Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, commends Saraswat Cooperative Bank and Amul for crossing ₹1 lakh crore annual turnover in 2025–26

1. At a Glance

• Saraswat Cooperative Bank (urban cooperative bank) and Amul/GCMMF (dairy cooperative) each crossed ₹1 lakh crore annual turnover in FY 2025–26, a first for both the cooperative banking and dairy sectors [S1][S2].
• Hailed by Union Home & Cooperation Minister Amit Shah as a milestone for the "Sahkar se Samriddhi" vision and Atmanirbhar Bharat [S1][S2].
• Relevant for UPSC under cooperative federalism, rural economy, dairy/financial inclusion, and the new Ministry of Cooperation (est. 2021) [S3].

2. Why in the News

• 7 April 2026: PIB release; Amit Shah's X post congratulating both institutions on crossing ₹1 lakh crore turnover in FY 2025–26 [S1][S2].

3. Background & Evolution

• Saraswat Cooperative Bank: Founded 1918 in Bombay; India's largest urban cooperative bank (UCB), regulated by RBI under Banking Regulation Act.
• Amul (Anand Milk Union Ltd.): Roots in Kheda District Milk Union (1946) under Sardar Patel & Tribhuvandas Patel; Verghese Kurien spearheaded the White Revolution [S4].
• GCMMF (apex marketing body of Amul) formed 1973; celebrated Golden Jubilee in 2023 [S5].
• Operation Flood launched 1970 by NDDB, replicating the Anand pattern nationally; made India the world's largest milk producer [S4].
• Ministry of Cooperation carved out from Ministry of Agriculture on 6 July 2021; Amit Shah became the first Cooperation Minister [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Cooperation (created 2021) [S3].
• Motto: Sahkar se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation) [S3].
• Saraswat Bank: Headquartered in Mumbai; multi-state scheduled UCB; regulated by RBI (under Banking Regulation Act, 1949 as applicable to cooperative societies, amended 2020).
• Amul/GCMMF: HQ Anand, Gujarat; apex of 3-tier Anand model (village DCS → district unions → state federation); Anand handling capacity ~50 million litres/day [S6].
• Constitutional basis of cooperatives: 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 — inserted Article 43B (DPSP) and Part IX-B (Arts. 243-ZH to 243-ZT) on cooperative societies.
• Enabling laws: Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (amended 2023); state Cooperative Societies Acts.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Demonstrates that cooperatives can scale to corporate-sized turnover (₹1 lakh crore ≈ US$12 bn) [S1]. - Amul aggregates ~3.6 crore+ farmers indirectly through unions — boosts rural incomes and dairy GDP (dairy is the single largest agri-commodity in India).

Social - Cooperative model channels surplus to small/marginal farmers and low-income depositors, advancing inclusive growth. - Strong women SHG participation in village dairy cooperatives.

Administrative / Governance - Validates the rationale for the separate Ministry of Cooperation (2021): focused policy push for 2 lakh new PACS, computerisation, and National Cooperation Policy [S3][S7]. - Federal sensitivity: cooperation is a State subject (Entry 32, List II) — Union role is facilitative.

Legal / Constitutional - 97th Amendment: SC in Union of India v. Rajendra N. Shah (2021) struck down Part IX-B as it applied to state cooperative societies (lacked state ratification) but upheld it for multi-state societies.

