The Social Science Spectrum is a peer-reviewed journal published by the Society for Scientific Aptitude, dedicated to promoting scientific aptitude and liberal education in society. The journal welcomes original contributions from scholars and researchers across the broad spectrum of social sciences, including economics, demography, gender studies, anthropology, political science, sociology, history, and related interdisciplinary fields. socialsciencespectrum@gmail.com
Revisiting Higher Education in India (Post-Independence to NEP 2020): Growth, Policy, and Persistent Gender Inequality
This study examines the evolution of higher education in India from Independence to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, with a focus on expansion, governance, gender equity and financing. It reviews major education policies and regulatory reforms since 1947, including the University Grants Commission framework, National Policies on Education (1968, 1986), and recent structural changes culminating in NEP 2020. The analysis draws on secondary data from national sources such as the All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), UDISE+, Census of India, NSSO, and official policy and budget documents. The findings highlight a dramatic expansion of the system, with enrolment rising from 1.7 million in 1950–51 to over 43 million by 2021–22, alongside growth in institutions from 28 universities in 1947 to more than 1,100 today. Key governance outcomes of this expansion include increased institutional diversification, a gradual shift toward greater institutional autonomy, and the emergence of accreditation- and outcome-based quality assurance mechanisms. Gender parity has improved substantially, with the female Gross Enrolment Ratio approaching parity in recent years, though disparities persist across disciplines and social groups, with the GPI for STEM beats the global standards the woman representation in the technological field needs to be improved. Despite expansion, public expenditure on education has remained below 4% of GDP compared to the suggestion of 6% by the Kothari commission, raising concerns about quality, equity, and governance as India moves toward multidisciplinary and inclusive higher education reforms under NEP 2020.
Institutional Expansion and Labour Market Alignment
Trade Liberalization, Inequality, and Poverty A Brief Note
This paper examines the relationship between globalization, trade liberalization, income inequality, and poverty, emphasizing the conceptual and empirical challenges in identifying clear causal links. While inequality within many countries has risen in recent decades, evidence on global inequality trends remains inconclusive, with some findings suggesting a decline driven by growth in large developing economies. The paper reviews theoretical predictions and empirical studies on how trade openness affects wages, employment, and income distribution. It argues that the distributional effects of trade reforms depend heavily on country-specific conditions, including labor market structures, technological change, sectoral protection patterns, and institutional capacity. The study concludes that trade liberalization combined with other domestic policies determine inequality or poverty outcomes and its social impact.
Parental Perspectives on Youth Emigration from Amritsar, Punjab
Youth emigration has become a defining feature of Punjab’s socio-economic landscape, with Amritsar emerging as a key hub. While many studies have focused on emigrant youth, little attention has been paid to parental perspectives, despite their central role in financing and supporting migration. This study, based on a cross-sectional survey of left behind parents in Amritsar, examines their motivations, knowledge and vulnerability during their children’s migration. Findings reveal a paradox of youth agency and vulnerability. While migration is largely youth-initiated, it represents a high-cost, high risk family investment. Parents identified both economic hardship and unstable employment, alongside peer pressure and social prestige, as key drivers of migration. The process is privatized, dominated by agents and coaching centers, while many parents remain uncertain about their children’s long-term plans and struggles abroad. A marked rural–urban divide was evident in access to information, credit, and support networks, exposing rural families to greater risks. These findings underscore the need for state-led counseling services, streamlined visa support, and affordable credit mechanisms. Strengthening official information channels, accredited migration centres and digital literacy programmes could empower families to make informed decisions.
Time to include Telemedicine in National Level Public Health Surveys – A Perspective
Telemedicine stands as a revolutionary solution in the realm of digital health. Its impact is deeply felt in domains of availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability, all of which are integral to our comprehension of health-seeking behaviour. Existing research on telemedicine from different sample studies reveals variations based on socioeconomic factors, yet comprehensive national-level insights remain limited due to the non-availability of data. As telemedicine continues to expand, the gap in our understanding is also widening. So, it is time to integrate telemedicine-related questions and options into national-level public health surveys to generate valuable information about the contribution of telemedicine in impacting health-seeking behaviour, social disparities and health outcomes. Such data would not only strengthen the academic discourse but also be instrumental in guiding the strategic planning of telemedicine services at local, regional and national levels, ensuring their alignment with the actual needs and preferences of the people they aim to serve.
Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices in India: A Comparison of Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAG States
This study attempts to understand the infant and young child feeding practices among children under five years of age in Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAG states of India. It looks into the children who received colostrum, breastfed within 24 hours after birth and age at which they start receiving semi-solid or solid food. Data from District Level Household and Facility Survey-3 conducted during 2007-08 among ever-married women aged 15-49 years have been used. Bi-variate, cox proportional hazards and logistic regression have been used to see the effect of background characteristics of mother and child on the feeding practices. The study finds that about three-fourths of the children were given solids food when they completed one year. The mean length of breast feeding was higher in rural areas than urban areas. Infant feeding practices in EAG states were of poor quality and breast feeding had not started immediately after birth. Counselling and advice to women during ANC and delivery for infant feeding practices are urgently needed.
Infant and young child feeding practices
Role of Women’s Empowerment in Determining Child Stunting in Eastern India and Bangladesh
This paper examines the relationship between women’s empowerment and nutritional status of children. Data from BDHS (2007) and NFHS (2005-06) were used to examine the role of women’s empowerment in determining child stunting in Eastern India and Bangladesh. Results revealed that stunting and chronic malnourishment were more among children in Eastern India than Bangladesh. Severe stunting was also more prevalent among children of Eastern India as compared with Bangladesh. Mother’s body mass index, mother’s age, sub-region, community, religion, wealth quintile and empowerment indicators (mother’s education and decision making power) had significant association with child stunting. While women’s empowerment played an important role to reduce child stunting mainly in Bangladesh, education, religion and sub-region had a strong effect on stunting in Eastern India. Policies related to educating and economically empowering women in both the regions may facilitate to improve the nutritional status of children and their health.
Chronic Diseases and their Association with Disability among the Elderly in India
Morbidity among the elderly has an important influence on their physical functioning and psychological well-being. Understanding the role of chronic diseases in disability among them is pertinent for policies and programmes aimed at their welfare and management of chronic diseases. This study assesses the association between chronic diseases and disability among the elderly in India. Data from the “Building a Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI)” survey conducted in seven states of India in 2011 has been used for bivariate and multivariate analysis. Twenty nine per cent of the elderly have arthritis, 21 per cent hypertension, 13 per cent cataract, 10 per cent diabetes, 7 per cent asthma and 6 per cent heart disease. Eight per cent elderly have at least one functional disability and 73 per cent have at least one physical disability. Multivariate analysis corroborated the bivariate findings that elderly persons with chronic diseases are significantly more likely to have functional and physical disability. Periodic assessment of the health status of the elderly and provision of required preventive as well as curative measures for a healthy elderly population should be a policy priority.
Household Food Insecurity and Coping Strategies in a Rural Community of West Bengal
This study aims to understand the depth of household food insecurity and elucidates the coping mechanisms opted by households. A cross sectional study was conducted among 485 households in rural setting of West Bengal. Findings revealed that only 20 per cent households were food secure, whereas 44 per cent categorised as ‘food insecure’, 30 per cent were ‘food insecure with hunger (moderately)’ and six per cent households identified as ‘food insecure with hunger (severe). Multivariate binary logistic regression model showed that education of head of the household, caste, source of income, MPCE status and availability of livestock were significantly associated with the household food security. The most common coping strategies opted by households were to consume less preferred and less expensive food (98%), followed by borrowed food from relatives (73%). Similarly, common livelihood coping mechanisms were use of past saving cash (95%) and reduction of spending on other expense (94%). In conclusion, the present study documents the depth of food insecurity in the study area and seeks attention of policy planners to address the issue through proper implementation of food safety based interventions.
Presently, there is no single, coherent theory on the causality between cities and economic growth, only a fragmented set of theories. Current patterns and trends for the relationship between cities and economic growth, however, suggest that a full understanding of contemporary processes will not be achieved by relying on the tools of one discipline alone, or by focusing on a single level of analysis. The aim of this literature review is to examine the leading contemporary theories on the relationship between cities and economic growth. The relationship can work in several ways by focusing on: the impact of economic growth on cities, the impact of cities on economic growth, and cities as an intermediate link to economic growth. Most theories however focus on the impact cities have on economic growth. One conclusion is that economic activities and economic diversification occur before cities are formed; without them, cities are not needed and hence cannot promote economic growth. The paper also discusses the various policies and policy designs used to promote cities as well as economic growth.
