In February 2026, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II), marking a major step under the Amit Shah Border Village Programme initiative. This ambitious plan reflects the Government of India’s long-term commitment to strengthening frontier communities while reinforcing national security.
The scheme was inaugurated at Nathanpur village in Assam’s Barak Valley region, highlighting the strategic importance of Assam border village development along the India–Bangladesh boundary. With a substantial allocation of ₹6,900 crore, this ₹6,900 Crore Border Village Scheme seeks to transform remote settlements into economically vibrant, socially inclusive, and strategically resilient communities.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the programme shifts the narrative around border regions. Instead of viewing them as remote or peripheral, the government now recognises them as “first villages”, critical pillars of national unity and development under the broader Border Security and development program framework.
Overview
Before exploring the scheme, the table below summarises the key aspects of the Vibrant Village Programme-II details, including financial outlay, coverage and implementation strategy.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Scheme Name | Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) |
| Launched By | Amit Shah, Union Home Minister |
| Objective | Holistic development of border villages |
| Total Outlay | ₹6,900 crore (approx.) |
| Coverage | ~1,954 villages across 17 states and UTs |
| Implementation | Ministry of Home Affairs (Central Sector Scheme) |
| Duration | Up to FY 2028-29 |
| Key Focus Areas | Infrastructure, connectivity, education, livelihoods, security |
| Special Emphasis | Border security & economic integration |
| Inaugural Location | Nathanpur, Assam (India–Bangladesh border) |
This overview highlights the national scale and strategic focus of the Govt scheme for border villages 2026, setting the stage for deeper analysis.
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What Is the Vibrant Villages Programme-II?
The Vibrant Villages Programme 2026 (VVP-II) is a Central Sector Scheme designed to ensure comprehensive development of villages located along India’s international borders. It forms a crucial part of India’s broader Border Village Development India strategy.
The programme covers approximately 1,954 villages across 334 blocks in 17 States and Union Territories, including:
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Assam
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Arunachal Pradesh
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Bihar
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Gujarat
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Jammu & Kashmir
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Manipur
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Mizoram
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Nagaland
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Punjab
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Rajasthan
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Tripura
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Uttarakhand
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Uttar Pradesh
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West Bengal
This expansive coverage makes it one of the most significant Border villages infrastructure scheme initiatives undertaken in recent years.
The programme aligns infrastructure growth with national security objectives. By reducing developmental disparities, the government aims to discourage migration, increase economic participation and enhance strategic stability in sensitive regions.
Objectives Of Vibrant Villages Programme-II
The scheme integrates development and security priorities. The objectives listed below outline how the government plans to transform border settlements under the ₹6900 Crore Border Village Scheme.
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Improving Quality of Life: See to it that all the border village residents have access to good infrastructure, healthcare, education and other necessary services such as those found in the rest of India.
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Enhance National Security: Build resilient communities along the border that serve as strategic resources in monitoring, socio-economic stability and prevention of trans-border threats.
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Increasing Livelihood Opportunities: Support economic activities and skills acquisition to reduce migration to the urban centres to support local economies.
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Fostering Connection: Enhance road, telecommunication, electrification, drinking water and digital infrastructure.
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Social Inclusion: Widen the coverage of welfare programs to gain equal access to state benefits.
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Long-Term Sustainability: Develop self-reliant communities that can self-organise and advance their national aspiration.
These objectives position the initiative as both a development mission and a Border security and development program.
Key Features Of Vibrant Villages Programme-II
These objectives position the initiative as both a development mission and a Border security and development program.
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Coverage Across Borders: VVP-II encompasses almost 1,954 villages in 334 blocks in 17 states and Union Territories to have a strategic and demographic diversity of implementation.
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Complete Infrastructure Development: Focus on roads, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, digital networks and telecom connectivity under a dedicated Border villages infrastructure scheme.
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Livelihood and Education Focus: They include Skill development centres, better school facilities, digital literacy and employment generation programmes.
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Security Expansion: Improved security systems and coordination with security agencies make the populations at the borders safer.
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Convergence Model: Central and state departments collaborate to fill in the gaps of development by saturating the already existing welfare schemes.
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Vision Alignment: VVP-II helps in aligning with the Viksit Bharat @ 2047 vision, where the mission aims at aligning the frontier regions with the national level of development standards.
Focus on roads, electricity, drinking water, sanitation, digital networks and telecom connectivity under a dedicated Border villages infrastructure scheme.
Also Read: The Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008.
Benefits Of Vibrant Villages Programme-II
The Vibrant Village Programme-II details highlight several transformative benefits for frontier communities. Below are the key advantages residents can expect.
Improved Basic Infrastructure.
The scheme ensures all-weather road connectivity, reliable electricity and safe drinking water. This infrastructure upgrade will significantly improve daily life and economic productivity under the Border Villages Infrastructure Scheme.
Increased Security and Stability.
Strengthened physical and digital surveillance systems will reduce cross-border crime and support national defence operations. This integration strengthens the broader Border security and development program.
Learning and Computer Technology.
School improvement and the enhancement of digital access will allow the young residents to engage in quality education that will close the gap between education levels in remote locations.
Living, Generating Livelihood and Economic Growth.
Skill training programmes and entrepreneurship support will create sustainable employment opportunities. This directly supports the larger Border village development India mission.
Convergence Social and Welfare.
The scheme is also concerned with saturating existing welfare schemes (like healthcare plans and financial inclusion plans) to make sure that the results are holistic social development.
What Is The Strategic And National Importance Of Vibrant Villages Programme-II?
The Amit Shah Border Village Programme carries immense strategic value beyond development.
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Border Resilience: Vibrant and healthy communities at the border of the country increase the resilience to security threats in general.
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Population Stability: The dynamic economies are against migration, as they are useful to retain human resources in remote locations.
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Contribution of Internal Security: Strengthened villagers will be enabled to be partners with security forces to report suspicious activities, and enhance community-based surveillance.
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Symbolic Recognition: The use of the term first villages as opposed to first villages as a point of settlement is a reinforcement of a policy focus on equity and national pride.
This approach reflects a long-term strategy combining growth with geopolitical stability under the ₹6900 Crore Border Village Scheme.
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What Is The Timeline And Coverage Of Implementation?
The second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme 2026 will run until the Financial Year 2028-29. Implementation will occur in phases to ensure systematic development across identified villages.
In Assam, approximately 140 villages across 26 blocks in nine districts have been included. The launch at Nathanpur underscores the importance of the Natanpur Barak Valley border scheme within the broader Assam border village development framework.
Other strategically significant states and Union Territories such as Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are also covered, ensuring balanced national coverage.
Conclusion
The Vibrant Villages Programme 2026 represents a transformative chapter in India’s frontier policy. With a robust allocation of ₹6,900 crore, the initiative strengthens infrastructure, promotes livelihoods and integrates security mechanisms across nearly 2,000 border villages.
By bridging long-standing infrastructure gaps and fostering economic resilience, this ₹6900 Crore Border Village Scheme not only enhances living standards but also reinforces India’s strategic interests along international boundaries. Through coordinated development under the Amit Shah Border Village Programme, frontier communities are evolving from neglected outposts into dynamic contributors to national growth and unity.
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