The cooperative movement in India plays a crucial role in the agricultural sector, banking and housing. The history of cooperatives in India is more than a hundred years old. Cooperatives developed very rapidly after Indian independence. According to an estimate, more than half a million cooperative societies are active in the country. Many cooperative societies , particularly in rural areas, increase political participation and are used as a stepping stone by aspiring politicians. Overview of cooperative societies in India, covering their legal framework, the Ministry of Cooperation's role, guiding principles, constitutional provisions, registration process, and key national and international bodies. The Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies is appointed as per article 243ZH (f) of the Constitution read with subsection (1) of section (4) of Multi-State Co - operative Societies Act 2002 and is the statutory body responsible for registration and other processes of the Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS). The Himachal Pradesh Co-operative Societies Act, 1968 is an Act to register, consolidate and amend the law relating to Co-operative societies in the State of Himachal Pradesh.
