Q.The first co-operative law in India, marking the formal beginning of the organised co-operative movement in the country, was the: (A) Co-operative Societies Act, 1912
(B) Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904
(C) Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960
(D) Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, 1919

In India, the movement began mainly to free farmers from the moneylender's grip. Its formal start was the Co-operative Credit Societies Act, 1904 (India's first co-operative law, for credit societies), broadened by the Co-operative Societies Act, 1912 (allowing all kinds of societies and central/federal societies); the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 made co-operation a provincial subject, and after independence co-operation became a key part of the Five-Year Plans, with the dairy 'White Revolution' as a standout success. Maharashtra is regarded as the leading co-operative state in India — its landmark contribution is the co-operative sugar factory, the first of which was set up at Pravaranagar (Ahmednagar district) in 1950 by Vithalrao Vikhe Patil with Dr. Dhananjayrao Gadgil's guidance, making farmers the ow …