Rising North-East India: Frontrunner Of Development
PM Modi has embraced the region's potential through a comprehensive developmental project.
The North-Eastern region of India, comprised of eight states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim—is renowned for its beautiful sceneries and exceptional weather. This region, rich in both natural and artificial resources, has recently gained prominence on the global stage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the 'Rising North-East' summit has spotlighted the region's potential, leading to Rs 4.3 lakh crore in investment interests, positioning it as India's next economic powerhouse. Modi has embraced the region's potential through a comprehensive developmental project. The Minister of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) highlighted eight key focus areas: agriculture, animal husbandry, sports, investments, economic corridors, infrastructure, textiles, and handicrafts.
The North-Eastern region shares international boundaries with Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Each state boasts unique cultures and traditions, making it a biodiversity hotspot and a culturally rich area. The region plays a crucial role in India's 'Act East Policy,' aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asia. With abundant natural resources and potential in agriculture and horticulture, the North-East is emerging as a hub for sustainable manufacturing and services. The region's diverse ethnic, religious, linguistic, and cultural landscape also makes it an attractive tourist destination, offering significant growth potential in tourism.
Covering 2.6 lakh sq. km, the North-Eastern region accounts for 7.98 per cent of India's total geographical area and 3.78 per cent of its population. The terrain is a mix of hills and plains, with hills making up 70 per cent of the land. With a tribal population of around 54 per cent, especially in the hills, the region is home to approximately 135 Scheduled Tribe groups out of the total 705 across India. The area is rich in natural resources, including agro-horticultural and forest resources, hydroelectric potential, oil, natural gas, and minerals, making it ripe for investment and growth. Poor connectivity has historically hindered development, but transportation and infrastructure improvements are now a priority.
The Indian government has launched several initiatives to enhance road infrastructure, such as the 3,000-km-long Trans Arunachal Highway in Arunachal Pradesh and the Dhola-Sadiya bridge in Assam, the longest in India. The Bharat Mala Pariyojana, a key highway development programme, aims to construct 35,000 km of highways across India, including significant projects in the North-East to boost connectivity and regional development.
Air Connectivity
New airports have been built, and existing ones upgraded, making air travel more comfortable and convenient. Incentives like reduced landing and parking fees have attracted airlines, increasing flight numbers. Improved air connectivity has made the North-East more accessible to tourists and businesses, boosting the local economy and regional growth.
Rail Connectivity
The Indian Railways has introduced special trains showcasing the region's cultural and natural heritage, promoting tourism and awareness. New and extended rail services have improved connectivity, contributing to economic growth.
National Highways Expansion: India's National Highway network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 1,46,145 km in 2024, with multi-lane stretches increasing from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,422 km in 2024.
Bharatmala Pariyojana: Launched in 2017, this programme aims to develop about 26,000 km of Economic Corridors. By November 2024, 18,926 km of roads were completed.
Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs): As part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, 35 MMLPs are planned with a total investment of about Rs 46,000 crore, expected to handle around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo once operational.
Civil Aviation Growth: The number of operational airports increased from 74 in 2014 to 157 by September 2024. In the North-East, operational airports grew from 9 in 2013 to 17 by 2023, leading to a 113% rise in traffic. The UDAN scheme added 194 fixed-wing and helicopter routes, boosting tourism, investment, and business. Arunachal Pradesh's first Greenfield airport at Hollongi, Itanagar, connects it to major cities.
Inland Waterways Transport (IWT): A state-of-the-art IWT terminal at Jogighopa, Assam, connected to the Multi-Modal Logistics Park, serves as an international port for Bhutan and Bangladesh, enhancing logistics in the region. The development of National Waterway-2 (Brahmaputra) and National Waterway-16 (Barak River) aims to reduce logistics costs.
Urban and Industrial Growth: A semiconductor manufacturing plant is being established in Jagiroad, near Guwahati, Assam, in collaboration with the Tata Group. The first MMLP in India is under construction at Jogighopa, Assam, set to transform logistics, warehousing, and cargo movement.