Changes in the Marriage Patterns of Northern and Southern States of India, 1971-2011
Marriage is a universal phenomenon in India. As the country has passed through significant changes in socioeconomic, cultural and demographic spheres in recent decades, it is reflected on marriage. This paper examines the changes in marriage patterns in northern and southern parts of India, two different regions in terms of geography, culture and demography. Singulate Mean Age at Marriage for women has increased in Northern region from 17.1 in 1971 to 21.4 in 2011, while in Southern region it has increased from 18.7 to 21.3. However, the age gap between spouses has decreased in Southern region over the three decades and in Northern region, it has not changed significantly. The proportion of ever-married women aged 15-19 years was higher in Northern region in 1971 but in 2011 it was lower as compared with Southern region although it has decreased in both the regions. The result of modernization, education and employment is reflected on the divorce rate. In 1991, 6.5 women per 1000 ever-married females were divorced or separated which reached 9.7 in 2011. Changes in marriage pattern have occurred in both the regions but the transition in northern region is rapid compared with the south.
Infant Mortality in Northern and Southern Regions of India: Differentials and Determinants
Using the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) 2005-06 data, this paper examines the differentials and determinants of IMR in northern and southern regions of India – which record two extreme levels (highest and lowest respectively). Inferential statistics, bivariate analysis and multilevel Cox proportional regression were used as the methods of analysis. The result suggests that IMR is more pronounced in the northern than southern region. This was observed across the factors taken into consideration in the study. Nevertheless, mother’s illiteracy, working status, and marrying and delivering first child at a young age were the major mother-related factors for a high IMR. Birth interval of less than two years, being of small-sized at birth, being a female child, and not breastfed at the time of survey were the main child-related factors for a high IMR. Further, poor economic condition, living in a rural area and not having access to basic civic amenities were the key household-related covariates of a high IMR. Female literacy, utilization of mother and child healthcare, and availing basic civic amenities at household level is essential to bring reduction in the IMR - without which achieving the recently crafted SDG 3 will be difficult for India.
Utilisation of Health Care Facilities and Insurance Coverage among Urban Poor: A Study of Three Cities in India
This paper analyses the source of health care facilities, focusing on under-utilization of public health facilities and insurance coverage among the urban poor. It used data from 5720 households from three Indian cities of Bhubaneswar, Jaipur and Pune. Urban poor are highly deprived in health insurance coverage as the adjusted effect portrays that slum residences in Jaipur and Pune are 0.57 (p<0.05) and 0.63 (p<0.05) times less likely to be covered by any health insurance despite a considerable proportion of them visiting private health facilities for general health and for maternal, new born and child health services. Only one-fifth of the households in the three cities have at least one member in the family covered under any health insurance scheme. The proportion is lower among slum dwellers as only one in every tenth household reported having at least one member covered in it.
Old age care will become an increasing task in all societies as population aging gives an increasing number of elderly that will need help with daily activities. In this article different means – and their costs – of old age care are discussed. There are three ways of organizing old age care, the family, the market and the state, each one with its pros and cons. Irrespective of form, old age care is expensive and due to aging costs will increase. Thus it is important to find forms that have both high quality and use resources efficiently. Population aging as well as migration, changing family patterns and changing economic structures pose challenges to old age care and will most probably induce changes in old types of care. There might be lessons to draw from other countries. The main focus of this article is on the Swedish way, with some minor references to German and Japanese ways. It is shown how the Swedish system has evolved from being mostly a responsibility of the family to today’s responsibility of the local public sector. It is tax financed and need of care is judged by local authority. Recently, privatization of providing old age care has obtained a footing, not financing though. Dissatisfaction with the care provided has lately increased the care given by family members
Statelessness and Persecution of the Rohingyas in Myanmar: Time for Serious International Intervention
This article examines the decades-long systemic persecution of the stateless Muslim Rohingyas in Myanmar (formerly Burma). Largely unheeded by the world community, the helplessness faced by this group can be evidenced by the staggering numbers in human casualty, loss of property and homelessness. Of late, direct perpetrators behind many of the mass atrocities have been said to include members of Myanmar’s military, police, and ultra-nationalist groups, while Buddhist monks who vow to rid the country of Muslims have acted as deadly instigators. As it stands, the continuous flow of Rohingya refugees fleeing the violence has overwhelmed neighbouring countries, who themselves have been unable to adequately accommodate massive numbers of people flooding their shores. If left unaddressed, the Rohingya crisis could well extend beyond a localized humanitarian problem to seriously undermine the political and economic stability of the whole Southeast Asian region. Any resolve to the problem however, must be initiated through a collaboration between and among international government and non government organizations who see a genuine urgency and obligation to warrant the viability and success in preventing a full-blown genocide in Myanmar.
