The Central-level Co-operative Election Authority (CEA) has successfully conducted more than 185 elections of Boards of Directors and Office Bearers for Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) across India, with 67 elections still in progress as of September 2025. The elections, which are critical to strengthening the cooperative governance framework, have seen active participation from societies spanning diverse sectors including agriculture, credit, and housing.
In September alone, 18 societies completed their electoral process, including notable examples such as Shantishwar Multi-State Cooperative Credit Society in Maharashtra and Kissan Mithra Multi-State Cooperative Society in Kerala. These elections mark an important step in enhancing democratic governance within cooperatives and ensuring that leadership positions are filled through transparent and accountable processes.
The CEA, constituted under Section 45(1) of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 (amended in 2023), is headquartered at the World Trade Centre in New Delhi. The authority currently comprises Devendra Kumar Singh as Chairperson, R.K. Gupta as Vice-Chairperson, and Smt. Monika Khanna serving as a temporary member representing women. Tasked with supervising elections and ensuring strict adherence to the MSCS Act, the CEA plays a pivotal role in safeguarding cooperative principles while modernizing election procedures.
The election process begins with societies submitting requests online through the Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies (CRCS) portal. Once approved, Returning Officers, typically District Magistrates, are appointed to conduct the elections impartially. The CEA also supervises the preparation of electoral rolls, monitors compliance with society bye-laws, and ensures that elections are conducted in accordance with the legal framework.
To align cooperative governance with the amended MSCS Act, the Authority actively engages with CEOs and major cooperative federations, including TRIFED, the National Cooperative Housing Federation, and KRIBHCO. Several key reforms have been introduced, such as restrictions on Central Government employees contesting elections, limitations on family nominations, clarifications on the voting rights of nominated directors, and stringent enforcement of election expense filings.
A major recent development is the implementation of the amended Banking Regulation Act, 1949, under which the maximum continuous tenure of directors of cooperative banks, excluding the Chairperson and Whole-time Directors, has been extended from eight years to ten years. Effective from 1st August 2025, the change introduced through Section 10A(2a)(i) aims to strengthen stability and continuity in governance.
The Returning Officers have also been directed to incorporate these instructions in their appointment orders to ensure transparent, free and fair elections.
In September 2025, the CEA also issued comprehensive guidelines for the appointment of election observers to further ensure transparency, fairness, and impartiality in the electoral process. These measures collectively strengthen the cooperative movement by fostering accountable leadership, curbing conflicts of interest, and promoting participatory governance among members.
With these initiatives, the CEA continues to reinforce democratic practices in the cooperative sector, paving the way for stronger, more accountable, and professionally managed Multi-State Cooperative Societies across India.
