Investments worth Rs 4.48 lakh crore, ‘Ashtalakshmi’ branding, and historic governance reforms
The Sunday Mail
New Delhi. Union Communications and North Eastern Region Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday detailed the work and achievements of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) over the past year. Speaking to reporters, he said that in the past year, the Ministry has not only set new dimensions in terms of development, but has also achieved historic milestones in governance, investment, and regional integration. He stated that, under the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Northeast has become the growth engine of India. The Northeast has registered a GDP growth rate of 9-11 percent CAGR over the past decade, which is unparalleled and unprecedented.
Scindia stated that last year, the Ministry presented the Northeast as a hub of global investment and cultural identity by organizing events such as the Ashtalakshmi Festival, the Northeast Bankers’ Conclave, and the Rising Northeast Investors’ Summit. The Rising North East Summit (May 2025) signed investment agreements worth ₹4.48 lakh crore, the highest investment ever for the region. Additionally, during the Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav held in December 2025, business agreements worth ₹2,326 crore were signed, and over 320 artisans showcased their products. At the Bankers’ Conclave held in December 2024, banks announced plans to open 51 new branches and strengthen digital banking.
Scindia informed that the Ministry has launched two special youth exchange programs. Under the NE Sparks program, a total of 800 students from the Northeast have been sent to institutions like ISRO for visits and research. Additionally, an Ashtalakshmi Darshan program is being launched, under which students from across the country will visit schools in the Northeast for a 14-day study tour. Scindia informed that for the first time, eight sectoral High-Level Task Forces (HLTFs) have been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Ministers, which are ensuring inter-state cooperation and policy coordination in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, investment, sports, and infrastructure. Additionally, the Ministry has developed an Inter-Ministerial Facilitation System, through which backlogs in projects such as Shillong Airport, Kailashahar Airport, and Sikkim Highway have been resolved expeditiously. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has initiated digital tracking of projects. For the first time, third-party inspection has been completed for 599 out of 620 projects, and 223 out of 245 completed projects have become operational, representing a 91 percent completion rate. In the last 11 years, unprecedented progress has been made in infrastructure development in the Northeast. He said that while a decade ago, the eight states of the Northeast had only nine airports, and Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh had none, today this number has increased to 17, of which Arunachal Pradesh alone has four airports. Significant progress is also being made in rail connectivity; by 2029, all Northeastern states will be connected by rail. Furthermore, work is progressing rapidly to connect the region with Southeast Asia and the world through the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project. The Northeast is no longer India’s last frontier, but is emerging as the “Gateway to India.”
In the financial year 2024-25, the Ministry recorded a historic expenditure of ₹3,447 crore, representing a 209% increase over the previous three years. This target has now been set to increase to ₹5,500 crore in 2025-26. Regular weekly reviews and improved monitoring mechanisms have given new impetus to the ministry’s efficiency. Scindia stated that the Northeast region is not just geographical, but an integral part of India’s soul. It is our commitment to ensure that the Northeast plays a leading role in every phase of development, be it investment, cultural enrichment, or a strong example of good governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has considered the Northeast to be the embodiment of Ashtalakshmi, and this Ashtalakshmi is now rapidly progressing to become India’s growth engine.