Social, Cultural and Developmental Context of Gender Balance in Gujarat
Gender equality is now universally regarded as an important aspect of inclusive development. This paper analyses gender balance in Gujarat through a micro perspective by analysing gender balance across districts, social class, literacy and work participation. It reveals that gender balance in the State is highly unfavourable to females, especially in main workers, in the urban areas and in the developed districts like Surat, Ahmedabad and Rajkot. The analysis reflects limited work opportunities available for the participation of females in productive activities. However, an opposite scenario is observed in terms of opportunities available for education, i.e., the gender balance is unfavourable to females in the least developed districts and in the rural areas. Gender balance in the whole population is also unfavourable to females, and the variation in the proportionate share of females in different population sub-groups is also substantial. Gender balance is also unfavourable to females in children aged 0-6 years which indicates impending problem of further skewed sex ratio.
Unmet Need of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) among Economically Weaker Sections in Indian Society
This paper analyses the utilisation of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in India and examines the unmet need for the services to the children and their mothers. To understand the pure effect of socio-economic and demographic factors on unmet need of ICDS programme, binary logistic regression was carried out separately for children and their mothers (pregnant and lactating women) on whether they received any services from Anganwadi Centres (AWC) or not using the data from National Family Health Survey 3. More than two-thirds of children did not receive any services from AWC. The unmet need was found to be higher among Muslims. Mothers with higher education, who belonged to upper castes, lived in urban area, and from non-poor households were less likely to utilise the ICDS compared with their less privileged counterparts. To reduce this unmet need, one should focus on why people with higher education and belonging to upper strata of society did not utilize the ICDS services? The purpose of the programme is to reach every section of the society. There must be some gap in the programme implementation which might make it not acceptable to all and create a cavity of unmet need.
Revenue Assessment Systems in South India and Central Java during 18th and 19th Centuries
Studies of relations binding ruled and ruler over the form and content of revenue assessment during the colonial era are not lacking. Rather, the intellectual challenge lies in ascertaining the degree to which the relevant economic institutions of the subjected regions in southern Asia constituted continuity of tradition, modifications thereof, or completely alien constructs. Meeting that challenge is hindered by inequality of information revealing ‘before’ and ‘after’ conditions; an embarrassment of riches in information on the latter contrasts to poverty of the former. The present paper aims at least partially filling that gap by ascertaining in comparative perspective the basis of the revenue assessment systems prevailing in South India (Karnataka) and Central Java (Yogyakarta) during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. What makes such an undertaking not only desirable from a scholarly point of view but also possible in practice is the near unique finds of virtually untapped original source materials deriving from the respective institutions’ function.
Indigenous Wisdom and Lore of Weather Forecasting in Oromoo of Ethiopia: A Native Folklore of Arsi Oromo
This paper investigates into indigenous weather and climate forecasting practices among the Arsi Oromoo, a branch of Oromoo people in Oromiya region of Ethiopia in which Arsi zone is located. It focuses on selected villages and community members. It is designed to have a qualitative research approach. The fieldwork was conducted between December 2015 and August 2016. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KII) were done. Elderly people were contacted as they have old memories and special care was taken to ensure gender balance. The study found that elders of the Arsi zone developed an amazing wisdom of observing natural indicators in forecasting weather condition. This wisdom must be preserved, documented and disseminated among the scientific community.
