Second and Third Schedules explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
The Second Schedule is the list of 21 national co-operative societies, a class that s.3(r) defines by reference to it. The Third Schedule was inserted in 2023 and lists 17 Acts, which s.43(1)(h) uses as part of the disqualification of a person from the board. Section 116 lets the Central Government amend both by notification.
This article follows the Ministry of Cooperation copy of the Act read with the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023, whose section 49 added the Third Schedule after the Second Schedule. The 2023 Act came into force on 3 August 2023 (notification S.O. 3493(E)). The Second Schedule was not amended in the sources used.
Section 3(r) says "national cooperative society" means a multi-State co-operative society specified in the Second Schedule, which lists 21 societies. The Third Schedule, headed "", lists 17 Acts; s.43(1)(h), as amended, disqualifies a person against whom an amount due is pending recovery "under this Act or under any other Act specified in the Third Schedule". Both Schedules can be amended by notification under s.116. No such notification is in the sources, so both lists are given as printed in the copies consulted.
The Second Schedule: list of national co-operative societies
The Schedule is headed " List of national cooperative societies". Anyone who needs to confirm whether a body is on the list can take legal consultation before relying on it. The printed list, with the spelling of the copy consulted, is:
| No. | Society as printed |
|---|---|
| 1 | National Cooperative Land Development Banks Federation Limited, Mumbai |
| 2 | National Federation of State Cooperative Banks Limited, Mumbai |
| 3 | National Cooperative Union of India Limited, New Delhi |
| 4 | National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited, New Delhi |
| 5 | National Cooperative Consumer's Federation of India Limited, New Delhi |
| 6 | National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited, New Delhi |
| 7 | National Federation of Industrial Cooperative Limited, New Delhi |
| 8 | National Cooperative Housing Federation Limited, New Delhi |
| 9 | Indian Farmer's Fertiliser Cooperative Limited, New Delhi |
| 10 | All India Federation of Cooperative Spinning Mills Limited, Mumbai |
| 11 | All India Industrial Cooperative Banks Federation Limited, Bangalore |
| 12 | National Cooperative Dairy Federation of India Limited, Anand |
| 13 | Petrofils Cooperative Limited, Vadodara |
| 14 | National Heavy Engineering Cooperative Limited, Pune |
| 15 | All India Handloom Fabrics Marketing Cooperative Society Limited, New Delhi |
| 16 | National Federation of Urban Cooperative Banks and Credit Societies Limited, New Delhi |
| 17 | Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited, New Delhi |
| 18 | National Federation of Fishermen's Cooperative Limited, New Delhi |
| 19 | National Federation of Labour Cooperative Limited, New Delhi |
| 20 | National Cooperative Tobacco Grower's Federation, Anand |
| 21 | Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited, New Delhi |
The list is as printed in the copy consulted. The print gives the name and the place for each; it does not say anything about their present status, and this article says nothing about it.
What the Act says about national co-operative societies
- Definition. Section 3(r): "'national cooperative society' means a multi-state cooperative society specified in the Second Schedule." Section 3(p) adds that "multi-state cooperative society" includes a national co-operative society and a federal co-operative.
- Board. Section 43(1) speaks of a nominee "of a member, society or a national cooperative society" being eligible for the board of a multi-State society or a national co-operative society, subject to the disqualifications listed.
- General body. Section 3(l) says that, for a national co-operative society or a federal co-operative, the general body means "all the delegates of member of cooperative societies of delegates of multi-state cooperative societies". These words look garbled in the print and are quoted as printed.
- Amendment of the list. Under s.116(1) the Central Government, if satisfied that a multi-State society should be designated a national co-operative society or that one in the Second Schedule should be omitted, "may, by notification, amend the said Schedule". The print of s.116(1) has slips ("should be designate", "so at to include"); see our article on sections 114 to 116.
Example. The promoters of the invented Vaigai Multi-State Federation ask whether it is a "national cooperative society". The test in s.3(r) is simply whether it is specified in the Second Schedule as it stands after any notification under s.116. If the name does not appear in the list as printed, the answer turns on whether a notification has added it, and the sources contain none.
