Context:
On April 4, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved Phase-II of the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP-II) a fully centrally funded scheme aimed at the comprehensive development of strategic villages along India’s international land borders (ILBs).
Key Features of VVP-II
- Total Budget: ₹6,839 crore
- Funding Structure: 100% Central Government funding
- Implementation Period: 2025–26 to 2028–29
- Scope: Covers border villages outside the northern borders (already addressed in VVP-I)
Strategic Objectives
- Improve living conditions and livelihood opportunities in remote border areas
- Ensure secure and prosperous borders
- Integrate border populations into the national mainstream
- Enable border residents to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the border guarding forces
- Help reduce trans-border crime
States and UTs Covered
VVP-II targets key border-facing villages across the following 17 states and union territories:
- Northern & Northeastern India:
- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttarakhand
- Western & Eastern India:
- Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
National Significance
VVP-II forms a vital component of India’s internal security strategy and long-term development vision for strategic, often underserved, border communities.
