Ministry of Cooperation
Indian Polity & Governance
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the institutional framework for economic and social policies, especially new ministries and their mandates, is crucial for governance, public administration, and policy analysis in India.
The Ministry of Cooperation is a Union government ministry established to provide a separate administrative, legal, and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in India. It aims to realize the vision of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' (prosperity through cooperation) and streamline efforts for the development of the cooperative sector.
Facts & tables
- Establishment
- Created in July 2021 to give a distinct administrative, legal, and policy framework to the cooperative sector.
- Leadership
- Headed by the Union Home Minister.
- Mandate
- Aims for policy coherence across diverse cooperative sectors like agriculture, dairy, banking, and housing.
- Key Initiatives
- Facilitates new national-level multi-State cooperative societies and is formulating a National Cooperation Policy.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Governance |
| Conceptual area | Public Administration |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Cooperation | Apex body for cooperative policy and development |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Factual recall
Prelims angle: Institutional roles and functions
- Created in 2021 to strengthen the cooperative sector.
- Headed by the Union Home Minister.
- Mandate includes policy coherence, capacity building, and market linkages.
- Facilitates multi-State cooperative societies and a National Cooperation Policy.
- Aims to diversify cooperatives beyond agriculture.
Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
Timeline
-
Governance
Conceptual area
-
Public Administration
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2024
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2026
Factual recall, Institutional roles and functions
-
Grand ambitions: On India’s cooperative sector
The Ministry of Cooperation, established in 2021, is a key Union government institution tasked with revitalizing and expanding India's cooperative sector by providing a coherent policy framework, fostering collaboration, and promoting diversification beyond traditional agricultural credit.
See also
Past papers
2016–2026 · 8 questions
In the news
Grand ambitions: On India’s cooperative sector
The Ministry of Cooperation, established in 2021, is a key Union government institution tasked with revitalizing and expanding India's cooperative sector by providing a coherent policy framework, fostering collaboration, and promoting diversification beyond traditional agricultural credit.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the organisations under the Government of India, consider the following details:
| Sl. No. | Organisation | Function | Controlling Union Ministry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) | To coordinate between various law enforcement agencies | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| 2. | Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) | To investigate complex corporate frauds | Ministry of Finance |
| 3. | Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) | To preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy | Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension |
In how many of the above rows are the given details correctly matched ?
Row 1 is Incorrect: The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) acts as the nodal agency for gathering and coordinating economic intelligence among various law enforcement agencies to combat economic offenses. However, it functions under the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue), not the Ministry of Home Affairs. Row 2 is Incorrect: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is a multi-disciplinary statutory organization tasked with detecting, investigating, and prosecuting serious and complex corporate frauds (white-collar crimes). It functions under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, not the Ministry of Finance. Row 3 is Correct: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is India's premier investigative agency handling corruption, economic offenses, and special crimes. Its overarching mandate is to preserve values in public life and ensure the health of the national economy. It functions under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (specifically, the Department of Personnel and Training). Therefore, only one row is correctly matched.
With reference to ‘Financial Stability and Development Council’, consider the following statements:
1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog.
2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister.
3. It monitors macro-prudential supervision of the economy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The FSDC is not an organ of NITI Aayog. It's a separate apex-level body under the Ministry of Finance. Statement 2 is Correct: The FSDC is headed by the Union Finance Minister. Statement 3 is Correct: The FSDC plays a crucial role in monitoring macro-prudential supervision of the economy. Macro-prudential supervision focuses on preventing systemic risks within the financial system that could destabilize the entire economy. Therefore, the correct answer is 2 and 3 only.
With reference to India, consider the following pairs:
| Organization | Union Ministry |
|------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| I. The National Automotive Board | Ministry of Commerce and Industry |
| II. The Coir Board | Ministry of Heavy Industries |
| III. The National Centre for Trade Information| Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
❌ Pair I: The National Automotive Board – Ministry of Commerce and Industry
* Incorrect. It functions under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, not Commerce and Industry. ❌ Pair II: The Coir Board – Ministry of Heavy Industries
* Incorrect. The Coir Board is under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. ❌ Pair III: National Centre for Trade Information – Ministry of MSME
* Incorrect. NCTI is linked to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not MSME.
