Meghalaya

In a major recognition of grassroots ecological conservation, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award upon Meghalaya’s Hally War. The honor celebrates his decades-long dedication to preserving the state’s iconic living root bridges, locally known as Jingkieng Jri. Hailing from Siej village in the East Khasi Hills, War has spent his life nurturing the aerial roots of Ficus elastica (rubber fig) trees. He learned this ancient craft as a child from his grandfather, guiding young roots across streams and ravines to form sturdy, natural structures capable of surviving Meghalaya’s intense monsoon seasons. Over the years, his passion evolved from a childhood pastime into a lifelong mission to maintain these bridges and teach younger generations how to protect the s...

The power scenario in the state remains stable with no current shortages reported, according to Sanjay Goyal, Managing Director of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL). Expressing optimism for the upcoming weeks, Goyal noted that with the monsoon just around the corner, power availability is expected to improve further across the region. However, residents may continue to experience scheduled daytime shutdowns as the department aggressively pushes forward with extensive infrastructure upgrades. Goyal explained that these planned outages are necessary to safely execute vital maintenance work, which includes replacing old wiring, laying new lines, and installing additional transformers. The power department is actively engaging with local communities to take all localitie...

Two-wheeler taxi aggregators must register with the District Transport Office and obtain licenses before operating, with the government warning of strict action against those running services illegally. Commissioner & Secretary in-charge transport Sanjay Goyal on Monday said enforcement drives against illegal operators had already been carried out. “We have taken enforcement action against them and we have shut down their place of operation long time back and inspire of that, if some of them are operating illegally, I will request the public to come forward and inform us, let the companies fulfill all the legal requirements and then operate and the if we come across any such cases, the DTOs have been given very clear instructions to take action as per law,” he said. He n...

The Ri Bhoi District Government Contractor and Supplier Association (RBDGCSA), has expressed strong resentment over what it termed as the state government’s unfair treatment towards local contractors, has decided to organize mass rally to the office of the Deputy Commissioner and will submit a memorandum on June 3. The RBDGCSA, after claiming that the livelihoods of many contractors have been severely affected due to the lack of work opportunities from the state government, held a meeting in Nongpoh to deliberate on the issue and take necessary decisions. The meeting was attended by RBDGCSA leaders including President Plielad Tiewsoh, Working President CL Masharing, Malcom Langi, President of the Khasi-Jaintia Contractor Association, among others. Speaking to reporters, Plielad Tie...

The Meghalaya Pradesh Youth Congress (MPYC) has expressed concern over Meghalaya’s performance in the Union Ministry of Education’s Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0, highlighting challenges in the state’s education sector. According to the latest PGI 2.0 report, Meghalaya scored 448 out of 1,000 and remained in the Akanshi 3 category. The state had scored 417.9 in the previous assessment. In a statement, MPYC President Timjim Momin said the report reflects the need for stronger efforts to improve educational outcomes across the state. The organization cited government data showing that out of 14,582 schools in Meghalaya, 206 reportedly have zero students while 2,269 schools have single-digit enrolment. It also referred to reports indicating that around 22,000 children drop out o...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has congratulated Hally War, a revered environmentalist and farmer from Siej village in Sohra (Cherrapunji) on being conferred the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, for his lifelong dedication to conserving and bio-weaving the Khasi people's iconic living root bridges. War, along with 65 other Padma Awardees were honored by President Droupadi Murmu during the first Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday evening. Notably, three other personalities from the Northeast, were conferred the Award during the ceremony at the national capital. “Honored to witness Shri Hally War being conferred the Padma Shri by the Hon’ble President of India, Smti Droupadi Murmu ji, today,” Chief Minister Sangma stated on soci...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday called on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi to express his gratitude for his intervention to initiate the process for the appointment of Vice Chancellor for the Northeastern Hill University (NEHU). In a letter submitted to the Union Minister, the Chief Minister said, “This step has brought much-needed reassurance and has been widely welcomed across the University community. It is important that this momentum is now carried forward with both urgency and thoughtful care.” He also urged the education minister that the selection process be conducted with the utmost diligence, while ensuring that the appointment is not unduly delayed, in the larger interest of the institution. “Equally important is the need to id...

The Meghalaya Transport Department has warned vehicle owners and transport operators against unauthorized vehicle body modifications and the operation of vehicles without valid documents, saying strict enforcement drives will soon be intensified across the state. In public notices issued on May 20, the office of the Commissioner of Transport stated that several light, medium and heavy goods vehicles have been found operating with illegal extensions in length, width and height beyond manufacturer-approved specifications. According to the department, such alterations violate provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, while also posing serious road safety risks and affecting the structural stability of vehicles. Vehicle owners and operators have...

The inaugural edition of the multinational joint military exercise, PRAGATI 2026, is officially underway at the Umroi training node in Meghalaya. The landmark event brings together more than 400 military personnel from 12 friendly nations, signaling a powerful collective commitment to strengthening regional peace, stability, and international cooperation. Since kicking off on May 20, the exercise has served as a vital collaborative platform. Participating armies are training jointly, exchanging tactical best practices, and significantly enhancing their interoperability. A defining feature of PRAGATI 2026 is the formation of integrated, mixed-nation teams. By working side-by-side to achieve shared strategic objectives, these diverse units are breaking down communication barriers and fos...

The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers’ Association (NEHUTA) has warned students to avoid the fourth year of the new Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), advising them to stick to the traditional system due to the university’s failure to establish a clear transition to postgraduate studies. NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma told reporters that students completing their third year currently face a “safer option” by enrolling in the existing two-year master’s programme. He cautioned that continuing into the fourth year of FYUP involves significant risk, as NEHU has yet to finalize the mechanism for the proposed one-year master’s degree. “If students exit after the third year and pursue the two-year master’s programme, their academic path is clear because that system is already in ...