Why in news? Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the golden jubilee celebration of the North Eastern Council in Shillong, Meghalaya.

Highlights

• The “GOLDEN FOOTPRINTS”, a commemorative volume chronicling NEC’s contribution towards the development of the North Eastern Region over the last fifty years, was released
• Inaugurated various important projects of the North Eastern Region including Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong, NEC projects and Meghalaya state projects and lay foundation stones for some other projects.
• Prime Minister also dedicated 4G towers of Meghalaya.

About North Eastern Council

• Nature : Statutory advisory body
• Act : North Eastern Council Act 1971
• Member states: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim
• Council Members: Chief Ministers and Governors representing state with Chairman and three Members who are nominated by the President of India.
• Latest added Member: Sikkim (2002).
• Headquarters : Shillong and functions
• Parent Ministry: Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER)
• Funding : Mainly with the Central Government
• Functions:
• To discuss any matter in which some or all of the States represented in the Council have common interest

Advise the Central Government and the Governments of the States regarding –

• Matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning
• Matter concerning inter-State Transport and Communications
• Relating to Power or Flood-control projects of common interest.