Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has unveiled the historic National Cooperation Policy 2025, charting a bold new course for India’s cooperative movement. This landmark policy is a major step towards realising the Modi Government’s vision of "Sahkaar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation).
The spirit and substance of this policy have been shaped by Amit Shah, who is deeply committed to the principles of Antyodaya – uplifting the last person in the line. His foresight, strategic acumen and tireless commitment have ensured that the policy remains grounded, inclusive, and aligned with India’s future aspirations.
It is noteworthy that India’s first Cooperation Policy was introduced in 2002 during the tenure of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Now, as the country moves forward with its second Cooperation Policy in 2025, it once again finds itself under the leadership of a BJP-led government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What has been achieved in the cooperative sector over the past four years under Amit Shah’s leadership is nothing short of transformative. A sector once struggling for relevance now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the corporate world.
Having a deep-rooted association with cooperatives and a clear understanding of grassroots realities, Amit Shah has ensured that this policy does not remain a document confined to paper. Every provision in it is designed to bring about tangible change in the lives of farmers, women, Dalits, tribalsand the most marginalized citizens. That is why the core objective of this policy is to make the cooperative sector a decisive partner in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
An ambitious yet practical target has been set — to triple the cooperative sector’s contribution to India’s GDP by 2034. This reflects not only long-term vision but a strong results-oriented approach. One of the standout goals is to bring 500 million non-members or inactive citizens into the cooperative fold, transforming the sector into a true "people’s movement."
The policy also envisions the development of five model cooperative villages in every tehsil. These villages will serve as hubs for agriculture and animal husbandry, while also becoming living examples of women’s empowerment in rural India. The second wave of the White Revolution will be rooted in these villages, institutionalising women’s participation.
Key action points include the establishment of 45,000 new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), full computerisation of existing PACS, and expansion of their functions into 25 new economic activities, a clear sign that the policy is not limited to structural reform but is pushing technological advancement and innovation down to the smallest cooperative unit.
The proposed Tribhuvan Cooperative University marks a concrete step toward creating a robust pipeline of trained human resources for the sector. Meanwhile, initiatives like the “Sahkar Taxi” scheme reflect the policy’s inclusive intent, ensuring that drivers, artisans, farmersand workers from every walk of life receive social security and economic empowerment.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the historic decision to establish a dedicated Ministry of Cooperation, the vision was to make cooperatives a cornerstone of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Amit Shah, as the architect of this policy, has translated that vision into targeted, mission-mode programs.
Thanks to Shah’s leadership, the cooperative sector is not merely being revived, it is being reimagined. India is now moving towards a new “Sahkari Bharat” – acooperative-driven India – where development is not top-down, but participatory and partnership-based.
In every sense, the National Cooperation Policy 2025 is historic. It offers not only a 25-year roadmap but launches a people-centric movement, one that ensures contribution from every citizen, participation from every village, and development across every region.