Audits of Multi-State Cooperatives
Audits of Multi-State Cooperatives
As per the provisions of Section 70 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, every multi-State co-operative society is required to appoint an auditor or auditors at each Annual General Meeting. Such auditors or auditing firms are to be selected from a panel approved by the Central Registrar. The auditor so appointed is required to submit the audit report to the multi-State co-operative society within six months from the close of the financial year to which the accounts relate.
Further, as per Section 72 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, no person shall be qualified for appointment as an auditor of a multi-State co-operative society unless he is a Chartered Accountant within the meaning of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
The total number of Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCSs) audited during last three years is placed at Annexure–I. Certain irregularities, including violations of provisions of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, have been observed in some cases. Action is taken in accordance with the provisions of the Act, wherever required. In cases where serious irregularities are observed and the society is found not to be functioning in accordance with the provisions of the Act, winding up proceedings are initiated under Section 86 of the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and liquidators are appointed.
*****
Annexure-I
State-wise Number of Annual Return Filed by MSCSs
(As on 28/02/2026)
S.No.
State
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
1
Andhra Pradesh
3
3
5
2
Assam
2
1
0
3
Bihar
4
5
8
4
Chhattisgarh
1
1
0
5
Delhi
58
60
49
6
Gujarat
20
21
17
7
Haryana
5
7
5
8
Jharkhand
2
2
2
9
Karnataka
18
25
24
10
Kerala
20
37
28
11
Madhya Pradesh
6
6
5
12
Maharashtra
291
303
275
13
Nagaland
1
0
0
14
Odisha
1
0
0
15
Puducherry
4
4
4
16
Punjab
5
6
5
17
Rajasthan
18
20
16
18
Sikkim
1
1
1
19
Tamil Nadu
75
79
65
20
Telangana
8
11
11
21
Uttar Pradesh
37
36
22
22
Uttarakhand
1
1
2
23
West Bengal
16
16
11
Total
597
645
555
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written reply in Rajya Sabha.