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PM Modi Calls Eastern States India’s Growth Engine
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday described India’s eastern states – including West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, and the Northeast – as key drivers of the nation’s future economic growth. He drew parallels with the rapid economic rise of eastern nations like China, South Korea, and Vietnam to highlight India’s shift in development focus.
Development Push in the East
Modi emphasised that, in recent years, the Centre has sharply increased investments in the eastern region. Budgetary allocations to states like Odisha have tripled over the past decade, financing infrastructure like highways, rail corridors, power projects, and public services. He also reminded audiences that the successful Rising North East Summit in May, which secured large private sector commitments, underlined the strategy.
Eastern Region as India’s Growth Powerhouse
At a leadership forum in New Delhi, Modi noted the economic momentum building in the East. He compared its emerging importance to that of the Asian “tiger economies” — now advanced global players — saying India’s eastern states too could match that success story. He urged state governments to maintain investor-friendly policies to sustain the growth trend.
Strategic Focus & National Benefits
The Prime Minister said focusing on the East was part of India’s “Act East” policy — aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asia and boosting regional development. He suggested that supporting growth in this region would both reduce regional disparities and help unlock India’s full economic potential.
What Lies Ahead
Government data shows eastern states have begun outperforming national averages in GDP growth and per-capita income. Moving forward, investment in human capital, agriculture modernisation, and digital infrastructure are expected to accelerate the region’s rise further. Analysts believe this eastern push is central to India meeting its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
