SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) | Ministry of Cooperation (MoC)
The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced the Rapid Survey on Functional Cooperatives (RSFC). Initiated at the request of the Ministry of Cooperation (MoC), the survey is designed to address critical data gaps regarding the cooperative sector’s contribution to India’s economy, specifically in terms of Gross Value Added (GVA), Gross Value of Output, and employment generation. The sector is a vital pillar of rural development, agricultural production, and poverty alleviation, yet precise national-level data has remained elusive.
Survey Framework and Methodology The RSFC will be built upon a robust statistical and administrative foundation:
Sampling Frame: The survey will utilize the National Cooperative Database (NCD) as its primary sampling frame, focusing on a list of Functional Cooperatives (FCs) provided by the MoC.
Sectoral Scope: It encompasses primary cooperatives and their federations across 30 sectors, including Credit, Housing, Producer, Marketing, Social Sector, and Multipurpose Cooperatives.
Reference Period: The survey will capture comparative data for two key reference years: FY 2020-21 and FY 2023-24.
Timeline: Proposed to launch in April 2026, the survey will have a duration of six months.
Public Consultation and Quality Enhancement To ensure the survey’s content and policy relevance are optimized, MoSPI has invited feedback from researchers, policymakers, and industry bodies. The Draft RSFC Schedule of ASUSE 2026 is currently available for public review, with suggestions being accepted until February 16, 2026. This participatory approach aims to refine the questionnaire’s structure to better capture the nuanced economic activities of diverse cooperative units across the country.
What is the “Gross Value Added” (GVA) metric in the context of the RSFC? Gross Value Added (GVA) measures the value of goods and services produced by the cooperative sector after subtracting the cost of all inputs and raw materials directly attributable to that production. For the RSFC, calculating GVA is essential to determine the sector’s actual contribution to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), providing a clear picture of how much value cooperatives—ranging from dairy farms to credit societies—add to the national economy.
Policy Relevance
The RSFC represents a strategic pivot toward evidence-based policymaking for the “Sahakar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) vision.
Formalizing the Informal Contribution: By quantifying GVA and employment, the government can move beyond anecdotal evidence to formally integrate the cooperative sector into national economic planning.
Targeting Financial Inclusion: Data from the Credit Cooperatives segment will help the Ministry of Cooperation identify geographical gaps in rural credit and tailor its recapitalization or digitalization programs accordingly.
Informing Social Sector Policy: Understanding the output of Social Sector Cooperatives (e.g., in health or education) will allow for better coordination between the Ministry of Cooperation and other social welfare ministries.
Standardizing Cooperative Data: Utilizing the National Cooperative Database ensures that the survey outcomes are synced with the government’s centralized digital registry, fostering long-term data interoperability.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can MoSPI and the Ministry of Cooperation utilize the RSFC’s comparative data from FY 2020-21 and FY 2023-24 to assess the specific impact of the “Primary Agricultural Credit Societies” (PACS) digitalization drive on rural employment?
Follow the full news here: Rapid Survey on Functional Cooperatives (RSFC)