Pressure Groups & SHGs (Governance).
Syllabus: UPSC Pre GS1: Indian Polity and Governance; Mains GS2
Self-help groups for UPSC: how SHGs work, NABARD SHG-Bank Linkage (1992), DAY-NRLM, Kudumbashree model, Lakhpati Didi, benefits, problems and PYQs.
Pressure groups for UPSC: meaning, business, trade union, farmer, professional, issue groups, methods, how they differ from parties, merits and limits.
On 26 September 2026 the Union Minister of Cooperation launched She-Mart at Kollam, Keralam. Announced in the Budget, She-Mart links women Self-Help Groups and rural women entrepreneurs directly to buyers. More than 300 She-Mart stores are planned across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, selling local and Bharat Brand products.
UPSC angle: Mains: Can cooperatives solve the market-access problem of women SHGs?
26 Sep 2026
On 23 September 2026 the cooperative ride service Bharat Taxi was launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Run on the "Driver is the Owner" principle, it has more than 10 lakh drivers (Saarthis) in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over Rs 100 crore credited to drivers.
UPSC angle: Mains: Can platform cooperatives protect gig workers?
23 Sep 2026
A PIB backgrounder of 20 September 2026 describes India's rural frontline cadres. Over 9 lakh Community Resource Persons (CRPs), mostly SHG women under DAY-NRLM, work with over 10.40 lakh ASHAs and 10.58 lakh trained Anganwadi Workers. Nearly 4.08 lakh CRPs work on livelihoods as Krishi, Pashu, Matsya and Van Sakhis; the rest on banking, insurance and gender.
UPSC angle: Mains: Community cadres as a governance innovation: strengths and limits.
20 Sep 2026
Bharat Taxi, India's first driver-owned ride-hailing service run by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited, was set for a formal launch in 14 Gujarat cities on 27 June 2026, the Cooperation Ministry said. It runs on a zero-commission, surge-free model under "Saarthi Hi Maalik". Of 7 lakh Saarthis nationwide, more than 1.5 lakh are from Gujarat.
UPSC angle: Mains: gig workers and platform cooperatives.
26 Jun 2026
Cooperatives work where they are run well. Computerised PACS make audits possible.
UPSC angle: Prelims: PACS, NCEL.
18 Jan 2026