Tuesday, March 10

Meghalaya

Vice President of India meets 30 SHG women from Meghalaya led by Chief Minister Conrad  Sangma
Meghalaya

Vice President of India meets 30 SHG women from Meghalaya led by Chief Minister Conrad  Sangma

A delegation of 30 Self-Help Group (SHG) women members from Meghalaya, accompanied by senior officials of the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), met the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, at his official residence in New Delhi. The visit was led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K Sangma, as part of his ongoing initiative to empower grassroots women leaders and provide them with national exposure. During the interaction, the Hon’ble Vice President lauded the state’s efforts in strengthening women’s collectives and acknowledged the transformational progress being made under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma. He noted that the state’s focus on women empowerment, improved nutrition, and maternal health outcomes...
State govt asks NTA to defer CUET exam for Meghalaya
Meghalaya

State govt asks NTA to defer CUET exam for Meghalaya

The state government has asked the Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) to defer the CUET (UG) 2025 examination for Meghalaya until additional centres are verified and made ready for allocation. A letter in this regard was sent to the NTA Director General by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Monday. Sangma told reporters this will help accommodate all candidates from Meghalaya within the state, thereby avoiding the challenges associated with long-distance travel. Lamenting that the NTA did not inform the state government about the CUET centres on time, he said the government has identified over 200 additional computer nodes to support the smooth conduct of the CUET (UG) 2025 examination within Meghalaya. The list of these proposed venues has already been shared with...
Meghalaya Govt stops affiliation of colleges with state university
Meghalaya

Meghalaya Govt stops affiliation of colleges with state university

The Registrar of Captain Williamson Sangma State University, Ambrose Ch Marak has written to principals of several colleges, announcing the cancellation of their affiliation with the state university. An official source on Monday informed that the approval of affiliation with the state university which was issued on April 15 for the academic session 2025-26 “has been withdrawn and stands cancelled for technical reasons till further order…” The source stated that the reason behind the cancellation is that these colleges are currently affiliated to the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). “The process of withdrawal of affiliation from NEHU will be informed in due course of time,” the Registrar further stated in his letter to the principals. It may be mentioned that NEHU has issued a ...
Meghalaya CM urges Centre to reallocate CUET 2025 exam centres within state
Meghalaya

Meghalaya CM urges Centre to reallocate CUET 2025 exam centres within state

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene urgently over the allocation of CUET 2025 exam centres outside the state, which has caused distress among students. In a social media post on Sunday, Sangma stated, “Called on Hon'ble Union Education Minister, Shri @dpradhanbjp ji to take up the issues faced by our youth regarding the allocation of exam centers in locations outside Meghalaya for CUET 2025.” Despite a May 8 letter from the state education department to the National Testing Agency (NTA) requesting in-state centres, many students who chose Shillong as their preferred location have been assigned to far-off centres in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Kolkata. Sangma expressed concern that these allocati...
Conrad urges Union Education Minister to allot CUET centres within state
Meghalaya

Conrad urges Union Education Minister to allot CUET centres within state

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has urged Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, to direct the National Testing Agency (NTA) to review and reallocate CUET (UG) 2025 centres for Meghalaya candidates within the state. Sangma on Sunday urged Pradhan to consider postponing or deferring the examination for Meghalaya students this year until adequate and accessible infrastructure is ensured. “This appeal arises from a collective sense of urgency among our youth and I trust that your office will give it the serious consideration it deserves,” Sangma said. The issue concerns the inadequate availability of examination centres within Meghalaya, with many students being allotted centres in distant locations such as Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Kolkata. This has placed an und...
NEHU honours Padma Shri David R Syiemlieh for lifetime contribution to academia and society
Meghalaya

NEHU honours Padma Shri David R Syiemlieh for lifetime contribution to academia and society

