The government’s ambitious plan to strengthen the cooperative sector has added 7,768 new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) across India since January 2021, but state-wise data reveals sharp regional contrasts. While states like Rajasthan and Odisha have driven the expansion, several others-including Kerala, Punjab, and Telangana-have added only a handful of new societies.
According to the National Cooperative Database (NCD), Rajasthan tops the chart with 1,968 new PACS in just four years, accounting for over a quarter of the nationwide total. Odisha follows with 1,540, showing a significant push in the eastern belt. Gujarat ranks third with 641 new societies, while the populous states of Uttar Pradesh (552) and Uttarakhand (550) also show robust growth. These states together account for nearly two-thirds of all new PACS created since 2021.
By contrast, progress has been far slower in some traditionally cooperative-strong regions. Kerala has added only three PACS, despite its long legacy in cooperative banking. Punjab and Telangana each recorded nine, while Tamil Nadu established 38. Union Territories such as Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, and Delhi reported no additions at all. This patchy expansion underscores uneven momentum in the government’s plan to ensure universal cooperative coverage.
The northeastern states, often seen as underserved in financial infrastructure, show mixed results. Meghalaya reported 276 new PACS, Assam 254, Tripura 202, and Arunachal Pradesh 127, reflecting an effort to strengthen grassroots institutions in remote areas. Nagaland (67) and Mizoram (47) added modest numbers, while Manipur managed 72. Jammu & Kashmir, another focus region, registered 166 new PACS.
In central India, Madhya Pradesh added 250, Chhattisgarh just eight, and Jharkhand 68-showing varied outcomes within the Hindi heartland. Maharashtra, with its vast cooperative network, added 234, while Haryana set up 46. Smaller states like Goa (26) and Sikkim (25) contributed moderately.
The data suggests that expansion has been strongest in states where rural outreach is central to livelihood strategies, while more industrialized or saturated cooperative markets have shown less urgency. Experts note that the disparity may also stem from differing state-level policies, administrative push, and local demand for multipurpose cooperatives.
With over 93% of Gram Panchayats now covered by PACS, the focus is shifting to filling gaps in dairy and fishery cooperatives, where coverage lags significantly. Yet, for PACS alone, the latest numbers underline a clear divide: while Rajasthan and Odisha have emerged as leaders in expansion, several states remain conspicuous laggards in meeting the government’s grassroots cooperative vision.
