Q.Which of the following bodies frames and maintains the internationally accepted principles of co-operation?

The principles of co-operation are a worldwide common standard, so they are framed by the global apex body of the movement, not by any single society or government.

A society's own managing committee or general body only runs that society; a government regulates but does not frame the movement's universal principles.

The principles of co-operation are meant to be a universal standard applying to co-operatives in every country, so they must be framed by a body that represents the whole global movement.

Option-by-option analysis:

• (a) The managing committee of each society — incorrect. A managing committee only runs the day-to-day affairs of its own society; it cannot frame principles binding on the whole world movement.
• (b) The International Co-operative Alliance (ICA) — correct. The ICA is the global apex body of the co-operative movement; it framed and, in its 1995 statement on the co-operative identity, re-stated the seven principles that co-operatives worldwide accept.
• (c) The general body of members — incorrect. The general body is supreme within a single society, but its authority does not extend to setting universal principles.
• (d) The state government — incorrect. Government registers and regulates co-operatives under law, but does not frame the movement's own principles.