Centre Charts Cooperative Growth Path in Shillong Meet

15 Apr 2025 CW Team

Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Bhutani emphasized the Centre’s renewed push towards “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and Union Minister Amit Shah’s guidance for cooperative-led economic growth. He urged states to expedite the collation of PAN numbers of all cooperative societies, enabling accurate inclusion of the sector in GDP calculations.

White Revolution 2.0: Empowering Rural India Dr. Bhutani highlighted White Revolution 2.0 as a flagship initiative for rural upliftment through dairy development. He stated that institutions like Amul and NDDB are working closely with states such as Assam, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to expand dairy infrastructure. "The economic potential of animal husbandry now exceeds that of traditional crops," he noted, emphasizing its role in empowering women and improving child nutrition.

Tribhuvan Sahkari University: A National Milestone Terming it a historic step, the Secretary announced the passage of the bill to establish India’s first Tribhuvan Sahkari University, aimed at standardizing cooperative education across India. Over 250 existing cooperative institutions are expected to be uplifted by this initiative.

Green Initiatives and Strategic Dialogues A tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative was also conducted during the session, in alignment with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Senior officials including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya participated.

The forum brought together policymakers, cooperative federations, and representatives from across States and UTs, with national-level institutions like NAFED, NCCF, NCOL, NCEL, and BBSSL presenting strategies to foster innovation and inclusivity in the cooperative space.

Strengthening Rural Banking and PACS The meeting also focused on doorstep banking via micro-ATMs, zero-interest loans through RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for cooperative members, and digital transformation of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs). The establishment of Multi-Purpose Agriculture Cooperative Societies (MPACS), dairy and fishery cooperatives, and grain storage infrastructure were also reviewed.

Delegations from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand shared innovations and best practices, enriching the dialogue on modernizing cooperatives. A special session reviewed the strategic realignment of NCDC schemes with national development goals.

Looking Ahead Workshops on impact benchmarking, cooperative governance, and the Business Reform Action Plan 2025–26 laid the groundwork for long-term reforms. With emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and technology integration, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to making India’s cooperative sector a strong pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

The Ministry of Cooperation, under the leadership of Secretary Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, convened a two-day National Level Review Meeting in Shillong to advance strategies aimed at transforming the cooperative sector. Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Bhutani emphasized the Centre’s renewed push towards “Sahakar Se Samriddhi,” echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and Union Minister Amit Shah’s guidance for cooperative-led economic growth. He urged states to expedite the collation of PAN numbers of all cooperative societies, enabling accurate inclusion of the sector in GDP calculations. White Revolution 2.0: Empowering Rural India Dr. Bhutani highlighted White Revolution 2.0 as a flagship initiative for rural upliftment through dairy development. He stated that institutions like Amul and NDDB are working closely with states such as Assam, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh to expand dairy infrastructure. The economic potential of animal husbandry now exceeds that of traditional crops, he noted, emphasizing its role in empowering women and improving child nutrition. Tribhuvan Sahkari University: A National Milestone Terming it a historic step, the Secretary announced the passage of the bill to establish India’s first Tribhuvan Sahkari University, aimed at standardizing cooperative education across India. Over 250 existing cooperative institutions are expected to be uplifted by this initiative. Green Initiatives and Strategic Dialogues A tree plantation drive under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative was also conducted during the session, in alignment with the International Year of Cooperatives 2025. Senior officials including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya participated. The forum brought together policymakers, cooperative federations, and representatives from across States and UTs, with national-level institutions like NAFED, NCCF, NCOL, NCEL, and BBSSL presenting strategies to foster innovation and inclusivity in the cooperative space. Strengthening Rural Banking and PACS The meeting also focused on doorstep banking via micro-ATMs, zero-interest loans through RuPay Kisan Credit Cards for cooperative members, and digital transformation of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Agriculture and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs). The establishment of Multi-Purpose Agriculture Cooperative Societies (MPACS), dairy and fishery cooperatives, and grain storage infrastructure were also reviewed. Delegations from Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttarakhand shared innovations and best practices, enriching the dialogue on modernizing cooperatives. A special session reviewed the strategic realignment of NCDC schemes with national development goals. Looking Ahead Workshops on impact benchmarking, cooperative governance, and the Business Reform Action Plan 2025–26 laid the groundwork for long-term reforms. With emphasis on transparency, efficiency, and technology integration, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to making India’s cooperative sector a strong pillar of inclusive and sustainable development.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Lucknow Metro East-West Corridor Consultancy Contract Awarded

The Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation has awarded the first construction-related consultancy contract for the Lucknow Metro East West Corridor to a joint venture of AYESA Ingenieria Arquitectura SAU and AYESA India Pvt Ltd. The firm was declared the lowest bidder for the Detailed Design Consultant contract for Lucknow Metro Line-2 under Phase 1B and the contract was recommended following the financial bid. The contract is valued at Rs 159.0 million (mn), covering design services for the corridor. Lucknow Metro Line-2 envisages the construction of an 11.165 kilometre corridor connecting Cha..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Div Com Kashmir Urges Fast Tracking Of Jhelum Water Transport Project

The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir has called for the fast-tracking of the Jhelum water transport project, urging district administrations and relevant agencies to accelerate planning and clearances. In a meeting convened at the divisional headquarters, the commissioner instructed officials from irrigation, public health engineering and municipal departments to prioritise the project and coordinate survey and design work. The directive emphasised removal of administrative bottlenecks and close monitoring to ensure timely mobilisation of resources and contractors. Officials were told to in..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Interarch Reports Strong Q3 And Nine Month Results

Interarch Building Solutions Limited reported unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31 December 2025, recording strong revenue growth driven by execution and a robust order book. Net revenue for the third quarter rose by 43.7 per cent to Rs 5.225 billion (bn), compared with Rs 3.636 bn a year earlier, reflecting heightened demand in pre-engineered building projects. The company’s total order book as at 31 January 2026 stood at Rs 16.85 bn, supporting near-term visibility. EBITDA excluding other income for the quarter increased by 43.2 per cent to Rs 503 million (mn),..