Meghalaya

The Meghalaya High Court began hearing a complex case involving a dispute over religious rights to a piece of sacred land in Mawsynram, with two factions of the Khasi tribe clashing over the control of the property. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL), filed by Seng Khasi Hima Mawsynram and its president Tyllilang Myrthong, challenges the control of the land currently held by the Rangbah Shnong Dorbar (Headman) of Mawsynram. The petitioners, who identify as followers of Hindu Sanatan Dharma, claim they are being prevented from conducting their traditional religious practices on the disputed land. In its order, the court noted the allegation that another faction of the Khasi community had wrongfully taken possession of the property, hindering the petitioners’ religious activities. T...

The awarding of the tender for the state's smart meter project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) was announced by Power Minister AT Mondal on Tuesday, marking a significant step forward for the Meghalaya government in modernizing its power distribution network. It is anticipated that the Letter of Intent (LOI) will be issued soon. "The tender has already been granted. The LOI will be released shortly. To guarantee a seamless rollout of smart meters, we will interact with customers," Mondal said. Mondal acknowledged the public's concerns and pointed out that when new technology is introduced, people often have reservations. Naturally, there is reluctance anytime a new system is implemented; this is true not only of smart meters but of any innovation. Similar difficult...

A bike rally was held in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district on Monday to honour the Indian armed forces and express solidarity amid rising border tensions. Organised by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, the rally was led by Deputy Commissioner RM Kurbah and flagged off by Additional Deputy Commissioner Shanborlang Warjri from Golflink. Riders passed through city streets and concluded the rally at the State Central Library, where a short programme was held. Addressing the gathering, DC Kurbah referred to the recent attack in Pahalgam as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by security personnel. She said, “The nation stands united in gratitude. It is through their sleepless nights that we sleep peacefully.” Kurbah also assured that the people of India are with the soldiers i...

A delegation of 30 Self-Help Group (SHG) women members from Meghalaya, accompanied by senior officials of the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS), met the Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, at his official residence in New Delhi. The visit was led by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Conrad K Sangma, as part of his ongoing initiative to empower grassroots women leaders and provide them with national exposure. During the interaction, the Hon’ble Vice President lauded the state’s efforts in strengthening women’s collectives and acknowledged the transformational progress being made under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Conrad K Sangma. He noted that the state’s focus on women empowerment, improved nutrition, and maternal health outcomes...

The state government has asked the Director General of National Testing Agency (NTA) to defer the CUET (UG) 2025 examination for Meghalaya until additional centres are verified and made ready for allocation. A letter in this regard was sent to the NTA Director General by Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Monday. Sangma told reporters this will help accommodate all candidates from Meghalaya within the state, thereby avoiding the challenges associated with long-distance travel. Lamenting that the NTA did not inform the state government about the CUET centres on time, he said the government has identified over 200 additional computer nodes to support the smooth conduct of the CUET (UG) 2025 examination within Meghalaya. The list of these proposed venues has already been shared with...

The Registrar of Captain Williamson Sangma State University, Ambrose Ch Marak has written to principals of several colleges, announcing the cancellation of their affiliation with the state university. An official source on Monday informed that the approval of affiliation with the state university which was issued on April 15 for the academic session 2025-26 “has been withdrawn and stands cancelled for technical reasons till further order…” The source stated that the reason behind the cancellation is that these colleges are currently affiliated to the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). “The process of withdrawal of affiliation from NEHU will be informed in due course of time,” the Registrar further stated in his letter to the principals. It may be mentioned that NEHU has issued a ...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to intervene urgently over the allocation of CUET 2025 exam centres outside the state, which has caused distress among students. In a social media post on Sunday, Sangma stated, “Called on Hon'ble Union Education Minister, Shri @dpradhanbjp ji to take up the issues faced by our youth regarding the allocation of exam centers in locations outside Meghalaya for CUET 2025.” Despite a May 8 letter from the state education department to the National Testing Agency (NTA) requesting in-state centres, many students who chose Shillong as their preferred location have been assigned to far-off centres in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Kolkata. Sangma expressed concern that these allocati...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has urged Union Minister of Education, Dharmendra Pradhan, to direct the National Testing Agency (NTA) to review and reallocate CUET (UG) 2025 centres for Meghalaya candidates within the state. Sangma on Sunday urged Pradhan to consider postponing or deferring the examination for Meghalaya students this year until adequate and accessible infrastructure is ensured. “This appeal arises from a collective sense of urgency among our youth and I trust that your office will give it the serious consideration it deserves,” Sangma said. The issue concerns the inadequate availability of examination centres within Meghalaya, with many students being allotted centres in distant locations such as Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Kolkata. This has placed an und...

North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Friday felicitated Padma Shri awardee Prof. David R Syiemlieh, honouring his lifetime contribution to education, historiography, and social service in the Northeast. At a special ceremony attended by faculty, former students, and well-wishers, Prof. Syiemlieh was lauded for his role in bringing the history and voices of the Northeast to national prominence. Colleagues described him as “a custodian of the region’s nuanced histories” who played pivotal roles at NEHU, including as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Registrar. NEHU Vice-Chancellor In-Charge Prof. SM Sungoh said, “Your life’s work has illuminated the corridors of academia and brought immense pride to Meghalaya and the Northeast.” Prof. Shobhan N. Lamare, a former student and current Head of the ...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma marked a major milestone under the government's flagship CM-ASSURE program on Friday by flagging off a cargo of 1,700 metric tonnes of broomgrass from Khlieh Umsten in the Ri-Bhoi district. After being sent to the Central Warehousing Corporation facility in Guwahati, the consignment would be stored before being put up for auction and sold to the highest bidder. The CM-ASSURE program, which focuses mostly on non-perishable goods with long shelf life, attempts to assist farmers by protecting them against changes in market prices. During the event, the Chief Minister also gave pick-up cars to CM-Elevate program participants. The Chief Minister emphasized the government's continuous initiatives to support value-added products and fortify the agricu...