Meghalaya

The third edition of the Meghalaya Pineapple Festival 2025, hosted by the Government of Meghalaya at Dilli Haat, INA, concluded today after a vibrant three-day celebration that highlighted Meghalaya’s pineapples, farmer-first development model, and forward-looking public-private partnerships. Inaugurated by Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma, the festival drew thousands of visitors, business delegations, and buyers from across the country. Notably, over 15.4 metric tonnes of pineapples were sold during the three-day event, marking a significant commercial success for local farmers. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, praising the quality of the produce, said, “These are the tastiest pineapp...

Tourists visiting the Mawjymbuin Cave in Meghalaya's Mawsynram were reportedly asked to remove their shoes and refrain from taking photographs by organisers of a Hindu religious yatra on Sunday, triggering criticism from various quarters, including local tribal groups. Over 250 yatris arrived at the natural sandstone cave to offer prayers, drawing strong resentment from the Dorbar Shnong (village council) and many members of the local tribal community. Locals have consistently objected to attempts to designate the cave as a religious site, insisting it is a geological heritage location, not a shrine. Despite the tensions, yatra organisers were praised for maintaining cleaner surroundings this year, avoiding the litter that marred previous events. Authorities deployed a heavy police ...

Street vendors affiliated with the Meghalaya Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers Association (MGSPHA) organized an unexpected protest on Friday at the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) office, expressing their dissatisfaction regarding the ongoing delay in the issuance of Certificates of Vending (CoVs) to qualified hawkers. The association raised strong objections to the vending zones allocated at the MUDA Parking Lot and in front of the SBI Main Branch, criticizing these locations as cramped and inappropriate for conducting business. The protesters voiced their concerns that numerous vendors, who have not received CoVs, have been deprived of their sole source of income for weeks, with no official updates regarding the status of their applications. Democratic rights activist Angela...

The heart of the national capital pulsed to the beat of Meghalaya on Friday evening, as the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Grassroots Music Project (CM-MGMP) brought the rich sounds of the northeastern state to India Gate and Dilli Haat, attracting large crowds of Delhiites and tourists alike.The lawns of India Gate, known for hosting national celebrations, turned into a vibrant cultural arena where traditional tunes met contemporary music. The open-air concert featured performances by over a dozen local artists and bands from Meghalaya, offering a unique blend of tribal folk traditions and modern musical styles.This landmark event was part of CM-MGMP — an ambitious ₹69 crore initiative led by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who has reimagined the project in 2025 to promote a structured music...

The Meghalaya government has launched an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of over 4,000 metric tonnes (MT) of coal in the state. Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Prestone Tynsong said that instructions have been issued to district authorities and the police to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter. "We have asked deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to investigate if there has been any misappropriation or illegal diversion of coal," the deputy chief minister told PTI. The directive comes close on the heels of a revelation by a High Court-appointed committee that over 4,000 metric tonnes of coal, already declared as extracted and inventoried, have vanished from two designated storage sites. The committee, in its latest report to the Meghalaya Hig...

The Meghalaya government has been unable to provide financial assistance to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), which has been without salaries for 42 months. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong stated that the ADCs are responsible for managing revenue and recruiting staff based on their capacity. Tynsong advised the ADCs to reduce unnecessary expenditures. The government has been assisting the ADCs by releasing advance shares, and a bailout package may be explored. Tynsong said it is too early to determine if the GHADC is experiencing a financial crisis due to misappropriation of funds.

Hundreds of Hindu devotees-both men and women-began their annual Yatra (pilgrimage) to the sacred Mawjymbuin Cave in Mawsynram, East Khasi Hills, on the morning of Saturday, August 2, 2025. The group commenced their journey from Mahadev Khola, Shillong, under the watchful presence of police personnel. As per reports, the pilgrims are scheduled to spend the night at Phanniewlahneng village, before proceeding to the cave the following day, Sunday, to complete the spiritual journey that has become a yearly tradition. It is important to note that the Meghalaya High Court has permitted the Yatra to take place but has prohibited religious rituals such as milk offerings at the site. Only symbolic practices like sprinkling water are allowed, as per the Court's directive aimed at protecting ...

The court of Judicial Magistrate (first class) DKK Mihsill granted further judicial custody of the accused in the Raja murder case, Sonam Raghuvanshi, Raj Kushwaha and Vishal Chauhan, to 14 more days, from August 1. Assistant Public Prosecutor Tushar Chanda said the hearing was via video conference. On July 31, the other two accused-Akash Rajput and Anand Kurmi, were also sent to judicial custody for 14 days.

Having championed local entrepreneurs through its flagship initiative PRIME for the past seven years, the Meghalaya government is now gearing up for a new Startup Policy aimed at keeping pace with emerging sectors and startup needs. An official said that the new policy is in the anvil, as the government engages with entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders in a series of dialogues to craft the next big leap. Planning Department Secretary Cyril V Diengdoh said Meghalaya must now shift from grant-led entrepreneurship to scalable, innovation-driven enterprise building - a sentiment that set the tone for a high-level Roundtable Conference organised by PRIME Meghalaya on Thursday.

The Meghalaya High Court has instructed the organisers of the Mawjymbuiñ pilgrimage to collaborate with district authorities to ensure security arrangements. Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, in an order issued on Thursday, stated that the organisers of the Yatra to the cave at Mawsynram should coordinate with officials from the district administration to establish security measures, ensuring that the pilgrimage proceeds without incident and that law and order is maintained. The court further indicated that the Yatra is permitted to communicate with the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills regarding this issue. During the proceedings, the lawyer representing the Yatra informed the court that there have been objections raised by certain individuals from Lynïong village during ...