What is Tribhuvan Sahkari University? Why is IRMA being converted? Will Identity of IRMA Remain Intact? What is Future of IRMA? MBAUniverse.com Reveals Answers; IRMA Director Dr Umakant Dash Shares Insights

What is Tribhuvan Sahkari University?
Let’s start with the key facts about the new University. In simple terms, the Union Government has established Tribhuvan Sahkari University through a bill titled ‘Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill 2025’ which was introduced in the Parliament on February 3, 2025. The preamble states the objectives of the Bill are: 

• “to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand, as a University to be known as the "Tribhuvan" Sahkari University 
• to declare the same as an institution of national importance; 
• to impart technical and management education and training in co-operative sector; 
• to promote co-operative research and development and to attain standards of global excellence therein to realise the vision of "Sahkar Se Samriddhi" and 
• to strengthen the co-operative movement in the country through a network of institutions, and also
• to declare the Institute (IRMA) as one of the Schools of the University” and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”

It is believed that Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, who is also in charge of the Ministry of Cooperation, is the prime mover behind the Bill. He had announced the government’s intention to establish a National Cooperative University back in 2021. He was also the Chief Guest of the IRMA Convocation in 2022. 

The Bill also states that the university aims to establish “sector-specific schools” such as dairy, fishery, sugar, banking, rural credit, co-operative finance, co-operative marketing, co-operative finance and accounting, co-operative laws, etc., in Anand campus and also across the country.

Here it must be noted that Tribhuvan Sahkari University is a ‘national university’ and ‘an institution of national importance’ that can offer programs across the country. Another important point worth noting is the IRMA is envisaged as one of the ‘School’ within the larger University setup. 

What is the need to establish a Cooperative University?
The cooperative sector plays a significant role in the Indian economy. According to published statistics, it accounts for 19 per cent of the agricultural credit availed by farmers, 35 per cent of fertiliser distribution, 25 per cent of fertiliser production, 31 per cent of sugar production, 10 per cent of the production and procurement of milk, 13 per cent of wheat procurement, 20 per cent of paddy procurement, and 21 per cent of fish production.

The government believes that the present education and training infrastructure in the co-operative sector is inadequate to meet the changing talent needs. The statement of Objects of the Bill reads: “It is, therefore, essential that a comprehensive, integrated and standardised structure is created for education, training and research by establishing a national University to ensure a stable, adequate and quality supply of professionally qualified manpower for different categories of jobs in co-operatives such as managerial, supervisory, administrative, technical, operational, etc., and also address the long pending issue of capacity building of employees and board members in the co-operative sector in a pan-India and focused manner.” 

Why is IRMA being converted into Tribhuvan Sahkari University? 
But, why is IRMA being converted into a Sahkari University? For this, understanding the history of IRMA and its current offerings is important.

IRMA was founded in 1979 by Dr Verghese Kurien, the Father of White Revolution in India. It was established with support from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, and the erstwhile Indian Dairy Corporation. It is spread over a 60-acre campus. Prof Ravi J. Matthai, the founding Director of IIM Ahmedabad, served as the Director and Faculty at IRMA. Notable IRMA alumni include Dr R.S. Sodhi, former Managing Director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (AMUL) and Raju Narisetti, global publishing director at McKinsey & Company. IRMA’s flagship program is AICTE approved Post Graduate Diploma in Management in Rural Management (PGDM RM).

On the lines of leading management institutions like XLRI Jamshedpur and MDI Gurgaon, IRMA offers AICTE approved PGDM Programs. It must be noted here that till the passing of IIM Act 2017, all IIMs were offering similar ‘PGP’ programs, which have now been converted to MBA programs. 

With the passage of IIM Act and the introduction of New Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the landscape of management education in India has changed. AICTE approved PGDM institutions are faced with the herculean task of reinventing themselves into ‘multi-disciplinary’ institutions with 3,000 student intakes, which inevitably means offering undergraduate management programs. 

Most top PGDM institutions have set up internal task-forces to prepare a plan to become a university. IRMA was caught in the same dilemma and found a way in this new university, which the Government was keen to create anyway. So, IRMA becoming a School of the new Tribhuvan Sahkari University is a marriage of convenience – Government gets the support of an old well-established institution to establish the University they wanted, and IRMA moves a step closer to becoming NEP-ready. 

Will IRMA’s Identity Remain? What will be IRMA’s role in New University?
So, will IRMA’s identity remain in the new avatar? What will be the role of IRMA in New University?

