North Eastern Council's 73rd Plenary Meeting: Key Highlights

Background & Context

The North Eastern Council (NEC) convened its 73rd Plenary Meeting to deliberate on multi-sectoral development strategies for the eight northeastern states. The Ministry of DoNER is transitioning into a pivotal facilitator for regional growth, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Key Sectoral Initiatives

Eight High-Level Task Forces were constituted after the 72nd NEC Plenary, covering:

  • Investment promotion
  • Agriculture and horticulture
  • Handicrafts
  • Infrastructure and connectivity
  • Economic corridors
  • Livestock and fisheries
  • Sports
  • Tourism

Financial Inclusion Milestones

  • 6,500 previously unbanked villages integrated into formal banking
  • UPI adoption reached nearly 90% in the region
  • Digital payment ecosystem rapidly accelerating at grassroots level

Tourism Corridors Development

  • Matabari Tourism Circuit (Tripura)
  • Sohra Tourism Circuit (Meghalaya)
  • Focus on iconic, high-yield geographical circuits for sustainable livelihoods

One State One Product (OSOP) Scheme

Unique products being promoted:

  • Lakadong Turmeric (Meghalaya)
  • Muga Silk (Assam)
  • Kiwi (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • Queen Pineapple (Tripura)
  • Organic Farming (Sikkim)

Soft Power & National Integration

  • Ashtalakshmi Darshan Student Exchange Programme - institutionalizing soft diplomacy
  • ISRO exposure visits for regional youth - promoting scientific temper

Governance Framework

Three-C Framework: Connect, Converge, Catalyse

Budget Allocation:

  • 2022-23: ~Rs 1,000 crore
  • 2026-27: Rs 6,500 crore (more than 6x increase)

Investment Summit: Rising North East Investment Summit generated commitments worth Rs 4.5 lakh crore

About North Eastern Council (NEC)

Establishment: North Eastern Council Act, 1971

Administrative Control: Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (MDoNER)

Purpose: Nodal agency for economic and social development of North Eastern Region

Member States (8):

  1. Arunachal Pradesh
  2. Assam
  3. Manipur
  4. Meghalaya
  5. Mizoram
  6. Nagaland
  7. Sikkim
  8. Tripura

Composition:

  • Governors and Chief Ministers of all 8 member states
  • Three members nominated by President of India

Chairmanship:

  • Chairman: Union Home Minister (ex-officio)
  • Vice-Chairman: Minister of State (Independent Charge), DoNER (ex-officio)

Significance for Governance & Policy

  1. Constitutional Basis: NEC derives authority from the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, representing a statutory body for regional development
  1. DoNER Ministry Evolution: Transition from a funding agency to a facilitator aligns with broader governance reforms
  1. Viksit Bharat 2047 Alignment: NEC's strategy directly contributes to national development goals
  1. Financial Inclusion: Integration of unbanked villages represents financial inclusion success story
  1. Export Promotion: OSOP scheme strengthens local economies through export-oriented products
  1. Regional Integration: Student exchange programmes and ISRO visits promote national integration