Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) releases Information Note for Jan 2026, detailing election programs, revised guidelines, and key decisions for MSCS elections.
The Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) has released an important Information Note dated 19.02.2026, summarizing its activities, key decisions, and election programs for January 2026. This comprehensive update provides crucial insights into the functioning of the CEA, procedures for multi-State cooperative society elections, and significant amendments impacting election processes and governance. Candidates, cooperative societies, and stakeholders are advised to review these updates for compliance and awareness.
Quick Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) |
| Document Type | Information Note |
| Reference No. | No.01/26 |
| Date of Issue | 19.02.2026 |
| Reporting Period | January, 2026 |
| Official Website | https://crcs.gov.in/ |
About the Cooperative Election Authority (CEA)
As per Section 45(1) of the Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023), the Central Government established the Co-operative Election Authority (CEA). It consists of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, and Members (not exceeding three, including one woman).
Current Composition
| S.No. | Name | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Shri Devendra Kumar Singh | Chairperson |
| 2. | Shri RK Gupta | Vice-Chairperson |
| 3. | Smt. Monika Khanna, Joint Registrar, CRCS | Member (Woman) |
Functions of CEA
The Authority, as per Section 45-I of the MSCS Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023), discharges the following functions:
- Conduct the elections of multi-State co-operative societies.
- Supervise, direct, and control matters related to the preparation of electoral rolls.
- Perform such other functions as prescribed.
Specifically, CEA is responsible for the preparation of electoral rolls for eligible members/delegates/representatives and the conduct of elections for the Board of Directors and Office Bearers of the MSCS.
Procedure for Requesting Elections via CRCS Portal
Societies wishing to request elections must follow these steps through the CRCS Portal:
- Log in to the CRCS portal (https://crcs.gov.in/) using the Society’s credentials (ID & Password).
- Navigate to the “Election Request” section.
- Fill in all required details completely and accurately.
- Attach necessary documents in PDF format to the portal.
- Submit the request.
Required Documents to Attach:
- Election Request signed by the Chairperson & CEO/MD of the Society.
- Resolution of the present Board of Directors to conduct the election.
- Previous schedules of elections for Members of the Board of Directors and Office Bearers, including proceedings of Returning Officers.
- Latest approved Bye-Laws of the Society.
- Fact sheet signed by the Chairperson & CEO/MD of the Society.
Election Programmes & Status (January 2026)
The CEA has been actively involved in conducting elections for Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS).
- Total Election Programmes Issued: 299 (till end of January 2026).
- Elections Successfully Conducted: 225 (till end of January 2026).
- Ongoing Election Programmes: 74 (till end of January 2026).
Elections Completed in January 2026 (08 MSCS)
| S.No. | Name of MSCS | Date of Polling | Elected G*W*S* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Ajara Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Ajara | 21.12.2025 | 15/2/1 |
| 2 | Ambika Multistate Health Services for the Weaker Section Cooperative Society Ltd, Chennai | 04.01.2026 | 6/2/1 |
| 3 | Shri Veershaiv Cooperative Bank Limited, Kolhapur | 04.01.2026 | 16/2/1 |
| 4 | Shri Chatrapati Shahu Krishi Sahakari Kharedi-Vikri Society Ltd., Kolhapur | 06.01.2026 | 17/2/1 |
| 5 | The Dharamapeth Mahila Multi-State Cooperative Society Ltd, Nagpur. | 04.01.2026 | 14/1 |
| 6 | Dhanmudra Urban Multistate Cooperative Credit Society Ltd., Nanded | 11.01.2026 | 8/2/1 |
| 7 | Chennai Anna Nagar Cooperative Housing Society, Chennai | 18.01.2026 | 4/2/Vacant |
| 8 | Agastya Multi State Agro Marketing Cooperative Ltd., Ernakulam | 18.01.2026 | 5/3/1 |
