**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 676 in Lok Sabha, to be answered on February 3rd, 2025, regarding Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy and fisheries cooperatives. The response details government initiatives, including establishing new cooperatives, digitizing existing ones, and ensuring participation from marginalized groups. No specific action items or deadlines are mentioned beyond ongoing initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Establishment and Strengthening of Cooperatives:**
* The government has approved plans to establish new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives to cover all panchayats and villages nationwide over the next five years.
* As of January 20, 2026, 32,802 new PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies have been registered, and 15,793 Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies have been strengthened.
* **Analysis and Digitization:**
* State-wise and regional analysis is being conducted using the National Cooperative Database (NCD) to identify cooperative coverage gaps.
* Out of 79,630 sanctioned PACS, 61,478 have been digitized and facilitated to undertake initiatives, including Shared Core Banking Solutions (CBS), AePS, UPI, and digital platforms.
* **Inclusivity and Representation:**
* Model Bye-laws have been developed and circulated to transform PACS into inclusive and transparent institutions, ensuring broad-based membership.
* The Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 mandates reservation of seats for women and SC/ST members.
* The National Cooperation Policy (NCP) 2025 emphasizes membership promotion and leadership roles for women and weaker sections.
* **Implementation in Maharashtra (including Jalgaon District):**
* 12,178 PACS have been sanctioned for computerization in Maharashtra with a release of ₹130.73 crore.
* All 352 sanctioned PACS in Jalgaon district are fully onboarded on ERP-based common national software, achieving 100% digitization.
* Extensive capacity building efforts through training institutions like VAMNICOM and ICM.
* Financial support via NCDC, which disbursed ₹13,575.28 crore to cooperatives in Maharashtra over the last five years.
* **Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka:**
* 121 PACS, 420 Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCS), and 22 Fishery Cooperative Societies (FCS) have been established. Only one FCS is non-operational, and digitization of all PACS has been initiated.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Small and Marginal Farmers, Women, Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
* **Impact:** Model Bye-laws enable PACS to function as multipurpose service centers, providing access to affordable credit, quality inputs, and allied services. Support for women and SHGs is further strengthened through schemes such as Swayam Shakti Sahakar Yojana and Nandini Sahakar.
* **Action Required:** Engage with PACS to avail of the services and benefits, participate in leadership roles, and leverage financial support.
**Stakeholder:** State Governments and Union Territories
* **Impact:** Expected to align or adopt their laws with the Model Bye-laws to transform PACS into inclusive institutions.
* **Action Required:** Adopt or align their laws with the Model Bye-laws and implement digitization efforts.
**Stakeholder:** Cooperatives in Maharashtra (Including Jalgaon)
* **Impact:** Benefit from computerization, financial support, and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the resources provided for digitization, training, and accessing financial support.
Key Entities Referenced
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS): The central focus of the unstarred question, dealing with their establishment, evaluation, digitization, and provisions for marginalized groups.
Ministry of Cooperation: The government ministry responsible for the administration and oversight of cooperative societies, including PACS.
Maharashtra: A specific state highlighted for implementation details, including PACS computerization, financial support, and training programs.
National Cooperative Database (NCD): A tool used by the government to analyze cooperative coverage and identify gaps.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023: Legislation mandating reservation for women and SC/ST members on the boards of multi-state cooperative societies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COOPERATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 676
TO BE ANSWERED ON 03rd FEBRUARY, 2025
Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
†676. Shri Damodar Agrawal:
Smt. Smita Uday Wagh: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta:
Smt. Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam: Shri Praveen Patel:
Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti:
Shri Khagen Murmu: Smt. Lovely Anand:
Smt. Shobhanaben Mahendrasinh Baraiya: Shri Rahul Singh Lodhi:
Shri Bibhu Prasad Tarai:
Will the Minister of COOPERATION (सहकारिता मंत्री) be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any independent or third-party evaluation of the
newly formed multipurpose PACS, dairy and fisheries cooperatives and if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the Government has undertaken a State-wise and regional analysis of the
distribution of more than 32,000 newly established cooperatives, particularly in aspirational
districts and backward regions, including Maharashtra and Jalgaon Lok Sabha constituency,
and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether these cooperatives have been digitised and integrated with platforms such as Core
Banking Solution (CBS), e-NAM or cooperative banking systems, and if so, the number of
PACS made digitally operational;
(d) whether any special provisions or guidelines exist to ensure participation of small and
marginal farmers, women and Self-Help Groups (SHGs);
(e) if so, the details of such provisions, including capacity-building and financial support
measures implemented in Maharashtra, including Jalgaon district; and
(f) the number of multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperatives established in Dakshina
Kannada district of Karnataka, along with their current operational status and level of
digitisation?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF COOPERATION
सहकारिता मंत्री (SHRI AMIT SHAH)
(a) 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. As per the National Cooperative Database, a total of 32,802 new
PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies have been registered; and 15,793 Dairy andFisheries Cooperative Societies have been strengthened as on 20.01.2026 across the country.
Independent or third-party evaluation of the newly formed multipurpose Primary Agricultural
Credit Societies (PACS), dairy and fisheries cooperatives have not been contemplated, yet.
(b) The Government undertakes State-wise and regional analysis using the National
Cooperative Database (NCD) to identify gaps in cooperative coverage, including aspirational
districts and underserved regions. The details of State-wise distribution 32,802 new PACS,
Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies including aspirational districts and backward regions
and Maharashtra and Jalgaon district is at Annexure.
