KOHIMA: The North Eastern Council (NEC), the apex statutory body for regional planning and development of eight north eastern states of India, has recorded a total expenditure of Rs 1,496.78 crore during the financial year. The expenditure includes Rs 792.12 crore under the Schemes of NEC (SoNEC) and Rs 704.66 crore under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme – Roads (NESIDS – Roads). The NEC’s performance signals a decisive acceleration in the development trajectory of the Northeast.
According to an official report here, during 2025–26, NEC sanctioned 54 new projects (pertaining to higher education, health infrastructure, industries, agriculture and horticulture sector, tourism development, livelihood, cultural preservation projects, etc.) valued at Rs 435.22 crore, the highest single-year count in the current 15th Finance Commission cycle. In addition, 162 non-project activities such as cultural festivals, international/national/regional seminars, workshops, awareness programmes, etc. worth Rs 24.06 crore were also sanctioned, bringing total new sanctions for the year to Rs 459.28 crore during the Financial Year 2025-26, the report also said.
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In 2025–26, 136 projects worth Rs 678.85 crore were completed, the second highest annual completion figure in the current Finance Commission cycle, said the report. Additionally, 161 non-project activities (festivals, seminars, workshops, awareness programmes, etc.) worth Rs 17.28 crore were completed and closed, bringing the year’s total completions to an impressive 297 deliverables, it added.
Under the NESIDS-Roads, the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region sanctioned 64 road projects worth Rs 3037.39 crore across all eight states during the 15th Finance Commission period, and 30 projects worth Rs 1,123.08 crore were completed. In 2025–26 alone, NESIDS Roads expenditure touched Rs 704.66 crore, delivering critical connectivity infrastructure including bridges over major rivers, road upgradation projects in NER.
The report then said the NEC Secretariat conducted 405 field inspections of ongoing projects during 2025–26. This sustained field presence ensures quality control, timely completion, and accountability in project execution.
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One of NEC’s most consequential governance achievements in 2025-26 is the dramatic reduction in committed financial liabilities & UCs – a key indicator of project legacy health, the official report also said.
Committed liabilities have been brought down from Rs 1,743.48 crore as on 1st April, 2022 to Rs 813.17 crore as on 31st March, 2026, a reduction of over 53% in four years and Pending Utilisation Certificates (UCs), fell from Rs 440.82 crore (as on 1st April 2025) to just Rs 10.94 crore by February–March 2026 – a reduction of over 97% within a single financial year. This underscores NEC’s intensified focus on financial accountability and compliance, the report also added.
The Secretary, NEC, conveyed special thanks to the State Governments and implementing agencies for their collective commitment in advancing developmental priorities of the North East. The visionary leadership and guidance of the Chairperson, NEC (Union Home Minister) and the Vice Chairperson, NEC (Minister for Development of North Eastern Region), under whose stewardship the Council remains firmly committed to accelerating inclusive growth and transformative progress across the region, the report said.
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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 dream and inspiring vision of the Prime Minister for a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the official report added.