Archive · 7 Sep 2026
India’s Border Villages Receive ₹11,639 Crore Development Push
India is spending money to improve villages near its international borders.
The plan covers 2,616 villages.
It is called the Vibrant Village Programme.
Border forces will buy food such as milk, vegetables, eggs and grains from nearby villagers.
This can give local people a steady way to earn money.
The government also plans to improve schools and build hospitals and colleges.
Some people who had left villages in Arunachal Pradesh are reportedly returning.
The programme is intended to make border villages better places to live and work.
The Vibrant Village Programme covers 2,616 villages along India’s international borders in two phases.
The programme’s combined outlay is ₹11,639 crore through 2028-29.
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Security Force are beginning local procurement of essentials.
Border posts are expected to buy milk, vegetables, eggs and grains from nearby communities.
The Centre also plans to improve schools and establish hospitals and colleges in village clusters.
- Who
- The Government of India, border forces and residents of 2,616 border villages are involved.
- What
- The Vibrant Village Programme is providing ₹11,639 crore for development, local procurement and public services.
- When
- The first phase began in April 2023, while the second phase began in February 2026; funding extends through 2028-29.
- Where
- The programme covers villages along India’s international borders, including areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Ladakh.
- Why
- The initiative aims to strengthen local economies, improve essential services and address migration from remote border villages.
- Total outlay
- ₹11,639 crore
- Villages covered
- 2,616 villages
- Implementation
- Two phases
- First phase
- ₹4,800 crore for 2022-23 to 2026-27; launched in April 2023
- Second phase
- ₹6,839 crore through 2028-29; launched in February 2026
- Villages listed by region
- 455 in Arunachal Pradesh, 75 in Himachal Pradesh, 51 in Uttarakhand, 46 in Sikkim and 35 in Ladakh
- Local procurement
- Milk, vegetables, eggs and grains are among the products border forces are being encouraged to buy locally