**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1557 concerning the computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs) and their integration with the cooperative banking system. It details the progress made in digitization, governance improvements, linking to Aadhaar-enabled payment services, and cybersecurity measures. The question was to be answered on December 9th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Computerization Progress:**
* 61,869 PACS have completed digitization of legacy records.
* 60,424 PACS have been onboarded on ePACS Software.
* 57,092 PACS have achieved the day-end stage.
* 38,982 PACS have successfully completed on-system audits.
* Project management dashboard and customization tools are provided to stakeholders.
* **PACS as Hubs for Scheme Delivery:**
* PACS are developed as hubs for delivering benefits from various schemes like PMFBY, PMKSK, fertilizer and seed distribution, PDS outlets.
* Integration with state-specific portals like Bhulekh portal, e-KYC and e-Uparjan, e-Crop, and CCRC.
* **Transparency and Accounting:**
* ePACS software improves transparency and accounting, generating financial statements adhering to CAS-MIS norms.
* The ePACS facilitates on-system audits for accountability.
* **Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS) Integration:**
* UIDAI has reduced the license fee for onboarding Cooperative Banks to AePS.
* Cooperative financial institutions are eligible for free AePS use for the first three months of the pre-production phase.
* UIDAI introduced a new framework for onboarding of Cooperative Banks on AePS on 01.08.2025.
* Only State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) are required to onboard as AUA/KUA. DCCBs will use AePS through the StCBs as sub-AUA/KUA.
* 11 StCBs, 52 DCCBs, and 6 Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are onboarded on AePS.
* **Cybersecurity Measures:**
* Ministry of Cooperation has requested that all Cooperative banks be onboarded on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) for quick redressal of cyber financial fraud complaints.
* 23 StCBs, 85 DCCBs and 57 UCBs are onboarded on I4C.
* Registrars of Cooperative Societies are requested to arrange for the utilization of Cyber Commandos, coordinated by I4C, for cybersecurity audits, vulnerability identification, and implementation of advisories from NABARD and Fin-CERT.
**Impact Analysis**
**PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies)**
* **Impact:** Improved operations through digitization, better accounting and transparency, increased access to government schemes, and enhanced cybersecurity.
* **Action Required:** Continue digitization efforts, utilize ePACS software effectively, integrate with relevant government schemes and portals, and implement cybersecurity measures.
**Cooperative Banks (StCBs, DCCBs, UCBs)**
* **Impact:** Reduced license fees for AePS, streamlined onboarding for AePS (StCBs), access to AePS services (DCCBs via StCBs), and enhanced cybersecurity measures.
* **Action Required:** StCBs to onboard as Authentication User Agency/ KYC User Agency(AUA/KUA). All Cooperative banks to onboard on NCRP and I4C and implement necessary cybersecurity measures.
**Registrar of Cooperative Societies of all States/Union Territories**
* **Impact:** Responsible for ensuring the implementation of cybersecurity measures within cooperative banks under their jurisdiction.
* **Action Required:** Must take immediate necessary action for onboarding of all Cooperative banks under their jurisdiction on National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). Ensure arrangements for utilization of Cyber Commandos, coordinated by I4C, for conducting cybersecurity audits, identifying vulnerabilities, and implementing relevant cybersecurity advisories issued by NABARD and Fin-CERT.
**Ministry of Cooperation**
* **Impact:** Oversight and coordination of the computerization and cybersecurity efforts across cooperative banks.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the progress of digitization, AePS onboarding, and cybersecurity implementations across the cooperative banking sector.
**UIDAI**
* **Impact:** Provision of reduced license fee and a framework for onboarding of Cooperative Banks on AePS.
* **Action Required:** Maintain and support the AePS infrastructure, adapt as per any developments in the project.
Key Entities Referenced
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACSs): Entities at the center of the computerization and integration efforts.
Ministry of Cooperation: The primary ministry responsible for the policy and the parliamentary question.
Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS): The payment system being integrated with cooperative banks.
UIDAI: Authority related to Aadhaar payment system.
National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP): Portal for reporting cybercrimes, which cooperative banks are to be onboarded onto.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1557
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09th DECEMBER, 2025
Computerization of Primary Cooperative Societies
†1557. Shri Gajendra Singh Patel:
Shri Bunty Vivek Sahu:
Smt. D K Aruna:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) the progress made so far in the field of computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit
Societies (PACSs) and their integration with the cooperative banking system;
(b) the improvements made in governance, accounting and transparency in PACS operation by
adopting ERP based national software;
(c) the steps taken to link co-operative banks with Aadhaar-enabled payment services along
with the extent of coverage achieved so far; and
(d) the measures taken to strengthen cyber security and data protection in cooperative banks
and rural credit institutions?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a): Under the Computerisation of PACS Project, 61,869 PACS have completed digitization of
their legacy records and 60,424 PACS have already been onboarded on ePACS Software. Day-
end stage has been achieved by 57,092 PACS. In 38,982 PACS, On-system Audits have been
successfully completed for PACS, ensuring compliance and operational integrity. For better
monitoring, access to the project management dashboard and customization tools have been
provided to all stakeholders.
PACS are developed as hubs for delivering benefits from schemes such as Pradhan
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana(PMFBY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendra (PMKSK),
interest subvention, fertiliser and seed distribution, PDS outlets, LPG/Petrol/Diesel
dealerships, custom hiring, PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Common Service Centres, etc.. and
Integration with the state specific portal like, Bhulekh portal (In U.P and M.P), e-KYC and e-
Uparjan (M.P), e-Crop, CCRC (Andra Pradesh) and other schemes of other States and also
with the Cooperative Banking systems.(b): The ePACS software has brought transparency in accounting and operation by capturing
all aspects of the PACS business and generating financial statements in keeping with CAS-MIS
accounting norms. It provides for On-system Audits bringing in accountability.
(c): The UIDAI has reduced license fee for onboarding Cooperative Banks to ‘Aadhaar Enabled
Payment System’ (AePS) by linking it to the number of transactions. Cooperative financial
institutions are now eligible to get the facility free of cost for the first three months of the pre-
production phase. Also the UIDAI on 01.08.2025 has introduced new framework for
onboarding of Cooperative Banks on AePS. Now only State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) are
required to onboard as Authentication User Agency/ KYC User Agency(AUA/KUA), District
Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) will be allowed to use it through State Cooperative Bank
as sub-AUA/KUA. As per the information available, total 11 StCBs, 52 DCCBs and 6 Urban
Cooperative Banks (UCBs) are onboarded on AePS.
(d): Ministry of Cooperation has requested the Registrar of Cooperative Societies of all States/
Union Territories along with Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies to take immediate
necessary action for onboarding of all Cooperative banks under their jurisdiction on National
Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and lndian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). This
aims to ensure quick redressal of cyber financial fraud complaints, as per information available
total 23 StCBs, 85 DCCBs and 57 UCBs are onboarded on I4C. Besides this, the Registrar of
Cooperative Societies of all States have also been requested to make all the necessary
arrangements for utilization of Cyber Commandos, coordinated by I4C, for conducting
cybersecurity audits, identifying vulnerabilities, and implementing relevant cybersecurity
advisories issued by NABARD and Fin-CERT.
******