Factors Associated with Availability of X-ray Equipment in Public Hospitals: A Finding from Community Health Centres in Maharashtra, India
X-ray investigation is vital for patients seeking primary and emergency care for tuberculosis, pneumonia, trauma and other respiratory and abdominal diseases. This paper attempts to study factors associated with availability and functionality of x-ray equipment in public hospitals. Fourth round of District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-4) data for Community Health Centres (CHCs) were used. We identified possible factors related to x-ray services and extracted available factors from DLHS-4 data which may influence the availability and functionality of x-ray units. These factors were grouped under three categories – geographical locations of CHC, physical resources available at CHC and patient workload of CHC. We have applied chi-square test to find out the association between CHC with/without x-ray unit and selected variables. Mean value and standard deviation were calculated for continuous variables. The study shows that 48.5 per cent CHCs with functional x-ray machine did not have X ray technician to operate it. We found statistically significant relationship (p=<0.05%) between availability and functioning of x-ray unit and number of X-ray technicians in position, years since CHC functioning as 24x7, total number of beds, OT availability, number of OPD patients and number of cases referred for serious ailments from CHC. The study has been able to identify a set of key factors that are related to availability and functionality of an x-ray unit
Subjective Well-Being Among Young Married Women: Assessing Their Satisfaction with Life in North Dinajpur District of West Bengal, India
Subjective wellbeing describes how people experience the quality of their life and has gained importance in recent psychological research. This paper assesses the subjective wellbeing among young women by measuring their overall satisfaction with life. Data come from a primary survey of 500 young married women (18-30 years) in 10 selected villages of North Dinajpur District of West Bengal. Sixty per cent of the women were satisfied with their life conditions as they “have gotten the important things in life, they are satisfied with life, in most ways their life is close to ideal, the conditions of life are excellent and if they could live their life over, they would change almost nothing”. In contrast, around one fourth of them were dissatisfied. Multivariate analysis revealed that respondents belonging to Muslim community, having higher education, any mass media exposure and arranged marriages were more likely to be satisfied than their other counterparts. Women who experienced any form of spousal violence and exhibited mental health problems were less likely to be satisfied with life. Conversely, higher marital satisfaction, high religiosity and higher social support among them had significant positive relationship with their overall life satisfaction.
Self-reported Health of Aged Population in India
Lack of health status indicators that can be voluntarily collected for individuals with minimal expenditure of resources is a major limitation to assess the health of elderly population. This has sparked interest in self-reported measures of health status. The present paper extracted the data from SAGE (Study of Global Ageing and Adult Health) Wave-1 India. Data of 6560 individuals of 50 plus age group have been analyzed from Wave-1. Elderly health was assessed based on six domains of health activity. Health assessment by background characteristics shows older persons in higher age group had a higher percentage in reporting bad health and vice-versa, and females report bad health conditions more in comparison with males. Persons belonging to households in higher wealth quintile and having higher education were in good health condition. Multinomial logistic regression shows that with increasing education and income levels, the possibility of experiencing moderate and good health is found to increase considerably. The study concludes that the self-reported health of the elderly population is poor.
Although the term ‘social capital’ comes from western lexicon, but it has been used in several forms in India. It has enjoyed an impressive upsurge across the social sciences, development studies and policy-making discourses. This paper provides a brief introduction to the origin of the term with Indian and western connotations along with recent theoretical backup and links between social cohesion, quality of governance, economic performance and human welfare. Despite some limitations of social capital, the literature indicates that it makes an unquestionable input to economic development and overall wellbeing. The advent of social capital theory grounded serious sound academic research in social sciences and established the link between social economics and mainstream economics. This paper argues that social capital cannot be separated from social and political contexts for meaningful economic activities.
Abortion Decision Making in India: Whose Role is Vital?
Using District Level Household Suvey-3 (2007-08), this paper portrays the scenario of induced abortion in India and some selected states which note high rates of abortions. It further explores the decision making process of abortion and key factors associated with it. The role of women is most important in decision making process for abortion in the states where incidence of abortion is high. However, result from Multinomial Logistic Regression analysis indicates that women who reside in rural areas, and are uneducated, with low standard of living, have done ultrasound and have terminated their pregnancy in private clinics are more prone to depend on others’ decision for termination of pregnancy. The paper suggests that reproductive health programmes of the government should enhance awareness about complications of abortion and encourage the women to seek consent of medically qualified persons before the termination of pregnancy. For this uneducated and poor women need to be given special attention
Marriage Arrangements and Customs in India
The present study attempts to analyse the marriage arrangements and customs in India using the data from India Human Development Survey II (2011-12) and Census of India. The result shows that age at marriage for males and females has increased by 3 and 5 years respectively during 1960-2011. The bivariate analysis discloses that two-thirds of women in India met their husbands only on wedding day or the day of Gauna. Only 5 per cent of them have chosen their husbands independently. The prevalence of inter-caste marriages is observed to be 5.4 per cent at the national level. Results of multivariate analysis indicate that marrying outside the caste and blood relations is influenced by socio-economic factors. Results also show that marriage expenditure for girls is higher than for boys.
