10 October 2026
The Meghalaya Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, approved a second six-month extension of the term of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).
Cabinet spokesperson Wailadmiki Shylla said the first six-month extension expires on October 17, and that the fresh extension is linked to delimitation and the SIR exercise.
With this the government has used the maximum one-year extension the law allows, and council polls are likely only after the extended tenure ends in April next year.
The GHADC administers the Garo Hills under the Sixth Schedule and has 30 seats, of which 29 are elected and one is nominated by the Governor.
The first extension was approved in March, after polls were postponed amid violence over non-tribal participation in the council polls.
Violence broke out in Chibinang and Tura, and two people were killed when security forces fired to disperse a mob in West Garo Hills district.
The dispute led to changes in the electoral framework, including separate electoral rolls restricted to Scheduled Tribe voters.
Extension approved:
Six months (second such extension)
Current term expires:
October 17
GHADC seats:
30 (29 elected, 1 nominated by the Governor)
Polls likely after:
April next year
Why it matters for exams: The Sixth Schedule councils of the North East are a standing polity topic, and an extension that touches the legal ceiling on postponement is exactly the kind of detail examiners test.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
GHADC Garo Hills Autonomous District Council — The Sixth Schedule council that administers the Garo Hills of Meghalaya.
Sixth Schedule Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India — It provides for autonomous district councils in the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
10 October 2026
The Home (Political) Department of the Government of Meghalaya issued Public Notice No. POL.95/2026/Pt./18 on 7 October 2026 on appearance before the fact-finding committee regarding the setting up of Shree Cement Company in East Jaintia Hills District.
The notice states that those who have filed representations may appear before the Committee in person on 13 October 2026 at the Circuit House, Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills District, from 10:00 A.M., along with the relevant documents in original.
The Committee was constituted by Notification No. POL.95/2026/5 dated 8 September 2026, in pursuance of Letter No. POL.57/2025/203-A dated 3 September 2026, and is chaired by Shri C.V.D. Diengdoh, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya.
Its terms of reference are to inquire into the cause and circumstances leading to the disruption of the public hearing called by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board on 31 July 2026, and to assess the possible impact of setting up the company from environmental, social, legal and criminal standpoints and submit a comprehensive fact-finding report.
An earlier public notice of the same department, No. POL.95/2026/Pt./04 released on 21 September 2026, had invited representations from persons, organisations and the public.
A fact-finding committee of this kind is an executive inquiry: it takes statements and reports to the government, and is not a court.
Public notice number:
POL.95/2026/Pt./18
Date of the public notice:
7 October 2026
Appearance before the Committee:
13 October 2026, from 10:00 A.M., Circuit House, Khliehriat
Committee constituted by:
Notification No. POL.95/2026/5, 8 September 2026
Chairperson:
Shri C.V.D. Diengdoh, IAS
District:
East Jaintia Hills
Department:
Home (Political) Department
Why it matters for exams: It is a clean example of a State government using an executive fact-finding committee on an industrial project, with the notification numbers and dates that examiners like to pin a question on.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Fact-finding committee Executive committee of inquiry — A panel the government sets up to gather facts and report to it, without the powers of a court.
10 October 2026
The High Court of Meghalaya issued a notification dated 7 October 2026 designating the court of Shri Flavian R Marak, Judicial Magistrate First Class, as a Virtual Court for traffic eChallan cases in the State of Meghalaya.
The designation takes effect immediately and holds until further orders.
The jurisdiction stated in the notification is the whole State of Meghalaya, so traffic eChallan matters go to one designated virtual court rather than being taken up court by court.
The notification is issued by order of the Chief Justice and is in supersession of the Registry's earlier notification of 6 October 2021, which had designated a different magistrate's court for this purpose.
A virtual court lets a person pay the fine or contest the challan online without a physical appearance.
Date of notification:
7 October 2026
Court designated:
Court of Shri Flavian R Marak, Judicial Magistrate First Class
Function:
Virtual Court for traffic eChallan cases
Jurisdiction:
State of Meghalaya
Effect:
Immediate, until further order(s)
Why it matters for exams: Virtual courts are part of the e-Courts push, and a State-wide designation by a High Court is a concrete instance an examiner can build a question around.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
eChallan Electronic challan — A traffic penalty notice generated and served electronically instead of on paper.
Virtual Court Virtual Court — A court designated to deal with a class of cases online, without the parties appearing in person.
