The Union Ministry of Cooperation will organise a two-day Zonal Review Conference in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on January 8 and 9, bringing together senior policymakers and cooperative administrators from across the country to assess progress and chart the future course of the cooperative movement.
The conference is aimed at reviewing the implementation of key cooperative sector initiatives undertaken by the Centre and States, while also deliberating on strategies to further strengthen, modernise and expand cooperatives in line with national development goals.
The inaugural session will be addressed by Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Government of India, who is expected to outline the Centre’s vision for a robust, technology-driven and inclusive cooperative ecosystem. Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas will join the inaugural session virtually, reflecting the active role of States in implementing cooperative reforms on the ground.
An overview of ongoing initiatives and policy interventions will be presented by the Joint Secretary of the Cooperative Training and Policy (CTP) Division, Ministry of Cooperation. The welcome address will be delivered by the Governance Secretary, Cooperative Department, Government of Rajasthan.
The conference will feature as many as 12 thematic sessions spread over two days. Senior officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, along with Secretaries and Registrars of Cooperative Societies from all States and Union Territories, will participate in detailed deliberations, making it a key platform for inter-state learning and coordination.
Discussions on the first day will focus on priority reform areas, including the computerisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Agricultural and Rural Development Banks (ARDBs), and offices of Registrars of Cooperative Societies. Sessions will also review the formation of new multipurpose PACS, dairy and fisheries cooperatives, and the progress of the world’s largest grain storage plan being implemented through the cooperative network.
Other important themes for day one include strengthening cooperative banking, expanding digital payments and doorstep banking services, enhancing membership of multi-state cooperatives, and reviewing progress under White Revolution 2.0.
On the second day, deliberations will centre on the revival and modernisation of PACS, development of model cooperative villages, promotion of cooperative-based startup ecosystems, and supply chain integration. Special focus will also be placed on cooperative development in the North-East and the sharing of best practices through “Sahkar Samvad.”
Sessions will further review outcomes of the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, along with discussions on media outreach and communication strategies to enhance public awareness and participation.
The Zonal Review Conference is expected to play a crucial role in aligning Centre-State efforts to make India’s cooperative sector more resilient, future-ready and inclusive.
