Shillong, Oct 31, 2025: In a landmark moment for Meghalaya’s higher and technical education landscape, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today inaugurated the first academic session of the Shillong Government College of Engineering at its newly developed campus in Mawlai, Shillong.
The prestigious event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui, Chief Secretary Dr. Shakil Ahammed, Commissioner & Secretary (Education) Vijay Kumar Mantri, and Arts & Culture Minister Sanbor Shullai, marking a significant stride in the state’s push toward technological advancement and human capital development.
Declaring the occasion as “truly historic,” the Chief Minister said the day would be remembered for generations as the start of Meghalaya’s first government engineering college. He extended gratitude to all departments, officials, and faculty members whose efforts made the long-envisioned institution a reality.
“Starting late does not mean we will be left behind,” he said, stressing that emerging technologies provide opportunities for Meghalaya to leapfrog in development, much like India’s digital transformation through innovations such as UPI and Aadhaar.
The Chief Minister highlighted the achievements of a young Khasi engineer from Shillong whose advanced software, incorporating Nvidia’s “Speed of Light” concept, has revolutionized S/4HANA migration by cutting testing time from over a year to a few months. He revealed that Nvidia officials had already visited Shillong, expressing interest in deeper collaboration.
Training for the first batch of 50 youths has already begun under this initiative, with plans to scale up to 200–300 trainees, paving new pathways for Meghalaya’s young talent in artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and engineering.
Sangma announced that the second phase of the Shillong IT Park — featuring around 3,000 seats — will be inaugurated by December. A UK-based company has already committed to starting operations even before the facility’s official launch.
Underscoring Meghalaya’s growing role in the technology landscape, he shared that Shillong will host the National Artificial Intelligence Conference for the Eastern Region on December 3–4, 2025, a major recognition of the state’s emerging capacity in AI and innovation.
Addressing long-standing concerns regarding scholarships, the Chief Minister said Meghalaya will now release both State and Centrally Sponsored Scholarships in advance, without waiting for central disbursements. The Chief Minister’s Scholarship Scheme will be released before Christmas, he confirmed.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving human capital, he added, “Roads and buildings matter, but ultimately, it is the quality of our people that defines the strength of our state.” He also mentioned that the Shillong Medical College is ready for inauguration, pending confirmation from the Prime Minister or Home Minister in the coming weeks.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong congratulated the principal, faculty, and the first batch of 50 students, urging them to uphold excellence and help the college emerge as one of the best in the country.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui highlighted the rapid growth of higher education in Meghalaya. Before 2018, the state had only five government colleges; since then, new institutions across Mawkyrwat, Rongjeng, Patharkhmah, and now Shillong have strengthened the sector under the Chief Minister’s leadership. Scholarship coverage, he noted, has increased from 5,000–6,000 students to nearly 45,000 today.
As part of the programme, the Chief Minister unveiled a plaque commemorating the opening of the college’s first academic session and also laid the foundation stone for a new RCC building at Shillong Polytechnic. The North Eastern Council-funded project will include workshops, laboratories, a smart classroom, an examination centre, and faculty rooms.
With the opening of the Shillong Government College of Engineering, Meghalaya steps confidently into a new era of technical education, innovation, and youth empowerment.