10 October 2026
The High Court of Meghalaya issued a notification dated 28 September 2026 constituting a committee for working out the modalities of setting up of Family Court(s) in Meghalaya.
By Notification No. HCM.II/106/2026-Estt/21 the Chief Justice named Justice W. Diengdoh as Chairman and Justice B. Bhattacharjee as Member, with the Registrar (Judicial Service) as Member-Secretary and the Secretaries of the Law and Finance Departments and the Chief Engineer, PWD (Buildings), as members.
Working out the modalities means settling the practical arrangements, the places, staffing and procedure, before one or more Family Courts can be established.
The same court has been active on institutional matters in the same fortnight: by a notification of 29 September 2026 it constituted a Screening Committee to scrutinise the service records of judicial officers and assess their eligibility for the grant of Assured Career Progression (ACP).
Family Courts in India are set up by State governments in consultation with the High Court concerned.
Date of notification:
28 September 2026
Issuing authority:
High Court of Meghalaya
Subject:
Modalities of setting up of Family Court(s) in Meghalaya
Why it matters for exams: Family Courts and their mode of establishment are a recurring question, and this is a live instance of a High Court taking the first step in a State that is working towards them.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Family Courts Act, 1984 The Family Courts Act, 1984 — The central law under which State governments establish Family Courts for matrimonial and family disputes.
10 October 2026
The Meghalaya government's Information and Public Relations Department put out on 5 October 2026 that the North Eastern Council released ₹42.63 crore and recorded project completions worth ₹45.48 crore during September 2026.
Fourteen major infrastructure projects, worth ₹45.48 crore together, were completed and closed in that month.
Two completed projects in Meghalaya are named in the release.
One is the construction of school buildings at Mawthadraishan in West Khasi Hills, at ₹4.75 crore.
The other is the development of the Cultural Complex of Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban at Lum Shat Sngi Kenches Trace, Shillong, at ₹9.28 crore.
Of the ₹42.63 crore released, ₹35.21 crore went to the North Eastern States and ₹7.42 crore to regional institutions and agencies; the release is numbered 05/10/2026.
Funds released in September 2026:
₹42.63 crore
Value of completions:
₹45.48 crore
Projects completed and closed:
14
Mawthadraishan school building:
₹4.75 crore
Seng Khasi Ri Raid Laban cultural complex:
₹9.28 crore
Why it matters for exams: The North Eastern Council is the standing regional planning body for the eight North Eastern States, and its monthly releases give the kind of figure examiners quote.
Kerala PSCUPSCBank
In plain words
NEC North Eastern Council — The statutory regional body that plans and funds development projects across the North Eastern States.
10 October 2026
The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department of Meghalaya notified on 5 October 2026, by No. PER(ARC)17/2022/20, that entries at Serial No. 237-240 shall be added to the List of Services notified under Section 3(2) of The Meghalaya Right to Public Services Act, 2020.
The four services are the issue of identity cards to ex-servicemen and to widows of ex-servicemen by the Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Shillong, within three working days, and the same two services by the Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Tura, within four working days, with the Director, Sainik Welfare, Shillong, as appellate authority; the addition takes effect from the date of issue of the notification.
Six days earlier, on 29 September 2026, the same department had added the entry at Serial No. 236 to the same list, by Notification No. PER(ARC)2/2026/28.
Section 3(2) is the provision under which the State notifies the services a citizen may claim within a fixed time.
Separately, the government reported on 7 October 2026 that awareness programmes on the Act were held across North Garo Hills, with Smti. Osamaphi Lyngdoh, MCS, Assistant Commissioner, as resource person.
The same department had also notified on 21 September 2026, by No. PER.31/2026/1, the constitution of the Selection Committee for selection of the Chief Commissioner, Meghalaya State Public Services Delivery Commission.
New entries added:
Serial No. 237-240
Services added:
Identity cards to ex-servicemen and to widows of ex-servicemen (Zila Sainik Welfare Office, Shillong - 3 working days; Tura - 4 working days)
Notification number:
PER(ARC)17/2022/20
Date:
5 October 2026
Previous addition:
Serial No. 236, on 29 September 2026
Enabling provision:
Section 3(2) of The Meghalaya Right to Public Services Act, 2020
Why it matters for exams: Right-to-service laws and the commissions that enforce them are a standard governance question, and Meghalaya's list is being extended entry by entry with dated notifications.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
MSPSDC Meghalaya State Public Services Delivery Commission — The commission that oversees delivery of the services notified under the State's right to public services law.
