Budget Rolls in New 'Buddhist Circuits' in Northeast While Past Schemes Lag

In the 2022 Union budget, Sitharaman had announced a Rs 1,500 crore scheme, called the Prime Minister Development Initiative for the North East (PM-DevINE), aimed to enable “livelihood activities for youth and women” in the northeast.

The Wire Staff

budget rolls in new buddhist circuits in northeast while past schemes lag

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: In her Union budget speech on Sunday, February 1, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a scheme for the development of 'Buddhist circuits' in the northeast – a move appeared aimed at consolidating support in the northeastern states. While the scheme is meant to preserve “temples and monasteries” and boost tourism, a look at a developmental scheme introduced in 2022, shows that the government has so far been unable to keep up with its promised outcome in the region.

Speaking at the parliament, Sitharaman said, “I propose to launch a scheme for development of Buddhist circuits in Arunachal, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura. The scheme will cover preservation of temples and monasteries, pilgrimage interpretation centres, connectivity and programme pilgrim amenities.”

She also emphasised that her government has given the northeast “top priority” in terms of infrastructure, investments, skill development and digital expansion.

"Northeast has been kept at the centre of policy when you're looking at development, skills, investments," she said, as quoted by Mint.

In the 2022 Union budget, the finance minister had announced a Rs 1,500 crore scheme, called the Prime Minister Development Initiative for the North East (PM-DevINE), aimed to enable “livelihood activities for youth and women”.

It was approved by the cabinet in October 2022 with an approved expenditure outlay of Rs 6,600 crore for 2022-26, and implemented through the North Eastern Council.

Despite being highly-publicised by BJP leaders as part of development in the northeastern region, the scheme has fallen behind on its promises.

According to a summary report of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) released on September 30, the eight states in the Northeast are still to spend Rs 3453.63 crore under PM-DevINE.

On December 18, 2025, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Minister of State of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Sukanta Majumdar stated that a total of 44 projects worth Rs 5728.79 crore had been sanctioned under PM-DevINE up to November.

At the same time, across all developmental schemes for the Northeast under the DoNER – which includes PM-DevINE, NESIDS-OTRI, special packages, NESIDS-Roads and NEC schemes – the government is yet to spend Rs 9384.47 crore.

This article went live on February first, two thousand twenty six, at eight minutes past three in the afternoon.

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