Policy Update
R.Tejaswini
Background
India’s North Eastern Region is characterised by unique geographical features, strategic location, and developmental bottlenecks particularly in infrastructure and social development. In this context, the Government of India launched the PM’S Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) scheme in the Union Budget 2022-2023 to promote rapid and sustainable development in the North Eastern Region (NER).
As a central sector policy, it is fully financed by the Union Government. The initiative was launched for 4 years from 2022-2023 to 2025-2026 with an outlay of ₹6,600 crore. This initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, North Eastern Council (NEC), Central ministries and agencies. PM-DevINE aligns with the broader vision of DoNER, i.e., ensuring holistic and sustainable development to transform NER and enhance the livelihoods.
Objectives
1. The programme aims to fund infrastructure development in alignment with PM GatiShakti.
2. Address the felt needs of the region by supporting social development projects.
3. Create sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth and women.
4. Bridging developmental gaps in various sectors of the region.
Functioning
The PM-DevINe scheme is a Central sector policy administered by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Its functioning involves a multi-tiered structure. At the central level, the Empowered Inter-Ministerial Committee (EIMC) makes project recommendations for appraisal, while at the state level, The State Level Empowerment Committee evaluates plans and oversees implementation. The workflow of the initiative involves a chain of processes which includes proposal submission, appraisal, selection, sanction and implementation.
The project mainly focuses on infrastructure, social development and livelihood generation. Funding is released by the Central government in phases based on the progress of projects. Monitoring is ensured through state-led supervision, monthly reports and technological integration. After project completion, the state government is responsible for operation and maintenance of the created assets.
Performance
The performance of the PM-DevINE scheme indicates limited progress in implementation when evaluated against its objective of rapid transformation. As of 2026, 48 projects have been sanctioned out of which only 3 projects have been completed, indicating implementation challenges. The increase in the number of projects from 8 to 48 projects cumulatively sanctioned over time, highlights a gradual scaling up and project portfolio expansions.
According to the DoNER dashboard, the data reveals a significant gap between fund allocation and actual fund utilisation, revealing ineffective fund usage. Sikkim has completed 2 projects, while the other North Eastern states show no completed projects, suggesting uneven state performance. The plan is largely in an implementation phase despite nearing its terminal year, indicating a gap between project sanctioning and tangible outcomes. The dashboard suggests that the plan has a higher concentration of projects under the health and tourism sector compared to infrastructure which is one of the core objectives of the PM-DevINE. Ultimately, the evaluation of the policy reveals execution delays, uneven state progress, fund underutilisation and uneven sectoral growth distribution.
Impact
Since the launch of the PM-DevINE scheme, which is a region-specific policy that prioritises infrastructure, social development and livelihood generation, policy attention towards development of the North Eastern Region has increased. By aligning the regional priorities with national initiatives such as PM GatiShakti, it has enabled greater focus on the region in national planning. The impact of the programme has been gradual rather than rapid as envisioned earlier. The initiative’s ability to generate economic and social development remains limited due to the gap between project sanctioning and outcomes. Sectoral patterns reveal that areas such as tourism and healthcare are prioritised while infrastructure has not gained the same attention. Overall, the plan’s impact in transforming the region is still evolving.
Emerging Issues
1. The North Eastern Region is characterised by rich ecosystems and natural resources. Projects in such sensitive areas may lead to habitat disruption or resource depletion. Accordingly, environmental impact assessment is a requirement to reduce the risk.
2. Sanctioned projects face implementation delays and cost overruns due to administrative bottlenecks and land acquisition complexities. To address this challenge, an escalation clause and phased fund release are made components of the scheme to ensure accountability and enhanced project management.
3. Ensuring long-term maintenance of the assets remains a challenge as after 4 years of project completion, the state government is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the created assets.
Way Forward
The PM-DevINE scheme should evolve into an outcome-based and time-sensitive approach, to transform the region rapidly as the objective suggests. It should prioritise timely completion of projects, to translate projects to actual development. The policy should also aim to align its projects with national initiatives and development indicators such as the SDGs. To enhance inclusivity, it should also focus on tribal and backward areas. Integrating sustainability and long-term planning into projects will ensure long-term effectiveness. In conclusion, these measures together will enhance the initiative’s performance and lead to balanced regional growth.
References
1. Press Information Bureau (PIB), 2023, PM-DevINE Scheme, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India. PM-DevINE Scheme – PIB Release
2. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), 2025, Comprehensive Guidelines for PM-DevINE Scheme, Government of India. https://www.mdoner.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/10/fe99388a3b6f75148327cb4cafa2a1d0.pdf
3. Public Works Department, Government of Assam, 2024, PM-DevINE Scheme Overview, Government of Assam. https://pwdroads.assam.gov.in/schemes/pm-devine
4. Press Information Bureau (PIB), 2026, Progress of PM-DevINE Scheme, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, Government of India. Progress of PM-DevINE Scheme
5. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), 2026, PM-DevINE Dashboard: Sector-wise Project Summary, Government of India. https://nesetu.mdoner.gov.in/projects/summary-report?bt=sector-wise&scheme=pmdevine
6. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER), 2025, PM-DevINE Scheme Report/Guidelines, Government of India. https://www.mdoner.gov.in/static/uploads/2025/08/f1f4effb38115bd38979e65fa51edd3a.pdf
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
R.Tejaswini is a Research Intern at IMPRI. She is pursuing a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai. Her research interests include India’s foreign policy and Public policy.
Acknowledgement
The author sincerely thanks Ms Sana and the IMPRI team for their constructive comments and editorial guidance during the review of this policy update.
Disclaimer: Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of IMPRI.
