Step 1: Understanding cooperative principles.
Cooperatives are people-centered organizations based on the values of self-help, democracy, equality, and solidarity. Their core elements are mutual cooperation, voluntary membership, and democratic management.
Step 2: Analyzing the options.
(A) Mutual cooperation: Yes, cooperatives are based on mutual help.
(B) Voluntary membership: Yes, members join and exit freely.
(C) Democratic functioning: Yes, decisions are taken democratically (one member, one vote).
(D) All of these: Correct — all three are basic elements of cooperatives.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Therefore, the basic element of cooperatives includes All of these.