17 February 2026·PIB

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah today held a Manthan Meeting in Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, with the Cooperation Ministers of all States and Union Territories

In this note

1. At a Glance

Manthan Meeting = a national conclave of Cooperation Ministers of all States/UTs chaired by Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah at Gandhinagar, Gujarat, themed "Sahkar se Samriddhi" [1][2].
Forum for Centre–State coordination on the cooperative agenda toward Viksit Bharat @ 2047, with focus on PACS expansion, grain storage, and new apex cooperative bodies (NCEL, NCOL, BBSSL) [1][2].
Demonstrates use of cooperative federalism since cooperation is a State subject (Entry 32, State List, Schedule VII) — important for GS-II/III.

Held in Gandhinagar (Mahatma Mandir) to deliberate the role of cooperatives in making India a "fully developed nation by 2047" [1].
Shah inaugurated/laid foundation of projects worth ₹265 crore spanning ethanol, energy, organic potash, warehouses, protein-powder plants; released a report on best cooperative practices linked to the UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 [1][2].
States directed to focus on three priorities: food-grain storage, circularity, and "Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives" [1].

Ministry of Cooperation created on 6 July 2021, carved out of Ministry of Agriculture, to fulfil "Sahkar se Samriddhi" vision [1].
97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 — inserted Article 43B (DPSP: promotion of cooperatives) and Part IXB (Cooperative Societies); SC in Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah (2021) struck down Part IXB for multi-State scope without ratification [general constitutional context].
Earlier "Manthan Baithak" held in New Delhi (30 June 2025) to mark UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 [3].
World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector — Cabinet-approved 31 May 2023; IMC chaired by Union Cooperation Minister [4].

Chair: Shri Amit Shah, Union Home & Cooperation Minister [1].
Venue: Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat [2].
Theme: Sahkar se Samriddhi [2].
Participants: Cooperation Ministers of all States and UTs [1].
New apex bodies discussed:
NCEL — National Cooperative Exports Ltd [2].
NCOL — National Cooperative Organics Ltd [2].
BBSSL — Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd (seeds) [2].
Target: 2 lakh new multipurpose PACS, dairy & fisheries cooperative societies [2].
Storage goal: Food-grain storage to be raised nearly threefold; two-thirds of expansion via cooperative sector [1][2].
Projects launched (₹265 cr): ethanol, energy, organic potash, warehouses, protein-powder plants [1].

Economic

Cooperative-led warehousing intended to reduce post-harvest losses, stabilise prices, and improve farmer market access [2].
PACS multi-purposing (CSC, FPO, LPG, petrol pumps, jan aushadhi) expands rural livelihood base [2].

Administrative / Federal

Cooperation is a State subject (Entry 32, List II); Centre uses persuasive coordination via Manthan Meetings rather than legislation.
Joint execution via district cooperative banks, state marketing federations, tehsil-level dairies to share storage burden beyond PACS alone [1].

Social

"Fully developed India" reframed as 140 crore citizens living with dignity, not mere GDP metrics — equity framing [1].
Aligns with UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 for inclusive rural growth [3].

Environmental / Circularity

States nudged toward circular economy within cooperatives (ethanol, organic potash, bio-inputs) [1].

30 June 2025: Manthan Baithak in New Delhi commemorating UN IYC 2025 [3].
2025: UN-declared International Year of Cooperatives [3].
Gandhinagar Manthan Meeting held in 2026 with all State/UT Cooperation Ministers [1][2].
NCEL, NCOL, BBSSL — operational rollout deepened with State participation discussed [2].

Ministry of Cooperation established 6 July 2021 [1].
Article 43B (DPSP) & Part IXB added by 97th CAA, 2011.
"Sahkar se Samriddhi" is the official slogan of the Ministry of Cooperation [2].
NCEL = Exports; NCOL = Organics; BBSSL = Seeds — all are Multi-State Cooperative Societies [2].
Target: 2 lakh new multipurpose PACS [2].
World's Largest Grain Storage Plan is in the Cooperative Sector, anchored on PACS [4].
IMC for Grain Storage Plan chaired by Union Cooperation Minister [4].
Storage capacity to be raised ~threefold, with 2/3 via cooperatives [1].
Manthan Meeting held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar [2].
Cooperation is Entry 32, State List, Seventh Schedule.
2025 = UN International Year of Cooperatives [3].
Three thrust areas: storage, circularity, Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives [1].

GS-II: Cooperative federalism; Centre–State relations on State-List subjects.
GS-III: Agriculture marketing, food-grain storage, rural economy, cooperatives.
Possible stems: 1. "Cooperatives can be the third pillar of India's rural economy after agriculture and MSMEs." Discuss in light of recent Ministry of Cooperation initiatives. 2. Examine the institutional architecture (NCEL/NCOL/BBSSL, multipurpose PACS) being built to operationalise 'Sahkar se Samriddhi'. 3. Cooperation is a State subject yet the Centre drives reform. Critically analyse the federal implications.

97th Constitutional Amendment & Rajendra N. Shah judgment — constitutional limits on Centre.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 — governance reform.
PACS computerisation project — ₹2,516 cr scheme.
World's Largest Grain Storage Plan — convergence of AIF, AMI, SMAM with PACS.
NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation) — statutory body, 1963.
AMUL / IFFCO / KRIBHCO — flagship cooperative case studies.
UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 — global frame.
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) — comparison with cooperatives.

Ministry of Cooperation ≠ Ministry of Agriculture — separate since 2021.
Cooperation is a State subject, but multi-state cooperatives fall under the Union (Entry 44, List I).
Article 43B is a DPSP, not a Fundamental Right.
BBSSL = Seeds, not "Bharatiya Bachat" or banking — easy to confuse.
Grain storage plan is cooperative-sector-anchored, distinct from FCI godowns or PEG scheme.
UN IYC is 2025, not 2012 (2012 was the first IYC).