Meghalaya

Meghalaya’s immediate task is clear: secure a place in the Santosh Trophy quarterfinals from a demanding Group B that features former champions and recent finalists. The state team left for Silapathar in Assam on January 19 ahead of their opening fixture in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship. Meghalaya will begin its Group B campaign on January 22 against Odisha in the Upper Assam town. Qualification from the group is the first benchmark, with four teams set to advance to the quarterfinals. The squad was given a formal send-off on Friday at the MFA Ground in Polo, where Meghalaya Football Association president Hamletson Dohling and senior officials addressed the players and wished them well for the tournament. Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh continues as head coach, leading ...

An alleged case of illegal coal mining has claimed another life in Meghalaya, with a labourer from Assam dying after collapsing at a mine site in East Jaintia Hills district, police said on November 18. The deceased, identified as 48-year-old Mosaid Ali of Jamuna Moudanga in Assam’s Hojai district, was working at an illegal coal mine at Umthe village when he collapsed on January 14, Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar said. Ali was rushed to the Sutnga community health centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Following the incident, police sealed the mine and ordered an investigation into the circumstances leading to the death. The matter has drawn the attention of Justice (Retd) BP Katakey, appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to monitor illegal coal mining and transport...

Small traders from Assam faced fresh trouble today after they were stopped from selling vegetables in neighbouring Meghalaya and forced to return home. More than a hundred traders from the Mankachar area came back with unsold produce after being blocked at a weekly market in Meghalaya. The incident took place at the weekly Najeng market in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills. According to local sources, Garo organisations and traders did not allow the Assamese traders to do business at the market and asked them to leave. The situation in parts of Meghalaya has remained tense following an incident about nine days ago in Rajabala, where a member of an organisation named Achik was allegedly assaulted by miscreants from a non-Garo community. The injured person later died,...

The Meghalaya reservation policy report will be placed before the Assembly in the Budget session proposed to be held from mid-February, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said after a cabinet meeting on Friday. The reservation policy provides significant quotas for major tribes (Khasi-Jaintia and Garo), other ST/SCs, and an open category, generally reserving 80 per cent for STs in jobs/education (40 per cent each for Khasis/Garos), 5 per cent for other STs/SCs, and 15 per cent for general/unreserved. This 1972 framework came under review by an expert committee due to demographic changes, with reports suggesting adjustments for economic factors and fairness. Speaking on the Cabinet discussions, the Chief Minister said the committee’s report will be tabled during the Budget session. “Based o...

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) marked 10 years of the Startup India Initiative on National Startup Day 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on January 16. The event was held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Chief Guest. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, DPIIT Secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Joint Secretary Sanjiv, leading entrepreneurs and Shark Tank India investors including Aman Gupta (boAt), Ritesh Agarwal (OYO) and Mohit Yadav (Minimalist) also attended the programme. In a proud moment for the state, Meghalaya was conferred a Certificate of Appreciation under the States’ Startup Ecosystem Ranking (5th Edition), recognising it as a ‘Leader’ for its outstanding efforts in building a vibrant startup ecosystem....

A new clause allowing private applicants to register and be admitted for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination (SSLC/Class 10) under the Meghalaya Board of School Education was approved today by the Meghalaya Cabinet. This decision will make it easier for students to finish Class 10 if they were unable to pass the matriculation test earlier or had to drop out after Class 8 for a variety of reasons. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma stated, "We are confident this step will encourage many to return, complete their education, and build a better future." Additionally, Community-Integrated Skill Learning (CISL), a structured curriculum component for Classes VI through X, has been authorized by the Cabinet. For Classes VI through X, Health and Physical Education is currently given ...

The Meghalaya Cabinet on Friday decided to table the report of the Expert Committee on the Meghalaya State Job Reservation Policy, 1972, during the upcoming Budget Session of the Assembly, likely to be held from February 16 to 27. Speaking after the Cabinet meeting as part of the 3rd Cabinet Retreat at Orchid Resort, Mawkasiang, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the report was discussed and it was agreed that it should be placed before the Assembly. The government has proposed to the Governor to convene the Budget Session from mid-February, and the dates will be formalised after approval. Sangma said it would not be appropriate to disclose the contents of the report before it is tabled in the House. Earlier, the Chief Minister had said the report has been thoroughly reviewed by officia...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced that the state government has planned projects and initiatives amounting to approximately Rs 3,600 crore, which will be prioritized for the current year. During a media conference, he emphasized the government's annual review of unresolved issues and its commitment to long-term solutions. He highlighted the resolution of the persistent ad hoc and SSA teachers’ issue as a significant achievement, noting that implementation will commence in April, with prior communication already established. Additionally, the Chief Minister mentioned that delays in scholarship provisions had been addressed following discussions with the Government of India to prevent future occurrences. A key focus for the year will be on cleanliness and sanitation, parti...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has described the issue of non-tribal participation in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls as “complicated” and one that requires careful consideration. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Sangma said, “It is a complicated subject, there is no doubt about it and for many, many years this has been debated and previous governments in the past, this challenge has always been there.” The Chief Minister highlighted the complexities surrounding the issue, citing the purpose of the ADCs, voting rights, and the impact of decisions made by previous governments. “Who is supposed to serve versus decisions made by the governments then to allow the voting when the council was formed – so it is a very complex problem, it is not something which one c...

The Dorbar Shnong Brishyrnot, in coordination with the Dorbar Shnong Khaddum, has announced that Chympe Falls will remain closed to the general public, visitors, and tourists on all Sundays starting January 25, 2026, as well as on selected days every year. The decision has been taken collectively by both village councils in the interest of community welfare and effective management of tourism activities at the site. As per the notice issued, Chympe Falls will remain closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day on December 25 and 26, New Year’s Day on January 1, Independence Day on August 15, Republic Day on January 26, and all Sundays throughout the year. The Dorbar Shnongs stated that the closure is necessary as Sundays and these specific days are reserved for community engagements, religious ob...