Centre Announces Major Push For Cooperative Sector
The Union government on Monday unveiled a fresh set of initiatives aimed at expanding India’s cooperative ecosystem, with Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah announcing plans to establish a cooperative life insurance company and significantly scale up the Bharat Taxi platform over the next two years.
Speaking at the fifth Foundation Day celebrations of the Ministry of Cooperation in New Delhi, Shah said the government’s reforms are focused on transforming cooperatives into professionally managed, technology-driven and transparent institutions capable of competing across multiple sectors.
Cooperative Life Insurer To Enter Insurance Sector
As part of the expansion strategy, Shah announced that a new cooperative life insurance company will be launched to increase the sector’s presence in the insurance industry. He said the move would diversify cooperative businesses beyond their traditional footprint in agriculture, dairy, fertilisers, banking and sugar.
He also noted that fertiliser giant IFFCO already has experience in the insurance sector through its joint venture, providing a strong foundation for future cooperative-led insurance initiatives.
Bharat Taxi To Reach 500 Cities
Shah also outlined ambitious growth plans for Bharat Taxi, the cooperative-based ride-hailing platform operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Ltd. According to him, the service will be expanded to 500 cities across the country within the next two years.
The platform currently has more than 6.37 lakh registered drivers and over 35.77 lakh customers. It is already operational in cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Gujarat, Jaipur, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Kanpur, with launches planned in Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore and Nagpur.
Professional Management And Training
Highlighting the need for better governance, Shah said the cooperative sector would increasingly rely on merit-based recruitment and professionally trained personnel. To support this objective, the government is establishing Tribhuvan Sahkari University in Anand, Gujarat, which will prepare professionals for banking, dairy, agriculture, fertilisers, marketing and other cooperative sectors.
Graduates from the university are expected to be inducted into cooperative institutions at various levels in phases.
Five Years Of Cooperative Reforms
Reviewing the Ministry’s work over the past five years, Shah said a national database of cooperatives has been created to improve coordination and identify opportunities for growth. India currently has around 8.5 lakh cooperative societies with more than 30 crore members.
He also highlighted reforms allowing Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) to diversify into over 25 business activities, including retail, healthcare, warehousing, fuel distribution and digital services.
According to the government, thousands of PACS have already begun operating Common Service Centres and Jan Aushadhi Kendras, while several have applied to run retail fuel outlets.
Infrastructure Projects And Future Vision
During the event, Shah inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for multiple grain storage facilities, cooperative infrastructure projects and agricultural initiatives, including new tissue culture centres and the expansion of digital e-PACS.
He also announced collaborations aimed at strengthening India’s seed production ecosystem and reiterated that the Ministry of Cooperation functions as a policy-support institution without interfering in the powers of state governments.
Expressing confidence in the sector’s future, Shah said the cooperative movement would play a key role in achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047 through inclusive rural development and stronger community-based economic institutions.
