In India, cooperatives play a big role in people’s daily lives. From farmers’ groups and dairy cooperatives to housing and credit societies, cooperatives help communities support each other and grow together. At the heart of this movement stands the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), an organisation that has been guiding, developing, and promoting cooperatives across the country for almost a century.

NCUI was formed in 1929, long before independence, with a vision to bring cooperatives together under one national platform. Today, it represents 344 member organisations, which together connect over 850,000 cooperatives and reach nearly 290 million individual members across India. It is the apex body of the cooperative movement, working to build strong cooperatives based on internationally recognized cooperative principles.

Over the years, NCUI has grown into a hub for policy advocacy, education, training, research, and global cooperation. It works closely with the Government of India and partners such as ICA, IRU, FAO-NEDAC, and CICTAB to make sure that cooperative needs and voices are included in national and international discussions. Its special initiatives focus on empowering women, youth, and marginalized communities, ensuring that cooperative development remains inclusive and people-centered.

How NCUI Works?

It carries out its mission through several dedicated divisions and centers:

• National Centre for Cooperative Education (NCCE) provides training and capacity-building programs for cooperative leaders and members. Starting in 1958 as a training center for instructors, it now conducts over 250 training programs every year, reaching 6,000+ participants across India and South Asia. Recently, NCCE received a C-PEC Accreditation (Grade B) recognizing its quality in cooperative education.
• NCUI Haat, one of NCUI’s flagship initiatives, creates a free marketplace in Delhi where rural artisans, women-led cooperatives, and self-help groups can sell their products. NCUI covers all costs, including travel and accommodation. Every 15 days, groups from 5-6 states get the opportunity to display handlooms, crafts, organic and handmade products. Many small cooperatives have seen big increases in income and visibility by participating here.
• Coop-Connect works with schools and colleges, introducing young people to cooperative values and entrepreneurship. Teachers are trained as “Cooperative Trainers,” helping students learn how cooperatives can be a powerful model for self-employment and community development.
• Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperation (CEDC) supports start-ups and new cooperative enterprises by offering mentoring, business planning support, and guidance for accessing finance, especially for youth and women entrepreneurs.
• Cooperative Extension and Advisory Services (CEAS) provides practical support, helping cooperatives improve governance, operations, and management practices.
• National Cooperative Resource Centre (NCRC) acts as a research and knowledge hub, publishing studies and policy recommendations that help shape India’s cooperative future.
• International Relations (IR) Division builds partnerships beyond India, helps host study visits, and supports India’s active role in the ICA-AP Regional Board.
• General Cooperative Policy (GCP) works on policy and law reform, ensuring the concerns of cooperative members are heard and addressed.
• Publications & PR Division publishes The Cooperator journal and other materials to share cooperative stories and build public awareness.