Meghalaya

The Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) on Wednesday defended its demand for a separate Khasi-Jaintia state, rejecting criticism that the move was a divisive agenda. The party maintained that the Garo and Khasi-Jaintia communities were distinct in terms of language, culture, tradition, and customs, and that conflicts of interest often arose, particularly in matters related to employment. HSPDP president KP Pangniang, when asked about criticisms that the demand was an attempt to divide the state, said such an allegation was "totally wrong." He stated that the party has been pursuing the demand since 1987 and that it was a constitutional right. According to him, the issue was neither new nor unconstitutional, but a legitimate aspiration backed by provisions of the Constitution o...

The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBoSE) has confirmed that the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) Examination 2026 will begin in the last week of January, instead of December this year. The decision, approved by the state government through an official letter dated August 25, was announced in a notification issued by MBoSE on August 27. Officials said the move came after discussions with school associations, parents, and other stakeholders. One of the main concerns raised was that many secondary schools, particularly in rural areas, have not yet completed the syllabus. Parents also argued that holding exams in December would leave students idle for several months until May, when most boards, including CBSE, ICSE, and other state boards declare results. According to ...

Over 3,300 Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan schools in Meghalaya have sought to come under the direct management of the state education department by submitting their No Objection Certificates (NOCs), a teachers' body claimed on Wednesday. Of these, 3,034 are community-managed schools and 298 are run by religious institutions or private bodies, according to the Meghalaya SSA Schools Association (MSSASA). Talking to reporters after a meeting with the commissioner and secretary of the education department, MSSASA president Aristotle Rymbai said the department has received NOCs from 298 schools managed by religious or private organisations that have expressed their willingness to hand over their management to the government. Rymbai added that the Association has demanded the state government formula...

The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved key policy changes aimed at ensuring fairness in promotions and strengthening disaster response capacity in the state.At a meeting held on Tuesday, the Cabinet cleared an amendment to the Meghalaya Fisheries Service Rules, 2017, removing a controversial clause that had barred employees with less than five years of service left before retirement from being considered for promotion. The provision, which was unique to the Fisheries Department, had long been criticised for denying senior officers their legitimate chance at career advancement despite years of service. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, in a post on his official X handle, said the amendment ensures uniformity across departments and offers relief to officers nearing the end of their careers. “...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the situation in the areas along the state's border with Assam is under control, but cautioned that sporadic incidents may persist because of long-standing disputes. Describing the boundary tensions as "a complex issue with a deep-rooted history", Sangma on Tuesday said when occasional confrontations occur, the government, with public support, has managed to ease these "to some extent". The dispute between Assam and Meghalaya dates back to the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969 and involves 12 contested stretches along the 884.9-km boundary between the two states. “The governments of both states have taken steps to resolve these disputes through dialogue. In 2022, Assam and Meghalaya signed MoUs to demarcate six of the disputed ar...

In what is being described as a landmark intervention, the Meghalaya government has decided to take over the financial responsibility of paying salaries to employees of the state’s three Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) starting November this year. The announcement was made on Monday by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who said the move was necessary to address the persistent financial instability that has crippled the councils for years. The decision follows detailed consultations held earlier in the day with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC). Sangma revealed that the GHADC requires over ₹70 crore annually to meet its salary obligations, but its own revenue generation stands at less than ₹30 crore. Similar financial distress, he pointed out, has been faced by the Jaint...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said empowering the youth, farmers, women and rural entrepreneurs is the key to development, which is “not just about big projects”. Sangma, while, speaking at the inauguration of a ‘Youth Mela’ here, said though GDP figures and infrastructure projects were important, these are “incomplete unless linked with improvements in health, education, rural tourism and agriculture”. Underscoring his government's efforts to encourage inclusive growth, he said entrepreneurship should not be confined to large businesses alone. The three-day Youth Mela on launched on August 25, highlighting the remarkable success of Meghalaya's community learning centres that have already supported thousands of young entrepreneurs across rural areas. The event at A...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday announced that the state government will take over the responsibility of paying salaries of the state's three autonomous district councils (ADCs) from November to address their persistent financial crisis. Sangma said the decision followed detailed discussions with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council earlier in the day. "The annual salary requirement of the Garo Hills council alone is over Rs 70 crore, while its revenue is less than Rs 30 crore. Similar financial constraints are faced by the Jaintia Hills and, to some extent, the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council," Sangma said in a statement. The councils, created under the Sixth Schedule, have legislative, administrative, and judicial powers over land use, forest manageme...

The Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army are set to resume their joint military exercise Maitree in India, bringing renewed focus on counter-terrorism cooperation and regional security. The 14th edition of the exercise will be held from September 1 to 14 at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. This year’s exercise holds special significance as it returns to Indian soil after a gap of five years. The last edition was conducted in Thailand’s Tak Province, where both sides had deployed 76 soldiers each, including India’s Ladakh Scouts and Thailand’s 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment. The upcoming drill in Meghalaya will build on that foundation while addressing new security challenges in the region. According to the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public...

The Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army will conduct the 14th edition of their joint military exercise, Maitree, from September 1 to 14 at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. According to the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information, the drill will focus on enhancing operational readiness for joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a United Nations mandate. This edition is significant as the exercise returns to India after a gap of five years. The last Maitree exercise was held in Tak Province, Thailand, where both sides had deployed 76 soldiers each, including India’s Ladakh Scouts and Thailand’s 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment. Defence ties between India and Thailand form part of a wider partnership that spans tr...