Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) was announced as a new Central Sector scheme, with 100% Central funding in the Union Budget 2022-23 with initial outlay of Rs.1500 crore. The Union Cabinet on 12 October, 2022 approved the Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6600 crore for the period from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-2026.

The Scheme aims at rapid and holistic development of NER by funding infrastructure and social development projects based on felt needs of the States. The objectives of PM-DevINE scheme are to: (i) fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti; (ii) support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER; (iii) enable livelihood activities for youth and women; and (iv) fill the development gaps in various sectors.

Keeping in view the objectives of the scheme, total 35 projects worth Rs. 4857.11 crore, including the seven projects announced in Budget 2022-23, have been sanctioned under the Scheme up to 30.11.2024.

Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments through various schemes to promote industrialization in the country, including NER. Government of India had launched North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) on 01.04.2017, which was notified on 12.04.2018, to promote industrialization in the North Eastern States. The scheme ended on 31.03.2022. A new scheme Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI) was launched on March 9, 2024, by Government of India for extending support to the industries for enhancing regional infrastructure, creating employment opportunities, and promoting resilience and prosperity in the region. Under the UNNATI Scheme, the following specific incentives are provided to the industrial Units:

1. Capital Investment Incentive 
2. Capital Interest Subvention
3. Manufacturing & Services Linked Incentive

It is mandatory for all the non-exempt Union Ministries/Departments to earmark at least 10% of their annual Gross Budgetary Allocation towards the development of NER. During the last 5 years from 2019-20 to 2023-24, the non exempted Ministries/Departments have incurred a provisional expenditure of Rs. 3,53,412 Crore for development of NER.

This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Sukanta Majumdar in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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SB/DP/ARJ