Parliament Question: Delay in Granting Permission to Multi-State Cooperative Societies

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COOPERATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1577 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28th JULY, 2026 Delay in Granting Permission to Multi-State Cooperative Societies 1577 Shri Chavan Ravindra Vasantrao: Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a). whether applications submitted by several Multi-State Cooperative Societies for opening new branches have remained pending for several years, including cases pending for more than five years, if so, the details thereof; (b). the total number of applications for branch opening permission received during each of the last five years, along with the number approved, rejected and presently pending; (c). the reasons for such prolonged delays in granting branch opening permissions and whether the Government has fixed any statutory timeline for disposal of such applications; (d). whether the Government proposes to introduce an online single-window, transparent and time-bound approval amechanism for granting branch opening permissions to Multi-State Cooperative Societies, if so, the details thereof; and (e). if not, the corrective measures proposed to ensure faster approvals so that cooperative institutions can expand their services, improve financial inclusion and strengthen the cooperative movement across the country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) (SHRI AMIT SHAH) (a) to (c): Year-wise details regarding number of applications for branch opening permission submitted by Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCSs) are as under: Page 1 of 2S. Year Total no. of applications for branch No. of approved No. of rejected No. opening permission received applications applications 1 2022 03 02 01 2 2023 16 05 07 3 2024 13 04 02 4 2025 29 08 02 5 2026 15 05 04 Total 76 24 16 After examination, deficiencies found in the applications in case of 36 MSCSs have been sent to the respective societies. Further, no statutory timeline for disposal of applications for branch opening permission is provided under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. (d) and (e): An online ‘CRCS office portal’ for granting branch opening permissions to Multi- State Cooperative Societies in a transparent manner has already been launched. ***** Page 2 of 2