Ashtalakshmi model powers connectivity, tourism and industry push
February 1, 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday unveiled a multi-dimensional development package for North East India in the Union Budget 2026–27, building on the “Ashtalakshmi” framework. The announcements focus on deepening the region’s integration with the national economy through high-speed connectivity while positioning the North East as a global destination for spiritual and cultural tourism under the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
A key highlight of the Budget is the expansion of the Buddhist Circuit to North Eastern states such as Sikkim, Mizoram and Tripura, alongside Andhra Pradesh. The government will fund world-class pilgrim amenities, meditation centres and digital heritage trails to attract international visitors, particularly from South East Asia. The initiative aims to showcase the region’s unique Buddhist heritage and link it with major national spiritual centres like Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.
To support tourism and trade, the Budget formally includes the Varanasi–Siliguri High-Speed Rail Corridor, significantly cutting travel time to the North East. On the economic front, Sitharaman announced a new 1.3 MTPA fertiliser plant in Assam to boost agricultural self-sufficiency, the creation of City Economic Regions in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, and an expanded Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, offering 50-year interest-free loans to accelerate infrastructure development across the region.