Meghalaya

The multinational military exercise PRAGATI 2026 commenced on Tuesday at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya with the participation of armed forces contingents from 12 friendly nations across the Indian Ocean Region and Southeast Asia. The participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The contingents received a traditional welcome from the Indian Army upon their arrival, reflecting India’s cultural heritage and hospitality. PRAGATI, which stands for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, is being conducted to promote friendship, equality and mutual respect among participating nations. The exercise aims to strengthen military-t...

A two-week multinational military exercise involving defence personnel from 13 countries began on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station with a focus on counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-mountainous terrain.The exercise, named PRAGATI 2026, has brought together troops from India and 12 partner nations — Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. According to Mahender Rawat, the joint exercise is aimed at improving interoperability and coordination among participating armies through tactical drills, joint planning exercises and simulated counter-terror operations in difficult terrain conditions. Officials said the training programme will focus on endurance, adaptability, discipline and operational coordi...

Exercise PRAGATI 2026, a multilateral military exercise involving 12 friendly nations, commenced on Wednesday at Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya. Participating countries include Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The visiting contingents received a traditional welcome from the Indian Army upon arrival. PRAGATI short for Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region aims to strengthen military cooperation, promote professional exchange and enhance coordination among participating armies. The exercise is being conducted in the spirit of equality, friendship and mutual respect. Addressing the opening ceremony, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Di...

The Meghalaya Health Care Association (MHCA) on Wednesday joined the nationwide one-day bandh called by the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD). As part of the bandh, all wholesale and retail pharmacies across the country remained closed, including around 2,600 medicine shops in Meghalaya. The AIOCD, which represents over 12.40 lakh chemists and distributors across India, has raised concerns over the continued online sale of medicines without clear and enforceable regulations. The MHCA alleged that while online sale of medicines was permitted during the COVID-19 pandemic under exceptional circumstances to ensure access to essential medicines, the practice has continued Speaking to reporters, MHCA president David Kharsati said the association had already in...

East Khasi Hills district has launched preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 election cycle, with authorities announcing a large-scale house-to-house voter verification drive covering more than 1,000 polling stations. The revision exercise, being carried out under the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), places Meghalaya in Phase III of the nationwide electoral roll update programme. District election authorities on Monday briefed representatives of recognised political parties in Shillong on the roadmap, timelines and operational procedures for the exercise. Officials said East Khasi Hills district currently has 17 Assembly constituencies and 1,021 polling stations. According to the schedule shared during the ...

Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district has begun preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls for 2026, with political parties briefed on timelines, verification procedures and the role of booth-level agents ahead of the exercise. The district currently has 17 Assembly constituencies and 1,021 polling stations, making it one of the key districts in the state’s Phase-III revision process. According to officials, booth-level officers will conduct house-to-house verification from June 30 to July 29 as part of the revision drive. The draft electoral roll is scheduled to be published on August 5, while claims and objections can be filed till September 4. The final electoral roll will be released on October 7. Authorities said the 2005 electoral roll will ser...

The Indian Army has officially commenced its inaugural multilateral military exercise, PRAGATI 2026, at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya. Standing for the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, this landmark exercise brings together military contingents from twelve friendly nations, including Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. The visiting international delegations were received with a traditional welcome, highlighting India’s rich cultural heritage and hospitality. Spanning over the next two weeks, the multinational exercise is being conducted in a spirit of equality, friendship, and mutual respect. During the opening ceremony, Major General Sunil Sheoran, Additional Director General of Infantry, emphasized the cri...

The Meghalaya government has assured citizens that it will thoroughly examine the growing objections against a proposed limestone mining project at Daistong village in the Jaintia Hills. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar confirmed that the state will review grievances raised by local residents and pressure groups before taking a final stance on the project. The announcement followed a crucial meeting between the Deputy Chief Minister and representatives from the Jaintia National Council, the Jaintia Students’ Union, and local villagers. The delegation submitted a formal petition alleging significant irregularities in both the public hearing framework and the environmental clearance process. The tension surrounding the project escalated earlier in the day when youth organisatio...

Meghalaya has launched an ambitious initiative to secure Geographical Indication (GI) tags for 32 indigenous products, ranging from traditional foods and spices to tribal musical instruments, handicrafts, and cultural artefacts. This major effort aims to protect and promote the state’s rich bio-cultural heritage globally. The new applications include iconic products such as Sohra Honey, Meghalaya Hills Coffee, Meghalaya Pineapple, Meghalaya Black Pepper, Meghalaya Ginger, and Meghalaya Areca Nut, alongside traditional ethnic foods like Tungrymbai and Garo Sticky Rice (Minal). The applications have been filed by various organizations. A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products originating from a specific geographical region and possessing qualities, reputation, or cha...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the new office complex of the 41 NCC Battalion at Cherangre in Tura, calling the National Cadet Corps (NCC) a vital platform for shaping disciplined, responsible and patriotic youth in the state. The newly inaugurated complex will house key administrative and operational offices of the battalion and is expected to strengthen NCC activities across the region. The Chief Minister also unveiled a commemorative plaque and took part in a sapling plantation drive at the campus. More than 500 NCC cadets, Associate NCC Officers (ANOs), officials and guests attended the programme. Addressing the gathering, Sangma described the inauguration as a “momentous occasion” and said the establishment of the battalion office aligns wi...