Meghalaya

Residents and village leaders from areas surrounding Umroi have expressed strong backing for the proposed expansion of Shillong Airport during a public hearing held on October 7. The consultation, organised by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, focused on plans to upgrade the airport to accommodate larger aircraft and strengthen regional air connectivity. The ambitious ₹500-crore project will expand the airport area from 5,000 sq m to 10,500 sq m and extend the runway from 1,829 metres to 2,400 metres, allowing operations of larger jets such as the Airbus A320. Upon completion, the upgraded facility will be capable of handling five A320 aircraft simultaneously and offer direct flights to major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. Officials from the Airports Aut...

Justice Soumen Sen was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court at a formal ceremony held at the Darbar Hall of Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. The oath of office was administered by Meghalaya Governor C.H. Vijayashankar. Justice Sen succeeds Justice Sanjib Banerjee, who retired on September 5 this year. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Leader of Opposition Dr. Mukul Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil P Ahammed, and several other dignitaries. Justice Sen's appointment as Chief Justice was officially made by the President of India on September 26, 2025, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. Born on July 27, 1965, in Kolkata, Justice Sen completed his schooling at St. Lawrence High Sc...

The Ri Bhoi District Police have penalised 2,500 vehicle owners for various traffic violations, collecting fines totaling Rs 8 lakh, officials said on Wednesday, October 8. The offences included not wearing helmets or seat belts, driving without valid documents, using incorrect lanes, overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and illegal vehicle modifications. The traffic enforcement drive began at 7 pm on Tuesday and continued until Wednesday morning. Authorities said the drive was initiated following a recent surge in road accidents in the district. Residents have been urged to follow traffic rules strictly. The police also requested that any photo or video evidence of violations be shared via WhatsApp at 6909300160 for necessary action.

Meghalaya has recorded a sharp rise in the number of voters over the past two decades, an official said on Tuesday. A comparative analysis shows that the total number of electors in the state has grown from 13,35,816 in 2005 to 23,06,384 in September 2025, Chief Electoral Officer Dr BDR Tiwari said. His statement came ahead of the Election Commission of India's (ECI) upcoming Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across the country. In Meghalaya, the 2005 electoral roll was published on April 15 of that year with January 1, 2005, as the qualifying date. Dr Tiwari said the number of male voters rose from 6,64,306 to 11,37,316, while female voters increased from 6,71,510 to 11,69,062. Six electors have registered under the third gender category in the latest roll. He said Meghala...

The Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools Association (MSSASA) has announced its decision to file a review petition before the Supreme Court of India. The move comes in response to the apex court’s September 1 ruling, which made it mandatory for all in-service teachers to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to continue in their posts. The decision to legally contest the verdict was reached unanimously during the MSSASA’s general meeting held on Monday, where hundreds of teachers gathered to express growing concern over the court’s order. MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said the association would specifically challenge the retrospective application of the Supreme Court’s directive, arguing that it unfairly affects teachers who were recruited long before the introduction of TET nor...

The Meghalaya Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Schools Association (MSSASA) on Monday unanimously decided to file a review petition before the Supreme Court, challenging its September 1 ruling that mandates all in-service teachers to clear the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) to continue in service. At a general meeting held here, MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said legal experts had advised the association to contest the retrospective application of the judgment, which affects even long-serving teachers nearing retirement. "This decision will have serious consequences on the future of many teachers. We have agreed to move collectively," Rymbai said. He further expressed concern that the ruling, if left unchallenged, could jeopardize the careers and livelihoods of a large number of teachers a...

The Meghalaya State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) has joined hands with software firm Sirobilt to launch a six-month training programme on SAP S/4HANA — an advanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) software powered by artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to equip Meghalaya’s youth with high-demand digital skills aligned with the evolving needs of global industries. Officials said that participants will be trained to manage SAP implementation projects, preparing them for career opportunities across multiple sectors including finance, logistics, and manufacturing. SAP S/4HANA is a next-generation ERP suite that integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and real-time analytics. Built on SAP’s powerful in-memory database, SAP HANA, the system helps organisation...

The Meghalaya government has notified the Meghalaya Rent a Motor Cab Operational Rules, 2025, aimed at licensing and regulating motor cab rental services within the state. According to the notification, the rules shall apply to all motor cabs holding tourist permits issued under sub-section (9) of Section 88 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Under the new rules, no person shall engage in the business of renting out a motor cab without obtaining a valid licence. Applications for the grant or renewal of such licences must be submitted in Form 1 to the licensing authority having jurisdiction over the applicant's place of residence or principal place of business, along with a fee of Rs 10,000. A licence granted or renewed under Paragraph 6 will remain valid for a period of five years from t...

Four teenage girls were killed and three others injured after a goods vehicle ran over them in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district and overturned, police said on Saturday. The accident happened in Thadrang village near Mawlasnai police outpost on Friday, they said. The dumper was heading to Bhoirymbong from Jowai in the West Jaintia Hills district when it hit the pedestrians, they added. Three girls died at the scene, while another succumbed to her injuries later. The victims were identified as Phibanpyntngen Rynjah (13), Lashimti Nongrum (13), Theresa Nongrum (19), and Ridahunlang Nongrum (13), all residents of Thadrang Madan Lyngbah village under Umiam police station. Another girl from the group sustained critical injuries and is undergoing treatment. The truck driver and his helper were...

The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) has opposed the inclusion of two non-tribal students in the MBBS quota, though several Khasi students secured higher marks. KSU general secretary Donald V. Thabah said Diya Ghosh, who scored 472 marks, and Tanushka Chakravarty, who scored 442 marks, were included in the unreserved category list for MBBS studies outside the state. In a statement, Thabah said one Khasi student scored higher than Ghosh, and more than seven Khasi students scored higher than Chakravarty, making them more deserving in the unreserved category. "According to the list, several Khasi students who scored higher marks than the two non-tribal students have been overlooked for the unreserved category, despite being more meritorious. Notably, one Khasi student outscored Diya Ghosh, whi...