Maharashtra Cooperative Sector Statistical Overview and Government Initiatives
As of July 15, 2026, Maharashtra contains 227,177 cooperative societies across 28 sectors, according to the National Cooperative Database. The sector-wise breakdown shows Housing Cooperative Societies dominate with 127,783 primary societies, followed by Credit & Thrift Societies (21,036), PACS/LAMPS/FSS (21,257), Dairy Cooperatives (13,709), and Labour Cooperatives (11,555). The state has 138 district federations and 16 state federations distributed across various sectors including Agriculture & Allied (3,598 societies), Agro-Processing/Industrial (5,587), Consumer Cooperatives (2,032), and Fisheries (3,539 societies).
The Government of India's Central Sector project for Computerization of PACS, launched in 2022, has been expanded from covering 63,000 to 79,630 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies with a revised financial outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore (increased from initial ₹2,516 crore). The project aims to bring all functional PACS onto a common ERP-based national software and link them with NABARD through State Cooperative Banks and District Central Cooperative Banks. In Maharashtra, 12,178 PACS have been sanctioned under this project, with financial assistance of ₹29.14 crore provided - ₹9.14 crore during FY 2025-26 and ₹20.00 crore in FY 2026-27.
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has cumulatively disbursed ₹34,161.54 crore for cooperative sector development in Maharashtra as of June 30, 2026. The year-wise disbursement shows ₹688.07 crore in 2021-22, ₹751.15 crore in 2022-23, ₹2,101.42 crore in 2023-24, ₹7,764.51 crore in 2024-25, ₹5,100.79 crore in 2025-26, and ₹317.11 crore in 2026-27 (as of 30.06.2026). The sugar sector received the majority of funding with disbursements ranging from ₹653.84 crore to ₹7,617.50 crore annually, while other significant allocations went to C, IC & SC activities (₹7.70-₹81.06 crore), fisheries (₹0.10-₹14.09 crore), and FPOs (₹0.36-₹4.34 crore).
The Ministry of Cooperation has implemented multiple initiatives since its inception on July 6, 2021, including Model Bye-laws enabling PACS to undertake over 25 business activities such as operating as PM-Kisan Samridhi Kendras, Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras, and Common Service Centres. The Cooperative-led White Revolution 2.0 aims to increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over five years. Significant tax measures include clarifying that cooperative sugar mills are not liable for additional income tax on higher sugarcane prices paid up to Fair and Remunerative or State Advised Price (effective April 2016), and allowing sugar cooperatives to claim payments made to sugarcane farmers before AY 2016-17 as expenditure, providing relief exceeding ₹46,000 crore. Additional support includes ₹1,000 crore released to NCDC for ethanol plants, cogeneration plants, and working capital, which has disbursed ₹10,005 crore to 56 cooperative sugar mills. The Ethanol Blending Programme now treats cooperative sugar mills equally with private companies, while GST on molasses was reduced from 28% to 5% to increase margins for cooperative sugar mills. Indian Potash Limited has initiated revival of closed cooperative sugar mills on the Ministry's suggestion.