Union Minister Sonowal Praises 2026-27 Budget as Transformative for Northeast
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has characterized the Union Budget 2026-27 as a decisive and historic milestone in positioning the Northeast, with particular emphasis on Assam, as a central powerhouse within India's broader development trajectory under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Strategic Shift Towards Targeted Growth and Federalism
Addressing a press conference in Dibrugarh on Monday, Sonowal, who also serves as the Lok Sabha MP from Dibrugarh, articulated that the budget embodies a calibrated transition towards targeted planning, cooperative federalism, and infrastructure-led expansion. This approach is designed to ensure prosperity across all regions while simultaneously reinforcing India's ambitions in high-tech sectors and manufacturing capabilities.
The Union Budget 2026–27 stands as a testament to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unwavering dedication to inclusive and sustainable development, Sonowal stated. It empowers Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), champions growth led by women, strengthens educational and health infrastructure, and places the Northeast at the very heart of India's economic transformation.
Fueling Entrepreneurship and High-Tech Advancement
The minister underscored that the budget injects vitality into India's entrepreneurial ecosystem through a dedicated Rs 10,000 crore MSME growth fund. Concurrently, it propels the nation into a high-tech future with initiatives like the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and a substantial Rs 40,000 crore boost for electronics manufacturing.
These strategic initiatives are poised to generate high-quality employment opportunities and seamlessly integrate Indian industries into global value chains, Sonowal elaborated. Given this significant impetus, our region, which is abundantly rich in both natural resources and strategic importance, is perfectly positioned to reap substantial dividends and actively propel the growth narrative of a new India.
Unprecedented Financial Allocations for the Northeast
Sonowal emphasized that the Northeast has received unprecedented attention in this budget cycle. The allocation for the Ministry for Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER) has surged to Rs 6,812 crore, marking an increase of more than three times the Rs 2,000 crore allocation recorded in 2014.
Overall allocations designated for the Northeast have witnessed a notable 22 percent rise, escalating from Rs 88,741 crore in the revised estimates for 2025–26 to Rs 1,08,335 crore in the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2026–27.
Since 2014, a cumulative sum of Rs 7.3 lakh crore has been invested in the Northeast, averaging over Rs 60,000 crore annually, Sonowal highlighted. In recent years, this annual investment has consistently crossed the Rs 1 lakh crore threshold, signaling a definitive end to decades of neglect and the dawn of sustained, purposeful engagement under the Modi government.
Record Infrastructure Investments and Strategic Connectivity
The region has been granted a record railway allocation of Rs 11,486 crore specifically for infrastructure projects, a figure that is nearly five times the annual allocation typical during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) era. Sonowal brought particular attention to a special 34-kilometer underground railway stretch planned for the strategically vital 'Chicken Neck' corridor.
This critical infrastructure project is designed to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, significantly enhance national security protocols, and safeguard essential supply lines for the region and the nation.
Substantial Gains for Assam and Women-Led Initiatives
Sonowal pointed out that Assam stands to gain substantially from the budgetary provisions. The state is slated to receive Rs 49,725 crore as its share of Union tax devolution in 2026–27. This represents a significant increase from Rs 44,494 crore allocated the previous year and a dramatic surge from the approximate Rs 11,500 crore received in 2013–14.
This more than five-fold increase over a span of twelve years has substantially fortified Assam's fiscal capacity and autonomy, he affirmed.
Highlighting the budget's focus on gender empowerment, Sonowal noted that it strengthens Nari Shakti by enabling women to transition from being Lakhpati Baideos (Didis) to becoming enterprise owners through community-owned SHE-Marts. He also welcomed the provision of Viability Gap Funding to establish one girls' hostel in every district, describing it as a transformative step to ensure safety, accessibility, and continuity in higher education for women.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's conscious and deliberate effort to empower 'Nari Shakti' is central to the mission of building a Viksit Bharat (Developed India), Sonowal asserted. When women are empowered as entrepreneurs, leaders, and lifelong learners, the nation's growth trajectory becomes faster, more equitable, and fundamentally more resilient.
Peace, Reconciliation, and Holistic Development
In a landmark step for peace and reconciliation, Sonowal welcomed the Rs 500 crore package allocated for the rehabilitation of former United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres and their families. The budget also includes additional allocations for the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), as well as Adivasi and Dimasa communities, aimed at addressing long-standing socio-economic challenges.
The Union Budget 2026–27 comprehensively touches every facet of life in the Northeast—from enhancing connectivity and urban development to preserving culture, improving health outcomes, and securing livelihoods, Sonowal concluded. It reflects the Modi government's steadfast commitment to the Act East Policy and its unwavering dedication to realizing the profound aspirations of our people.
