Union Budget 2025-26: Allocation for Ministry of DoNER Increased by 47.6%

New Delhi: The northeastern states have reason to cherish as the Union Budget 2025-26 has increased its allocation for the Ministry of DoNER by 47.6 percent.

The Union Finance Minister earmarked Rs 5,915 crore for DoNER, compared to Rs 4,006 crore in the last budget.

The surge in budgetary allocations for the DoNER Ministry will be crucial for the development of the Northeast, especially Assam.

 Other initiatives that are set to indirectly benefit the Northeast are:

1. UDAN - Regional Connectivity Scheme:

a. An expansion to 120 new destinations, including enhanced connectivity for the North Eastern Region (NER).

b. Focus on smaller airports and helipads in hilly and remote districts to boost regional air travel.

c. Target to carry four crore passengers in the next ten years.

2. Power sector reforms:

a. An additional 0.5% of GSDP borrowing allowed for states implementing electricity distribution and intra-state transmission augmentation.

b. Expected to improve energy availability and reliability in the NER.

3. Jal Jeevan Mission: Extended till 2028 with enhanced outlay. Targeting 100% tap water coverage, with a focus on quality infrastructure and sustainability in rural areas.

4. Agriculture & Rural Development:

a. Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: 100 agri-districts covered, including those in the NER. Focus on crop diversification, irrigation, storage, and credit access. Benefit 1.7 crore farmers, including those in NER.

b. Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: Six-year mission with emphasis on Tur, Urad, and Masoor. Ensuring remunerative prices and procurement support via NAFED & NCCF. Potential to enhance NER's role in national pulse production.

c. India Post as a catalyst for rural economy - Expansion of financial inclusion services will improve last-mile financial connectivity in remote NER districts. Services provided will include Micro-enterprise credit, DBT cash transfers and Institutional banking services

5. Industry & Employment (Initiatives that will benefit NER)

a. Support for MSMEs: Revised MSME classification to enable higher investment and turnover limits and credit guarantee cover for exporter MSMEs up to Rs 20 crore.

b. Manufacturing & clean tech:

i. Government support for solar PV, EV batteries, wind turbines, and high-voltage transmission infrastructure will encourage clean energy and industrial growth in the region.

6. Women Empowerment - Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 programme provides nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers all over the country, and about 20 lakh adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the north-east region.

7. Tourism Development for NER:

a. Special focus on Buddhist tourism circuits in NER.

b. Performance-linked incentives to states for:

i. Destination management

ii. Tourist amenities & connectivity

c. MUDRA loans for home stays to promote local tourism entrepreneurs.

8. Research, Innovation & Digital Development

a. PM Research Fellowship: (PIB)

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