The IRMA was registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Once the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill, 2025 is legislated into an Act and becomes effective, the IRMA society will be dissolved. 

In its new avatar, IRMA will become one of the schools of the new university and will be declared a Centre of Excellence for Rural Management. So, technically IRMA will cease to be an independent institution. However, the Bill says, “IRMA’s autonomy and identity will be preserved within the institutional framework of the university.”

MBAUniverse.com posed the question about the future identity of IRMA to Director Dr Umakant Dash. Responding to our query, he said, “I believe that IRMA’s legacy identity will remain intact. We will be a distinct part of the University.”

Dr Dash further added, “Formation of Tribhuvan Sahkari University by the Government of India with IRMA as a Centre of Excellence is a great recognition of our credentials. The new university will provide us a greater responsibility to serve the cooperative sector and thereby in realising the vision of Sahkar se samriddhi. It will be a big boost to the institute to showcase its work.”

MBAUniverse.com also asked Dr Dash many questions related to the future of IRMA, to which he candidly responded. Continue reading the article for more insights on IRMA Autonomy, IRMA Admission 2025, IRMA Degree Vs Diploma, and other important questions. 

Who is Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel? 
At this point, another important question pops up - Who is Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel, and why is an iconic institution like IRMA transforming into a university that carries his name? We looked at the published material on Co-operative Movement of India and AMUL. Here is what we found: 

Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was an Indian independence activist, lawyer, and politician who passed away in 1994. He is regarded as the father of the cooperative movement in India, most notably in the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union in 1946, and the Anand Co-operative movement. After setting up the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producer's Union in 1946, under his chairmanship, he hired Verghese Kurien in 1950, who was instrumental in developing the Union which was eventually called Amul. 

Under Tribhuvandas Patel's leadership and guidance, and togather with Verghese Kurien, many organizations were started in Anand including the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, National Dairy Development Board and Institute of Rural Management Anand. 

Tribhuvandas Patel was awarded the Padma Bhushan from the Govt. of India in 1964. Patel kept a relatively low profile but was active until his death, working to set up cooperative organizations for farming commodities such as oil. 

But, why not call it Verghese Kurien Sahkari University? 
Another related question that is circulating on social media is - why not Verghese Kurien Sahkari University? 

Verghese Kurien, who passed away in 2012, was a much more celebrated figure in business and social life. He is credited as the ‘Father of White Revolution’, in respect for his contribution to increase in milk production in India. After graduating from University of Madras and Michigan State University, in 1949, Kurien joined the cooperative movement and played a leading role in setting up the Kaira District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union in 1950 which later became Amul. In 1965, Kurien was appointed as the head of the newly formed National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which helped to set up similar cooperatives across India and made dairy farming one of the largest self-sustaining industries. The dairy cooperatives were successful in increasing the milk production as the dairy farmers controlled the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products as the owners of the cooperative. This led to a multi-fold increase in milk output over the next few decades and helped India become the world's largest milk producer in 1998. In 1999, Kurien received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour. Verghese Kurien’s autobiography, I Too had a Dream, recounts this fascinating journey. 

Interestingly, Dr. Verghese Kurien is recognized as the “founder of IRMA”. IRMA website notes that “Dr. Kurien recognized that professional management had brought about this visible socio-economic impact to an underserved segment. This thought inspired him to establish the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) in the year 1979 with an aim to create a new generation of professional managers who would bring in modern management to serve the underserved economy.” 

Given this, it is surprising not to see the new university being called as Verghese Kurien Sahkari University.

Offering his perspective, Dr Umakant Dash, Director, IRMA said, “While Dr Kurien’s achievements are well known, Tribhuvandas Kishibhai Patel was the pioneer of the Indian Cooperative Movement. He is regarded as the father of the cooperative movement in India for setting up the Kaira District Co-operative Milk Producers' Union in 1946, and the Anand Co-operative movement.”  He further added, “It is befitting that India’s national university on cooperative sector is after his name.”

Future of IRMA: What lies ahead? 
At this point, MBAUniverse.com asked Dr Dash questions related to the future of IRMA. 
When asked, Dr Dash said: “I believe that as a Center of Excellence and School of new university, the future of IRMA is bright. IRMA must continue to play the pioneering role.” He further added that IRMA will have a lot of flexibility in future as a part of a National University. 

“The flagship program of IRMA in rural management will continue as there is a great demand for quality management education with an MBA degree,” informed Dr Dash. 

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for complete details on Tribhuvan Sahkari University Anand and IRMA.