Mokokchung, 24th April, 2026 (www.nokinketer.in): The North Eastern Council (NEC), the apex statutory body for regional planning and development of India’s eight north-eastern states, registered a total expenditure of ₹1,496.78 crore during the 2025-26 financial year, signaling a decisive acceleration in the region’s development trajectory.

The expenditure includes ₹792.12 crore under the Schemes of NEC (SoNEC) and ₹704.66 crore under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Roads (NESIDS – Roads).

Project sanctions and completions

During 2025–26, the NEC sanctioned 54 new projects worth ₹435.22 crore – the highest single-year count in the current 15th Finance Commission cycle. These projects span higher education, health infrastructure, industries, agriculture and horticulture, tourism development, livelihood, and cultural preservation.

Additionally, 162 non-project activities such as cultural festivals, international and national seminars, workshops, and awareness programmes, valued at ₹24.06 crore, were also sanctioned. Total new sanctions for the year stood at ₹459.28 crore.

In terms of completions, 136 projects worth ₹678.85 crore were finished during the year – the second highest annual completion figure in the current Finance Commission cycle. Together with 161 completed non-project activities worth ₹17.28 crore, the total number of deliverables closed in 2025-26 reached an impressive 297.

NESIDS – Roads

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

In 2025–26 alone, NESIDS Roads expenditure touched ₹704.66 crore, delivering critical connectivity infrastructure, including bridges over major rivers and road upgradation projects in the region.

Monitoring and financial accountability

The NEC Secretariat conducted 405 field inspections of ongoing projects during 2025–26. Officials said this sustained field presence ensures quality control, timely completion, and accountability in project execution.

One of the NEC’s most consequential governance achievements in 2025-26 has been the sharp reduction in committed financial liabilities and pending Utilisation Certificates (UCs) – a key indicator of project legacy health.

Committed liabilities were brought down from ₹1,743.48 crore (as on April 1, 2022) to ₹813.17 crore (as on March 31, 2026) – a reduction of over 53% in four years. Pending UCs fell from ₹440.82 crore (as on April 1, 2025) to just ₹10.94 crore by February–March 2026, a reduction of over 97% within a single financial year. The NEC said this underscores its intensified focus on financial accountability and compliance.

Commitment to ‘Viksit North East’

The Secretary, NEC, conveyed special thanks to state governments and implementing agencies for their collective commitment in advancing the developmental priorities of the North East. The NEC also acknowledged the visionary leadership and guidance of its Chairperson (Union Home Minister) and Vice Chairperson (Minister for Development of North Eastern Region), under whose stewardship the Council remains committed to accelerating inclusive growth.

Reaffirming its resolve, the NEC said it shall continue to work in close partnership with all north-eastern states to help realise the vision of a Viksit North East by 2047, in alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision for a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

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