India pursues a comprehensive digital shift in its cooperative banking sector, emphasising shared platforms, cyber security, and enhanced market access for organic products and exports. The roadmap includes Sahakar Sarathi and NUCFDC initiatives to unify urban and rural cooperatives, expand e-KYC and AePS services, and strengthen global market linkages.
India
-Oneindia Staff
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired a series of high-level review meetings in New Delhi to assess the national roadmap aimed at strengthening the cooperative banking ecosystem, promoting organic products through cooperatives and expanding the global reach of cooperative exports.
The meetings focused on accelerating technology adoption in cooperative banks, improving cyber security frameworks, enhancing digital payment systems and building stronger market linkages for cooperative products in India and abroad. Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar, Secretary of the Ministry of Cooperation Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, NABARD Chairman Shaji K.V., senior ministry officials and representatives of major cooperative institutions, including the proposed Cooperative Bank of India (COBI), Sahakar Sarathi Private Limited (SSPL), National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation (NUCFDC), National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL), attended the meetings.
India pursues a comprehensive digital shift in its cooperative banking sector, emphasising shared platforms, cyber security, and enhanced market access for organic products and exports. The roadmap includes Sahakar Sarathi and NUCFDC initiatives to unify urban and rural cooperatives, expand e-KYC and AePS services, and strengthen global market linkages.
During the review, Amit Shah emphasized the need for cooperative banks to quickly adopt shared digital platforms, cyber security systems and common banking services. He said rural cooperative banks should integrate with ‘Sahkar Sarathi’, while urban cooperative banks should become members of NUCFDC to strengthen the cooperative banking network.
The meeting reviewed the progress of technology-driven initiatives launched by Sahakar Sarathi for cooperative banks. Officials noted that cooperative banks are showing encouraging participation in adopting common digital platforms and shared services. The government also reviewed the progress of ‘Bank.in’, a dedicated banking domain initiative for cooperative banks, aimed at improving digital infrastructure and expanding technology-enabled banking services across the sector.
AI-Based Cyber Security to Strengthen Fraud Detection
Amit Shah also reviewed the integration of MuleHunter.AI with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C). The initiative is expected to strengthen fraud risk management and improve cyber security preparedness within cooperative banks against emerging digital threats.
Officials informed the meeting that Sahakar Sarathi has already launched AePS services and e-KYC facilities in select cooperative banks. The government has set a target to expand these services to 100 cooperative banks by August 2026. The Home Minister stressed that robust cyber security systems, modern banking technologies and sustainable business models are essential for the long-term growth of the cooperative banking sector.
NUCFDC Expanding Common Platform for Urban Cooperative Banks
The meeting also reviewed the work being carried out by NUCFDC, the umbrella organisation for Urban Cooperative Banks. The institution is working to bring all urban cooperative banks onto a common platform to provide technological solutions, institutional support and shared services. According to officials, the move will strengthen operational efficiency and improve access to digital banking infrastructure across the cooperative banking ecosystem.
Push to Organic Farming and Cooperative Exports
In a separate review meeting, Amit Shah assessed the activities and future roadmap of National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) and National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL). The discussions focused on membership expansion, business development, procurement and marketing of organic produce, strengthening the cooperative export ecosystem and identifying future growth opportunities in domestic and international markets.
Amit Shah directed NCOL to expand procurement operations and connect with a larger number of organic farmers across the country. He also stressed the need for testing, certification, quality assurance and market support to strengthen the organic farming ecosystem. Officials said NCOL will work on building stronger market linkages so that farmers can access better and more remunerative markets for organic produce.
Cooperative Products to Get Global Market Access
The review of NCEL focused on enhancing exports of cooperative products and increasing their competitiveness in global markets. The government asked NCEL to actively identify export opportunities for niche and value-added cooperative products and strengthen engagement with member cooperatives.
Amit Shah also reviewed plans for the expansion of ‘Co-op Mark’, a digital marketplace initiative aimed at giving cooperative products stronger branding, wider market access and improved visibility internationally. The Ministry of Cooperation reiterated its commitment to strengthening the cooperative sector in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahakar Se Samriddhi”, with a focus on innovation, financial inclusion, digital transformation, sustainable agriculture and better market opportunities for farmers.
