Ministry of Cooperation
Cooperative societies in Bihar
Posted On: 11 MAR 2026 5:43PM by PIB Delhi
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. This initiative is supported by NABARD, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), and State/UT Governments. As per National Cooperative Database, as on 10.02.2026, 33,853 new M-PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies have been registered; and 21,292 Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies have been strengthened.
The establishment of new Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS), Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies is aimed at strengthening the cooperative movement in the country in the following manner:
(i) The initiative seeks to ensure that every uncovered Panchayat/village is served by a functional cooperative society, thereby expanding the reach of the cooperative movement to unserved rural areas.
(ii) Newly formed Multipurpose PACS are enabled to undertake more than 25 different activities under the Model Bye-laws, thereby transforming them from single-purpose credit societies into multi-service institutions providing agricultural inputs, storage, marketing and other services at the grassroots level.
(iii) These societies function as local service delivery hubs by facilitating activities such as distribution of fertilizers and seeds through Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs), provision of digital services through Common Service Centres (CSCs), operation of Custom Hiring Centres, and implementation of initiatives such as the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan.
(iv) Diversification of activities creates multiple income sources for PACS, reducing their dependence on credit operations alone and improving their financial sustainability.
(v) The initiative promotes inclusive participation of farmers, women and other rural stakeholders in cooperative institutions and strengthens democratic governance in the cooperative sector.
(vi) Integration of these societies with digital platforms and computerization initiatives enhances transparency, efficiency and connectivity with cooperative banks and other institutions.
These measures collectively expand the outreach, strengthen the institutional capacity and improve the economic viability of cooperatives, thereby strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.
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