PM-DevINE SCHEME (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Infrastructure)

Context: Fund release to new projects across several northeast states is learnt to be down to a trickle this financial year mainly due to overhauls of policy and procedural guidelines running into the second quarter at the Union Ministry of Development of Northeast Region (MDoNER).

• A chief minister is learnt to have pointed to nearly a dozen project proposals for the new scheme - PM's Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-Devine) - that are pending for months before the empowered committee of MDoNER for approval.
• The CM has pointed to the need to expedite clearances given the limited construction window in the region.

Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)

• About: It is a new scheme for the Northeastern states which was announced in the Union Budget. 
• Objectives:
• Fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM GatiShakti.
• Support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER.
• Enable livelihood activities for youth and women.
• Fill the development gaps in various sectors.

• Implementation: PM-DevINE will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), through the North Eastern Council or central ministries and agencies.

• Time constraints: Efforts will be made to complete the PM-DevINE projects by 2025-26 so that there are no committed liabilities beyond this year.

• Significance: The parameters of N-E states in respect of Basic Minimum Services (BMS) are well below the national average and there are critical development gaps as per the NER District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index 2021-22 prepared by NITI Aayog, UNDP and MDoNER.