The Meghalaya Cabinet has approved amendments to laws governing private universities in the state, with the changes aimed at aligning their functioning with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. The Cabinet approved the Maharashtra Institute of Technology of Meghalaya (Amendment) Bill 2026 and Mahatma Gandhi University (Amendment) Bill 2026, replacing the earlier provision of a sponsor-nominated Visitor with the Governor, while also increasing government representation on their Boards of Management and Governors. Amendments to the Martin Luther Christian University Act were also approved to restrict the university’s operations to Meghalaya, remove provisions for distance education and end its power to affiliate colleges. The Cabinet further approved bills proposing the establishment of Sister Nivedita University at Byrnihat and Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian University at Sohiong, which the government said would expand higher education opportunities in the state. Meanwhile, the Cabinet decided to repeal the Khasi Hills International Open University Meghalaya Act, 2011, after finding that its proposed name did not comply with UGC regulations. The government said the reforms would strengthen Meghalaya’s higher education system while ensuring private universities operate within the applicable regulatory framework.