Meghalaya

The Meghalaya government is fully alert and prepared to deal with any potential threat of the Nipah virus, even as no cases have been reported in the state so far, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said in an interview. Responding to concerns following reports of Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, Shylla said the Health Department has already been asked to remain vigilant. “As of now, we don’t have any concrete evidence or report of Nipah virus in Meghalaya. I also don’t want to create panic among the public,” he said, adding, “But as a Health Department, we are fully aware and fully prepared.” On the upcoming National Games, which Meghalaya is set to host, the minister said the state has sought financial assistance from the Centre while also acknowledging its own resp...

Meghalaya will receive Rs 9,637 crore as tax devolution from the Centre in the financial year 2026–27, a move expected to strengthen the state’s capacity to accelerate capital expenditure and infrastructure creation, officials said on February 2. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha on February 1. Officials said the higher devolution would provide Meghalaya with greater untied resources, enabling the state to better support its developmental priorities. Central transfers to Meghalaya have witnessed a steady rise over the past decade. According to an official statement, between 2014 and 2024, the Centre released Rs 69,335 crore to the state as tax devolution and Rs 40,452 crore as grants-in-aid, reflecting sustained expansion in fiscal ...

Cabinet Minister and Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun has said that the worsening pollution levels in Byrnihat are a shared responsibility of industries operating in both Meghalaya and Assam, and that the Meghalaya side alone cannot be held accountable. Speaking on the issue, Sohtun pointed out that industrial units on both sides of the inter-state border contribute to the high pollution levels in the area. While acknowledging that steps are being taken to reduce pollution, he admitted that certain units continue to violate environmental norms. The minister asserted that the Meghalaya government is making all possible efforts to control pollution and strengthen monitoring mechanisms. He urged the state authorities to push the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Assam Pollution Contr...

Meghalaya has been allocated ₹9,631 crore under tax devolution in the Union Budget Estimates for 2026–27, significantly boosting the state’s pool of untied funds to support its developmental priorities. The increase reflects the Centre’s continued fiscal support to Meghalaya through higher tax transfers and enhanced assistance for capital investment. In addition to tax devolution, central support under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) has been expanded, enabling faster infrastructure development and higher capital expenditure. Between 2014 and 2024, Meghalaya received ₹69,339 crore as tax devolution and ₹40,452 crore in grants-in-aid from the Centre, underscoring sustained financial backing. Under the SASCI scheme, the state has received ₹6,523 crore between...

Amid rising concerns over drying springs and declining water discharge, Meghalaya's community-driven climate adaptation and water security initiatives have found mention in the Economic Survey 2025-26, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said. The chief minister said the survey, tabled in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighted Meghalaya's ecosystem-based and community-centric approach to addressing water security challenges. "With initiatives like MegARISE, spring mapping, and community-based water harvesting, the state is protecting critical catchments, restoring forests, and empowering local communities to adapt to climate change, strengthening water security for generations to come," Sangma posted on X on Friday.

Parleys within the National People’s Party (NPP) have intensified regarding the nomination for Meghalaya's Upper House seat, as Rajya Sabha MP Wanwei Roy Kharlukhi prepares to retire, announcing he will not seek a second term. This decision has spurred discussions among party members, particularly those from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, who are advocating for a Khasi leader to succeed Kharlukhi to ensure regional representation. Informal talks have started, leading to several potential candidates being named. Political analysts note that these inclinations from the Khasi and Jaintia regions may risk internal unity, especially with differing opinions from the Garo Hills. Speculation has been heightened by NPP spokesperson James P.K. Sangma's expression of interest in the role, although he ...

Meghalaya's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Wailadmiki Shylla, has announced the upcoming implementation of the state's Sportsperson Direct Recruitment Policy. This initiative will allow athletes winning medals at the National Games, Asian Games, Olympics, or Paralympics to secure government jobs without undergoing traditional recruitment processes, such as examinations. The policy is nearing completion, with finalization of the roster and related procedures. Previously, athletes were limited to a two percent job reservation quota, which required them to compete for employment against each other, a practice that detracted from their training and discouraged parental support. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong highlighted the importance of sports as a profession, linking the state's...

The Meghalaya government has welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27, saying it provides a forward-looking roadmap anchored in fiscal prudence, sustained public investment and balanced regional development, while noting that hill states continue to face constraints in untied fiscal space. In an official statement, the Finance Department said the Budget’s increase in public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore would reinforce infrastructure-led growth, supported by targeted investments in education, healthcare, tourism, agriculture, skilling and technology-enabled governance. The state government also welcomed the enhancement of allocations under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) to ₹1.85 lakh crore for 2026–27, describing the support as instrumental in advanc...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Sunday said the “special thrust” on the northeast in the Union Budget for 2026-27 reflects the Centre's resolve to make the region a growth engine of the East. Sangma, in a post on X, described it as a visionary and holistic Budget. "The special focus on the northeast underscores the government's firm resolve to transform the region into a dynamic growth engine of the East," he said. In a post on X, Sangma described the Budget as “visionary and holistic,” highlighting its focus on inclusive and people-centric development. “The special focus on the Northeast underscores the government’s firm resolve to transform the region into a dynamic growth engine of the East,” the chief minister said. He expressed gratitude to Union Finance Minister Nirma...

The Meghalaya government is moving ahead with plans to build new helipads in Shillong and Tura, a step aimed at improving air connectivity within the state, especially to important administrative and commercial centres. Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said that the tender process for the construction of helipads at the two locations has already been started. Speaking to reporters in Shillong on Thursday, Dhar said tenders have been floated for both Shillong and Tura and the process of allotting the work is currently underway. “Tenders have been floated for Tura and Shillong. Whether the work has been allotted or not, I am not very sure, but it is under the process of allotment,” Dhar said. He added that once the formalities are completed, construction ...