Parliament Passes Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025

Why in the News ?

The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 has been passed by Parliament, establishing the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) as a nationally significant university focused on cooperative sector education, research, and development to achieve global excellence.

Objective and Key Provisions of the Bill:

  • The Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 establishes the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) as Tribhuvan Sahkari University, recognizing it as an institution of national importance.
  • It aims to provide technical and management education, training, and cooperative sector research to achieve global excellence under the vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi.”
  • The Bill intends to strengthen the cooperative movement through a network of institutions and make IRMA a School of the University.

Government’s Vision and Initiatives:

  • Minister of State for Cooperation, Murlidhar Mohol, highlighted initiatives to empower the Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), setting a target to increase PACS from 1 lakh to 3 lakh in five years.
  • The government’s efforts to boost the cooperative sector have resulted in a tenfold increase in budget allocation from ₹122 crore in 2013-14 to ₹1,190 crore in 2025-26.
  • The rural economy is seen as crucial to India’s vision of becoming the third-largest economy by 2047.

Opposition’s Concerns and Support from Members

  • Opposition members criticized the Bill for potential centralization of cooperatives and lack of timely cooperative elections.
  • Digvijaya Singh (Congress) accused the government of corporatizing cooperatives and neglecting constitutional provisions.
  • Ashok Kumar Mittal (AAP) and Indu Bala Goswami (BJP) supported the Bill, emphasizing its importance in promoting cooperative education and development.
  • Subhasish Khuntia (BJD) expressed concerns about central control over cooperatives, while Ayodhya Rami Reddy (YSRCP) praised the focus on education, training, and research in the cooperative sector.
  • The Bill received support from various members, highlighting its potential to strengthen cooperative education and research.

Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 – Key Highlights

●      India’s First National Cooperative University: Established in Gujarat, named after Amul founder Tribhuvan Kashibhai Patel.

●      Educational Scope: Offers degree, diploma, and PhD courses to train 8 lakh people annually.

●      Registration: Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

●      Addressing Gaps: Fills training gaps in cooperative sector education by institutions like NCDC and NCUI.

●      Cooperative Sector: Member-owned organizations promoting rural development and financial inclusion.

●      Legal Framework: Governed by Cooperative Societies Act, 1912 and Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

●      Constitutional Status: The 97th Amendment Act, 2011 made forming cooperative societies a Fundamental Right.

●      Reforms: MSCS (Amendment) Act, 2023 improves governance and transparency in multi-state cooperatives.