G*- General W*- Women S*- SC/ST
Election Programmes Issued in January 2026 (11 Societies)
| S.No. | Name of the society | DC/DM | E.P issued on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Multi State Agro Cooperative Society Ltd, Mumbai | Mumbai City | 02.01.2026 |
| 2 | Galaxy Multistate Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, Satara | Satara | 02.01.2026 |
| 3 | Infrastructure Research and Development Cooperative Society Limited, Ernakulam | Ernakulam | 19.01.2026 |
| 4 | Swabhimani Multi State Cooperative Milk and Agro Processing Limited, Kolhapur | Kolhapur | 19.01.2026 |
| 5 | Sampatrao Deshmukh Cooperative Milk Union Limited (SAMPAT MILK), Sangli | Sangli | 19.01.2026 |
| 6 | Siddhasiri Multi State Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Limited, Vijayapura | Vijayapura | 19.01.2026 |
| 7 | Revanta Multi State CGHS Limited, New Delhi | South West | 19.01.2026 |
| 8 | The Jalgaon People’s Cooperative Bank Limited, Jalgaon | Jalgaon | 23.01.2026 |
| 9 | Sanmati Sahakari Bank Limited, Kolhapur | Kolhapur | 29.01.2026 |
| 10 | National Cooperative Housing Federation Limited (NCHF), New Delhi | South Delhi | 30.01.2026 |
| 11 | Sardar Patel Cooperative Dairy Federation Limited (SPCDF), Gandhinagar | Gujarat | 30.01.2026 |
Important Decisions of the Authority
The CEA has taken several crucial decisions to ensure fair, transparent, and compliant election processes:
1. Restriction on Contesting Elections by Central Government Employees
Decision: Central Government Employees must obtain prior permission from the Central Government to contest elections. This condition has been incorporated into all Election Programmes issued from August 2025 onwards. Returning Officers will verify prior permission during nomination.
2. Limit on Number of Directors in the Board who are in Blood Relation
Decision: To prevent impairment of Board functioning and disproportionate representation, it was decided to issue a direction under Section 45(L) and Rule 19(F)(e) to cancel the nomination process if a majority of members in the Board are related by blood. This prohibition applies where a majority of members are related.
3. Voting by Nominated Directors to Elect Office Bearers in MSCS
Decision: During the BISCOMAUN elections (19th February 2025), the Authority decided that the nominated Director from the Govt. of Bihar (under Section 48) had the right to vote for Office Bearers, given that over 99% shareholding in BISCOMAUN is from the Govt. of Bihar.
4. Disqualification on Failure to Maintain Accounts and Lodge Election Expenses
Decision: Rule 19U (Account of Election Expenses) and Rule 19V (Disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses) of the MSCS Rules, 2002 (as amended in 2023), are crucial. The Authority has made compliance with these rules a part of the Election Programme to ensure Returning Officers and contesting candidates are aware.
5. Code of Conduct for Elections (Issued 11th November 2025)
i. Use of Society Vehicle During Election Period
Decision: Society vehicles allotted to Office Bearers (Chairman/Vice-Chairman or President/Vice-President) cannot be used for canvassing or election-related purposes. This instruction applies for 30 days prior to the polling date.
ii. Convening of Board Meeting During Election Period
Decision: Board of Directors (BoD) meetings of societies under election process can be convened for all agenda items, except those that might influence voting by members and the election outcome. The CEO must obtain prior approval from the Returning Officer for agenda items to be placed before the Board.
6. Implementation of Amendments in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949
Update: Effective from 1st August 2025, Section 10A (sub-section 2a(i)) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (BR Act), has been amended. The maximum continuous tenure of directors of cooperative banks (excluding Chairperson and Whole-time Directors) has been extended from 8 to 10 years. Instructions to implement this amendment transparently have been included in the appointment orders of the Returning Officers.
