Maharashtra Cooperative Sector Overview
As of July 15, 2026, Maharashtra contains 227,177 cooperative societies according to the National Cooperative Database. The sector breakdown shows Housing Cooperative Societies dominate with 127,783 entities, followed by Credit & Thrift Societies (21,036), Dairy Cooperatives (13,709), and Labour Cooperatives (11,555). The state also has 138 District Federations and 16 State Federations across various sectors.
PACS Computerization Initiative
The 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 (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 in FY 2025-26 and ₹20.00 crore in FY 2026-27.
NCDC Funding Support
The National Cooperative Development Corporation has cumulatively disbursed ₹34,161.54 crore for cooperative sector development in Maharashtra as of June 30, 2026. Recent annual disbursements show significant funding: ₹688.07 crore (2021-22), ₹751.15 crore (2022-23), ₹2,101.42 crore (2023-24), ₹7,764.51 crore (2024-25), and ₹5,100.79 crore (2025-26). The current fiscal year (2026-27) has seen ₹317.11 crore disbursed as of June 30, 2026. The sugar sector received the majority of funding across these years.
Ministry of Cooperation Initiatives
Since its inception on July 6, 2021, the Ministry has implemented multiple initiatives including Model Bye-laws enabling PACS to undertake more than 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 while expanding coverage and promoting women's empowerment.
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 pre-AY 2016-17 payments to sugarcane farmers as expenditure, providing relief exceeding ₹46,000 crore.
The Ministry released ₹1,000 crore to NCDC for a scheme supporting ethanol plants, cogeneration plants, and working capital, resulting in ₹10,005 crore disbursed to 56 cooperative sugar mills. Additional support includes bringing cooperative sugar mills at par with private companies for ethanol procurement under the Ethanol Blending Programme, reducing GST on molasses from 28% to 5%, and initiatives to revive closed cooperative sugar mills through Indian Potash Limited.