New Delhi | January 19, 2026
The Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) has successfully conducted 220 elections so far for Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS), while 70 elections are currently in progress across the country, CEA Chairman Shri Devendra Kumar Singh said on Sunday.
The announcement was made during a meeting held on January 19, 2026, with representatives of Multi-State Cooperative Societies of Railway employees, aimed at facilitating the alignment of their bye-laws with the provisions of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023. Representatives from 16 Railway employees’ multi-state cooperative societies participated in the meeting, with over 40 office bearers, including chairpersons and chief executive officers, in attendance.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Singh outlined the role and responsibilities of the Cooperative Election Authority, which was established in 2023 following amendments to the MSCS Act. He stated that the Authority is entrusted with the preparation of electoral rolls and the conduct of independent, free and transparent elections in multi-state cooperative societies.
There are around 18 multi-state cooperative societies of Railway employees, with a combined membership of approximately 8 to 10 lakh Railway personnel. These societies primarily accept deposits from members and provide loans at concessional rates. The annual volume of deposits and loan transactions handled by these societies is estimated at around ₹10,000 crore, with four societies holding banking licences.
Since its inception, the CEA has successfully conducted elections for five Railway employee cooperative societies, including:
The Jackson Cooperative Credit Society of the Employees of Western Railway Ltd., Mumbai
SE, SEC & ECo Railway Employees’ Cooperative Credit Society Ltd., Kolkata
The N.E. & E.C. Railway Employees’ Multi-State Primary Cooperative Bank Ltd., Gorakhpur
The Railway Shramik Cooperative Bank Ltd., Bikaner
The Eastern Railway Employees’ Cooperative Bank, Kolkata
Discussions during the meeting focused on amending bye-laws in line with the amended MSCS Act, 2023, formation of Representative General Bodies, timely submission of election proposals at least six months prior to the expiry of the board’s tenure, and maintaining functional websites to enhance transparency.
To further strengthen the election process, the CEA has introduced several institutional measures, including manuals for Returning Officers, guidelines for prior approval of boards and office bearers, handbooks for preparation of electoral rolls, Model Code of Conduct, and guidelines for submission of election expenditure statements by candidates. The Chairman also shared experiences and insights from elections conducted by the Authority in Railway employee cooperative societies.
CEA Vice Chairman Shri R. K. Gupta made a detailed presentation on the Authority’s role, challenges in conducting elections, and steps taken to ensure free, fair and transparent electoral processes.
Registrar of Central Cooperative Societies Shri Anand Kumar Jha and CEA Member Ms Monika Khanna stressed the importance of aligning society bye-laws with the amended MSCS Act, 2023, to ensure timely and smooth elections.
Officials present at the meeting included Shri S. K. Roy, Deputy Director (Establishment), Ministry of Railways; Shri Mukesh Kumar, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Cooperation; and Ms Renu Shekhawat, Joint Director.
