Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired a “Manthan Baithak”

Current Context: On June 30, 2025, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level “Manthan Baithak” at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together Cooperation Ministers and senior officials from all States and Union Territories.

Strategic Goals

• Target to establish 2 lakh Multi-purpose PACS by Feb 2026.
• Boosting dairy and fisheries cooperatives for rural service access.
• Reviewing the World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme for cooperatives.

Digital Push

• Computerisation of PACS and digitisation of RCS offices underway.
• Integration of National Cooperative Database for better policy design.

Policy Direction

• National Cooperative Policy 2025–2045 announced.
• States to draft their own cooperative policies by Jan 31, 2026.

Empowerment Focus

• Amul showcases ₹80,000 crore turnover led by 36 lakh rural women.
• Cooperatives seen as engines of empowerment for farmers, women, and rural India.

Question:

Q.1 What major scheme was reviewed during the "Manthan Baithak"?
a) World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme
b) PM-KISAN
c) National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
d) Green Revolution Mission

Answer: a) The meeting reviewed the World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme for cooperatives, aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening food security.