Meghalaya

The Meghalaya Cabinet on July 9 approved amendments to the lease agreement for Orchid Resort at Mawkasiang in New Shillong, clearing the way for the property to be upgraded into a five-star resort as part of the state's efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the revised lease terms have been aligned with the state's policy for similar tourism projects. Under the new agreement, the developer will make a one-time deposit of Rs 5 crore and contribute four per cent of the annual turnover to the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). According to the Chief Minister, the decision is expected to encourage private investment, improve tourism infrastructure and generate employment while contributing to the state's economic growth. The ...

The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved the establishment of St. Xavier’s University in the state and sanctioned the allotment of 50 acres of land at Mawkhanu at a concessional rate to facilitate the project. Announcing the decision on July 8, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the move reaffirms the government's commitment to strengthening higher education in the state. According to the Chief Minister, the Cabinet approved the land allotment after detailed discussions with the university authorities. The land will be provided at a concessional rate of around ₹1 lakh per hectare. Calling the initiative "an investment in the future of our youth", Sangma said St. Xavier’s is a premier institution with a long-standing legacy of academic excellence. He added that the university's est...

The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved a series of major proposals aimed at strengthening education, agriculture, tourism and information technology sectors across the state. The decisions include land allocation for St. Xavier’s University, development of an integrated Lakadong turmeric processing plant, expansion of tourism infrastructure and enhancement of IT facilities. The cabinet approved the allotment of 50 acres of land at Mawkhanu for the establishment of St. Xavier’s University at a concessional rate of ₹1 lakh per hectare. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the university will create new educational opportunities for students in Meghalaya and the wider Northeast region while contributing to youth development. The cabinet also approved the acquisition of 3.972 acres of land i...

Senior BJP legislator Alexander Laloo Hek on Tuesday declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party will contest the 2028 Meghalaya Assembly elections independently, expressing confidence that the party will be in a position to form and lead the next government in the state. Speaking to reporters, Hek said the BJP has already begun strengthening its organisational network across Meghalaya in preparation for the Assembly polls. "We will fight the 2028 elections on our own and are confident of leading the next government," he said, asserting that the party is steadily expanding its political base in the state. Commenting on the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, Hek disclosed that the BJP had initially approached him to be its candidate. However, he declined the proposal, stating t...

Meghalaya Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Wednesday announced that the State has moved up two grades in the Government of India's Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 for 2025-26, rising from Akanshi-3 to Akanshi-1 with its score improving from 448 to 525.7.Rymbui said it is the first time the state has moved out of the lowest grade since the PGI framework was introduced.The Minister attributed the improvement to reforms such as the Structured Pay Framework for teachers, school rationalisation, CM IMPACT, infrastructure upgrades, strengthened teacher training, digital governance, and focused efforts to improve learning outcomes.He said the state's overall PGI score has risen steadily from 401.62 in 2022-23 to 417.89 in 2023-24, 448 in 2024-25 and 525.71 in 2025-26, registering an incr...

In a significant development for Meghalaya's coal sector, the Centre has agreed to constitute a committee to examine the state's request for greater authority in granting approvals for coal mining projects, raising hopes of a long-term solution to issues that have persisted since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in 2014. The decision followed a meeting in New Delhi between Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy. Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla was also present during the discussions. During the meeting, Sangma urged the Centre to delegate powers under Section 26 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, enabling the Meghalaya government to approve mining plans and grant statutor...

A Jaintia student body has urged a regional rural bank to close its branches for Behdienkhlam Festival, saying it is the “most important religious and cultural festival of the Pnar community.” In a letter to Meghalaya Rural Bank general manager (In-charge), Jowai & West Jaintia Agglomeration Area, the Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) Jowai Circle on Tuesday requested “immediate instructions to all Branch Managers… particularly the Jowai and Mihmyntdu branches, to observe the officially declared local holidays on 8th and 9th July 2026 in connection with the celebration of Behdienkhlam Festival 2026.” “Observing these holidays will demonstrate respect for the traditions, culture, and sentiments of the people of West Jaintia Hills,” the JSU said. The union also requested that “nece...

With the aim of ensuring transparency and accountability in implementation of welfare schemes in Meghalaya, the annual Social Audit exercise for FY 2026-27 will kick off on Wednesday. Informing about the exercise to be conducted by Meghalaya Society for Social Audit and Transparency (MSSAT), the Society’s director J Pyngrope said the audit process is designed to ensure that government programmes actually reach the people they are meant for and that public funds are utilised efficiently. “The Social Audit process plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Government schemes reach their intended beneficiaries effectively and that the allocated funds for these programmes are used efficiently,” he stated. The exercise will begin with a departmental meeting and the drawing up of the au...

A sharp decline in monsoon rainfall has raised concerns across Meghalaya's tourism industry, with many of the state's iconic waterfalls flowing at much lower levels than usual during the peak tourist season. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meghalaya has recorded a 74 per cent rainfall deficit so far this monsoon. Officials attributed the shortfall to the absence of favourable weather systems over the Bay of Bengal, which normally trigger widespread heavy rainfall across the region. IMD Shillong Director Thangjalal Lhouvum said the rainfall deficit is being closely monitored and that updated rainfall figures for both the state and individual districts are regularly published by the department. Although tourist footfall has remained largely stable, those vis...

The state government will float the tender for leasing space at the Municipal Complex at Polo, following no takers for the previous offers made by the government due to high rates for bidding. The previous three tenders floated for the complex, which was inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in July last year, had yielded no response. The rates will be revised in the new tender to make the building operational at the earliest, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar told reporters on Monday. He admitted that the rates quoted earlier were likely too high. “We are yet to finalize because we have floated the tender three times, and no one responded. So it seems the rate is very high,” he said. “Last Friday I had a meeting with offi...