31/2026-2027

Dated Aizawl the 22^nd April 2026: The North Eastern Council (NEC), the apex statutory body responsible for regional planning and development in India’s northeastern states, has reported a significant milestone in the financial year 2025–26, with total expenditure reaching ₹1,496.78 crore. This marks a notable acceleration in development efforts across the region.

According to official data, ₹792.12 crore was utilized under the Schemes of NEC (SoNEC), while ₹704.66 crore was spent under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Roads (NESIDS-Roads), highlighting a strong push toward infrastructure and connectivity.

Highest Project Sanctions in Current Finance Cycle

During the year, NEC sanctioned 54 new projects worth ₹435.22 crore—the highest number approved in a single year during the ongoing 15th Finance Commission period. These projects span sectors such as higher education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, industry, and cultural preservation.

Additionally, 162 non-project initiatives—including festivals, workshops, seminars, and awareness programmes—were approved with a total outlay of ₹24.06 crore. This brings the total value of new sanctions in FY 2025–26 to ₹459.28 crore.

Strong Delivery: 136 Projects Completed

The Council also recorded substantial progress in project execution. A total of 136 projects worth ₹678.85 crore were completed during the year, marking the second-highest annual completion rate in the current Finance Commission cycle.

Further, 161 non-project activities worth ₹17.28 crore were successfully concluded, taking the total number of completed deliverables to 297.

Major Gains in Road Infrastructure

Under the NESIDS-Roads scheme, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region sanctioned 64 road projects worth ₹3,037.39 crore across the eight northeastern states during the 15th Finance Commission period. Of these, 30 projects worth ₹1,123.08 crore have been completed so far.

In FY 2025–26 alone, expenditure under the scheme reached ₹704.66 crore, contributing to key infrastructure such as bridges and road upgrades aimed at improving regional connectivity.

Enhanced Monitoring and Accountability

To ensure effective implementation, the NEC Secretariat conducted 405 field inspections of ongoing projects during the year. This extensive monitoring effort is aimed at maintaining quality, ensuring timely completion, and enhancing accountability.

Financial Discipline Sees Significant Improvement

A major governance achievement for NEC has been the sharp reduction in committed financial liabilities and pending utilisation certificates (UCs). Committed liabilities declined from ₹1,743.48 crore in April 2022 to ₹813.17 crore by March 2026—a reduction of over 53%.

Meanwhile, pending UCs dropped dramatically from ₹440.82 crore in April 2025 to just ₹10.94 crore by early 2026, reflecting a 97% reduction within a single financial year.

Leadership and Vision for the Future

The NEC Secretary expressed gratitude to state governments and implementing agencies for their continued cooperation in advancing developmental priorities in the Northeast.

Guided by the leadership of the NEC Chairperson, the Union Home Minister, and the Vice Chairperson, the Minister for Development of North Eastern Region, the Council reaffirmed its commitment to fostering inclusive growth.

Looking ahead, NEC aims to work closely with all northeastern states to achieve the vision of a “Viksit North East” by 2047, aligning with the broader national goal of a “Viksit Bharat.”