Shillong

The "Climate Festival of Life: Where the Rivers, Forests, Mountains, Coasts and Oceans Are!" officially commenced its travelling edition at the North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong campus, on October 5, 2026. The five-day national climate festival will continue until October 9, 2026, at the Multi-Use Convention Hall, NEHU. The festival is organised by Azim Premji University, Bengaluru, in close collaboration with the Department of Geography, NEHU. Designed as a youth-driven platform, the festival seeks to make the understanding of climate science engaging and accessible while highlighting the rich diversity of India's ecosystems. The event brings together art, culture and science to showcase the intricate connections between climate change, critical natural landscapes a...

The Bharatiya Janata Party appears to have zeroed in on its chief spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang as the candidate for the upcoming Shillong Parliamentary by-election. Reliable sources in the party indicated that the former police officer is likely to receive the ticket. Since joining the BJP, Kharkrang has been actively involved in organisational work and has consistently defended the party against opposition criticism. Several aspirants have applied for the party nomination. The by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting Shillong MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon in February. The Election Commission is likely to announce the bypoll after the completion of the SIR exercise and the publication of the final electoral roll.

Shillong will host its second Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM 2.0) on October 8 and 9, which will feature more than 800 structured B2B meetings between buyers and sellers, with a focus on market linkages, business expansion and export facilitation for Meghalaya enterprises. A State Industrial Exhibition-cum-Sales will also showcase products from the state’s MSME sector, including food processing, handloom, handicrafts, honey, bamboo and cane, wellness products and other locally made products. Organised by the Directorate of Commerce & Industries in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Export Organisations under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance programme, the two-day event will be held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong.

The state government's decision to hold the sixth Shillong Literary Festival at Ward's Lake has triggered strong opposition from citizens, who have questioned why one of Shillong's few remaining green spaces is being used for a major event even as the government prepares to spend Rs 25 crore on restoring and beautifying the iconic lake. The three-day festival is scheduled from November 12 to 14 and will bring together writers, thinkers, artists and readers for literary discussions, readings and cultural performances. Citizens said they were not opposed to the festival but to the choice of venue, arguing that large events requiring pandals, temporary flooring and other infrastructure should be shifted to permanent, dedicated venues. The government's Rs 25-crore Ward's Lake revital...

The expansion of Shillong Airport is on track and big aircraft will be able to land at the airport within next two years, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar has said. “This airport, as it is now, it’s on track. We have extended the runway. More or less, within two years, big flights will land here,” he told reporters at at Nongrah Umroi. Asserting that it would be a “game changer” for Meghalaya, Dhar said the government has a long-term blueprint to develop the airport into an international facility. Once the expanded airport becomes functional, Dhar said, “Everyone will recognise not only (Meghalaya’s) tourism but sports and other sectors also.” Revealing the larger plan, Dhar said, “We plan in such a manner through a blueprint… we are taking the highway in front of this ...

As part of centennial celebrations, the Rilbong Durga Puja Commiteeeorganised Rilbong Puja Centennial Run on Friday. The Centennial Run was flagged off at 6 am from Rhino Museum Point by a 79-year-old veteran runner from Mawkyrwat. Participants finished at the Rilbong Ground, which has been converted into the Puja pandal for the centenary celebrations. Following the run, breakfast was served to participants, after which the prize distribution ceremony was held at around 9.30 am. Senior officials, including D.P. Wahlang, Osmand Nongbri, and other dignitaries attended the event. Hailing the event, which witnessed around 650 participants, Chairman of the Marathon Committee, Jayanta Sen, and Convener, Aneesh Chaudhuri, thanked the district administration, police, media, partici...

The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has intensified its protest over allegations of illegal money collection from trucks along the Shillong Bypass, demanding the resignation of East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem. The union put up banners and posters at several locations, including the SP’s office, the Secretariat, Khyndailad and Motphran, raising questions over police accountability in connection with the allegations. The KSU has also called for an independent probe and strict action against personnel found involved. The controversy began after the KSU alleged that police personnel were collecting between ₹200 and ₹500 from trucks at Mawkhanu and Thangshalai. The union said it had recorded videos during a verification exercise and questioned whether senior police offi...

Gorkha Pathshala Higher Secondary School in Upper Mawprem, Shillong, concluded its sesquicentennial celebrations, marking 150 years of the institution’s journey in education and community service. The closing ceremony of the 150th Foundation Celebration, commemorating the period from 1876 to 2026, brought together school authorities, teachers, students, alumni and distinguished guests to reflect on the institution’s long educational legacy. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai and West Shillong MLA Paul Lyngdoh attended the programme as Guests of Honour and joined the school community in marking the historic milestone. During the programme, speakers reflected on the school’s contribution to education and its role in shaping generations of stude...

The sixth edition of the Shillong Literary Festival will be held from November 12 to 14 at Ward’s Lake, with a new initiative aimed at identifying and supporting emerging writers from the Northeast. Organised with the support of the Meghalaya Tourism Department, the three-day festival will bring together writers, artists, thinkers and readers for discussions, storytelling, performances and other literary events. A key addition this year is ‘First Bloom: Discovering New Writing from the Northeast’, which will focus on emerging fiction and narrative non-fiction writers from the region. The initiative carries a total prize of Rs 75,000, with Rs 50,000 for the winner and Rs 25,000 for the runner-up. The festival will also hold two workshops on careers in literature on October 26 at t...

Pressure groups across Meghalaya forced closure of banks that opened on Sunday following a government order in view of the three-day nationwide bank strike starting Monday. The groups completely defied government's order by taking law in own hands. Branches of State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank, Meghalaya Rural Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and UCO Bank were among others that faced the ire of activists of Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), HITO and Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizatins (CoMSO) for keeping open on Sunday. In Garo Hills, the Achik Youth Welfare Organization led the shutdown in all five districts of the region. The KSU, through its district, circle and unit wings, carried out checks across Khasi and Jaintia region and shut bank branches in East Khasi...