In a landmark initiative that marks a new era of inclusive national development, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, has formally acquired a five-acre land parcel in New Shillong Township, Meghalaya to establish its first regional campus in the Northeast region. Backed by the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for Northeast (PM-DevINE) with a sanctioned investment of ₹100.95 crore, the Shillong campus is set to become a regional hub for corporate governance training, research, and policy innovation.
This is a significant step towards decentralizing knowledge and empowering India’s frontier states, aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
A Symbol of Decentralization and National Integration
Speaking at the land-transfer ceremony, Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO of IICA, described the Shillong campus as “our first baby outside Delhi—a symbol of decentralization and empowerment.” Emphasizing the initiative’s alignment with key national priorities such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, Ease of Doing Business, and Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, he hailed the new campus as a transformational development for the region.
The initiative also reflects the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has long advocated for the Northeast as India’s ‘Ashtalakshmi’—a region teeming with cultural richness, economic potential, and youthful energy.
Strategic Location in Shillong’s Knowledge City
The Shillong campus is being developed in the Knowledge City cluster, an emerging academic hub that already houses premier institutions like IIM Shillong, National Law University Meghalaya, and NIFT. The strategic positioning of the IICA campus will allow it to foster inter-institutional collaborations, knowledge-sharing, and multidisciplinary research.
Chief Secretary Shri Donald Phillips Wahlang, who presided over the ceremony alongside Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, highlighted the state’s commitment to knowledge-led development. He noted the upcoming airport in Shillong will further improve access and connectivity to the region—enabling professionals, faculty, and students from across the country to benefit from IICA’s offerings.
PM-DevINE Funding to Empower the Northeast
Funded under PM-DevINE, a special initiative aimed at accelerating infrastructure and development projects in the Northeast, the IICA Shillong campus will focus on several key areas:
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Corporate Governance
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Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks
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Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
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Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
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Competition Law
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Board Leadership and Independent Directorship
These areas will form the academic and policy backbone of the new campus, aligning with India’s dynamic corporate regulatory landscape and sustainability agenda.
Cooperative Federalism in Action
In her address, Ms. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, acknowledged the Meghalaya Government’s proactive and generous support for the project, stating that it exemplifies cooperative federalism. She affirmed that the Shillong campus will play a critical role in nurturing skilled professionals, ethical entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders from the region.
The land transfer was formally undertaken by senior officials including Shri K. Hynniewta from the Meghalaya Planning Department and Shri Shekhar Srivastava from the Government of India. Also present were key figures such as Shri Inderdeep Singh Dhariwal (Joint Secretary, MCA), Shri C.V.D. Diengdoh (Commissioner & Secretary, Planning Department), and Shri (Col.) Amandeep Singh Puri from IICA.
A Hub for Regional Capacity Building
With academic and advisory programmes slated to begin within the current financial year, IICA plans to:
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Collaborate with state universities and institutions within Knowledge City
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Provide tailored training and policy support to address local governance and development challenges
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Expand its footprint through faculty exchanges, online learning, and blended programmes
Over 300 professionals from the Northeast have already benefited from IICA’s earlier training sessions. The Shillong campus now institutionalizes these efforts, promising long-term capacity-building and leadership development rooted in the region.
