In a historic leap towards regional inclusivity and knowledge-driven growth, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA)—an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs—has officially marked its foray into India’s Northeast with the acquisition of a five-acre site in New Shillong Township, Meghalaya, for its first regional campus. This expansion, under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for Northeast (PM-DevINE) with an outlay of ₹100.95 crore, reflects India’s unwavering commitment to decentralized development and corporate reform.
Strengthening Governance, Skills, and Sustainable Development in the Northeast
The IICA Shillong campus will function as a regional epicenter for research, policy support, and professional capacity building, covering a spectrum of crucial fields—Corporate Governance, Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Board Leadership, Competition Law, and Insolvency & Bankruptcy.
Backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative vision, this initiative reinforces the government’s broader goals of “Ease of Doing Business,” “Vikshit Bharat @2047,” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
Leaders Hail Landmark Move Towards Northeast Empowerment
The land-transfer ceremony witnessed the presence of key dignitaries:
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Shri Donald Phillips Wahlang, Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya
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Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
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Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, DG & CEO, IICA
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Shri Inderdeep Singh Dhariwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs
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Shri C.V.D. Diengdoh, Commissioner & Secretary, Planning Department
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Col. Amandeep Singh Puri, IICA
The land transfer was formally executed by Shri K. Hynniewta, Joint Secretary, Planning Department (Meghalaya) and Shri Shekhar Srivastava, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
Shillong’s Knowledge Cluster to Benefit from Policy Synergy and Infrastructure Growth
Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary Wahlang lauded the central government’s initiative and emphasized the strategic placement of the new IICA campus in Shillong’s “Knowledge City” cluster, which already includes top-tier institutions like IIM Shillong, National Law University Meghalaya, and NIFT. He highlighted upcoming connectivity enhancements, including a new airport, which will bolster academic and corporate linkages, making Shillong a rising educational and economic hub in the Northeast.
A “First Baby Outside Delhi”—DG Calls It a Milestone for Decentralized Governance
Calling it a “symbol of decentralization and empowerment,” IICA Director General Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh described the Shillong campus as a catalyst for governance transformation, entrepreneurship, and regional leadership. Citing PM Modi’s ‘Rising North East’ mission and his labeling of the region as “Ashtalakshmi of India,” Singh reinforced IICA’s vision to align with this aspiration and facilitate the shift from marginalization to momentum.
He echoed the PM’s mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” stating:
“This campus is more than an institution—it is a bridge for transformation by transportation, connecting infrastructure with intellect, knowledge with opportunity, and vision with reality.”
Shillong Campus to Enable Localised Capacity Building and Federal Collaboration
In her address, Secretary Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee commended the Government of Meghalaya for its proactive support and stressed the significance of cooperative federalism in enabling such impactful partnerships. She stated the campus would embody the Centre’s commitment to making the Northeast a powerful growth engine for India.
With operations to commence within the current financial year, IICA has set an ambitious timeline for launching academic and advisory programmes, while construction activities are scheduled to begin immediately.
Building Ethical, Skilled, and Responsible Leaders in the Heart of the Northeast
IICA’s Northeast engagement is not new. The institute has already trained over 300 professionals in the region and administers the Independent Director Databank with inclusive representation from all Northeastern states.
Going forward, the Shillong campus will:
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Collaborate with state universities and academic institutions in Knowledge City
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Launch customized courses, policy frameworks, and research targeting local developmental challenges
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Create a pool of ethical entrepreneurs, ESG professionals, and board-ready leaders in the region
The Shillong campus embodies IICA’s long-term vision to integrate the Northeast into the national corporate and policy discourse—making it not just a geographical addition, but a transformational step toward a resilient, responsible, and regionally inclusive India.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
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