The Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Rabindra Kumar, has issued a notification introducing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NoCs) by Registrars of Cooperative Societies (RCS) in States and Union Territories.
The notification seeks to establish a transparent and uniform system for granting NoCs to multi-state cooperative societies by ensuring consistency across jurisdictions and tightening due diligence requirements.
Promoters and members will undergo mandatory verification, including KYC checks, proof of address and identity, and antecedent reports from the respective States. They must also submit undertakings confirming they are not engaged in money lending or defaulting on loans.
The SOP requires verification of at least 50 members from the concerned State/UT and directs RCS offices to ensure that no society with a similar name or sector is already registered. Multipurpose cooperatives involved in credit activities will also come under the same regulatory safeguards as credit societies.
The NoCs will carry strict conditions such as informing the RCS of any amendments in byelaws, obtaining prior permission before opening branches or changing names or addresses, and submitting contact details of all directors and promoters to both the RCS and the District Magistrate.
Timely reporting of elections and management changes, providing records for inspection under Section 108 of the Act, and displaying disclaimers of government accountability on society notice boards are also mandatory.
Under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act & Rules, 2002, societies engaged in credit or multipurpose activities must obtain an NoC from the concerned RCS before registration. Their area of operation at the time of registration will be limited to two contiguous States or UTs, in line with Rule 3(1)(f) of the MSCS Rules and the Ministry’s earlier circular dated September 19, 2025.
Signed by Rabindra Kumar, Additional Secretary & Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies, the circular is expected to bring greater transparency, accountability, and uniformity in the registration process of multi-state cooperatives.