International Year of Cooperatives 2025
I have sufficient facts. Writing the note now.
International Year of Cooperatives 2025 — UPSC Study Note
1. At a Glance
- UN-designated observance for calendar year 2025 under the theme "Cooperatives Build a Better World", declared by UNGA Resolution on 19 June 2024 [S3][S4].
- India is the global focal point: UN launched IYC 2025 at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference, New Delhi (25–30 Nov 2024) — the first time the ICA General Assembly was held in India in 130 years [S2][S4].
- Aligns with India's post-2021 Ministry of Cooperation push ("Sahkar se Samriddhi") — PACS computerisation, NCEL, NCOL, BBSSL, National Cooperation Policy 2025 [S1][S2].
- High UPSC value: cuts across GS-II (governance, statutory bodies, schemes), GS-III (agriculture, economy) and current affairs.
2. Why in the News
- 24 Jan 2025: Union Home & Cooperation Minister released India's Annual Action Plan for IYC 2025 in Mumbai [S2].
- 5 July 2025: Foundation stone of India's first cooperative university — Tribhuvan Sahkari University, Anand (Gujarat) [S2].
- 24 July 2025: National Cooperation Policy (NCP) 2025 launched by Ministry of Cooperation [S2].
- 18 Jan 2026: PIB Backgrounder released numbers on cooperatives covered/computerised under IYC 2025 [S1].
3. Background & Evolution
- 2012: UN observed first International Year of Cooperatives ("Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World") [S3].
- 2021: India created a separate Ministry of Cooperation (carved from Ministry of Agriculture); Amit Shah became first Minister.
- June 2024: UNGA declares 2025 as IYC [S3][S4].
- 25 Nov 2024: PM Modi inaugurates ICA Global Cooperative Conference 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi — official UN launch of IYC 2025 [S2][S4].
- 2025: India rolls out PACS computerisation, multipurpose PACS, NCEL/NCOL/BBSSL operations, NCP 2025 [S1][S2].
4. Core Static Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Theme | "Cooperatives Build a Better World" [S4] |
| UN agency lead | UN DESA; COPAC (UN-ICA committee); ILO engagement [S3] |
| Indian nodal ministry | Ministry of Cooperation (est. 2021) [S2] |
| Apex global body | International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) — HQ Brussels [S4] |
| Enabling Indian law | Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 [S2] |
| Constitutional base | 97th Amendment (2011) — Art. 19(1)(c) right to form coops; Part IXB; Art. 43B (DPSP) |
| Registered coops (India) | >8.5 lakh registered; 6.6 lakh functional; 32 crore members across 30 sectors; 10 crore women via SHG linkage [S1] |
| PACS computerisation | 79,630 approved; 59,261 on ERP; 65,151 hardware delivered; 42,730 online audited; 32,119 e-PACS [S1] |
| New cooperatives | 32,009 new multipurpose PACS / dairy / fisheries coops registered [S1] |
| NCEL | Multi-state coop, registered 25 Jan 2023; exports 13.77 LMT worth ₹5,556 crore to 28 countries; 20% dividend to members [S1][S2] |
| NCOL | 10,035 member coops; 28 organic products [S1] |
| BBSSL | Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Ltd — seed multiplication apex coop [S1] |
| Cooperative university | Tribhuvan Sahkari University, Anand, Gujarat (foundation 5 Jul 2025) [S2] |
| Policy | National Cooperation Policy 2025 (24 Jul 2025) [S2] |
5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis
Economic - Cooperatives cover ~30 sectors; PACS are the last-mile credit channel in rural India; NCEL channels coop produce into export markets (₹5,556 cr) [S1]. - 20% NCEL dividend signals viability of producer-owned export aggregation [S1].
Social - 10 crore women linked via SHGs — gender mainstreaming through coop model [S1]. - 32 crore members ≈ ~22% of India's population — depth of grassroots reach [S1].
Legal / Constitutional - Art. 43B directs State to promote voluntary, autonomous, democratic, professional coops; Part IXB governs societies; SC in Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah (2021) struck down Part IXB for non-Cooperative state societies (read down). - Cooperatives are a State subject (Entry 32, List II); Union competence limited to multi-state coops (Entry 44, List I).
