Parliament has passed the NCDC (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening India's cooperative sector and expanding the financial role of the National Co-operative Development Corporation.
The Rajya Sabha approved the Bill on Wednesday after the Lok Sabha had already passed it.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Parliament has passed the NCDC Amendment Bill, 2026. Rajya Sabha approved the Bill on August 12.
Lok Sabha had already passed it. NCDC can undertake activities involving industrial goods.
It can provide loans and grants directly to eligible cooperative societies and entities.
India has more than 8 lakh cooperative societies and around 30 crore members, according to the minister. Around 80,000 PACS are being computerised.
Tribhuvan Sahkari University is expected to train around 17 lakh young people over five years.
Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol moved the legislation, which seeks to amend the National Co-operative Development Corporation Act, 1962.
The amended framework allows NCDC to undertake activities related to industrial goods. It also enables state governments to extend NCDC funding to entities involved in cooperative development.
Another key provision allows NCDC to provide loans and grants directly to cooperative societies and other entities engaged in cooperative development.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The legislation could give cooperative societies greater access to institutional finance and expand the areas in which NCDC can support cooperative development. For farmers and rural communities, stronger cooperatives can improve access to credit, markets, processing facilities and other economic activities.
Replying to the discussion, Mohol said the legislation would strengthen the economic empowerment of farmers and support the organised development of the cooperative sector.
The Minister said NCDC was established to provide financial assistance for the sustained development of cooperatives.
According to figures cited by him, NCDC provided around ₹45,000 crore in financial assistance between its establishment in 1963 and 2014. Since 2014, he said, assistance has increased to around ₹4 lakh crore.
Mohol also highlighted the scale of India's cooperative network, saying the country has more than 8 lakh cooperative societies with around 30 crore members.