How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?
1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by executive order of the Government.
2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct
Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, passed by Parliament, making it a statutory body. Similarly, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and is also a statutory body. It plays a key role in environmental regulation in India. Statement 2 is correct: The NGT’s primary role is to ensure the expeditious disposal of environmental cases related to forest conservation, natural resource protection, and pollution control, thereby reducing the burden on higher courts. The CPCB, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), is responsible for monitoring water and air quality, implementing pollution control measures, and enforcing environmental laws to promote a cleaner environment. Thus, while both bodies deal with environmental protection, the NGT focuses on adjudication, whereas the CPCB handles regulatory and enforcement functions.
Therefore, the correct answer is option (b) 2 only.
With reference to the Government of India, consider the following information:
| Organization | Some of its Functions | It Works Under |
|--------------------|------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Directorate of Enforcement | Enforcement of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 | Internal Security Division-I, Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Directorate of Revenue Intelligence | Enforces the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962 | Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance |
| Directorate General of Systems and Data Management | Carrying out big data analytics to assist tax officers for better policy and nabbing tax evaders | Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance |
In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?
The question relates to the correct mapping of key investigative and analytical bodies under the Government of India and their parent ministries or departments. ❌ Row I: Incorrect The Directorate of Enforcement does implement the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, but it functions under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, not the Ministry of Home Affairs. ✅ Row II: Correct The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) enforces the Customs Act, 1962 and works under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance. ✅ Row III: Correct The Directorate General of Systems and Data Management aids in big data analytics for tax enforcement and operates under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
Show 3 more PYQs
Consider the following statements about Lokpal:
I. The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India.
II. The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a Member of the Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson.
III. The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age on the date of assuming office as the Chairperson or Member, as the case may be.
IV. Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
❌ Statement I: Incorrect
Lokpal’s jurisdiction includes all Indian public servants, even those posted abroad. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
Chairperson need not be only the CJI; former judges or eminent persons with 25+ years’ expertise can also be appointed. ✅ Statement III: Correct
Minimum age to be Chairperson or Member is 45 years. ❌ Statement IV: Incorrect
Lokpal can inquire against a sitting PM, but with safeguards and restrictions in sensitive areas. Therefore, only Statement III is correct.
The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established by the North Eastern Council Act, 1971. Subsequent to the amendment of NEC Act in 2002, the Council comprises which of the following members?
1. Governor of the Constituent State
2. Chief Minister of the Constituent State
3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India
4. The Home Minister of India
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
The North Eastern Council (NEC) was established under the *North Eastern Council Act, 1971* to ensure the balanced and coordinated development of the North Eastern Region. After the North Eastern Council (Amendment) Act, 2002, the structure and composition of the Council were modified. As per Section 3(1) of the *NEC Act, 1971 (as amended)*, the Council shall consist of the following members: 1. The Chief Ministers of the Constituent States
2. The Governors of the Constituent States
3. Three Members to be nominated by the President of India These are the only members of the Council as defined by the Act. Further, Section 3(2) specifies that:
“The Union Home Minister shall be the ex officio Chairman of the Council, and the Minister of the Central Government in charge of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) shall be the ex officio Vice-Chairman of the Council.” Thus, while the Union Home Minister serves as the ex officio Chairman, he does not form part of the Council as a member under Section 3(1). Similarly, the Minister of DoNER is the ex officio Vice-Chairman, but not a member of the Council.
Consider the following statements:
With reference to the Constitution of India, if an area in a State is declared as Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule,
I. the State Government loses its executive power in such areas and a local body assumes total administration.
II. the Union Government can take over the total administration of such areas under certain circumstances on the recommendations of the Governor.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
When an area is declared a Scheduled Area under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, it continues to be administered by the State Government, but with special powers granted to the Governor for tribal welfare. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect The State Government does not lose its executive powers. There is no provision for a local body to take over full administration. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect The Union Government cannot take over total administration of Scheduled Areas under the Fifth Schedule, even on the Governor’s recommendation.