Maharashtra to decide on Cooperative University after review, says Chandrakant Patil

Maharashtra's Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said the state will examine the feasibility and need for a separate Cooperative University before taking a final decision. He noted that the Centre has already established a Ministry of Cooperation and launched initiatives, including a proposed Cooperative University under Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The state already has institutions such as the Vaikunthbhai Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management working in this sector. Patil stated that the state will assess whether a dedicated university is necessary and viable, with the State Cooperative Federation expected to play a leading role in training programmes and seek a dedicated budget from the government. He directed the Cooperation commissioner to submit a proposal for a cooperative education fund and indicated that the government is considering support through the state budget and may introduce a nominal fee structure for training programmes to avoid overburdening profit-making cooperative institutions. The issue of the education fund is likely to be taken up during the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature beginning June 12, 2026, with optimism for a positive decision. He also highlighted ongoing work in the cooperative sector, noting that around 12,000 development societies in the state have been computerised under a central scheme, with training for secretaries and online audits completed.