Historical - Continuum from Sardar Patel's Kheda union (1946) to Operation Flood (1970) to GCMMF golden jubilee (2023) to the ₹1 lakh crore mark (2025–26) [S4][S5].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• April 2026: Saraswat Bank and Amul cross ₹1 lakh crore turnover; Amit Shah's commendation [S1][S2].
• 2025: Ministry of Cooperation completed 4 years; event at Anand, Gujarat addressed by Amit Shah [S7].
• Ongoing PACS computerisation (~63,000 PACS), formation of 3 new multi-state cooperatives: Bharatiya Beej Sahkari Samiti (BBSSL), National Cooperative Organics Ltd. (NCOL), National Cooperative Exports Ltd. (NCEL) — GCMMF a promoter of NCEL [S3].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Ministry of Cooperation created on 6 July 2021; first Minister: Amit Shah [S3].
• 97th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2011 inserted Article 43B and Part IX-B.
• Article 43B: promotion of cooperative societies (DPSP).
• Operation Flood (1970) — launched by NDDB under Verghese Kurien; HQ Anand.
• GCMMF = marketing federation of Amul, est. 1973, Golden Jubilee in 2023 [S5].
• Saraswat Cooperative Bank — founded 1918; India's largest Urban Cooperative Bank.
• UCBs regulated by RBI since amendment of Banking Regulation Act in 2020.
• Three new multi-state co-ops: BBSSL, NCOL, NCEL [S3].
• Anand 3-tier model: village society → district union → state federation [S4].
• Cooperation is a State subject under Entry 32, List II of 7th Schedule.
• Amul/GCMMF and Saraswat Bank each crossed ₹1 lakh crore turnover in FY 2025–26 [S1][S2].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies — Ministry of Cooperation, federalism (State subject).
• GS-III: Indian economy — agriculture marketing, dairy, financial inclusion, cooperative banking.
• Plausible question stems: 1. "The success of Amul and Saraswat Cooperative Bank illustrates that cooperatives can be competitive at scale. Discuss in the context of 'Sahkar se Samriddhi'." 2. "Examine the rationale for a separate Ministry of Cooperation and the reforms it has undertaken since 2021." 3. "Critically evaluate the constitutional framework for cooperative societies in India in light of the 97th Amendment and the Rajendra N. Shah judgment."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Operation Flood & White Revolution — direct lineage of Amul.
• 97th Constitutional Amendment & Rajendra N. Shah case (2021) — legal status of cooperatives.
• PACS computerisation scheme — flagship of Ministry of Cooperation.
• NCEL, NCOL, BBSSL — three new multi-state cooperatives.
• Urban Cooperative Banks & RBI regulation (post-2020 BR Act amendment) — relates to Saraswat Bank.
• NDDB & National Dairy Plan — institutional backbone of dairy.
• Rashtriya Sahakari Vikas Nigam (NCDC) — financing arm under Ministry of Cooperation.
• Self-Reliant India / Atmanirbhar Bharat — political-economic frame referenced by HM [S1].

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong Ministry: Cooperation now under Ministry of Cooperation (2021), not Agriculture/Finance.
• Article confusion: Cooperative societies → Article 43B (DPSP) and Part IX-B; do not confuse with Article 19(1)(c) (right to form associations) — both are tested.
• Amul vs GCMMF: Amul is the brand; GCMMF is the marketing federation. Kaira Union (1946) is the original cooperative.
• UCB regulator: Post-2020, RBI has primary supervisory power over UCBs (dual control with Registrar of Cooperative Societies reduced).
• 97th Amendment: Part IX-B was struck down for state societies — still valid for multi-state societies (Rajendra N. Shah, 2021).
• Year of GCMMF founding (1973) vs Kheda Union (1946) vs Operation Flood (1970) — frequently jumbled.

11. Sources

• [S1] Union Home Minister... commends Saraswat Cooperative Bank and Amul... — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2249564 — (tier 1)
• [S2] HM Amit Shah congratulates Saraswat Bank and Amul on one lakh crore rupees annual turnover — https://www.newsonair.gov.in/hm-amit-shah-congratulates-saraswat-bank-and-amul-on-one-lakh-crore-rupees-annual-turnover/ — (tier 1, Prasar Bharati)
• [S3] Ministry of Cooperation: Year End Review 2024 — https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=2090873 — (tier 1)
• [S4] Amul 75th Foundation Year celebrations — https://www.pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1768520 — (tier 1)
• [S5] PM at Golden Jubilee celebration of GCMMF — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2007971 — (tier 1)
• [S6] India's Dairy Sector — PIB document — https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/sep/doc2025929650301.pdf — (tier 1)
• [S7] Amit Shah addresses 4 years of Ministry of Cooperation, Anand — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2142719 — (tier 1)