Wed Mar 26 16:39:54 UTC 2025: **India’s First National Cooperative University to Open in Gujarat**
NEW DELHI, March 26, 2025 – The Lok Sabha passed the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025, establishing India’s first national cooperative university at the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in Gujarat. The university, named after Amul founder Tribhuvan Kashibhai Patel, aims to revolutionize cooperative sector education, research, and training.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah stated that Gujarat was chosen due to the state government’s land allocation. The university will operate on a hub-and-spoke model, offering degree, diploma, and PhD programs, with an estimated 800,000 certifications issued annually. The Minister highlighted Amul’s success story, emphasizing the cooperative’s growth from a small venture to a massive dairy brand.
While the bill passed, some opposition was voiced. Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N.K. Premachandan unsuccessfully proposed renaming IRMA after Verghese Kurien, known as the “Father of the White Revolution.” Other MPs questioned the Gujarat location, suggesting a new university rather than repurposing IRMA. Concerns were also raised about the lack of a timeline and accountability mechanisms in the bill.
Minister Shah addressed these concerns, emphasizing the university’s role in providing structured job opportunities within the cooperative sector and strengthening the rural economy. He also announced a ₹10,000 crore investment in the cooperative dairy sector, promoting a circular economy and empowering women, who constitute 70% of dairy farmers.
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