Cooperative Sector Development Department

The Co-operative Sector Development Department has been established in NABARD on 08 April 2024 to drive the transformation and modernization of the Cooperative Sector in India. The department is presently vested mainly with the implementation of the Centrally Sponsored Project for Computerisation of PACS (CSPCP) and Centrally Sponsored Project for Computerisation of ARDBs (CSPCA).

1. Computerization of Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS):

On 29 June 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of the Government of India (GoI) approved the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Computerization of PACS with the objective of increasing efficiency, bringing transparency and accountability in their operations, facilitating diversification of their business.

The project envisages computerization of 67930 PACS by 31 March 2027. Further, GoI has approved the inclusion of 11,700 additional PACS along with an additional amount of ? 409 Cr and advised the States/UTs to take the necessary steps to identify additional PACS in accordance with project guidelines.

With the digitization of PACS, all three tiers of the cooperative structure will be digitalized. This will also pave the way for seamless integration of PACS with the Core Banking Solution (CBS) of State Co-operative Banks (StCB) and District Co-operative Central Bank (DCCB).

2. Computerisation of Agriculture & Rural Development Banks (ARDBs):

Ministry of Cooperation (MoC), Government of India vide orders dated 16 November 2023 has issued guidelines for the computerization of Agri and Rural Development Banks (ADRBs) under which 1867 units of the ARDBs in the 11 states and 02 UTs by 31 March 2026.

NABARD is the implementing agency for the computerisation of ARDBs in 13 states with 1867 units i.e. SCARDB branches, supervisory units, PCARDBs and PCARDB branches in all.

The project has been sanctioned in 10 States/UTs with 1422 units. The states of Kerala and West Bengal are yet to submit the proposal under the project, UT of J&K has withdrawn from the project citing that ARDBs are financially unviable.

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Information under RTI – Section 4(1)(b)