North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Friday felicitated Padma Shri awardee Prof. David R Syiemlieh, honouring his lifetime contribution to education, historiography, and social service in the Northeast. At a special ceremony attended by faculty, former students, and well-wishers, Prof. Syiemlieh was lauded for his role in bringing the history and voices of the Northeast to national prominence. Colleagues described him as “a custodian of the region’s nuanced histories” who played pivotal roles at NEHU, including as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. NEHU Vice-Chancellor In-Charge Prof. SM Sungoh said, “Your life’s work has illuminated the corridors of academia and brought immense pride to Meghalaya and the Northeast.” Prof. Shobhan N. Lamare, a former student and current Head of the ...
Meghalaya CM launches a consignment of 1,700 metric tonnes of broomgrass from Ri-Bhoi
Meghalaya

Meghalaya CM launches a consignment of 1,700 metric tonnes of broomgrass from Ri-Bhoi

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma marked a major milestone under the government's flagship CM-ASSURE program on Friday by flagging off a cargo of 1,700 metric tonnes of broomgrass from Khlieh Umsten in the Ri-Bhoi district. After being sent to the Central Warehousing Corporation facility in Guwahati, the consignment would be stored before being put up for auction and sold to the highest bidder. The CM-ASSURE program, which focuses mostly on non-perishable goods with long shelf life, attempts to assist farmers by protecting them against changes in market prices. During the event, the Chief Minister also gave pick-up cars to CM-Elevate program participants. The Chief Minister emphasized the government's continuous initiatives to support value-added products and fortify the agricu...
Meghalaya imposes night curfew along Bangladesh border to curb infiltration, smuggling
Meghalaya

Meghalaya imposes night curfew along Bangladesh border to curb infiltration, smuggling

In a move aimed at curbing cross-border infiltration and illegal activities, the Meghalaya government has imposed night curfews along a 40-kilometre unfenced stretch of the India-Bangladesh border. The decision came after security agencies alerted the state about possible movements of militants and smugglers during nighttime. According to officials, the curfew will be enforced daily from 8 PM to 6 AM, restricting all movement within 200 metres of the Zero Line—the international boundary. The order also bans unauthorized gatherings of five or more people and the carrying of weapons or any items that can be used as arms. West Jaintia Hills, one of the affected districts, has already implemented the restrictions, with instructions issued to all deputy commissioners of border districts to ...
Meghalaya pioneers VR-assisted guided imagery therapy & Research Study for cancer patients at Civil Hospital
Meghalaya

Meghalaya pioneers VR-assisted guided imagery therapy & Research Study for cancer patients at Civil Hospital

In a pioneering step toward integrating technology with patient care, the DAE-Civil Hospital Cancer Wing, Shillong, has initiated a VR-Assisted Guided Imagery Therapy and Study on 8th May 2025. Spearheaded by the State Cancer Society of Meghalaya in collaboration with Ojaska Labs LLP and supported by SMRATA Trust, this initiative explores the therapeutic use of Virtual Reality (VR) to alleviate treatment-related distress and enhance the emotional well-being of cancer patients undergoing chemo-radiation.  An official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also held during the event, marking the collaboration between the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, Ojaska Labs LLP, and SMRATA Trust. This partnership formalizes joint efforts in deploying...
Meghalaya HC examines the status of urban development projects in Shillong
Meghalaya

Meghalaya HC examines the status of urban development projects in Shillong

Several urban development projects are being closely monitored by the Meghalaya High Court in an effort to make Shillong "a modern, clean and well-administered city," according to court documents made public. During a hearing on two related Public Interest Litigations (PIL No. 17 of 2021 and PIL No. 9 of 2024), a division bench headed by Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh examined an action taken report that the Commissioner and Secretary had submitted to the Government of Meghalaya's Urban Affairs Department. In March, the court had directed authorities to implement on a "war footing" several major initiatives, including: Demarcation of parking and no-parking zones, Acquisition of 35 state-of-the-art buses to reduce private transport, Implementation of a Shared Mobility I...