New Delhi, March 26 -- The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to upgrade the Institute of Rural Management Anand into India's first co-operative university - the Tribhuvan Sahkari University - and declare it as an institution of national importance.

The university will impart technical and management education and training in the co-operative sector, promote cooperative research and development and attain standards of global excellence in order to realise the vision of Sahakar Se Samriddhi.

It will also strengthen the co-operative movement in the country through a network of institutions and to declare the Institute as one of the Schools of the University, according to the statement of the bill.

Replying to the debate on the Bi...