National Cooperation Policy 2025: A Roadmap For Inclusive, Technology-Driven Cooperative Growth

On Thursday (24 July 2025), the Union Home and Cooperation Minister officially dedicated the much-anticipated National Cooperation Policy (NCP) 2025 to the nation.

The policy forms a comprehensive, realistic, and inclusive framework to realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of Sahakar-se-Samriddhi (prosperity through cooperation).

Cooperatives, vital grassroots collectives, empower communities by supporting artisans, farmers, and small entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to India’s socio-economic development.

The NCP emphasises holistic development through inclusivity, socio-economic accountability, and transparency. It lays out the vision, mission, goals, and strategies for sustainable cooperative growth while building a strong legal, institutional, and operational foundation.

This policy aligns with India’s ambition to become a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat, by 2047. It fosters cooperation, collaboration, and shared responsibility among diverse sectors and stakeholders.

Cooperatives possess immense potential to become globally competitive entrepreneurial entities.

The policy advocates effective leadership, competitive strength, and professional management within cooperatives to guarantee quality and customer satisfaction.

Community involvement and modern technology integration are crucial to making cooperatives resilient, business-savvy, and future-ready. A transparent and accountable framework will promote professionalism in cooperative governance.

The NCP recognises the right to form cooperative societies under the Indian Constitution and calls for rapid sectoral transformation. It seeks to deepen and diversify the cooperative ecosystem, promote youth and women’s participation, and enable cooperatives to evolve into technology-enabled, vibrant business entities.

The policy highlights core cooperative values such as voluntary participation, democratic decision-making, autonomy, equity, and solidarity.

Reforms to Expand the Cooperative Movement

The policy outlines short, medium, and long-term reforms to boost the cooperative movement. These reforms require coordinated efforts with state and union territory governments to harmonise cooperative laws and regulations.

Key goals include enhancing autonomy, promoting transparency and governance, and broadening participation from women, youth, artisans, and disadvantaged groups.

To maintain active membership while upholding cooperative principles, the NCP encourages the formation of cooperatives in emerging sectors like solar energy, organic farming, drone services, AI-driven crop management, e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, and waste management.

The policy aims to support cooperatives in developing customised plans for growth in these innovative fields.

While the NCP was developed through broad stakeholder consultation, ongoing discussions are essential for detailed action plans and governance reforms.

Addressing challenges faced by cooperatives in a changing economic landscape will help them become competitive, profitable, and sustainable enterprises.

The National Cooperation Policy 2025 stands as a strategic enabler for India’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.

It aims to transform cooperatives into engines of sustainable, technology-driven, community-led growth. Through active collaboration with states and UTs, the policy seeks to remove existing barriers, promote professionalism, ensure ease of doing business, and achieve full digitisation.

These efforts will contribute significantly to India’s GDP during Amrit Kaal (2025–2047), fulfilling the Prime Minister’s call for inclusive development under Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas, and Sabka Vishwas.

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