The Ministry of Cooperation provided an update on cooperative societies development and digitalization initiatives across India. As of July 15, 2026, Bhagalpur District in Bihar State has 788 cooperative societies, with 728 being functional.
PACS Computerization Project
The Government launched the Central Sector Project for Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in 2022 with an increased financial outlay of ₹2,925.39 crore, covering 79,630 PACS. The project aims to bring functional PACS onto an ERP-based common national software and link them with NABARD through State Cooperative Banks and District Central Cooperative Banks.
As of July 15, 2026, hardware has been delivered to 65,875 PACS and 63,686 have been onboarded onto the ERP system nationwide. Maharashtra leads with 12,000 hardware deliveries and 12,033 ERP onboardings, followed by Gujarat (5,754 hardware, 5,760 ERP) and Rajasthan (6,781 hardware, 6,933 ERP). Odisha shows zero progress in both categories.
New Cooperative Societies Initiative
The Government approved a plan on February 15, 2023, to establish new multipurpose PACS/dairy/fisheries cooperatives covering all panchayats and villages over five years. As of July 15, 2026, 38,138 new PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies have been registered nationwide, and 21,292 Dairy and Fisheries Cooperative Societies have been strengthened.
Financial Allocation
The total central share released under the PACS Computerization project stands at ₹1,143.11 crore as of 2026-27. Maharashtra received the highest allocation (₹150.73 crore), followed by Gujarat (₹94.86 crore) and Rajasthan (₹92.83 crore). The funding distribution across years shows ₹495 crore in 2022-23, ₹298.63 crore in 2023-24, ₹130.54 crore in 2024-25, ₹134.52 crore in 2025-26, and ₹84.43 crore in 2026-27, with an additional ₹165.92 crore allocated to NABARD.
Ministry Initiatives
Since its inception on July 6, 2021, the Ministry of Cooperation has undertaken several digitalization initiatives including computerization of the Central Registrar's Office, Registrar of Cooperative Societies offices in States/UTs under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, computerization of PACS, and computerization of Agriculture and Rural Development Banks.