Meghalaya

Meghalaya Governor Chandrashekhar H Vijaya Shankar has given assent to the Meghalaya Official Language Ordinance, 2026. With his approval, the ordinance is now formally enacted, making the indigenous Khasi and Garo languages as the official languages of the state, in addition to English. "The Meghalaya Official Language Ordinance, 2026 received the assent of the Hon’ble Governor, making Khasi and Garo the official languages of the state, apart from English. This will further strengthen our aspirations to have Khasi and Garo recognized in the Eighth Schedule. Thank Hon’ble Governor Shri C. H. Vijaya Shankar ji for giving his assent to this very important Ordinance," Chief Minister Conrad Sangma wrote on X. The state cabinet had approved the ordinance on April 16. The mov...

On April 28, Meghalaya is set to mark a significant milestone in its sports development journey as Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurates the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s (MCA) new Indoor Cricket Academy at Kurkalang. This high-profile event is part of a wider, coordinated rollout of indoor stadiums across six northeastern states, reflecting a concentrated effort by the central government to bolster sports infrastructure in the region. The state-of-the-art facility, developed with the support of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is poised to revolutionize cricket training in the state. By offering a modern, climate-controlled indoor environment, the academy will enable year-round practice, effectively mitigating the challenges posed by the region's season...

A 21-member team of Meghalaya officers visited London recently as part of training on urban management strategy. An official source said the four-day training on 'Shillong Urban Strategy 'was hosted by London School of Economics. Deputy commissioners were also part of the delegation. Sources said that with the challenges in waste management, sewage system, polluted rivers and traffic congestion coupled with absence of open space and aversion to public transport system, how the training abroad will help in achieving the dream of a livable city. Many projects under the Smart City initiative have not shown the desired results.

The Employability Accelerator Programme, a joint initiative of UNIQLO India Private Limited and Avenues Meghalaya aimed at expanding employment opportunities and improving job readiness for youth, marked the successful completion of its inaugural batches with a certification event held in Shillong recently. Over 160 training participants including college-going and unemployed youth, and representing different communities of the Northeast region, were certified after completing an intensive 80-hour training programme focused on workplace readiness and employability, completely sponsored by UNIQLO. Counted amongst the world's top three fashion brands, UNIQLO Japan has an extensive presence across the world and has significantly stepped-up operations in India with multiple flagship st...

The MegLIFE project under the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Meghalaya Rural Bank to strengthen livelihood promotion through improved access to financial services. The agreement, signed at the MegLIFE office, aims to facilitate credit linkages for Integrated Village Cooperative Societies (IVCS) under the project, enabling rural communities to access formal banking support for income-generating activities. The MoU was signed by Gavade Sachin Shankar, Executive Director of MBDA and Additional Project Director of MegLIFE, and Ashish Yadav, Chairman of Meghalaya Rural Bank, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions. Officials said the partnership is expected to deepen financial inclusion across project a...

The Meghalaya Cricket Association’s indoor cricket academy at Kurkalang will be formally inaugurated on April 28, alongside a wider rollout of indoor stadiums across six northeastern states. The programme will be led virtually by Narendra Modi from Sikkim, marking a coordinated push to strengthen sports infrastructure in the region. MCA president James PK Sangma has invited members and affiliates to attend the ceremony at the Kurkalang facility, calling it a key moment for cricket in the state. The launch follows efforts to complete the academy after construction delays under the previous administration. Sangma said he had sought the intervention of Conrad K Sangma to accelerate the process. “I had requested the intervention… to fast-track the completion of the Academy. I am gratef...

As part of sustained efforts to strengthen traffic enforcement, improve road discipline and ensure safer streets for the public, East Khasi Hills Police, under the supervision of the Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills and SP (City/Traffic) and Addl SP Traffic conducted a special traffic enforcement drive during the intervening night of 25th and 26th April 2026 across three sectors of Shillong city Sadar, Laitumkhrah and Lumdiengjri. The drive was undertaken to intensify enforcement against traffic violations and unsafe road practices through coordinated, multi-location checking, particularly during night hours when such violations are more prevalent. The enforcement focused on detection of drunk driving, illegal modification of exhaust systems and lights, black-tinted v...

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) has imposed a penalty of Rs 31.25 lakh on the Chief Engineer (NH), Public Works Department (PWD) for environmental violations linked to the Jowai Bypass Road project in West Jaintia Hills. The fine was imposed under Section 33A of the Water Act and Section 31A of the Air Act, read with the Central Pollution Control Board’s methodology for assessment of environmental compensation. The violations were found during inspections conducted by a Joint Committee constituted under the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The committee, headed by MSPCB member secretary George Hagi Chyrmang, submitted its “action taken” report to the tribunal on April 24 in compliance with earlier orders dated February 4 and March 11, 2026. Accor...

To strengthen grassroots biodiversity governance by empowering local communities and institutions through the greening of Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and innovative financing, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) have launched a landmark five-year project titled ‘Strengthening Institutional Capacities for Securing Biodiversity Conservation Commitments’. The project is a joint initiative of the Government of India, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a grant of USD 4.88 million for the period 2025–2030. The project is rooted in two ecologically significant landscapes of Meghalaya and Tamil Nadu. In Garo Hills, Meghalaya, the Nokrek B...

A 40-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his co-tenant following a dispute in Mawblei on Saturday morning. The deceased, identified as Sumeet Kr Singha, was reportedly assaulted by Sanjay Kumar (42) inside their residential building at around 8 am. According to police, the accused used a "No Parking" board as a weapon during the altercation. Preliminary investigation suggests that the incident was triggered by suspicion on the part of the victim, who believed that the accused was having an affair with his wife. The matter escalated into a heated argument, which soon turned violent. Singha was rushed to Supercare Hospital for treatment; however, doctors declared him brought dead on arrival.Confirming the incident, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said ...