Tribhuvan Sahkari University First Convocation
Union Minister of State for Cooperation and Civil Aviation Shri Murlidhar Mohol chaired the First Convocation of 'Tribhuvan' Sahkari University at Anand, Gujarat, where 302 students were conferred graduate degrees and 2 students were awarded PhD degrees from the university's first graduating batch. The university represents a historic initiative towards professional and academic strengthening of India's cooperative sector, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' and established under the leadership of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.
Institutional Background and Significance
'Tribhuvan' Sahkari University is built on the 45-year academic legacy of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA), which was accorded the status of an Institution of National Importance in 2025. IRMA has trained more than 18,000 persons through over 850 Management Development Programmes. The university aims to develop trained, skilled human resources for the cooperative sector, preparing future leaders, researchers and professional managers who will connect cooperation with modern management, technology and innovation.
Cooperative Sector Expansion and Initiatives
India's cooperative sector comprises more than 8.5 lakh cooperative societies with over 32 crore members, representing nearly half of the country's population. The Ministry of Cooperation, established in July 2021, has taken more than 140 important decisions during the past five years to expand, modernize and strengthen the cooperative sector. Key initiatives include making Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) multipurpose and economically viable, with a target to establish two lakh multipurpose PACS across the country over the next five years. Already, more than 35,000 societies have been formed and begun functioning.
Financial Support and Institutional Development
The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) provided unprecedented financial assistance to the cooperative sector, with nearly ₹4.5 lakh crore disbursed during the 11 years from 2014 to 2025, compared to approximately ₹55,000 crore provided from its establishment in 1963 until 2014. New institutions including National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL), and Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) have been established to provide farmers with an integrated 'seed to market' ecosystem.
Sectoral Expansion and Employment Projections
The cooperative model is expanding beyond traditional sectors into new areas including organic farming, seed production, tourism, storage, insurance, food processing and digital services. The sector will require more than 17 lakh trained youth in the coming years. Cooperative sugar mills are developing complete value chains encompassing sugar, ethanol, biogas and organic manure. The Bharat Taxi initiative, based on 'The Driver is the Owner' concept, presents a new model for the cooperative economy and is planned to expand to nearly 500 cities across the country over the next two years.
Dairy Sector Achievements and Reforms
Amul achieved a total turnover of ₹1 lakh crore in financial year 2025-26, with more than 36 lakh women associated with the organization. 'White Revolution 2.0' has been launched with the objective of increasing milk procurement by 50 percent over the next five years. Rules have been amended to ensure representation of women and weaker sections of society on Boards of Directors of cooperative institutions. The National Cooperation Policy aims to make the cooperative sector modern, transparent, accountable and capable, with institutional reforms including establishment of Cooperative Election Authority and Cooperative Ombudsman.