Northeast India From Frontier to Frontrunner

• 27 May 2025

For Prelims: Northeast region, Living root bridges, Kaziranga National Park, Inner Line Permit, PM-DevINE, Siliguri Corridor 

For Mains: Act East Policy and Role of Northeast India, Border Management and National Security in Northeast 

Source:TH 

Why in News?

The Prime Minister at the “Rising Northeast: The Investor Summit” declared that the Northeast Region (NER) of India is no longer a “frontier” but a “frontrunner” in India’s growth journey. Highlighting its strategic importance and economic potential, he emphasized the region’s evolving role as a gateway for trade with Southeast Asia. 

Note: The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) is organizing the Rising Northeast Summit to unlock the investment and trade potential of the NER of India.  

• The initiative aims to project NER as a dynamic economic corridor with strategic connectivity to ASEAN and BBN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal) countries. 
• Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 drew an unprecedented Rs 4.3 lakh crore in investment interest, setting the stage for the NER to become India’s next economic powerhouse. 

How is the Northeast Emerging as a ‘Frontrunner’ for India’s Growth? 

• Bio-economy and Natural Resources: The NER, referred to as ‘Ashta Lakshmis’, highlights the region’s vast potential in renewable energy, agro-based industries, eco-tourism, and strategic manufacturing. 
  • The region’s biodiversity is being leveraged for green growth. Assam is a major hub for tea production, while Arunachal Pradesh leads in bamboo-based industries. 
  • The region holds 40% of India’s hydropower potential (~62,000 MW), yet only 6.9% is harnessed. Solar potential is estimated at 57,360 MW with only 17% installed capacity. 
• Tourism and Human Capital Strengths: The Northeast's natural beauty and vibrant culture make it a perfect destination for eco-friendly and sustainable tourism.  
  • Key attractions include Meghalaya’s living root bridges, Sikkim’s eco-tourism, Kaziranga National Park, and Kamakhya Temple in Assam, and Manipur’s Loktak Lake. These sites boost local livelihoods and promote eco-friendly travel. 
  • Additionally, high literacy rates among NER (~80%) and a high proportion of English-speaking populations contribute to the region’s workforce readiness. 
  • States like Manipur and Mizoram are national leaders in sports like football, boxing, and weightlifting. 
• Gateway to Southeast Asia: The Northeast is central to India's Act East Policy, serving as a bridge to ASEAN and Indo-Pacific markets. 
  • Projects like the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project are enhancing regional connectivity.  
  • Development of ports like Sittwe in Myanmar and Chittagong in Bangladesh will connect Northeast India to key Indian Ocean shipping routes, boosting India-ASEAN trade from USD 125 billion to USD 200 billion over the next decade. 
• Critical to National Security: NER shares 5,484 km of borders with five countries (Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet/China) plays a frontline role in national security. 
  • The Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck), is a vital strategic and economic lifeline, connecting Northeast India to the rest of the country and serving as a key transit hub for trade with Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. 
• Infrastructure Push: The central government has significantly increased funding with 10% of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ budget allocated to the Northeast. 
  • The North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), launched in 2018, has a USD 1 billion allocation for roads, water, and power. 
  • Projects like the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh are improving all-weather connectivity to remote areas. New initiatives like the upcoming Semiconductor Plant in Assam mark a shift toward high-tech industrial investment. 

 

What are the Challenges in Making Northeast India a Frontrunner? 

• Historical Insurgency and Security Issues: Decades of insurgent movements (Naga, Mizo, ULFA, NDFB) created instability, affecting investment and development. 
  • Cross-border infiltration from Bangladesh and Myanmar has posed persistent security challenges. 
  • The 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur between Meiteis and Kukis highlights deep-rooted tensions and fragile inter-community relations and identity politics prevent a unified development approach.  
  • Fear of “outsiders” and demands for perpetuation of Inner Line Permits (ILP) create resistance to migration, investment, and entrepreneurship. 
• Agricultural Distress and Employment Gaps: Although agriculture is the mainstay, the region faces serious issues like low productivity and lack of modern techniques. 
  • Middlemen dominance is prevalent in NER, which traps farmers in debt and low income. Even cooperatives struggle to compete against these intermediaries. 
  • Despite high literacy and English proficiency, a lack of industry-ready skills affects employability. 
• Low Tourist Footfall: The region’s huge tourism potential is underutilized due to limited connectivity, safety concerns, and weak marketing. 
• Dependency on Central Funds: Many NER states heavily rely on Union government support, indicating low fiscal self-reliance. 
• Limited Industrial Base: Industrial development is uneven, and high logistics costs discourage large-scale investments. 
• Geographical Constraints and Environmental Vulnerability: Difficult terrain, frequent floods, and landslides hamper infrastructure development and connectivity. 
  • The Northeast faces frequent floods, landslides, and erratic rainfall that harm infrastructure and livelihoods.  
  • The 2022 Assam floods, which displaced millions, highlight the region’s ecological vulnerability, while climate change threatens agriculture and water security. 
• Drug Trafficking: Proximity to the Golden Triangle makes the NER vulnerable to narcotics trafficking, especially in Manipur and Mizoram. 
  • Rise in drug addiction among youth, overburdening healthcare systems and worsening the social fabric. 

What are Initiatives Related to Development of the Northeast Region? 

• PM’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) 
• North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 
• Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) 
• Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI) 
• National Bamboo Mission 
• Bharatmala Pariyojana 

How can the NER be made the Frontrunner for India’s Growth?? 

• Promoting Tourism and Cultural Economy: Develop eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, and ethnic village circuits under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 and Dekho Apna Desh initiatives. 
  • Encourage homestay models and cultural entrepreneurship through training and micro-credit via Startup India and MUDRA loans. 
  • Organize more international cultural festivals (like Hornbill and Pang Lhabsol) to position the region as a soft power hub. 
• Human Capital Development: Set up multidisciplinary universities and skill centers in partnership with institutions like IIT-Guwahati. Tailor skilling to regional strengths (e.g., handicrafts, agri-tech, hospitality, disaster response). 
• Promoting Organic Agriculture: Provide better market access via NE-RACE, reducing the middleman burden  
  • Provide price incentives for organic produce, along with branding and marketing support under the MOVCDNER. 
• Deepening Industrialization: Revamp NEIDS with real-time monitoring, faster approvals, and targeted sectoral clusters (e.g., organic food, handicrafts, pharma, and agro-processing). 
  • Establish Border Economic Zones (BEZs) in Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram similar to Special Economic Zones (SEZs) with plug-and-play infrastructure to boost industrial growth and cross-border trade. 
• Strengthening Infrastructure: Expedite the rollout of BharatNet through 5G corridors, digital literacy programs, and tech hubs in every state capital. 
  • Expand the UDAN Scheme with better last-mile air links, especially for tourist circuits and border trade zones. 
• Addressing Insurgency and Ethnic Conflicts: Promote ethnic reconciliation via inclusive local governance, youth inter-community programs, job creation and ensuring political representation.  
  • The Lokur Committee (1965) recommended safeguarding tribal land rights, improving education, healthcare, employment for ST communities, and enhancing welfare schemes to tackle socio-economic challenges. 

Drishti Mains Question:

Discuss the strategic significance of Northeast India in the context of India’s Act East Policy and evolving geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 

Q. Cross-border movement of insurgents is only one of the several security challenges facing the policing of the border in North-East India. Examine the various challenges currently emanating across the India- Myanmar border. Also, discuss the steps to counter the challenges. (2019)