Regional Workshop at Raipur reviews progress of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0 and formation of 2 lakh new cooperative societies

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Regional Workshop at Raipur: Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0 & Cooperative Expansion

1. At a Glance

• A Ministry of Cooperation regional workshop held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh (23 May 2026) reviewed three flagship cooperative-sector initiatives: the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0, and formation of 2 lakh new cooperative societies [S1].
• Reflects the government's push to make PACS (Primary Agricultural Credit Societies) multipurpose economic hubs and deepen dairy/fishery cooperativisation in Eastern and Central India [S1].
• High-yield for Prelims (scheme names, targets, dates) and Mains GS-II/III (cooperative federalism, rural economy, agri-infrastructure).

2. Why in the News

• Regional Workshop on "Formation and Strengthening of 2 lakh new M-PACS, Dairy & Fisheries Cooperative Societies" and the "World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector" convened at Raipur, chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani [S1].
• Attended by senior officials from Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal and representatives of NABARD, FCI, NAFED, NCCF, NDDB and Warehousing Corporations [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector: approved by Cabinet on 31.05.2023 (plan approval also referenced as 15.2.2023 for the cooperative societies component); Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) constituted for facilitation [S2][S3].
• Rolled out first as a Pilot Project; godown construction completed in 11 PACS across 11 States; over 500 PACS identified for godown construction, targeted for completion by December 2026 [S2].
• 2 lakh new cooperative societies: envisages 2,00,000 new Multipurpose PACS (M-PACS), Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies covering all Panchayats/villages in 5 years; as on 30.06.2025, 22,933 new societies registered (including 5,937 M-PACS) as per National Cooperative Database [S2].
• White Revolution 2.0: Ministry of Cooperation initiative to expand cooperative dairy coverage, generate employment and empower women; objective is to raise milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% over the present level within five years by extending market access in uncovered areas [S2].

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Expands rural agri-infrastructure (godowns, custom hiring centres, processing units, Fair Price Shops) at PACS level, reducing post-harvest losses and storage dependency on FCI/private traders [S2]. - Aims to formalise informal dairy/fishery economic activity into the organised cooperative sector, raising farmer income and market access [S2].

Social - Dairy cooperatives are highlighted as transforming women from homemakers into entrepreneurs, strengthening rural financial ecosystems [S1]. - Pan-Panchayat coverage of new societies targets last-mile financial and market inclusion, especially in underserved Eastern/Central India states [S1].

Administrative - Implementation is a multi-agency federal exercise involving state cooperative departments plus central bodies (NABARD, FCI, NAFED, NCCF, NDDB) — coordination bottlenecks are a key risk given cooperative societies fall under the State List (Entry 32, List II) [S1][S2]. - Regional workshops (like Raipur) are a review mechanism to track state-wise registration progress against the 5-year national target.

Governance - Emphasis on "cooperation among cooperatives" and sustainability/circular economy models signals a shift from output targets to institutional resilience amid global energy/resource stress [S1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12–18 months)

• 30.06.2025: National Cooperative Database records 22,933 new PACS/Dairy/Fishery cooperatives registered since plan approval [S2].
• 23.05.2026: Regional Workshop at Raipur reviews progress across Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0, and 2 lakh cooperatives formation drive [S1].
• Ongoing: Godown construction push targeted for completion across 500+ identified PACS by December 2026 [S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

• World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector was approved by the Cabinet on 31.05.2023 [S2].
• Nodal ministry for the Grain Storage Plan and the 2-lakh cooperatives drive: Ministry of Cooperation (not Agriculture) [S1][S2].
• Target: 2,00,000 new Multipurpose PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies in 5 years covering all Panchayats [S2].
• As of 30.06.2025, 22,933 new cooperative societies registered, including 5,937 M-PACS [S2].
• White Revolution 2.0 target: 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies + strengthening of 46,000 existing ones over 5 years [S2].
• White Revolution 2.0 objective: increase milk procurement by dairy cooperatives by 50% in 5 years [S2].
• Under the Grain Storage Plan Pilot Project, godowns completed in 11 PACS across 11 States; over 500 PACS identified for construction [S2].
• Deadline for pilot godown construction completion: December 2026 [S2].
• Regional Workshop reviewing these schemes held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 23 May 2026 [S1].
• Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation who addressed the workshop: Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani [S1].
• Central agencies involved: NABARD, FCI, NAFED, NCCF, NDDB, and Warehousing Corporations [S1].
• Cabinet also constituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) to facilitate the Grain Storage Plan [S3].
• Data source for cooperative registrations cited: National Cooperative Database [S2].
• States represented at the Raipur workshop: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal [S1].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors; issues arising from design and implementation of schemes; federalism (cooperatives as State subject vs. central schemes).
• GS-III: Agriculture — storage, marketing, e-technology; issues related to buffer stocks and food security; agro-processing infrastructure; employment generation.
• Possible question stems: 1. "Discuss how the World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector addresses India's post-harvest storage deficit. What implementation challenges does it face given cooperatives are a State subject?" 2. "Examine the role of White Revolution 2.0 in advancing women's economic empowerment and rural financial inclusion." 3. "Cooperatives are often called the 'backbone of the rural economy'. Critically evaluate the recent government initiatives (PACS computerisation, Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0) aimed at revitalising the cooperative sector."

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• PACS Computerisation Scheme — digitisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies underpins the multipurpose PACS expansion.
• National Cooperation Policy — the umbrella policy framework guiding these sectoral targets.
• Sahkar Se Samriddhi / Ministry of Cooperation formation (2021) — institutional origin of these schemes.
• Operation Flood / Amul model (NDDB) — historical precedent for "White Revolution," useful comparative context for White Revolution 2.0.
• Food Corporation of India (FCI) & buffer stock policy — Grain Storage Plan directly reduces stress on central storage infrastructure.
• 7th Schedule, Entry 32 (State List) — Cooperative Societies — constitutional basis and centre-state coordination issues.
• National Cooperative Database & National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) — data/financing backbone for cooperative expansion.
• Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 — recent legal reform strengthening cooperative governance.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing the Ministry of Cooperation (nodal for these schemes) with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare — the schemes are cooperative-sector-led, not purely agricultural.
• Mixing up numeric targets: 2 lakh new cooperative societies overall vs. 75,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies specifically under White Revolution 2.0 — these are distinct, overlapping targets.
• Treating "White Revolution 2.0" as a new standalone ministry scheme rather than a cooperative dairy-sector initiative building on the original White Revolution/Operation Flood legacy under NDDB.
• Assuming the Grain Storage Plan is fully implemented nationwide — as of the latest review it remains substantially at the Pilot Project stage (11 PACS completed against 500+ identified).
• Forgetting cooperative societies are constitutionally a State List subject — central "targets" require state-level cooperation, a frequent source of implementation-gap questions.

11. Sources

• [S1] Regional Workshop at Raipur reviews progress of World's Largest Grain Storage Plan, White Revolution 2.0 and formation of 2 lakh new cooperative societies — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2264361 — (tier: 1)
• [S2] World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2115198 — (tier: 1)
• [S3] Cabinet approves Constitution and Empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for Facilitation of "World's Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector" — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1928599 — (tier: 1)