The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025, after an in-depth discussion led by Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah. This historic legislation paves the way for the creation of India’s first-ever national cooperative university, to be established at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat.
In his address, Shah emphasized the historical importance of the bill, noting that it will strengthen India’s rural economy, promote self-employment, and foster innovation and research. The university will focus on providing modern education to young leaders within the cooperative sector, aiming to develop a new generation of leaders equipped with the principles of cooperation and contemporary management practices.
The university, named after the prominent cooperative leader Tribhuvan Das Patel, will serve as a hub for cooperative leadership development. Patel played a pivotal role in the establishment of India’s cooperative institutions under the guidance of Sardar Patel, and Shah highlighted his contributions during the speech.
The bill also aims to address the need for a skilled workforce within the cooperative sector. According to Shah, the university will have the capacity to train up to 8 lakh people annually, offering diploma, degree, and Ph.D. programs tailored to the needs of the cooperative movement. This initiative is expected to bolster the cooperative sector and ensure sustainable growth in rural development, agriculture, and employment generation.
Shah also took the opportunity to outline the government’s ongoing efforts to revitalize and modernize the cooperative sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He mentioned the establishment of Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in every Panchayat, tax reforms for cooperative institutions, and the creation of a national cooperative database that includes information on cooperatives from all states and districts.
The Union Minister highlighted several achievements under the Modi government, such as the expansion of PACS services to more than 25 economic activities and the establishment of over 43,000 PACS Common Service Centres (CSCs) across the country. These efforts have contributed to the digitization of PACS, transforming the cooperative sector.
Shah also addressed significant initiatives in the dairy, fisheries, and agriculture sectors, including the ambitious White Revolution 2.0. The project aims to increase milk procurement from 660 lakh liters per day to 1000 lakh liters per day by 2028. Additionally, Shah noted the success of cooperative societies in the export sector, with products now reaching global markets.
Further, the creation of new national-level cooperative societies, such as the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL) and the Bharatiya Seed Cooperative Society Limited (BBSSL), was discussed. These societies are playing a crucial role in improving backward and forward linkages, promoting organic farming, and certifying 100% organic products under the “Bharat Brand.”