The Union Ministry of Cooperation organized an event to commemorate the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC) 2025. 

• This event focused on launching important initiatives for the development and revitalization of the cooperative sector in India.

Key Highlights of the Event

• National Cooperative Policy for 2025-2045: A National Cooperative Policy will be introduced soon, which will guide the cooperative sector from 2025 to 2045, marking India’s centenary of independence.
  • Each state will be required to prepare its own cooperative policy based on local needs and conditions, with a deadline of January 31, 2026, for state-level announcements.
• Replication of Gujarat Model:
  • The ‘Cooperation Amongst Cooperatives’ model, which has been successful in Gujarat, will be promoted across India. 
    • The aim is to strengthen the cooperative network at the national level.
• Progress on Key Initiatives:
• • The event discussed the progress of two lakh Multi-Purpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS), which are intended to strengthen the financial backbone of rural communities.
  • There was also a focus on the promotion of dairy and fisheries cooperatives, aimed at improving rural service delivery.
  • The implementation of the world’s largest grain storage scheme within the cooperative sector was also reviewed to ensure better storage and distribution of grains.

About UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025

• Launch and Proclamation: The UN International Year of Cooperatives 2025 (UN-IYC 2025) was officially launched at the ICA Global Cooperative Conference and General Assembly in New Delhi.
  • On June 19, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting their crucial role in sustainable development.
• Theme: The theme for IYC 2025 is “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.
  • This theme underscores the global impact of cooperatives and their ability to address today’s global challenges, while supporting the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
• Significance: The IYC 2025 highlights the socio-economic and environmental contributions of cooperatives, emphasizing their role in driving inclusive growth and strengthening community resilience.
  • Cooperatives are seen as a key driver of sustainable development by providing solutions to global issues like poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
• Host: The event is being championed by COPAC (Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives), which is a multi-stakeholder partnership comprising UN agencies and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). 
  • COPAC advocates for people-centered and self-sustaining cooperative enterprises as leaders in sustainable development.

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