The 7th National Review Conference organised on April 9th and 10th, 2026 by the Ministry of Cooperation in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh focused on deepening sectoral reforms, strengthening institutional capacity and accelerating implementation across key cooperative verticals, including banking, dairy, financing ecosystems and emerging cooperative models. The deliberations reflected a shift towards execution, with emphasis on resolving operational bottlenecks and ensuring that policy initiatives translate into measurable outcomes on the ground.

Addressing the concluding session of this two day National review conference, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani emphasised that the next phase of reforms will be driven by effective execution at the field level, supported by improved coordination among stakeholders and timely utilisation of resources. He noted that while substantial progress has been made, there is a need to move beyond periodic reviews and ensure that implementation keeps pace with policy intent, particularly in areas where progress has been uneven. He further underlined that faster decision-making and stronger convergence between institutions will be essential to achieving tangible and sustained outcomes.

On PACS Computerisation and expansion, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani highlighted the importance of timely completion of ongoing phases and sustained momentum for future expansion under the broader PACS strengthening initiatives. He also emphasised the need for robust implementation mechanisms and continuous monitoring to ensure quality outcomes. He called for greater accountability and performance-based evaluation of implementation partners, along with strengthening institutional support systems to facilitate smooth rollout of initiatives. He further emphasised the importance of continuous training and capacity building, noting that systems must remain effective and sustainable beyond the lifecycle of specific schemes.

Reviewing progress under the grain storage initiative in the cooperative sector, the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation highlighted the need for time-bound implementation, effective coordination among agencies and innovative approaches to address operational challenges, including facilitation of land availability and streamlined processes. Similarly, on institutional strengthening, he emphasised the need to expand cooperative coverage across sectors such as dairy and fisheries, supported by capacity building, identification of gaps and targeted interventions. He also encouraged States to rationalise and strengthen cooperative structures, including addressing non-functional entities where required.

The Secretary further stressed the importance of business diversification of PACS, encouraging them to evolve into multi-service centres at the village level by adopting additional income-generating activities and expanding service offerings.

On cooperative banking, Dr. Bhutani highlighted the need for strengthening cyber security frameworks, adopting secure digital platforms and enhancing operational efficiency, to ensure that cooperative banks remain resilient and responsive to emerging financial needs. Highlighting the role of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), he emphasised its growing importance in providing timely and flexible financing support across sectors, and indicated continued efforts to further strengthen financing avenues for cooperative institutions.

On multi-state cooperative societies, the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation urged States to actively leverage available platforms and services, including those related to marketing, branding and quality inputs, to maximise benefits for cooperative members. In the dairy sector, he emphasised the need for strengthening cooperative structures and ensuring greater participation of farmers in value chains, so that the benefits of cooperative models are fully realised at the grassroots level. He also encouraged replication of successful and sustainable cooperative models across States.

Highlighting emerging cooperative-led digital initiatives, Dr. Bhutani referred to ‘Bharat Taxi’ and noted that despite strong competition from established private aggregators, the platform is steadily expanding its footprint. He informed that soft launches have been initiated in cities such as Lucknow, Mumbai and Nashik, and a national-level rollout is on the charts in the years to come, reflecting the growing acceptance of cooperative-based digital platforms.

Summarising the deliberations, the Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation observed that the conference has clearly identified priority areas for the next phase of reforms, including improving fund utilisation, strengthening cooperative banking systems, scaling up sectoral financing through NCDC support, promoting inter-cooperative collaboration and accelerating the implementation of dairy and allied sector initiatives. He emphasised that the next phase of growth will depend on how effectively institutions, resources and execution mechanisms are aligned at the grassroots level to deliver tangible benefits to cooperative members.

A key focus area of the conference was the diversification and modernisation of cooperative banking institutions, including District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), State Cooperative Banks (StCBs) and Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). The discussions highlighted the need to expand business portfolios, improve credit delivery through PACS and leverage digital platforms to enhance efficiency and outreach. Emphasis was also laid on balancing short-term and long-term lending, strengthening cyber security frameworks and adopting technology-driven solutions to make cooperative banks more competitive and responsive to emerging financial requirements.

The conference also featured a dedicated session by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), which outlined expanded financing opportunities across sectors such as Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), fisheries, sugar, food processing and deep-sea fishing activities. The session emphasised the importance of actively utilising available financial support and scaling up cooperative enterprises to generate sustainable livelihood opportunities and strengthen the cooperative ecosystem.

Deliberations on ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ focused on strengthening integration across institutions, including PACS, dairy cooperatives, federations and cooperative banks, to create efficient value chains and improve overall economic viability. In this context, discussions on White Revolution 2.0 highlighted the need to enhance milk procurement, strengthen dairy infrastructure and expand cooperative-led value chains, with active participation from States and leading dairy institutions.

A special session on best practices from States, particularly the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ framework from Uttar Pradesh, showcased district-level innovations and scalable cooperative models. The session highlighted how administrative convergence, institutional coordination and local leadership can drive effective implementation and measurable impact in the cooperative sector. The ‘Sahakar Samvad’ session further enabled interaction among successful cooperatives, Farmer Producer Organisations, federations and financial institutions, facilitating exchange of field-level experiences, operational challenges and innovative approaches.

A dedicated session on media and communication strategy highlighted the need to amplify positive narratives around cooperatives, strengthen public outreach and adopt a “perform and inform” approach to build awareness and trust.

The conference concluded with a shared commitment among the Centre, States and cooperative institutions to accelerate reforms, strengthen implementation frameworks and ensure that cooperative initiatives translate into meaningful and sustained outcomes for rural communities and the broader economy.