS Computerisation Project
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha.
****
AK/AP
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