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Government of India
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2285
To be answered on
Thursday, March 12, 2026/ 21 Phalguna, 1947 (saka)
Prevention of youth migration
2285 Smt. Sumitra Balmik:
Will the Minister of Development of North Eastern Region be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has assessed the alarming rate of youth migration from NER
States to metro cities for education and employment;
(b) if so, the details thereof during the last five years, State-wise;
(c) the measures taken to create high-quality educational institutions in NER to prevent
talent drain;
(d) the number of medical colleges, engineering colleges and skill development centres
established in the region during the last three years;
(e) whether special scholarships and fellowships exist for NER youth to pursue higher
education within the region; and
(f) the strategy to make NER self-sufficient in retaining its educated youth?
ANSWER
The Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region
[Dr. Sukanta Majumdar]
(a) & (b): Data on youth migration from North East Region (NER) states to metro cities
for education and employment is not maintained centrally by Ministry of Development of
North Eastern Region (MDoNER). However, as per the Census 2011, there are 1,52,05,214
migrants in the NER states. Of these, 93.80% (1,42,62,490) are intra-state migrants and only
6.20% (9,44,050) are inter-state migrants. The all-India figure for inter-state migration is
11.90% and 88.10% for intra-state migration. The top three states to which inter-statemigration from the NER States occur are West Bengal (39.56%), Delhi (7.66%) and
Maharashtra (7.4%).
(c)& (d): The Government has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen higher
education infrastructure in the NER which would contribute to improving quality of
education in the region. These include establishment and strengthening of premier institutions
such as Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, National Institutes of Technology
(NITs), Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indian Institutes of Information Technology
(IIITs), Central Universities, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Guwahati,
Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences Aizawl (RIPANS), Regional Institute
of Medical Science (RIMS) Imphal and North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of
Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Shillong. In addition, financial assistance has
been provided under various schemes of the Ministry of Education and MDoNER for
infrastructure development, expansion of academic and hostel facilities, etc. in universities
and colleges in the NER.
Further, education being a concurrent subject, the State Governments also take initiatives to
provide greater access to higher education in respective States. Private Universities,
established through Act of concerned State Legislature, also contribute to imparting quality
higher education to the youth of NER.
In addition, MDoNER has sanctioned 28 projects worth ₹2,225 crore in the sectors of health,
education and skill development, including medical education, engineering education and
skill development, in the NER during the last three years. These include projects such as
establishment of a State Cancer Institute at Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh; construction of a
Medical College at Sivasagar in Assam; gap funding for construction of a Government
Medical College at Sichey in Sikkim; establishment of a 200-bedded Maternal and Child
Health wing at Agartala Government Medical College and G.B. Pant Hospital Agartala;
establishment of dedicated services for management of paediatric and adult haematolymphoid
cancers and a Skill Development Centre at Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute; and development
of infrastructure for Manipur Technical University, among others. These initiatives aim to
strengthen the education, healthcare and skill development facilities in the NER.
(e): The Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India
implements the Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Protsahan (PM-USP) Central Sector
Scheme of Scholarship for College and University students. Under the scheme, financialassistance in the form of scholarships is provided to poor and meritorious students for
pursuing higher education.
For improving the Gross Enrolment Ratio and promoting higher education in the NER,
University Grants Commission under “ISHAN UDAY” Scholarship Scheme provides
financial assistance in the form of scholarship to 10000 students every year. The students
with domicile of NER, who have passed Class XII or equivalent exam from a school situated
within NER through any recognized Board of Education and have secured admission in
general degree course, technical and professional courses including medical and para-medical
courses in Universities/Colleges/Institutions recognized by UGC, Institutions of National
Importance/ Institutions recognized by other Statutory councils within as well as outside the
States of NER are eligible for this Scholarship. Ten thousand (10000) Scholarships, at the rate
of Rs.8,000/- per month for 10 months in a year, are available for students belonging to
economical weaker section of NER.
Further, the Department of Higher Education is implementing Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha
Abhiyan (RUSA), which is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at funding specific State
Government Universities and Colleges so as to improve their quality by ensuring their
conformity to prescribed norms and standards. The Government has launched the third phase
of RUSA in June 2023 in the form of Pradhan Mantri Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-
USHA) with an outlay of Rs.12926.10 crore to cater to needs of educationally unserved/
underserved areas.
(f): The strategy of the Government to make the NER self-sufficient in retaining its
educated youth includes:
i) Expansion of higher educational and professional institutions in the region.
ii) Promotion of skill development, entrepreneurship and start-ups among youth.
iii) Development of infrastructure and connectivity to attract investment andgenerate
employment.
iv) Implementation of targeted scholarship schemes and capacity-building programmes.
v) Strengthening of local industries and service sectors to create sustainable livelihood
opportunities within the region.
These measures aim to enhance educational opportunities, improve employability and create
economic prospects in the NER.
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