India Kicks Off Nationwide Cooperative Sector Survey Initiative
The National Statistics Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), launched a pivotal All-India Workshop of Trainers (AIWOT) aimed at the Rapid Survey of Functional Cooperatives (RSFC) on March 25, 2026, at the Scope Convention Centre in New Delhi. This workshop, attended by 225 participants from various government divisions, is a significant step toward gathering critical data that will enhance the understanding of the cooperative sector’s contribution to India’s economy.
Empowering the Cooperative Sector
Inaugurated by Smt. Geeta Singh Rathore, Director General of the National Sample Survey (NSS), the workshop highlighted the cooperative sector’s essential role as the backbone of socio-economic development in India. Smt. Rathore stressed that the RSFC would provide essential data regarding Gross Value Added (GVA), Gross Value Output (GVO), and job creation across 30 major cooperative sectors. She emphasized maintaining high data quality standards and the importance of proper training for achieving success in the survey.
Workshop Insights and Objectives
The AIWOT serves as a critical preparatory program before the nationwide field operations of the survey scheduled for April 2026. It aims to equip master trainers with a thorough understanding of survey methodology and technical skills essential for conducting further regional training sessions.
During the workshop’s inaugural session, division heads from the Field Operations Division (FOD), Enterprise Survey Division (EnSD), and Coordination and Quality Control Division (CQCD), alongside an Economic Advisor from the Ministry of Cooperation, underscored the necessity of accurate data pertaining to the cooperative sector for realizing India’s Vision 2047. They acknowledged the need for effective training and robust supervision to guarantee high data quality and noted that reliability and transparency are key to sustaining public trust in official statistics.
A Comprehensive Survey Approach
This RSFC survey will mark the first pan-India assessment of the cooperative sector, generating vital insights into its economic contribution and potential for employment generation. The survey will utilize the National Cooperative Database (NCD) as its sampling frame and will engage a web-based data collection method. The endeavor aims to produce separate sector-wise estimates for 12 crucial cooperative domains, including housing, dairy, fisheries, agricultural credit societies, and more.
Looking Ahead
The participation of master trainers and officials from MoSPI across all States and Union Territories underscores the collaborative spirit driving this initiative. They are tasked with conducting regional-level trainings to ensure preparedness for the upcoming survey launch. The Ministry of Cooperation has assured that local authorities will provide necessary support, contributing to the smooth execution of the RSFC. The workshop concluded with a renewed dedication to quality and professionalism, reinforcing the importance of this survey in strengthening India’s statistical framework.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
