In a significant move aimed at modernising the cooperative sector, the Maharashtra government has constituted a high-level committee to recommend amendments to the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act, 1960.
As per a government resolution issued on April 20, 2026, the committee has been formed to review and suggest necessary changes in the existing legal framework, including the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Rules, 1961, and the Cooperative Election Rules, 2014. The decision comes in response to evolving challenges in the cooperative sector and the need to align laws with current economic and operational realities.
The formation of this committee follows directions from the Chief Minister during a State Apex Committee meeting held on July 14, 2025, where discussions were held under the International Year of Cooperatives 2025 initiative. The government emphasized the importance of strengthening the cooperative ecosystem by addressing structural and regulatory gaps.
The committee is chaired by the Cooperation Commissioner and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Maharashtra State, Pune. Initially constituted on January 2, 2026, the panel has now been further expanded to include additional experts and representatives from key cooperative federations.
Notably, Ashok Swami, President of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Textile Federation, Mumbai, has been inducted as a representative of cooperative institutions. Additionally, D.A. Chougule, a retired Divisional Joint Registrar (Audit), has been included as a subject expert.
The expanded committee includes a wide range of stakeholders from the cooperative ecosystem, including representatives from the sugar sector, housing federations, cooperative banks, and dairy and textile industries. This broad-based representation is expected to ensure that the proposed amendments are comprehensive and reflect ground-level realities.
The government believes that revising the cooperative laws will help improve governance, transparency, and efficiency within cooperative institutions, which play a crucial role in Maharashtra’s economy—especially in sectors like housing, banking, agriculture, and textiles.
The committee is expected to study existing provisions, identify gaps, and recommend reforms that can make cooperative societies more accountable, competitive, and aligned with present-day requirements.
The government order has been digitally signed and made available on the official Maharashtra government website.