Revision in Remuneration Rates for ROs/AROs
The Authority issued an order dated 16.10.2025, revising the remuneration rates for Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) for conducting MSCS elections. These revised rates are available on crcs.gov.in.
| Nature of Election | Contested Elections (Remuneration) | Uncontested Election (Remuneration) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Regular election of Board of Directors including Office Bearers: | ||
| A. All societies in Schedule II. | Rs.50,000/- | Rs.25,000/- |
| B. Multi State Cooperative Banks. | Rs.50,000/- | Rs.25,000/- |
| C. Societies where elections of delegates or election to RGB (constitution of Representative General Body) is involved. | Rs.50,000/- | Rs.25,000/- |
| 2. Regular election of Board of Directors including Office Bearers of all other societies. | Rs.40,000/- | Rs.20,000/- |
| 3. Casual Vacancy of Board of Directors. | Rs.10,000/- | Rs.10,000/- |
| 4. Casual Vacancy of Office Bearers. | Rs.10,000/- | Rs.10,000/- |
| 5. Election of newly registered societies with less than 250 members. | Rs.10,000/- | Rs.10,000/- |
Consolidated Instructions for Free & Fair Election
To facilitate the conduct of free and fair elections, CEA has prepared consolidated instructions, including:
- Preparation of Member List (November 2025)
- Preparation of Voters List (January 2026)
- Instructions for the Returning Officer for filling up Format 19M & 19N
These handbooks are also available on https://crcs.gov.in.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| CRCS Portal (Election Request) | https://crcs.gov.in/ |
| Official Website for Handbooks/Guidelines | https://crcs.gov.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the main purpose of this Information Note?
A: This Information Note from the Cooperative Election Authority (CEA) provides a summary of its activities, key decisions, and election programs for January 2026, including updates on election procedures, guidelines, and amendments to relevant acts.
Q2: How can a Multi-State Cooperative Society request an election?
A: Societies must submit an election request online through the CRCS portal (https://crcs.gov.in/). The procedure involves logging in, navigating to the “Election Request” section, filling in details, and attaching necessary documents like the election request, board resolution, and bye-laws.
Q3: What are the key documents required for an election request?
A: Essential documents include the Election Request signed by the Chairperson & CEO/MD, a Board Resolution to conduct the election, previous election schedules, the latest approved Bye-Laws, and a Fact Sheet signed by the Chairperson & CEO/MD.
Q4: Are Central Government Employees allowed to contest MSCS elections?
A: Yes, but Central Government Employees must obtain prior permission from the Central Government to contest elections. This condition is strictly enforced, and Returning Officers are instructed to verify this permission.
Q5: What are the revised remuneration rates for Returning Officers (ROs) and Assistant Returning Officers (AROs)?
A: The remuneration rates vary based on the nature of the election (contested vs. uncontested) and the type of society. For regular elections in Schedule II societies, it’s Rs. 50,000 for contested and Rs. 25,000 for uncontested elections. For casual vacancies or newly registered societies, it’s typically Rs. 10,000.
Q6: What is the significance of the amendment in the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, mentioned in the note?
A: The amendment, effective from August 1, 2025, extends the maximum continuous tenure of directors of cooperative banks (excluding Chairperson and Whole-time Directors) from 8 to 10 years. This aims to provide more stability and continuity in leadership.
Q7: Where can I find the handbooks for Member List, Voters List, and RO Instructions?
A: These consolidated instructions and handbooks prepared by the CEA to facilitate free and fair elections are available on the official CRCS portal at https://crcs.gov.in.
Q8: What happens if a majority of Board members are related by blood?
A: The CEA has decided that if a majority of members nominated to the Board are related by blood, the nomination process will be cancelled. This decision aims to prevent disproportionate representation and ensure fair governance.
Q9: Are there any restrictions on using society vehicles during the election period?
A: Yes, society vehicles allotted to Office Bearers cannot be used for canvassing or any election-related purposes for a period of 30 days prior to the polling date, as per the code of conduct issued by CEA.
Q10: What are the consequences of failing to maintain accounts and lodge election expenses?
A: Failure to comply with Rule 19U (Account of Election Expenses) and Rule 19V (Disqualification for failure to lodge account of election expenses) of the MSCS Rules, 2002 (as amended in 2023) can lead to disqualification. This is now a mandatory part of the Election Programme.