Meghalaya

Starting with the 2026-27 academic session, students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in government colleges across Meghalaya will have to apply exclusively through the Meghalaya Common Admission Portal (MCAP). A notification issued by the Commissioner & Secretary in-charge Education Vijay Kumar Mantri on Wednesday said, “The Governor of Meghalaya is pleased to notify that, with effect from the academic session 2026-27, all admissions to Government Colleges in the State shall be conducted exclusively through the Meghalaya Common Admission Portal (MCAP).” “All eligible students seeking admission to undergraduate programmes in Government Colleges must apply only through MCAP, and no admissions shall be processed outside this centralized portal,” it said.

The State Cabinet approved amendments to the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2021, lowering the minimum land requirement for projects under the 'special projects' category to benefit landowners in urban areas. "The state cabinet has approved the amendment of the Meghalaya Building Byelaws, 2021 as amended for special projects category," Cabinet Minister and MDA spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla told reporters after the meeting on Tuesday. Under the existing byelaws, 'special projects' include large-scale developments such as hotels, public institutions, healthcare facilities, shopping malls, multiplexes, ICT and BPO centers, and educational institutions. "Special projects means those projects/buildings with large scale activities such as hotels, public institutions, health care, shoppi...

Noted academician Dr DRL Nonglait, also president of the Khasi Authors’ Society (KAS), has accepted the proposal from National People’s Party (NPP) to nominate him as the party candidate for the upcoming bye-election to Shillong Lok Sabha seat. After careful consideration, I am pleased to formally accept the proposal,” he stated in his letter addressed to the NPP president. Dr Nonglait assured that he would abide by the principles, vision and collective decisions of the party while working diligently for the welfare and development of the people, the state and the country. He also expressed gratitude to the party leadership and members for placing their faith and confidence in him by offering him the opportunity to contest the election on the party ticket. Dr Nonglait is known for ...

Teachers’ associations in Meghalaya on May 6 walked out of a meeting convened by the state education department, opposing the proposed Centralized Fund Scheme and accusing the government of trying to “force” registration while the matter remains pending before the High Court. The meeting, chaired by Education Commissioner and Secretary Vijay Mantri, was held to discuss the Meghalaya Non-Government Schools and Colleges Employees Centralized Fund Scheme, 2026, which seeks to streamline provident fund management for more than 30,000 non-government education employees across the state. The proposed scheme covers deficit, ad hoc and SSA teachers, among others. Deficit teachers are employees of privately managed aided schools whose salaries are paid by the government to make up for short...

In a continued push towards strengthening the State’s tourism sector and recognise grassroots contributors, the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya today hosted a grand event to celebrate the empowerment of ‘Tourism Champions’ at the Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam.A key highlight of the event was the expansive rollout of Government support for the local tourism ecosystem. Under the Chief Minister’s Meghalaya Homestay Mission, which targets the creation of 3,000 new homestays and over 15,000 jobs by 2028, sanction letters were distributed to the initial cohort out of approved applications.Furthermore, the Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme has announced up to ₹3.40 crore in funding for 58 new beneficiaries, providing tiered grants ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹20 lakh based on si...

The state unit of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) sought to steady its political footing following the party’s loss of power in West Bengal, asserting that the setback does not diminish its presence either nationally or in Meghalaya. TMC state president and Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope said the party’s future remains intact, stressing that electoral defeat does not equate to political irrelevance. He noted that while the party did not secure enough seats to form the government in West Bengal, it still holds a significant presence with 80 seats, which he said cannot be considered insignificant. He maintained that it would be incorrect to claim that the TMC has been wiped out, pointing out that the party has simply moved into the opposition after 15 years in power. According to him, ...

The state government has moved the High Court of Meghalaya challenging a lower court’s recent order granting bail to prime accused Sonam Raghuvanshi in the sensational murder case of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, in Sohra last year. Sources said the matter was mentioned before the Chief Justice’s Court on Monday, following which a notice was issued to Sonam Raghuvanshi. The case is scheduled to be heard on May 12. The petition, filed under Section 528 read with Section 483(3) of the BNSS, 2023, challenges the April 27, 2026 order passed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial) D.R. Kharbteng. The lower court had granted bail to the accused on the ground that she was not informed about the reasons for her arrest. Countering this claim, the state government argued that the con...

In a significant move to bridge the cultural gap between the Northeast and the national capital, the Government of Meghalaya is set to host a two-day "Delhi Prelude" to the Shillong Literary Festival. The event will take place on May 8 and 9 at the historic Bikaner House, serving as a high-profile curtain-raiser for the main festival scheduled to be held in Meghalaya later this year. Launched in 2021, the Shillong Literary Festival has rapidly become a premier cultural gathering in the region. By bringing a dedicated edition to New Delhi, organizers aim to amplify the national reach of Northeast voices while promoting tourism through the lenses of literature, arts, and cinema. The two-day program is designed to be a vibrant tapestry of storytelling, focusing on identity, ecology, indig...

In a continued push towards strengthening the State's tourism sector and recognise grassroots contributors, the Department of Tourism, Government of Meghalaya today hosted a grand event to celebrate the empowerment of 'Tourism Champions' at the Orchid Lake Resort, Umiam. A key highlight of the event was the expansive rollout of Government support for the local tourism ecosystem. Under the Chief Minister's Meghalaya Homestay Mission, which targets the creation of 3,000 new homestays and over 15,000 jobs by 2028, sanction letters were distributed to the initial cohort out of approved applications. Furthermore, the Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Scheme has announced up to 3.40 crore in funding for 58 new beneficiaries, providing tiered grants ranging from 25 lakh to 20 lakh based...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday stressed that tourism in Meghalaya can thrive only through coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, while addressing the “Empowerment of Tourism Champions of Meghalaya” event at Orchid Lake, Umiam. Organised by the state Tourism Department, the programme brought together entrepreneurs, artisans, students, community leaders, and beneficiaries, showcasing initiatives in community-based tourism, infrastructure, skill development, and livelihood generation. Sangma said tourism cannot succeed through isolated efforts, adding that Meghalaya is steadily building a strong tourism ecosystem. He emphasised the need to make the state both visible and attractive to travellers, supported by quality infrastructure, connectivity, safety, and visitor expe...