Foundation laid for India’s first national cooperative university in Gujarat

The foundation stone for India’s first national cooperative university was laid in Anand, Gujarat, the birthplace of the Amul cooperative model, by Union Minister for Cooperation and Home Affairs, Amit Shah.

Named Tribhuvan Sahkari University, the institution is dedicated to providing structured education in cooperative management, finance, law, and rural development.

It is named after Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, a key figure in India’s cooperative movement and a founding force behind Amul.

At the foundation ceremony, which saw participation from farmers, state ministers, and cooperative leaders, Shah emphasized the university’s vision to produce skilled professionals equipped with both technical expertise and a deep understanding of the cooperative spirit.

"India cannot move forward in the cooperative sector without education. The time has come to create trained professionals who understand both technical knowledge and the spirit behind cooperatives,” said Amit Shah.

He highlighted the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) recent inclusion of cooperatives as a school subject and urged all state governments to follow suit by introducing it in grades 9 to 12, including in Gujarat.

“This is about shaping minds early,” Shah said. “When children understand the value of cooperative work, they grow up recognizing its role in economic and social development.”

The event also marked the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, aligning the launch with the historical roots of India’s cooperative sector, which began in the 1940s in Kheda under Patel’s leadership.

The university aims to train over 20 lakh cooperative professionals in the next five years, attracting students from sectors including dairy, fisheries, agricultural credit, and rural development.

A dedicated research and development council will also be established to promote innovation and policy studies tailored to cooperative models.

Within four years, more than 200 existing cooperative institutions are expected to be integrated into the university’s academic framework.

Calling the initiative timely and forward-looking, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, “This will help create a generation that not only works in cooperatives but understands their purpose.”

Tribhuvan Sahkari University will function as a central hub for education, skilling, and research, supporting the growth and evolution of cooperative networks across the country.