The Government of Maharashtra on July 7, 2026, introduced the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies (Second Amendment) Bill, 2026, proposing amendments to the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 to facilitate wider access to membership and credit facilities in co-operative societies.
The Bill proposes that Primary Agricultural Credit Co-operative Societies (PACS) shall not refuse membership to any person residing within their area of operation who owns at least 10R (10 Ares) of agricultural land and is not already a member of another PACS operating in the same area. It also proposes to allow non-agricultural co-operative credit societies to disburse gold loans to non-shareholder individuals by admitting them as nominal members of the society.
The proposed amendments are intended to expand access to co-operative membership and improve the availability of credit through co-operative institutions.
[Notification No. L.A. Bill No. LIV of 2026]
