The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has been asked to prepare a comprehensive 25-year roadmap, strengthen its financial autonomy and significantly expand lending to cooperatives, with Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah setting an ambitious disbursement target of Rs 4 lakh crore for 2030–31.
Chairing the 93rd meeting of NCDC’s General Council in New Delhi, Shah said the Corporation had delivered commendable results over nearly five years, marked by rising loan disbursements, improved profitability, expansion across all States and Union Territories, and zero net Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). He congratulated its officers and employees on the achievements but cautioned against complacency.
Shah called for a comprehensive review of NCDC’s institutional structure, resource mobilisation, financial autonomy, professional functioning and partnerships with cooperative institutions. He suggested constituting a group of experienced cooperators and professional experts, organising a workshop and convening a special meeting to deliberate on the proposed reforms.
Emphasising that cooperation must become an instrument of inclusive development, Shah said the objective was not merely to increase the number of cooperative institutions but to connect every citizen with the development process. He cited successful institutions such as Amul and IFFCO as examples of how cooperative values, combined with professional management, could create globally competitive organisations.
NCDC’s annual disbursements have increased nearly fivefold, from Rs 24,733 crore in 2020–21 to Rs 1,27,596 crore in 2025–26. During the latest financial year, it sanctioned projects worth Rs 1,55,408 crore and earned a net profit of Rs 1,475 crore. Its loan recovery rate stood at 99.84 per cent, while net NPA remained zero. The Corporation has cumulatively disbursed Rs 4,14,586 crore since the establishment of the Ministry of Cooperation up to 25 October 2026.
Shah called for disbursement targets of Rs 1.70 lakh crore in 2026–27, Rs 2.10 lakh crore in 2027–28 and Rs 2.50 lakh crore in 2028–29, followed by approximately Rs 3.50 lakh crore in 2029–30 and Rs 4 lakh crore in 2030–31. He urged NCDC to expand its financing capacity through consortium and co-financing arrangements with NABARD, State Cooperative Banks and commercial banks, particularly to meet the growing requirements of dairy cooperatives.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of grassroots initiatives. Financial assistance for approximately 100 deep-sea fishing trawlers, he said, could substantially improve the monthly incomes and future prospects of fishing families. He urged NCDC to develop similar projects that directly benefit small farmers, livestock rearers and fishermen.
For cooperative sugar mills, Shah advocated circular-economy business models involving common facilities for ethanol, CNG, chemicals and other value-added products. He also called for greater participation of young professionals trained under the Sahakar Mitra programme in new Multi-State Cooperative Societies.
Giving special attention to the Northeast, Shah directed NCDC offices to prepare practical projects aimed at making the region self-reliant in milk, eggs, fish and meat by 2030, in collaboration with State Governments.
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2026, has expanded avenues for financial assistance, equity participation and investment. The Centre has also approved Rs 2,000 crore in grant assistance to enable NCDC to mobilise Rs 20,000 crore from the market over four years.
NCDC’s Sahakar Navachar Yojana provides eligible cooperatives with grants of up to Rs 25 lakh for innovation and entrepreneurship. An initial corpus of Rs 10 crore has been established, and Rs 85 lakh has already been sanctioned to five institutions.
Shah also stressed professional management, digital capabilities and capacity building, expressing confidence that NCDC would play a greater role in rural prosperity, employment generation and the national vision of ‘Sahkar Se Samriddhi’.
