New Delhi: Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia today unveiled the one-year performance report of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) at a press conference in the capital, outlining a year that redefined the narrative of India’s Northeast — from cultural revival and investment mobilization to sharper governance and faster project delivery.
On this occasion, Minister of State Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, Secretary Mr. Chanchal Kumar, and Senior Economic Advisor Nilambuj Sharan were also present, underscoring the ministry’s coordinated approach to driving development across the eight northeastern states.
The story began at Ashtalakshmi Mahotsav last December, where the Prime Minister inaugurated a three-day festival of crafts, culture, and commerce. Eight states came together at Bharat Mandapam, generating ₹2,326 crore in business leads and showcasing 34 GI-tagged products — from Assam’s Muga silk to Tripura’s bamboo craft. It wasn’t just a cultural fair; it was the region’s debut as a confident economic player.
That confidence deepened in May 2025 with the Rising Northeast Investors Summit, which pulled in ₹4.48 lakh crore in investment commitments — a record for the region. Chief Ministers of all eight states, 100 ambassadors, and top public sector heads filled the two-day event with serious business intent.
Earlier, in December, the North East Banker’s Conclave in Agartala, inaugurated by the Union Home Minister, secured commitments for 51 new bank branches and expanded credit flow to small enterprises. The conclave also pushed digital banking and UPI expansion into some of India’s most remote districts.
Beyond economics, MDoNER placed integration at the heart of development. The Ashtalakshmi Darshan program launched youth exchanges bringing students from across India to the Northeast, while NE-SPARKS, in partnership with ISRO, sent 800 students from the region to space centers, sparking scientific curiosity.
Branding the Northeast as a destination — not just a direction — became another major push. Each state identified a unique product and tourism icon, from Ziro Valley in Arunachal to Kaziranga in Assam and Sohra in Meghalaya, forming the backbone of a “Brand NER” campaign blending heritage with modernity.
Governance, often the region’s weakest link, saw structural reform. For the first time, CM-led Sectoral Task Forces brought states together on tourism, investment, and agriculture, ensuring policies were framed regionally, not in isolation. MDoNER also evolved into a single-window facilitator, fast-tracking projects like Shillong Airport and the Sikkim highway realignment.
On the ground, diversification efforts took root. The Palm Oil Mission achieved nearly 20% of its plantation target; Agarwood exports were liberalized sixfold; and bamboo clusters worth ₹126 crore rolled out with over 2,500 artisans trained.
MDoNER also overhauled the tracking of projects. Its Poorvottar Vikas Setu portal digitized monitoring, while social audits covered 97% of ongoing works. The ministry achieved its highest-ever annual expenditure of ₹3,447 crore in FY 2024–25 — a 209% increase in three years — signaling stronger fiscal discipline and improved delivery.
For a region long defined by distance and delay, the past year brought a quiet but determined shift — from dependency to design, and from the margins to the mainstream.