(c) As on date, out of 79,630 PACS sanctioned out of which 61,478 PACS have been digitized
and have been facilitated to undertake initiatives such as Shared Core Banking Solutions
(CBS), AePS, UPI, and digital platforms for cooperative banking have also been rolled out to
modernise cooperative financial services.
(d) and (e) The Model Bye-laws for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) have been
developed and circulated to all States and Union Territories to transform PACS into
multipurpose, inclusive and transparent institutions. These Bye-laws provide for broad-based
membership and ensure adequate representation of women and Scheduled Castes/Scheduled
Tribes (SC/ST) in cooperative governance. Further, the Multi-State Cooperative Societies
(Amendment) Act, 2023 mandates reservation of two seats for women and one seat for SC/ST
members on the boards of multi-State cooperative societies. The National Cooperation Policy
(NCP) 2025 also emphasizes promotion of membership and leadership roles for women and
weaker sections.
The Model Bye-laws enable PACS to function as multipurpose service centres, allowing small
and marginal farmers to access affordable credit, quality inputs and allied services at a single
point, and to benefit from activities such as warehousing, custom hiring centres and primary
processing, thereby improving income realization. Support for women and SHGs is further
strengthened through schemes such as Swayam Shakti Sahakar Yojana for onward lending to
Women SHGs and Nandini Sahakar for promoting women-led cooperatives. As of late 2025,
32 States and Union Territories have adopted or aligned their laws with the Model Bye-laws.
Implementation in Maharashtra, including Jalgaon District:
In Maharashtra, 12,178 PACS have been sanctioned for computerization and ₹130.73 crore has
been released for hardware procurement, ERP deployment, training and support systems. All
352 sanctioned PACS in Jalgaon district have been fully onboarded on the ERP-based common
national software, achieving 100% digitization. Extensive capacity-building efforts are being
undertaken through national and regional training institutions, including VAMNICOM (Pune)
and ICM (Nagpur and Pune), which trained 37,070 participants between 2024 and December
2025. Additionally, the Regional Training Centre of LINAC in Maharashtra conducted 65
training programmes during April 2022–December 2025, covering 5,693 participants.
Financial support is being extended through the National Cooperative Development
Corporation (NCDC). As on 25.01.2026, NCDC has cumulatively disbursed ₹13,575.28 crore
to cooperatives in Maharashtra over the last five years, including ₹13,186.58 crore in the sugar
sector, ₹180.28 crore in textiles, and ₹43.57 crore in fisheries. Further, the Jalgaon Milk Unionhas proposed formation of 117 new Dairy Cooperative Societies during 2025–26 to enhance
farmer participation. District-level initiatives, including livestock health programmes under the
International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025, have been undertaken to support members.
Under the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, 15 PACS in Maharashtra have completed
godown construction, helping farmers avoid distress sales and improve price realization.
(f) In Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, 121 PACS, 420 Dairy Cooperative Societies
(DCS), and 22 Fishery Cooperative Societies (FCS) are established, out of which only one FCS
is non-operational and digitisation of all the PACS has been initiated.
*****Annexure
Newly Registered Cooperatives
S. State Covered PACS DCS FCS Grand
No districts Total
1 ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR 3 1 1 11 13
ISLANDS
2 ANDHRA PRADESH 21 11 1,034 2 1,047
3 ARUNACHAL PRADESH 25 121 15 20 156
4 ASSAM 34 469 591 81 1,141
5 BIHAR 38 57 4,589 2 4,648
6 CHHATTISGARH 33 469 351 322 1,142
7 GOA 2 37 5 3 45
8 GUJARAT 33 525 706 23 1,254
9 HARYANA 20 31 161 6 198
10 HIMACHAL PRADESH 11 116 708 6 830
11 JAMMU AND KASHMIR 20 216 1,313 36 1,565
12 JHARKHAND 24 127 257 177 561
13 KARNATAKA 31 243 1,097 45 1,385
14 KERALA 0 0 0 0 0
15 LADAKH 2 3 3 1 7
16 LAKSHADWEEP 1 0 0 7 7
17 MADHYA PRADESH 52 663 874 226 1,763
18 MAHARASHTRA 32 149 1,140 161 1,450
19 MANIPUR 14 104 24 67 195
20 MEGHALAYA 12 228 16 7 251
21 MIZORAM 10 97 2 2 101
22 NAGALAND 13 18 5 18 41
23 ODISHA 30 1,543 679 59 2,281
24 PUDUCHERRY 3 4 3 3 10
25 PUNJAB 23 1 463 43 507
26 RAJASTHAN 33 1,387 2,174 22 3,583
27 SIKKIM 6 24 61 3 88
28 TAMIL NADU 37 28 794 25 847
29 TELANGANA 18 0 173 102 275
30 THE DD & DNH 3 6 1 2 9
31 TRIPURA 8 288 2 19 309
32 UTTAR PRADESH 75 1,099 4,340 486 5,925
33 UTTARAKHAND 13 621 263 120 1,004
34 WEST BENGAL 16 24 137 3 164
Grand Total 696 8,710 21,982 2,110 32,802
Maharashtra Jalgaon
M-PACS 149 0
DCS 1140 35
FCS 161 5
Total 1450 40