Synopsis Development Research focusing on North-East India (NEI) seems to be limited by isolated and piecemeal nature of empirical studies. This situation throws up a challenge to investigate into the causal and historical linkages between politics and economics. Taking into consideration the existing lacunae in development research focusing on NEI, the study investigates the nature and causes of underdevelopment and its myriad politico-cultural expressions through the triple registers of development i.e. political economy, space and culture. The study delves deep into the analysis of the intricate structural relations within a given mode of production that produces, sustains and gives rise to neo-dependency. In doing so it tries to develop a staged connection between the co-existing modes of development and modes of productions alongwith its spatial references. The study remains largely exploratory and theoretical. Recent data have been used to strengthen various arguments.