10 October 2026
The Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department of Meghalaya notified on 5 October 2026, by No. PER.36/2011/Pt.X/127, that Dr Joram Beda, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, shall also function as Commissioner of Excise, Meghalaya, Shillong.
The additional charge runs from the date of taking over charge and holds until further orders.
The same department had notified on 24 September 2026, by No. PER.48/IAS/PSA/Pt.I/194, that Dr Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, shall retire from government service with effect from 30 November 2026 on attaining the age of superannuation.
Both are published on the State government's official notifications page under the Personnel and A.R. Department.
An officer holding additional charge keeps the substantive post and carries the second one alongside it.
Additional charge:
Dr Joram Beda, IAS, as Commissioner of Excise, Meghalaya, Shillong
Notification and date:
PER.36/2011/Pt.X/127, 5 October 2026
Chief Secretary:
Dr Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS
Chief Secretary's retirement:
With effect from 30 November 2026
Why it matters for exams: Who holds which post in a State, and when a Chief Secretary demits office, are standard appointment questions, and both facts come straight from dated notifications.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Superannuation Superannuation — Retirement on reaching the age fixed for a service.
10 October 2026
The Health and Family Welfare Department of Meghalaya released on 30 September 2026, by No. Health.91/2025/59, a review of operationalising Tura Medical College and strengthening Tura Civil Hospital infrastructure.
Only 37 teaching faculty have been mapped as on date, against the 97 that the National Medical Commission requires for an annual intake of 50 MBBS seats.
The effort has run for more than a year, with repeated exercises to identify willing and qualified in-service doctors, three rounds of advertisements, and consultations with doctors in Tura on the shortage of specialists.
The review recommends completing and commissioning the 150-bedded and 80-bedded blocks under construction on the Civil Hospital, Tura campus, so that patients can use them sooner.
That would add to the bed capacity of Tura Civil Hospital, which is to serve as the teaching hospital for the college.
Teaching faculty mapped:
37
Faculty the NMC requires:
97
Annual intake proposed:
50 MBBS seats
Blocks under construction:
150-bedded and 80-bedded
Rounds of advertisement:
Three
Why it matters for exams: The faculty norms of the National Medical Commission and the gap between sanctioned seats and available teachers are a live policy question in medical education.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NMC National Medical Commission — The regulator that sets faculty, infrastructure and seat norms for medical colleges in India.
10 October 2026
Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Speaker Thomas A. Sangma, who is also the MLA for North Tura, inspected preparations at the Garo Heritage Village, Chibragre, for the Golden Jubilee of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival.
The festival, to be held in November, marks 50 years of the organised Wangala, and this year's celebration will feature a special 1000 Drums Wangala Festival, replacing the customary 100-drums presentation.
Committee Chairman Ronald Rikman Sangma, Superintendent of Police Abraham T. Sangma and SP (Traffic) Tura Rupam R. Marak were present.
The Tourism, Water Supply, PWD and Power departments were consulted on the arrangements, along with members of the 100 Drums Wangala Festival Committee.
The account is in press release 08/10/2026 of the Information and Public Relations Department, released on 8 October 2026.
Drums this year:
1000, instead of the customary 100
Anniversary:
Golden Jubilee, 50 years of the organised Wangala
Venue inspected:
Garo Heritage Village, Chibragre
Month of the festival:
November
Speaker:
Thomas A. Sangma, MLA for North Tura
Why it matters for exams: Wangala is the best known harvest festival of the Garo people, and a jubilee edition with a changed scale is the kind of culture question that comes with a fact attached.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Wangala Wangala — The harvest festival of the Garo people, staged in Meghalaya as the 100 Drums Wangala Festival.
Background
Meghalaya is situated on the north east of India and its capital is Shillong.
The State portal records the emergence of Meghalaya first as an Autonomous State and then as a full-fledged State, calling it the beginning of a new era in the geo-political history of North Eastern India.
The State extends for about 300 kilometres in length and about 100 kilometres in breadth.
The portal gives the area as 22,429 Sq. Km, the Census population as 29,66,889, the density as 132 Per Sqr. Km and the literacy rate as 74.43 %.
The languages listed for the State are Khasi, Pnar, Garo & English.
