The National Cooperative Union of India is the federal organisation of apex cooperative institutions in the country, both at the State and Inter­State level. Organised in 1929 as an association of State Cooperative Unions, mainly for providing a forum for exchanging information and sharing of experiences ill the field of cooperation through convening All-India cooperative conferences periodically, the Union has grown over the years into a full-fledged national organisation of cooperatives of all types.

The objectives of the Union are : to promote and develop the Cooperative Movement in India: to educate, guide and assist the people in their effort to build and expand the Cooperative Sector, and to serve as an exponent of cooperative opinion.

In furtherance of these objectives, the Union undertakes the programmes of cooperative member education, training of cooperative employees, research and evaluation of important cooperative problems, convening of National Cooperative Congress and Seminars, Publication of Literature and Journals and the task of representing the Indian Cooperative Movement in the National and International spheres.