The Third Schedule: 17 Acts
The Third Schedule was inserted by section 49 of the 2023 Act "after the Second Schedule". It is headed "" and lists, with their Act numbers as printed:
| Sl. No. | Name of the Act | Act number |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Indian Stamp Act, 1899 | 2 of 1899 |
| 2 | The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 | 2 of 1934 |
| 3 | The Central Excise Act, 1944 | 1 of 1944 |
| 4 | The Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951 | 65 of 1951 |
| 5 | The Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 | 37 of 1954 |
| 6 | The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 | 10 of 1955 |
| 7 | The Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956 | 42 of 1956 |
| 8 | The Wealth-Tax Act, 1957 | 27 of 1957 |
| 9 | The Customs Act, 1962 | 52 of 1962 |
| 10 | The Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978 | 43 of 1978 |
| 11 | The Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions) Act, 1985 | 1 of 1986 |
| 12 | The Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992 | 15 of 1992 |
| 13 | The Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 | 22 of 1992 |
| 14 | The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 | 42 of 1999 |
| 15 | The Competition Act, 2002 | 12 of 2003 |
| 16 | The Prevention of Money-Laundering Act, 2002 | 15 of 2003 |
| 17 | The Companies Act, 2013 | 18 of 2013 |
The gazette prints the table across a page break after entry 3, and entry 11 carries the Act number "1 of 1986" against the year 1985; both are quoted as printed. The Act says nothing about whether any of these Acts is still in force, and this article says nothing on that either. The reader should check the current law for each of these Acts.
How the Third Schedule is used: section 43(1)(h)
Section 43(1) provides that no member (or nominee of a member, society or national co-operative society) is eligible to be chosen as, or to be, a member of the board "if such member" falls into one of the listed cases. Clause (h) reads, as amended in 2023: "is a person against whom any amount due under a decree, decision or order is pending recovery under this Act or under any other Act specified in the Third Schedule". The words "or under any other Act specified in the Third Schedule" were inserted by the 2023 Act.
So a pending recovery under one of the 17 Acts, like one under this Act, counts for the disqualification. The Act does not say what kind of "decree, decision or order" under those Acts qualifies beyond the words quoted, or what "pending recovery" means, and this article gives no further detail.
Amending the Third Schedule
Section 116(1A), inserted in 2023, allows the Central Government, if satisfied that it is "necessary or expedient so to do", to amend the First Schedule and the Third Schedule by notification. For the Third Schedule there is no limit to adding only; the proviso is confined to the First Schedule. Section 124(3), as substituted, requires s.116 notifications to be laid before Parliament. See our article on the First Schedule.
What the 2023 Amendment Act changed
| Provision | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Second Schedule | 21 societies as printed | Not amended in the sources; s.116(1) still allows amendment by notification |
| Third Schedule | No such Schedule | Inserted by section 49: 17 Acts |
| s.43(1)(h) | Pending recovery "under this Act" | Also "under any other Act specified in the Third Schedule" |
| s.116 | Second Schedule only | First, Second and Third Schedules (new s.116(1A)) |
Need help with board eligibility or national society status?
Whether a person is eligible for the board, and whether a society is a national co-operative society, depend on the Schedules as they stand after any notification. Our team can read the Schedules, the bye-laws and the person's record with you through legal consultation.
Key takeaways
- The Second Schedule lists 21 national co-operative societies; s.3(r) defines the class by reference to it.
- The Third Schedule, added in 2023, lists 17 Acts used in s.43(1)(h).
- A pending recovery under one of those Acts can disqualify a person from the board, as s.43(1)(h) is worded.
- Section 116 lets the Central Government amend the Schedules by notification; none is in the sources.
- Both lists are given as printed in the copies consulted.
Read next
- Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002: complete guide
- First Schedule: the seven co-operative principles
- Sections 114 to 116: liquidator as public servant, notice in suits and Schedules
- Sections 121 and 122: Acts not to apply and Central Government directions
Disclaimer: Based on the Ministry of Cooperation copy of the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 read with the Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2023 (in force from 3 August 2023), as consulted on 2 October 2026. The Multi-State Co-operative Societies Rules, 2002 as amended, later notifications and later amendments are not covered and should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.