Meghalaya

In a historic breakthrough, researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya have successfully designed and fabricated the state’s first-ever integrated chip (IC), marking a significant stride in India’s semiconductor journey.The achievement, made under the Special Manpower Development Program (SMDP) of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), was led by faculty members Dr. Prabir Saha, Dr. Shubhankar Majumdar, and Dr. Pradeep Kumar Rathore, with PhD scholars Geetima Kachari, Parishmita Goswami, and Deibaphira Suchiang. The team developed a Finite State Machine (FSM) chip, fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) foundry using a 180nm process. Designed to provide precise control in irrigation systems and tensiometers, the chip holds pro...

Meghalaya has received fresh development support worth nearly Rs 96 crore from the North Eastern Council (NEC) during August, with major allocations directed towards boosting rural markets, education, and community welfare. The largest share of the funding will go to establishing farmers’ markets across the state — Rs 4.47 crore for 20 smaller markets and another Rs 4.45 crore for 10 larger ones. These markets are expected to strengthen local agri-business by giving farmers better access to consumers and stabilising farm incomes. In addition, Rs 48.87 lakh has been sanctioned for the construction of a new school building in Mawthadraishan, West Khasi Hills, while over Rs 17 lakh has been released for community development programmes for the Tiwa (Lalung) community in Ri-Bhoi district. ...

The Shillong Medical College will start functioning from September 26. Briefing reporters on Wednesday, Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said 50 seats will be allocated to Shillong Medical College, out of which 85 percent will be for the state students and the remaining 15 percent will be for all-India students. The annual fees per student will be Rs 30,000. Ampareen said the Chief Minister is trying to invite the Prime Minister to inaugurate the first medical college.

The Meghalaya High Court has instructed the state government to urgently provide land and financial support for establishing crematoria and cemeteries across the state. A division bench of Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh issued the order on Tuesday, following a report from the court-appointed Committee, which met on August 27. The Committee had resolved to set up district-level bodies and move the government to allocate resources for the project. The bench emphasized the urgency of the matter, directing the Committee to expedite the process and ensure coordination with district-level committees, which will function strictly under its supervision. It also asked the Committee to hold frequent meetings to help religious groups work out arrangements for sharing crematori...

The High Court of Meghalaya has disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) after the State government reported that there are no illegal religious structures existing in public places. A division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh passed the order on September 2. The case was initiated following a directive from the Supreme Court, which had required States to disclose the presence of unlawful religious structures on public land. In response, the State of Meghalaya submitted a status report dated September 1, 2025. According to the report, all structures previously identified as irregular or illegal in West Garo Hills and East Garo Hills have been regularised. Additional Advocate General K Khan, representing the State, informed the court of the compl...

The 14th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise, 'Maitree-XIV', focusing on counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain, began here on Tuesday. The Indian Army contingent, comprising 120 personnel, is being represented by a battalion of the Madras Regiment, while the Royal Thai Army is represented by 53 personnel from its 1st Infantry Battalion, 14th Infantry Brigade. The fortnight-long exercise aims to bolster defence cooperation, interoperability and mutual understanding between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, an official said. The training programme places emphasis on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations — two domains where both nations share common security concerns. With the backdrop of regional instability and the growing importance o...

The Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival 2025 is set to open with a star-studded line-up, featuring Moroccan-born performer Nora Fatehi in her first-ever stage show in India, alongside American singer Jason Derulo and popular band The Script. Widely known for her performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Fatehi's appearance adds global glamour to the festival, which will be staged at JN Stadium. The approach road to Polo Ground will be pedestrianised, creating a walk-through experience of stalls and displays leading to the venue. The stadium is expected to host up to 30,000 visitors, with over 9,000 tickets already sold to tourists outside Meghalaya. The festival has been relocated from Ward's Lake and Polo Grounds after Kurkalang Ground was earmarked for a new cricket stadium. Last year'...

Meghalaya Police have arrested three men from Assam in connection with a major theft racket operating across the Garo Hills and Mankachar region. Authorities also recovered a significant cache of stolen goods, marking a key breakthrough in the ongoing investigation. The first arrest took place on August 29, when 43-year-old Iftakul Islam was caught during a raid in Mankachar. Police seized copper wires, batteries, an abrasive cutting machine linked to theft cases in Ampati, and a pickup truck believed to have been used to transport stolen items. Following interrogation, two more suspects—23-year-old Amirul Islam and 26-year-old Shahidul Islam—were apprehended from the same area. Investigators revealed that all three are part of a larger organised gang involved in stealing from both gov...

The National People's Party (NPP) on Monday celebrated its 13th Foundation Day and the 78th birth anniversary of founder Purno Agitok Sangma at the party office in Lachumiere. The celebration began with flag hoisting by senior leaders Babet K. Sangma and Jied Kurbah, followed by prayers and floral tributes. National People's Youth Front (NPYF) Working President Bajop Pyngrope hailed the late Sangma as a visionary who championed the rights of tribal and minority communities and earned nationwide respect. Founding member Babet K. Sangma recalled the party's formation in 2012 and its expansion across several Northeastern states. He urged the youth to learn from Sangma's speeches and uphold his ideals for society's progress.

People living in rural Meghalaya, who are required to visit district headquarters for various reasons but are facing connectivity issues, may now have a reason to smile. The state government will introduce 90 buses under the Chief Minister's Regional Connectivity Scheme 2025 to connect district headquarters with block and regional headquarters. The scheme aims to strengthen regional connectivity across the state. Sanjay Goyal, Commissioner and Secretary of Transport Department, said the scheme has been initiated after a comprehensive study on connectivity from block headquarters to district headquarters. Acknowledging that there is a gap in connectivity and it is being addressed only by the private enterprise, he said the government will incentivise entrepreneurs who will come forward ...