**Executive Summary**
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the 15th edition of the NEtym cultural festival on March 28, 2026, highlighting the Northeast as India’s strategic "growth engine" and gateway to the Global South. The address underscored the region's 93% literacy rate and outlined key government initiatives designed to empower youth through technology and cultural exchange. A significant upcoming milestone is the launch of the Advancing NER Portal, scheduled for April 2026, to bridge skills and employment gaps.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Strategic Importance and Vision**
* The eight Northeastern states, referred to as "Ashtalakshmi," serve as a strategic bridge to Southeast Asia and the wider global landscape.
* The region is positioned as a natural gateway for India’s engagement with the Global South.
* The government's approach has transitioned from "intent to implementation," focusing on access and inclusion.
**Human Capital and Culture**
* The Northeast boasts an exceptional average literacy rate of nearly 93%.
* The region is recognized as a repository of unparalleled artistic wealth, with deep cultural roots that carry generations of tradition.
* The youth are identified as the primary drivers of India’s growth story across all sectors.
**Key Empowerment Initiatives**
* **NE SPARKS Programme:** Conducted in partnership with ISRO, it provides 800 students annually (100 per state) with exposure to space science and cutting-edge technology.
* **Ashtalakshmi Darshan Programme:** A structured cultural exchange initiative that has covered 1,280 students so far; it aims to scale up to 8,000 students by 2030.
* **Advancing NER Portal:** A one-stop digital platform launching in April 2026, integrated with the National Career Service to provide access to 1,000+ jobs and 3,000+ regional courses.
**Impact Analysis**
**Northeastern Youth and Students**
**Impact**
They gain significant opportunities for technical exposure in space science and broader access to career resources and national cultural exchanges.
**Action Required**
Students should prepare to utilize the Advancing NER Portal upon its launch in April 2026 to access job opportunities, entrance examinations, and career pathways.
**Educational Institutions and Organizers**
**Impact**
Institutions like Hindu College and the Northeast Cell serve as critical platforms for expressing identity and fostering national integration through festivals like NEtym.
**Action Required**
Continue providing dynamic platforms for cultural celebration and student engagement to help shape the future narrative of the region.
**Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER)**
**Impact**
The Ministry is responsible for implementing large-scale programs that bridge the gap between regional potential and global economic exchange.
**Action Required**
Ensure the timely launch of the Advancing NER Portal and manage the planned scaling of the Ashtalakshmi Darshan Programme toward its 2030 targets.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER): The primary government body responsible for planning, executing, and monitoring development schemes in the Northeast region of India.
Advancing NER Portal: A one-stop digital platform integrated with the National Career Service to provide job opportunities, career pathways, and educational courses for the Northeast region.
NE SPARKS Programme: An educational initiative implemented in partnership with ISRO to provide Northeast students with exposure to space science and cutting-edge technology.
Ashtalakshmi Darshan Programme: A structured cultural exchange initiative designed to facilitate interactions between students from the Northeast and other parts of India.
Northeast India (Ashtalakshmi States): The central region of focus comprising eight states, identified as a strategic growth engine and a bridge to the Global South.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
Union minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia addresses
the Northeast cultural festival of Hindu College,
Hails Northeast as India’s growth engine
“Eight states, one extraordinary potential, the Northeast is
India’s gateway to the Global South”: Scindia Underscores
Vision for Ashtalakshmi States
With 93% literacy and unmatched cultural depth, the
Northeast must lead India across all fronts
Posted On: 28 MAR 2026 6:29PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya
Scindia, addressed the 15th edition of NEtym 2026, the annual cultural festival of the Northeast Cell at
Hindu College, University of Delhi, marking a significant milestone in celebrating the spirit, talent, and
potential of the Northeast region.Thanking the organisers and students for the invitation, the Union Minister lauded NEtym as a dynamic
platform that reflects the capability, energy and cultural richness of the Northeast that is reverentially
referred to as the ‘Ashtalakshmi’ of India. He noted that over the past two years, his tenure as DoNER
Minister has deepened his understanding of the region’s immense potential, not only for India but as a
strategic bridge to Southeast Asia and the wider global landscape.Speaking at an institution with a rich legacy as it approaches its 125th year, the union minister r
highlighted the exceptional human capital of the Northeast, pointing to its remarkable literacy levels,
averaging nearly 93% and emphasised that the region’s youth must lead India’s growth story across
sectors.
Recalling his deep personal connection with the Northeast, Shri Scindia spoke about his familial ties to the
region and his frequent visits to all eight states, which continue to inspire and energise his vision for its
development. He also reflected on the cultural depth of the region, describing performances from Assam
and other states as “mantramugdh,” where every gesture and movement carries generations of tradition
and meaning. He paid tribute to cultural icons such as Bhupen Hazarika and Zubeen Garg, noting that the
Northeast remains a repository of unparalleled artistic and cultural wealth.Underscoring the strategic importance of the region, the Union minister described the eight Northeastern
states as a natural bridge between India and the Global South, capable of driving economic and cultural
exchange on a global scale. Highlighting key initiatives of the Ministry, Shri Scindia outlinedgovernment’s focused efforts to empower the youth of the region. He also spoke about the NE SPARKS
Programme, Ashtalakshmi Darshan Programme and Advancing NER Portal.
NE SPARKS Programme: Implemented in partnership with ISRO, the programme enables 800 students
annually (100 from each Northeastern state) to gain exposure to space science and cutting-edge
technology. Eight batches have already been completed.
Ashtalakshmi Darshan Programme: A structured cultural exchange initiative facilitating interaction
between students from the Northeast and other parts of the country. A total of 1,280 students across 32
batches are being covered, with the programme set to scale up to 8,000 students by 2030.
Advancing NER Portal: Scheduled for launch in April 2026, this one-stop digital platform, integrated
with the National Career Service, will provide access to over 1,000 job opportunities, 300+ career
pathways, 200+ entrance examinations, 3,000+ courses within the Northeast, and more than 800 national
institutions. The portal aims to bridge the gap between skills and employment opportunities.
The Minister emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the approach to the
Northeast has transitioned from intent to implementation, ensuring that opportunity is defined by access
and inclusion. Concluding his address, Shri Scindia praised the youth for their role in shaping the future of
the Northeast, stating that the conversation must move from what the region is to what it is becoming and
what its young people are enabling it to become. He described NEtym not just as a cultural festival, but as
a powerful expression of identity, aspiration and India’s collective journey towards a Viksit Bharat.The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, artists and faculty members, celebrating the
cultural vibrancy and aspirations of the Northeast.
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PS
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