Pema Khandu: Northeast transforms in a decade, Arunachal targets 40,000 MW hydro by 2047

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday, 1 May 2026, declared that the Northeast has undergone a remarkable decade-long transformation — shifting from a region historically associated with insurgency and underdevelopment to an emerging engine of India's growth story. Khandu made the remarks at the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) Growth Conference 2026 in New Delhi, addressing policymakers, academicians, and thought leaders.

A Region Reframed

Khandu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing the Northeast at the centre of India's development agenda, arguing that sustained policy focus, infrastructure expansion, and improved connectivity have reshaped the region's economic and social landscape. He noted that regular visits by Union Ministers and senior officials to the region have been instrumental in identifying ground-level issues and ensuring timely resolution.

Providing historical context, the Chief Minister traced Arunachal Pradesh's evolution from the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) to a Union Territory in 1972, and finally to full statehood in 1987. He described the state as India's largest in the Northeast, as well as its easternmost and northernmost — home to 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes, with Hindi serving as a vital link language across communities.