The theme for this edition is Political Economy: Transformations, Challenges & Prospects. The idea and implementation of planned economic development is as old as the country's independence. But this process has largely bypassed the Northeast-at least in spirit. Literally, though, one can still argue that the states in the Northeastern region have been part and parcel of the planning process that sets the direction and tenor of economic development. The First to the Tenth Five Year Plans of the Northeastern states have undoubtedly been made in the state capitals. [ Read more.. ].