Meghalaya

In a significant step towards promoting cleanliness and environmental sustainability in Patharkhmah, the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Patharkhmah Civil Sub-Division on Friday launched the Green Force Patharkhmah initiatives at Patharkhmah Community Hall. The initiative is being taken in collaboration with the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner’s office and the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA). The programme was officially launched by the cabinet minister and Jirang Constituency MLA Sosthenes Sohtun, in presence of the Patharkhmah SDO Chaitanya Awasthi IAS, the Patharkhmah village Headman Petelman Thangkhiew among others. As mentioned, the initiative aims to enhance inter-village cooperation through an Inter Village Development Championship, focusing on maintaining c...

Conrad K. Sangma on Friday described the Meghalaya government’s decision to introduce a structured pay framework for SSA and Fourth Teachers as one of the most satisfying moments of his public life, saying the move would improve the lives of thousands of teachers and bring financial stability to their families after years of struggle and uncertainty. Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association and the Meghalaya 4th Teachers Association at Students’ Field in Jaiaw, the Chief Minister said the government’s decision should not be measured only in terms of money spent by the state, but by the long-term impact it would have on teachers, students, and the future of education in Meghalaya. The event was organised to mark the state government’s recent d...

Meghalaya’s breathtaking landscapes draw thousands of visitors every year, but the beauty of the East Khasi Hills comes with natural risks that demand respect. In response to rising footfall and recent incidents, the state government has issued a comprehensive new safety mandate. Our report looks at how authorities are moving to protect travelers. The Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Shillong has officially tightened the reins on tourist safety across the East Khasi Hills district. This fresh advisory is a direct response to the increasing number of visitors and the inherent risks of the region’s rugged terrain. The directive moves beyond simple suggestions, outlining a series of mandatory precautions designed to fortify on-ground safety infrastructure. Central to the new guidel...

Meghalaya authorities have issued a fresh safety advisory for visitors to popular tourist locations in East Khasi Hills district, placing strong emphasis on preventive measures amid rising footfall and seasonal risks. The directive, released by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner in Shillong, outlines a series of mandatory precautions aimed at improving on-ground safety infrastructure and reducing avoidable accidents at tourist sites. Officials have stressed that basic safety arrangements must be visible and functional at all locations. These include clearly marked entry and exit routes, prominently displayed maps, and the availability of trained personnel. Tourist guides and staff “should be trained in basic life-saving skills”, the advisory states. Structural safety has...

East Khasi Hills district administration has cautioned NEET (UG) aspirants of facing a heavy traffic congestion while going to appear in the examination at Meghalaya Police Public School Examination Centre on Sunday. A large Presbyterian congregation is scheduled at JLN Stadium the same day, prompting the administration to issue the advisory. “In view of the conduct of NEET (UG) 2026 Examination scheduled on 03.05.2026, all candidates appearing for the examination at Meghalaya Police Public School Examination Centre are hereby informed that a large Presbyterian congregation is also scheduled to be held at JLN Stadium on the same day, which may lead to heavy traffic congestion in the surrounding areas,” it stated. Anticipating traffic disruptions, the district administrati...

Mawlynnong, dubbed as Asia's cleanest village, has added another distinction to its name with the discovery of a new species of firefly, as researchers documented Meghalaya's first-ever scientifically recorded luminous insects in the area, officials said on Friday. The study, led by Emma Magdalene Nonglang of Assam Don Bosco University, identified two previously unknown species, Diaphanes meghalayanus and Diaphanes mawlynnong, the latter named after the village where it was first recorded, they said. While D. meghalayanus was found across multiple habitats in the state, D. mawlynnong was observed in the dense forested surroundings of Mawlynnong village close to the India-Bangladesh border. Researchers said the fireflies were located in relatively undisturbed habitats, inc...

Sonam Raghuvanshi, the main accused in the widely reported Meghalaya honeymoon murder case, has been abandoned by her family, according to her elder brother. His statement came shortly after a court in the northeastern state granted her bail. Raja Raghuvanshi, a transport businessman, went missing on May 23 last year during his honeymoon with Sonam. His mutilated body was later discovered on June 2 in a deep gorge near a waterfall in Sohra, located in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district. Following the investigation, Sonam, along with several others—including her alleged boyfriend—was arrested. Speaking to PTI, Sonam’s elder brother, Govind Raghuvanshi, said the family has not appointed any lawyer to support her case. He claimed he learned about her bail through media reports. Alth...

The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) will declare the results of the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate (HSSLC) Examination 2026 on May 4 on Monday at 11:00 am. The results, covering Arts, Science, Commerce and Vocational streams, will be made available online. Students can download the complete result booklets from the official MBOSE website. In a notification, the board informed that there will be no physical display of results at its offices in Tura or Shillong this year.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on May 1 launched a series of welfare initiatives for construction workers in Meghalaya on the occasion of International Workers Day, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to labour welfare, social security and inclusive development. The newly launched initiatives aim to support construction workers and their families through direct financial assistance, education support, self-employment opportunities and improved access to welfare services. Among the key schemes introduced was CM LIGHT, under which eligible workers will receive Rs 5,000 as direct benefit support. The government also launched the Startup Toolkit Support Scheme to provide skilled workers with essential tools to encourage self-employment and entrepreneurship. To st...

The first fully digital Census of the country will kick off across the country, including Meghalaya, with self-enumeration by citizens from 1-15 May 2026. Making the announcement in a press conference on Thursday, Director of Census Operations Meghalaya, Biswajit Pegu, said, “Census 2027 will be a landmark exercise, being the 16th Census overall and the 8th since Independence.” This is for the first time that the entire Census process – from enumeration to data analysis – will be conducted digitally using mobile applications and the Census Management and Monitoring System (CMMS) portal. Citizens will have the option of self-enumeration through an online portal from May 1 to 15. “This facility allows individuals to fill in their household details, which will subsequently be ver...