Administrative - Three-tier IYC governance: National Cooperative Committee, National Execution Committee, State Apex Committees [S2]. - PACS being made multipurpose — credit + dairy + fisheries + CSC + PMBJP outlets.
Geopolitical / Soft Power - India hosted ICA Global Conference for first time in 130 years; PM Modi inaugurated; positions India as leader of Global South cooperative movement [S2].
6. Recent Developments (12–18 months)
- 25 Nov 2024: PM Modi inaugurates ICA Global Cooperative Conference, Bharat Mandapam [S2].
- 24 Jan 2025: IYC Annual Action Plan released, Mumbai [S2].
- 5 Jul 2025: Tribhuvan Sahkari University foundation laid at Anand [S2].
- 24 Jul 2025: National Cooperation Policy 2025 launched [S2].
- IYC logo placed on IRCTC e-tickets, Amul milk packets, central ministry sites [S2].
- 18 Jan 2026: PIB Backgrounder consolidates IYC achievements [S1].
7. Prelims Hooks
- IYC 2025 theme: "Cooperatives Build a Better World" [S4].
- Declared via UNGA resolution on 19 June 2024 [S3].
- Previous International Year of Cooperatives: 2012 [S3].
- Ministry of Cooperation created in July 2021; first minister Amit Shah.
- NCEL registered 25 January 2023 under Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 [S2].
- Tribhuvan Sahkari University — India's first cooperative university — at Anand, Gujarat [S2].
- PACS computerisation target: 63,000 PACS; actual approvals 79,630 [S1].
- NCOL = National Cooperative for Organics; BBSSL = Seeds [S1].
- Constitutional articles: Art. 19(1)(c), Art. 43B, Part IXB — via 97th Constitutional Amendment, 2011.
- ICA HQ: Brussels, Belgium [S4].
- Art. 43B is a DPSP, not a Fundamental Right.
- Cooperatives are State subject (Entry 32, List II).
- NCEL exports 13.77 LMT worth ₹5,556 crore to 28 countries [S1].
- National Cooperation Policy launched 24 July 2025 [S2].
8. Mains Relevance
- GS-II: Government policies — "Role of cooperatives in achieving inclusive growth: critically examine the National Cooperation Policy 2025."
- GS-III: Agriculture & rural economy — "Discuss how PACS computerisation and multipurpose PACS can transform rural credit delivery in India."
- GS-III: Economy — "NCEL has been hailed as the 'Amul of exports'. Assess its potential and limitations in the context of IYC 2025."
9. Related Topics to Study Next
- 97th Constitutional Amendment & Art. 43B — statutory backbone of coops.
- Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 — governance, transparency reforms.
- Amul / Operation Flood / Verghese Kurien — historical model behind Tribhuvan Sahkari University.
- PACS, FPOs, SHGs (DAY-NRLM) — last-mile rural institutions.
- White Revolution 2.0 (2024) — dairy coops linkage.
- Sahakar se Samriddhi mission — umbrella for coop reforms.
- SC ruling Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah (2021) — federal limits on Part IXB.
- SDGs 2030 — IYC explicitly linked [S4].
10. Common Errors / Trap Areas
- IYC 2025 is a UN observance; India is host, not declarer.
- Ministry of Cooperation ≠ Ministry of Agriculture; it was carved out in 2021.
- Art. 43B is DPSP (not Fundamental Right); right to form coops is under Art. 19(1)(c).
- Cooperatives are State subject; Union legislates only on multi-state coops.
- Don't confuse NCEL (exports), NCOL (organics), BBSSL (seeds) — three different 2023 apex coops.
- Previous IYC was 2012, not 2014 or 2020.
- Tribhuvan Sahkari University is at Anand, Gujarat (not Delhi/Pune).
11. Sources
- [S1] International Year of Cooperatives 2025 — PIB Backgrounder, 18 Jan 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215759 — (tier 1)
- [S2] Amit Shah inaugural address, IYC 2025, Mumbai — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2095982 — (tier 1)
- [S3] UN General Assembly announces launch of 2025 International Year of Cooperatives — https://www.un.org/en/desa/cooperatives-launch-2025-international-year — (tier 2)
- [S4] UN International Year of Cooperatives — UN DESA DISD — https://social.desa.un.org/issues/cooperatives/un-international-year-of-cooperatives — (tier 2)