The Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department) has issued a Gazette notification announcing the promulgation of The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Regulation, 2025 (No. 5 of 2025) by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, under Article 240 of the Constitution.
The Regulation seeks to amend The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Co-operative Societies Regulation, 1973, with the objective of strengthening cooperative governance and ensuring equitable participation in cooperative societies.
The amendment introduces key changes to sections 6 and 41 of the principal Regulation. Under the new provision for Section 6, no member of a cooperative society, except the Government, shall hold more than one-fifth of the total subscribed share capital of that society.
This move aims to prevent the concentration of control and promote democratic functioning within cooperatives.
Additionally, the amendment to Section 41 stipulates that the rate of dividend declared by a society shall now be decided in the General Body meeting. However, it must comply with the mandatory allocation of funds towards the reserve fund under the same section and the Cooperative Education Fund under Section 43.
The Regulation extends to the entire Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and will come into force on a date to be notified by the Administrator in the Official Gazette.
