Northeast Is India鈥檚 Digital Gateway, Says MoS Chandra Shekhar
27 May 2025
3 Min Read
CW Team
Dr Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, has reaffirmed the strategic importance of India鈥檚 Northeastern region, calling it the nation鈥檚 digital and policy frontier. Speaking at the 鈥淚T for Ashtalakshmi 鈥� Beyond the Bits and Bytes, into AI and 5G鈥� session during the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Dr Shekhar said, 鈥淭he Northeast is where policy meets possibility, nature meets networks, and heritage meets hyper-connectivity.鈥�
Joined by Tripura鈥檚 Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and the Chief Secretary of Manipur, Dr Shekhar detailed how the Northeast, long viewed as a remote periphery, has now been repositioned as a technological and strategic cornerstone under the Union government鈥檚 Act East policy. He credited this shift to sustained leadership, particularly that of Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).
The Ashtalakshmi鈥攅ight Northeastern states鈥攈ave witnessed transformative growth, with digital infrastructure bridging years of disparity. Dr Shekhar shared that over Rs 1.5 trillion has been invested in digital and physical infrastructure in the region, including Rs 500 billion under BharatNet and the Digital North East Vision. As of 2025, more than 90 per cent of the region is covered by 4G, and 80 per cent of rural homes have optical fibre connectivity.
However, he noted that the real transformation lies not only in infrastructure, but in the region鈥檚 young, digital-savvy population. Institutions like IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar are nurturing cutting-edge talent, and startups like AgSpert are using AI and drone technology to solve both local and global agricultural problems. 鈥淭he government鈥檚 frameworks鈥擠igital India, BharatNet, Startup India, and the National AI Strategy鈥攁re catalysts for this innovation,鈥� he said.
Dr Shekhar shared real-world applications of AI and 5G in the region, such as:
11. A 5G-based telemedicine network in Arunachal Pradesh
12. The BHASHINI initiative in Tripura offering AI-powered multilingual translation for better governance
13. Use of augmented reality (AR) to boost tourism in Kaziranga and Sikkim
14. AI platforms to preserve over 200 local languages
15. AI-enabled e-commerce for traditional crafts
16. Smart AI border surveillance systems to enhance security and employment
鈥淭hese are not abstract ambitions鈥攖hey are actionable, investible, and impactful opportunities,鈥� he said, inviting industry and academic stakeholders to 鈥渃ome, collaborate, and co-create.鈥�
Positioning the Northeast as India鈥檚 natural digital gateway to ASEAN鈥檚 USD 5 trillion economy, Dr Shekhar underscored the region鈥檚 98 per cent international border connectivity, abundant green energy, and suitability for climate-resilient data centres.
He concluded with a powerful vision:
鈥淭he tea gardens of Assam that once fuelled the British Empire will now power AI algorithms. Our strategic borders will no longer just protect鈥攖hey will propel India鈥檚 leadership in defence tech. The future will not only rise from our metros but from every corner where vision and courage meet action.鈥�
Dr Pemmasani Chandra Shekhar, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development, has reaffirmed the strategic importance of India鈥檚 Northeastern region, calling it the nation鈥檚 digital and policy frontier. Speaking at the 鈥淚T for Ashtalakshmi 鈥� Beyond the Bits and Bytes, into AI and 5G鈥� session during the Rising North East Investors Summit 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Dr Shekhar said, 鈥淭he Northeast is where policy meets possibility, nature meets networks, and heritage meets hyper-connectivity.鈥滼oined by Tripura鈥檚 Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha and the Chief Secretary of Manipur, Dr Shekhar detailed how the Northeast, long viewed as a remote periphery, has now been repositioned as a technological and strategic cornerstone under the Union government鈥檚 Act East policy. He credited this shift to sustained leadership, particularly that of Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).The Ashtalakshmi鈥攅ight Northeastern states鈥攈ave witnessed transformative growth, with digital infrastructure bridging years of disparity. Dr Shekhar shared that over Rs 1.5 trillion has been invested in digital and physical infrastructure in the region, including Rs 500 billion under BharatNet and the Digital North East Vision. As of 2025, more than 90 per cent of the region is covered by 4G, and 80 per cent of rural homes have optical fibre connectivity.However, he noted that the real transformation lies not only in infrastructure, but in the region鈥檚 young, digital-savvy population. Institutions like IIT Guwahati and NIT Silchar are nurturing cutting-edge talent, and startups like AgSpert are using AI and drone technology to solve both local and global agricultural problems. 鈥淭he government鈥檚 frameworks鈥擠igital India, BharatNet, Startup India, and the National AI Strategy鈥攁re catalysts for this innovation,鈥� he said.Dr Shekhar shared real-world applications of AI and 5G in the region, such as:11. A 5G-based telemedicine network in Arunachal Pradesh12. The BHASHINI initiative in Tripura offering AI-powered multilingual translation for better governance13. Use of augmented reality (AR) to boost tourism in Kaziranga and Sikkim14. AI platforms to preserve over 200 local languages15. AI-enabled e-commerce for traditional crafts16. Smart AI border surveillance systems to enhance security and employment鈥淭hese are not abstract ambitions鈥攖hey are actionable, investible, and impactful opportunities,鈥� he said, inviting industry and academic stakeholders to 鈥渃ome, collaborate, and co-create.鈥漃ositioning the Northeast as India鈥檚 natural digital gateway to ASEAN鈥檚 USD 5 trillion economy, Dr Shekhar underscored the region鈥檚 98 per cent international border connectivity, abundant green energy, and suitability for climate-resilient data centres.He concluded with a powerful vision:鈥淭he tea gardens of Assam that once fuelled the British Empire will now power AI algorithms. Our strategic borders will no longer just protect鈥攖hey will propel India鈥檚 leadership in defence tech. The future will not only rise from our metros but from every corner where vision and courage meet action.鈥�
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