Policies and Schemes: Various state government initiatives like the Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI) aim at developing industries and generating employment. The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) focuses on enhancing infrastructure related to water supply, power, connectivity, and tourism. The Ministry of DoNER has sanctioned 90 projects costing Rs 3,417.68 crore under NESIDS in the last three financial years. The Prime Minister's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) funds infrastructure and social development projects, promoting youth and women's livelihoods. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan aims at strengthening multi-modal logistics and seamless freight corridors. Bharatmala Pariyojana focuses on expanding highway corridors, enhancing inter-state and cross-border trade.
The 'Rising North-East' summit highlights the region's critical position in India, providing immense opportunities to drive the Indian economy.
About the Author
Monalisa Deka
Monalisa Deka has done Ph.D. in Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, JNU New Delhi.
tags :
Northeast India
view comments
Location :
New Delhi, India, India
First Published:
June 17, 2025, 16:14 IST
News opinion Opinion | Rising North-East India: Frontrunner Of Development
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Indian Express
WATCH: Supposed Indian-origin man shouts ‘bomb the flight' and ‘death to Trump' mid-flight on EasyJet plane
A seemingly middle-aged man was arrested on Sunday morning after causing panic aboard an EasyJet flight from London Luton to Glasgow, repeatedly shouting threats including 'I'm going to bomb the plane!' and 'Death to America! Death to Trump!' as passengers tackled him mid-air. The flight, designated EZY609, was met by police upon landing at Glasgow Airport around 8:20 am local time, where the man was taken into custody. According to New York Post citing one witness, the man carried documents suggesting he was an Indian national with refugee status. According to New York Post, the suspect allegedly shouted that he wanted to 'send a message' to US President Donald Trump, who was in Scotland at the time, visiting his Turnberry golf course. The incident occurred roughly an hour after takeoff from Luton. The man also kept shouting 'Allahu Akbar' while raising his hands aggressively. Footage shared online shows the man shouting the threats, as a passenger wrestles him to the floor. Following this, he seemingly gives up and stops shouting. 'DEATH to Trump' and 'ALLAHU AKBAR' — man causes panic on flight Says he's going to 'BOMB the plane' SLAMMED to ground by passenger — RT (@RT_com) July 27, 2025 The plane, already close to its destination, was placed under emergency landing protocol as air traffic control cleared a safe path for descent. Officers from Police Scotland boarded the aircraft upon arrival and detained the man. A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed, according to The Jerusalem Post: 'We received a report of a man causing a disturbance on a flight arriving in Glasgow around 8:20 am on Sunday, 27 July 2025. A 41-year-old man was arrested and remains in custody. Enquiries are continuing.' Authorities added that counterterrorism officers are assessing the footage and conducting a full investigation. Police believe the man acted alone and there is no indication of a wider threat. In a statement, EasyJet said according to The Jerusalem Post said: 'Flight EZY609 from Luton to Glasgow this morning was met by police on arrival in Glasgow, where they boarded the aircraft and removed a passenger due to their behaviour onboard.' They added, 'EasyJet's crew are trained to assess all situations and act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other customers is not compromised at any time. The safety and well-being of our customers and crew is always EasyJet's highest priority.' (With inputs from BBC, The Jerusalem Post, New York Post)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
28 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Don't speak Pak's language: Rijiju appeals to Oppn ahead of Parl discussion
Ahead of the 16-hour-long discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has appealed to the opposition not to speak in the language of Pakistan. He said that there was a need to be mindful and maintain the dignity of the Indian armed forces. "I request the opposition, especially the Congress, not to do anything to harm India's interests and not speak Pakistan's language. We have to be mindful. We have to maintain the dignity of the Indian armed forces," Rijiju told ANI. The Union Minister stated that the opposition, including the Congress, should refrain from making any statements that could harm national interests. "The Congress and the Opposition should not say anything that could harm the national interests. Whatever they speak against India is used by the Pakistanis and India's enemies outside," Rijiju said, adding, "It was the wish of the people of India that the PM decided to launch Operation Sindoor through the Indian Army. Today, the Lok Sabha will take up the discussion on the Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to address the Lok Sabha at around noon. Lok Sabha is set to hold a special discussion on 'Operation Sindoor', India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. A fiery debate is expected to unfold in Parliament between top leaders from the ruling alliance and the opposition. Lok Sabha's listing for the Business for Monday "Special Discussion on India's strong, successful and decisive 'Operation Sindoor' in response to terrorist attack in Pahalgam". Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Even since the monsoon session began on July 21, the Parliament has witnessed constant adjourments amid uproar over the demands of the opposition to push for a debate on issues of public importance, including the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack and the ongoing SIR exercise being carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The opposition has also demanded that PM Modi respond to the repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump of initiating a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. The first week of the Monsoon session of Parliament was marked by major disruptions, including the surprise resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar as Vice President. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rijiju stated that the debate on Operation Sindoor will be held for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on July 28 and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on July 29. "All issues cannot be discussed together... The opposition has raised several issues, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and others. We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues to discuss after that. Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29)," Rijiju told reporters. Apart from this, the floor leaders of the INDIA bloc parties will meet on Monday at 10 am to discuss the strategy for the second week of the monsoon session, with the Lok Sabha slated to take up discussion on Operation Sindoor on Monday and the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
Economic Times
28 minutes ago
- Economic Times
India-UK trade deal not historic but should help Indian workers in UK: Swaminathan Aiyar
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel Consulting Editor,suggests that while the UK trade agreement may not drastically alter the overall scenario due to existing low trade levels, any increase is beneficial. A significant achievement is the improved conditions for Indian workers in the UK, including exemptions from social security contributions and the ability to work remotely in 35 sectors, enhancing their to say it is historic is a clear exaggeration. It is a useful thing. We live in a world right now where trade barriers are going up and it is happening all over the place, not just in the USA. Others in retaliation are putting theirs up. We ourselves have retaliated. On some occasions we have put ours up. So, when you get any agreement where there is a significant amount of liberalisation of trade, I would say it is you go back to the 1950s, Britain was our largest trading partner; today it is not even in the top 10. So, it has fallen away in importance. The old colonial connection is completely severed and Britain itself has suffered a substantial amount of deindustrialisation. And if you ask what are the main exports of England's, somebody will say Premier League football or The Economist. It does export scotch whiskey of course and that is where the duty is going to come down from 150% to 75%, subsequently maybe to 40%. That still gives plenty of protection for Indian anybody who is worried, I need to emphasise that we now have two or three artisanal whiskey companies in India which in blind tasting have beaten everybody else. Now, of course, we are not mass-producing these things. Indri will have a small batch run. It is not like the continuous mass production of some famous scotch names, but we are competent and we are high class even in something like whiskey. So, I welcome the increased competition out there too. India itself will benefit significantly in various the end of it all, this freeing of trade will change things. But if already the UK is not among your top 10 trading partners, you cannot expect this to really change the whole scenario. If already the trade is low, it means the complimentarity between the two countries is not that high. It is much higher with China and the USA and much less with the UK. So, the overall scope for trade is limited, but we are increasing it and every increase is a good have often talked about improving the conditions for Indians to move to the UK for work. This used to be one of the things that was holding up an agreement. There, we have a good deal. Indians can work in 35 sectors for two years without any office and that means you can land up there and just work from your residence with zoom and you can be functioning without going through all the difficulties of setting up a formal sector and there is an exemption for social security. This is important. A significant part of your salary, anything you earn when your people go to the UK, is cut and goes towards your long-term fellows are going there to do IT or other work for one year, for two years, for three years, so there is no point in them paying into social security when they will get nothing out of it once they retire. You have to work a very large number of years before you can get those benefits. Earlier they resisted it and said they were not going to do it. The United States still has not allowed this, but Britain has given what the United States has not given and this is very useful.I do not know the exact rates of the deduction for different categories, but 10-15% or sometimes 20% of your salaries went in these various deductions. If that gets reduced, there is that much more these Indian professionals will be able to send home. So that is a positive thing.
