Meghalaya

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday presented the Budget for 2026–27 in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly with a fiscal deficit of Rs 2,672 crore, which is about 3.5 percent of the state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), remaining within the permissible limit.The total expenditure for the financial year has been estimated at Rs 32,023 crore, including Rs 21,812 crore under revenue expenditure and Rs 10,211 crore under capital expenditure. Excluding loan repayments of Rs 2,731 crore, the effective expenditure stands at Rs 29,293 crore.Interest payments are estimated at Rs 1,540 crore, while pension payments are projected at Rs 1,980 crore. The state is expected to record a revenue surplus of Rs 4,771 crore with a closing balance of Rs 714 crore.Presenting his ninth co...

Fourteen coal mine owners have been arrested in Meghalaya since 2018, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the state assembly on February 23, responding to a starred question on coal-related GST collections raised by MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit. The government has collected Rs 13,87,77,996 in GST from coal sales since 2018. Only three coal mine owners are currently registered with GST — Shainingstar Khardewsaw, Dapmain Shylla, and Leborlang Lyngdoh — while 574 coal traders in the state hold GST registration. The government has collected Rs 13,87,77,996 in GST from coal sales since 2018. Only three coal mine owners are currently registered with GST — Shainingstar Khardewsaw, Dapmain Shylla, and Leborlang Lyngdoh — while 574 coal traders in the state hold GST registration. The GST rate on co...

The Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Commitee (MPCC) on Monday released the first list of candidates to contest the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) polls. The list was approved by MPCC president Vincent H. Pala. According to the party, Kartick R. Marak will contest from Siju, Budhar M. Marak from Wagesik, Arjun S. Marak from Silkigre, and Karak R. Sangma from Rongrikkimgre. Sengrik M. Marak has been nominated from Gasuapara, while Gredit T. Sangma will contest from Barenggapara and Luckshwell M. Sangma from Amongpara. From Tura, the party has fielded Prewil Ch. Marak, while Sadhiarani M. Sangma will contest from Dengnakpara and Binvinchand D. Sangma from Boldamgre. Premish S. Sangma has been named for Zigzak and Ajitav Koch for Betasing, while Ripseng K. Marak will contest fro...

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said 92 villages in Meghalaya have been selected under Vibrant Village Programme-II, though the Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to notify implementation dates.The scheme, planned through 2028-29, will be overseen by the Border Areas Development department. “The Border Areas Development Programme was discontinued by government of India in September 2022 and that is where the government of India decided that a new programme be brought in which is called Vibrant Village Programme,” Sangma said while replying in the Assembly. He added, “MLAs met me in regards to sanctioning of some amount because of discontinuation of BADP and I had included some amount but it is not sufficient as we have to cover interstate and international borders.” “We will ...

The Mawkhar Presbyterian Church is grappling with one of the most serious crises in its history following alleged financial irregularities exceeding Rs 4 crore, leading to a sharp fallout with the KJP Synod Sepngi.The controversy began after discrepancies were found in church accounts for the financial years 2016–2019. A reconciliation process in June 2019 revealed inconsistencies between cash records and bank deposits. Initial verification of documents—including cash books, passbooks, deposit slips, and SBI Bara Bazar Branch statements—showed a shortfall of around Rs 2.86 crore.Further disclosures indicated that a portion of the discrepancy had reportedly been known since 2017 during an Income Tax exemption process but was not shared with the Church Committee, intensifying mistrust withi...

The Meghalaya Police has seized over 17,000 metric tonnes of coal and 25.5 kg of explosive material in East Jaintia Hills district, as part of a crackdown on illegal mining and transportation, officials said. The action comes after the February 5 blast at an illegal coal mine in the Thangsku area that killed 34 people and injured several others, prompting stricter enforcement and sustained police operations against unlawful mining activities. East Jaintia Hills SP Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania said the district police conducted the raid during the night of February 20-21, recovering 17,322 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal, and 25.5 kg of explosive material from abandoned mines.

The District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) have provided an inquiry report to the Meghalaya government concerning the absence of a doctor at the Mawlai Mawiong Community Health Centre (CHC) during the incident involving Lok Sabha MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon, who collapsed and subsequently died. This event has spurred public outcry and debate over perceived medical neglect, particularly focusing on the shortage of doctors in primary health centers (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs). Reports indicate that on the night of the incident, there was no doctor present at the Mawlai Mawiong CHC, which was staffed only by nursing personnel. This reported inadequacy in staffing has raised significant concerns among the public regarding the CHC's ability to provide continuous medical care, espe...

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has criticised the Congress over a “shirtless protest” at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi, calling it “unfortunate” and inappropriate for a global platform meant to showcase India’s progress. “Recent drama by the Congress party by having a shirtless protest in the AI summit was unfortunate. In such occasion leaders and political parties must stand together to project the nation. It’s not a platform to play politics … it’s the image of the country and as an Indian that comes first (s.i.c),” Sangma said in a post on X. Delhi's Tis Hazari court has described the protest by four Indian Youth Congress (IYC) workers as a "blatant assault on public order" that jeopardised India's diplomatic image. Judicial Magistrate Ravi granted police five days' custod...

The Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati, Mr. Zikrul Hasan Fahad, led a consular visit to Shillong, Meghalaya, India, from 18 to 20 February 2026. The visit aimed to verify the status of 70 Bangladeshi nationals in Shillong District Prison and 12 children at Shillong Special Homes for Boys and Girls. During the visit, Mr. Fahad met with District and Sessions Judge Ms. D.R. Kharbteng to request expedited trial proceedings for the detained nationals to facilitate their repatriation. He also arranged WhatsApp communication for detainees to connect with their families. Following verification, 18 detainees, whose sentences had been completed, received Travel Permits for repatriation to Bangladesh. Immigration formalities will be conducted by Indian authorities prior to their r...

Members of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) on Saturday reportedly closed several banks and private company offices in different parts of Shillong, including Nongmengsong, Pynthor, Nongthymmai, Police Bazar and Upper Shillong, as a mark of respect during the funeral of Shillong Lok Sabha MP Ricky Andrew J Syngkon. The FKJGP members moved across various localities requesting banks and private establishments to suspend operations, stating that some institutions had not observed closure on the day of the funeral rites of the late parliamentarian, who passed away on Thursday following a massive heart attack. Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had announced that the State Government would declare a holiday on Saturday in all districts falling under the Shillong ...