Fertility Transition in Andhra Pradesh: Role of Diffusion in Use of Contraception among Illiterate Women
Andhra Pradesh achieved faster fertility decline in a span of time. This attracted the attention of researchers in social sciences in the background of unfavourable socioeconomic conditions such as higher female illiteracy and infant mortality. This paper assesses the trends of fertility among illiterate and literate women and the role of diffusion factor on the use of contraception by illiterate-currently married women by using the data from the SRS (1996-2013) and DLHS-3(2007-08). The gap in fertility between literate and illiterate women at the initial stage was very high. However, the sharp decline in fertility of illiterate women during the latest period has led to emerging convergence in fertility rates between them. Logistic regression analysis further showed that illiterate currently-married women, who had accessed information about family planning from health personnel such as Doctors/ANM/ASHA, were more likely to use contraception as compared with those who did not access such information even after controlling socio-economic factors. Overall, the diffusion of information channel through health personnel played a significant role in the dramatic decline of fertility among illiterate women.
How Healthy are Keralites? An Exploration of Disability Free Life Expectancy
High Life Expectancies (LE) resulting from low mortality rates are often interpreted to indicate a high health status for Kerala. This interpretation can turn out to be inadequate when morbidity is considered. The available studies discuss the health status by analysing either mortality rates or morbidity rates that cannot indicate the expected healthy life years for the state. This study attempts to nalyse the health status in Kerala using a combined index of mortality and morbidity, namely, Disability Free Life Expectancy (DFLE). Based on mortality data from Sample Registration System (SRS) and morbidity/disability data from National Sample Survey (NSS), it estimates DFLE at major age levels -for males and females, and for both rural and urban areas. The study finds LE and DFLE moving in opposite irections reflecting worsening health status in Kerala. This trend is noticeably higher for old adult and old age population at all the three levels, besides denoting a ‘morbidity expansion’. An analysis of diseases contributing to the loss of DFLE points to a major role of chronic/degenerative diseases at older ages. The study suggests that the state needs to focus on policies to reduce morbidity levels along with an increase in life expectancy.
The Swedish Welfare State Model: A Brief Overview
The Swedish welfare state model has its roots in home turf as well as in the soil of other nations, mainly Germany and Britain. It took on its characteristic shape as the People’s Home in the 1930s, when national models to the left and right of the political spectrum in many countries were built around “the people”. At the time it was also labelled “the middle way” between capitalism and socialism. During the 1960s “record years” the Swedish welfare state grew rapidly. It stood at its zenith around 1970, hailed internationally as the Swedish model. However, the welfare state and the economy, closely intertwined, soon entered into a protracted structural crisis. In the early 1990s, Sweden experienced a deep and to a large extent home-made financial crisis and the Swedish model became a warning example in some quarters. Out of the crisis arose a revised model in which welfare services were still provided more or less “for free” (i.e. funded by tax money) while at the same time there were customer/user choice of and competition between public and private providers. Today this revised model is under attack due to the existence of “welfare profits”. It is also challenged by demographic developments – an ageing population and many immigrants lacking entry to the labour market.
Contribution of MSMEs with Reference to Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation in North-East India: A Critical Evaluation
This paper critically examines the contribution made by Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) with respect to Entrepreneurship development and employment generation in eight states of North East India (NEI). The new North East Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy have been introduced in 2007 with the aim of consolidating and developing this sector in NEI. So, we use the period 2006-07 to 2012-13 as the reference period of the study. We use Panel data regression model to study the contribution of this sector in North East Region. Our main finding is that MSME sector has made significant contribution in development of entrepreneurship among the youth population of North East States in India. Some states show more success due to their specific state policies like financial subsidy, SEZ etc. Next we focus on employment generation capacity of MSME sector. We derive employment elasticity of output to find out the employment generation capacity of this sector. We find that MSME sector has been able to create employment opportunity within the sector but it fails to absorb the semi-skilled and un-skilled migrated labour forces from agriculture and other sector in all eight states of NEI