Meghalaya

The inclusion of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) Chairperson Agatha K. Sangma’s name in the list of star campaigners for the National People’s Party (NPP) ahead of the Assam Legislative Assembly elections and a by-election in Nagaland has sparked a controversy. The list submitted by NPP to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by NPP national general on March 22, has Agatha’s name along with prominent party leaders, including Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and his wife Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma, Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, senior party leader James P.K. Sangma, among other leaders. Concerns over the development have been raised as the MSCPCR chairperson holds a statutory and quasi-judicial position tasked with sa...

Meghalaya is on the path to limiting Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections to Scheduled Tribes (STs), following a significant amendment by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), approved by Governor C. H. Vijayashankar. This amendment mandates ST certificates for all candidates in GHADC elections, effectively prohibiting non-tribals from contesting, addressing a long-standing issue since the council's inception in 1952. The amendment, unanimously passed by 26 Members of the District Council (MDCs), is viewed as a crucial step toward preserving the constitutional mandates of ADCs under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, aimed at protecting tribal governance. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong announced plans for the Khasi Hills Autonomous Distric...

The National People’s Party (NPP) will field an official candidate in the upcoming Shillong parliamentary byelection, Deputy Chief Minister and state party president Prestone Tynsong confirmed on Tuesday. “From the party side, we have decided to have our official candidate in the coming MP byelection and that stands till today,” Tynsong told reporters. “We are going to field our candidate.” He declined to specify a timeline for announcing the nominee. “Your question asking when or who will be the candidate — that will be accordingly informed to you sooner or later,” he said. On the possibility of an alliance with BJP, Tynsong was non-committal.

Meghalaya's Master Chef Nambi Marak will join a mix of local and national culinary talents at SEETI 2.0, a six-day culinary and cultural initiative, to be held in Meghalaya from March 26, officials said on Tuesday. The event will bring together chefs, storytellers, creators and cultural voices for a series of curated experiences across the state. Other participating chefs include Benny Wankhar and Vishesh Jawarani, Adonijah Lyngdoh, Ahme Laloo and Reuben Zamal Sooting. The six-day event aims to position Meghalaya at the centre of India’s evolving food narrative, with a focus on indigenous ingredients, community-led traditions, and immersive cultural experiences. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the initiative reflects the state’s cultural vibrancy and youth-driven creativity. “Rooted ...

Meghalaya Governor CH Vijayashankar today approved a new legislation of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) barring non-tribals from contesting the tribal council elections.The GHADC on Monday approved a key amendment mandating that only Scheduled Tribe (ST) members can contest the polls, effectively ending the participation of non-tribals after over seven decades."I would like to thank the Hon’ble Governor for approving the amended rules making it mandatory for candidates to have ST certificate to contest in the GHADC elections," Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma wote on X. The April 10 elections to the tribal council were earlier postponed following incidents of violence in parts of the Garo Hills region, prompting authorities to review legal and administrative provisions re...

The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has recommended a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the children of a pregnant woman who died at Jowai MCH Hospital, holding that medical negligence played a role in the incident. The Commission took up the matter on its own after a newspaper report dated June 6, 2025 highlighted the death. The case relates to a woman from Jalaphet village in East Jaintia Hills district, whose family had alleged serious negligence by hospital staff during her treatment. Following the incident, the Health and Family Welfare Department constituted an enquiry committee on July 7, 2025 to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. The committee, after its investigation, found multiple lapses and deficiencies in the handling of the patient’s case. In a sta...

Over 25,000 in‑service teachers in Meghalaya must pass the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) by August 31, 2027 to comply with a Supreme Court mandate. “The Supreme Court on September 1, 2025 mandated that all teachers — in‑service or future — should have TET qualification for elementary education,” Rymbui noted, stressing that the order applies retrospectively. “All teachers, since the date of appointment, who don’t have TET have to appear and pass,” he said adding that those with as little as five years left in service are included; failure to clear the exam will block promotion. A department notification has been issued and enrolment for special TET sittings is underway, with dates fixed. “I wish all teachers should apply and pass so that if there is any future complication it will ...

The process of relocation of street hawkers from Laitumkhrah has been deferred as talks between the stakeholders failed to make a headway on Monday. Meanwhile, the Urban Affairs department and the local dorbar have been asked to carry out a joint site inspection within ten days to resolve the key details. The meeting attended by East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh and Dorbar Shnong headmen ended with “some plus, some minus” and no concrete outcome, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Monday. “They have asked me for ten days’ time, so I have given time to take a concrete decision,” Dhar told reporters. “There are some places we need to recheck and verify again. Within ten days there will be a joint inspection between the Urban Affairs Department and...

In a significant and contentious move, the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) has amended its election rules to make possession of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate mandatory for candidates contesting council polls. The decision marks a major shift in electoral eligibility and has reignited debates over representation and tribal rights in the region.The development comes in the aftermath of unrest in parts of Garo Hills, particularly in West Garo Hills, where tensions escalated after former MLA Esmatur Mominin, a non-tribal leader, attempted to file his nomination earlier this month. The situation led to curfews, internet shutdowns, and violence that claimed lives and caused property damage.Originally scheduled for April 10, the GHADC elections were postponed, with the counci...

Meghalaya’s young performers returned with multiple recognitions from the North-East Youth Festival held in Chumoukedima, underlining the State’s growing presence in regional cultural competitions. An 80-member contingent representing various districts competed across categories such as group folk song, folk dance, one-act play, rock band and solo guitar, alongside participating in adventure and food festival segments. The participation reflected a broad mix of traditional and contemporary art forms. A key highlight came from West Khasi Hills, where Pynnehkupar Syiemlieh secured a prize in the solo guitar category. Additional recognition followed in group events, with a Ri Bhoi-based dance troupe receiving a consolation prize in folk dance, while Jowai-based band Unfading Horizons was ...