The Ministry of Cooperation has expanded the National Cooperative Database (NCD) as a single-point information system for cooperative societies in India. The update matters because it combines sector-wise mapping, membership data, and implementation status for Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and their computerisation.
What the National Cooperative Database does
The Ministry of Cooperation, with support from States and Union Territories, has developed the NCD to provide one portal for cooperative-sector information. According to the Ministry, the database covers more than 8.5 lakh cooperative societies across 30 economic sectors and has information on about 30 crore members.
Data are collected and updated on the NCD portal by nodal officers appointed by States and Union Territories. The database is intended to support policy formulation, implementation, identification of uncovered or under-covered areas, ranking frameworks, and estimation of the cooperative sector's economic contribution.
PACS and M-PACS status
The Ministry also said that 10,225 M-PACS have been registered since the Government approved the establishment of new multipurpose PACS, dairy, and fisheries cooperative societies covering all Panchayats and villages on 15 February 2023. M-PACS are meant to broaden cooperative activity beyond credit and link local institutions with multiple livelihood functions.
Related current affairs
- Cooperative societies and PACS computerisation in Maharashtra (NCD updates; Central Sector project expansion)
- Central Sector Project for Computerization of PACS; new multipurpose cooperative PACS planned
- Digital technology push in cooperative sector under “Sahkar Se Samriddhi”
- Strengthening of cooperative societies in Odisha via PACS computerization and development initiatives
- Review of National Cooperation Policy (NCP), 2025: Committees and National Cooperative Database launched
- Central Assistance for Computerisation of PACS and Strengthening Cooperative Institutions in Karnataka