The Indian government has allocated ₹4,900 crore (approximately $590 million USD) to Arunachal Pradesh under the newly launched 'Pride of Hills' initiative, which aims to address critical infrastructure and developmental gaps in Himalayan states. Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this significant funding, which he believes will greatly enhance connectivity and infrastructure in remote areas of the state. Arunachal Pradesh is the largest beneficiary of the initiative, which has a total outlay of ₹25,000 crore for nine hill states for the financial year 2026-27. Other states receiving allocations include Himachal Pradesh with ₹3,920 crore and Nagaland with ₹3,880 crore. Khandu emphasized that this funding will help improve fiscal stability and facilitate investments in revenue-generating assets, addressing the unique challenges faced by hill states, such as difficult terrain and limited connectivity. The initiative is designed to boost capital expenditure and support long-term economic sustainability in these regions.