Union government backs Northeast education with ₹21,000 crore investment

The Union government has invested ₹21,000 crore in the Northeast’s education sector over the past 11 years, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Nov 8.

She made the statement during her two-day visit to Assam, where she laid the foundation stone for the state’s first university focused on technical and vocational education at Bholaguri in Gohpur, Biswanath district.

The new institution, named Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University, will be constructed at a cost of ₹415 crore on a 241-acre campus with a built-up area of 7 lakh square feet.

The university aims to equip students with advanced technical skills and promote innovation-driven education.

Sitharaman highlighted the Union government’s efforts to strengthen the education network in the region since 2014.

“Over 850 new schools have been opened, the first AIIMS in the Northeast has become operational, and more than 200 new skill development institutes have been established,” she said.

She also pointed out that India’s first sports university is being set up in the region, 15 new medical colleges have been built in Assam alone, and the state hosts South Asia’s largest cancer care center.

Assam will soon also receive the region’s second Indian Institute of Management (IIM).

According to the minister, the Union government is collaborating with state governments to strengthen the education ecosystem, focusing on coordination and skill-based development.

Alongside education, Sitharaman emphasized improvements in connectivity across the Northeast.

“In the past 11 years, 10 new Greenfield airports have been constructed,” she said, adding that Manipur and Meghalaya have been added to the national railway map for the first time.

Road, bridge, and tunnel projects have also been accelerated to link remote districts with major economic hubs.

The university honors freedom fighter Kanaklata Barua, a member of the Mrityu Bahini who was martyred at 17 while leading a procession to hoist the national flag at Gohpur police station on Sept 20, 1942, during the Quit India Movement.

Sitharaman said, “Building a university in Barua’s memory would serve as a lasting tribute to her courage and inspire generations of students.”

She added that while a memorial at the historic police station would attract visitors, the university would “inspire generations of youth” through education rooted in patriotism and progress.

Swahid Kanaklata Barua State University will offer courses in cutting-edge technology fields, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, blockchain, drone and navigation technology, quantum computing, brain-computer interface, internet of things, and smart city development.

The campus will include academic blocks for 2,000 students, hostels for 1,620 students, residential quarters, a guest house, and a student facility center, marking a significant step toward transforming Assam into an education and innovation hub for the Northeast.