Shillong, the capital, is located at an altitude of 1496 metres above sea level, and the capital city derives its name from the manifestation of the creator called Shyllong.
District headquarters listed by the portal include Shillong, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat, Nongpoh, Jowai, Khliehriat, Williamnagar, Tura, Resubelpara, Ampati, Baghmara and Mairang.
The climate varies with altitude, the Khasi and Jaintia Hills being neither too warm in summer nor too cold in winter, while over the plains of Garo Hills it is warm and humid.
Area:
22,429 Sq. Km
Population:
29,66,889 (As Per 2011 Census)
Density:
132 Per Sqr. Km
Literacy Rate:
74.43 %
Autonomous State:
2nd April 1970
Full-fledged State:
21st January 1972
Altitude of the capital:
1496 metres above sea level
Why it matters for exams: The capital, area, population, density and literacy figures of a north-eastern State and its statehood sequence are standard one-mark material in State PSC and UPSC prelims.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
C&RD Block Community and Rural Development Block — The rural administrative block unit into which Meghalaya's districts are divided.
Shyllong The manifestation of the creator the capital is named after — The State portal says the capital city derives its name from this manifestation of the creator.
Background
The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located in the north-east of India on the Tura Range, which forms part of the Meghalaya Plateau, with an average altitude of 600 metres.
Nokrek is the highest peak of the Garo Hills at 1,412 metres, and the north of the reserve has gently undulating hills while steep slopes characterise the south.
Its major rivers include the Ganol, Dareng and Simsang, with the Simsang the longest and largest; the Ganol flows westward into the Brahmaputra River.
Evergreen and semi-evergreen deciduous forests dominate the landscape, and 90 per cent of the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is covered by evergreen forest.
A remarkable variety of endemic Citrus grows in the reserve, especially Indian wild orange (Citrus indica).
Representative species include cotton tree (Bombax ceiba), hairy sterculia (Sterculia villosa) and golden shower tree (Cassia fistula).
Threatened fauna include the slow loris, the giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) and the pig-tailed macaque (Macaca leonina), and hoolock gibbons receive special protection.
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere page gives the surface area as 82,000.00 ha and the total population as 22084.
Year of nomination:
2009
Surface area:
82,000.00 ha
Total population:
22084
Highest peak of the Garo Hills:
Nokrek, 1,412 metres
Evergreen forest cover:
90 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Nokrek is one of India's UNESCO biosphere reserves and its wild citrus and Garo Hills setting are frequently asked in environment and geography sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MAB Man and the Biosphere Programme — The UNESCO programme under which biosphere reserves such as Nokrek are designated.
Citrus indica Indian wild orange — The endemic wild orange that makes Nokrek a reservoir of citrus diversity.
Background
East Khasi Hills District forms a central part of Meghalaya and covers a total geographical area of 2,748 Sq. Kms.
The most important physiographic feature of the district is the Shillong Plateau, interspersed with river valleys, which falls sharply in the southern portion forming deep gorges and ravines in Mawsynram and Shella-Bholaganj.
Shillong peak, lying 10 Kms. from the city, is the highest point in the district as well as in the State.
The climate ranges from temperate in the plateau region to warmer tropical and sub-tropical pockets, and the whole district is influenced by the south-west monsoon.
The name Shillong is derived from U-Lei Shillong, a powerful deity.
At Sohra, Mawsmai Cave is an accessible part of Meghalaya's cave systems, while Arwah Cave is famous for crustacean shells and fish bones fossilized in its limestone walls.
Noh Ka Likai has a straight plunge of over 1000 feet, and Noh Sngi Thiang, with a drop of more than 300 metres, is segmented into seven parts and is popularly referred to as the Seven Sisters Falls.
The district headquarter Shillong is connected to Guwahati and Silchar by NH 44.
District area:
2,748 Sq. Kms
Shillong peak:
highest point in the district as well as in the State
Noh Ka Likai:
A straight plunge of over 1000 feet
Noh Sngi Thiang:
a drop of more than 300 metres
Why it matters for exams: The Shillong Plateau, the State's highest point and the limestone caves and waterfalls of Sohra are standard physical-geography material for Meghalaya questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
NH 44 National Highway 44 — The highway by which Shillong is connected to Guwahati and Silchar.
Sohra The plateau town also written Cherrapunji — The southern plateau edge of East Khasi Hills where the district's best known caves and waterfalls lie.