Shillong, August 26 : The Meghalaya Cabinet met today and approved a series of major decisions ranging from recruitment reforms and regularisation of employees to restructuring of departments and financial support to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs).
Cabinet has taken into consideration the Report of the MPSC Reforms Committee, 2025.
The Report outlines long-term, medium-term and short-term initiatives that can be taken to ensure necessary reforms to make MPSC more transparent and efficient.
The Short-term measures proposed include:
•Formation of multiple interview boards to speed up interviews.
•Clear interview protocols outlining process and systems.
•Conflict of interest reviews (e.g., recusal if a board member has a relative being interviewed).
•Declaration of assets and liabilities by the Chairman and committee members.
•Annual calendar for MPSC activities and preparation of annual reports.
•Establishment of a grievance cell.
•Candidate roll numbers to remain unchanged during recruitment.
•Notification of personal interview marks and public disclosure of candidate scores.
•Maintain strict confidentiality of question papers, with clear procedures to prevent leaks.
•No changes allowed to the recruitment process once it starts.
•Publishing candidate-to-vacancy ratios.
•Release of answer keys post-exam, with a defined window for challenges.
•Address corruption and vigilance issues under the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014.
The medium- term and long-term suggestions include:
- Shift to computer-based tests.
- Strengthen MPSC cells in Jowai and Tura
- Combine exams with similar qualifications and scales to avoid repetition and delays.
- Discontinue the use of optional papers, as done in the MPS and MCS exams, and extend it to others.
Additionally, the Cabinet suggested installing CCTV and recording all interviews to ensure transparency. The full report will be made public.
Approved the proposal for framing of SoPs and grant of one-time age relaxation concerning the recruitment to Government sanctioned posts presently occupied by adhoc appointees appointed after 31st December 2007.
As per the Supreme Court, ad-hoc appointments made before Dec 31, 2007 could be regularised directly.
Cabinet has decided to regularize the appointments following proper selection process.
- Approx. 1,500 posts (post 31st December 2007) will be filled through exams and interviews.
- An SOP has been approved by the Cabinet to guide this process.
- A one-time age relaxation will be granted to eligible long-serving ad-hoc employees, allowing them to appear for the exams fairly.
This will ensure compliance with legal directives while giving deserving employees a fair opportunity.
Approved the subsuming of 708 permanent posts of Border Wing Home Guards (BWHG) into State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the raising of 708 part-time/volunteer personnel to fill up resulting vacancy in BWHG Bn.
Based on a court ruling that mandated the government to make 708 previously appointed individuals permanent employees. As permanent staff, they are no longer eligible for volunteer-related central government funding meant for part-time volunteers, such as those in the border wing home guards.
To address this, Cabinet has decided to formally transfer these 708 permanent employees to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), since the state is already paying their salaries. This move will vacate 708 volunteer posts, which can now be filled again under the central government-funded volunteer scheme.
We will recruit 708 new volunteers using central funds and ensure that future policies prevent similar situations of mandatory permanent absorption.
Approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Fisheries Service Rules 2017.
The decision removes the clause that disqualified employees with less than five years of service remaining from being considered for promotion. This clause, which was not present in any other department, was deemed unfair as it denied long-serving employees their rightful advancement. With its removal, the Fisheries Department will now follow the same promotion criteria as other departments, ensuring a fair and consistent process for all eligible employees.
Additionally, Cabinet also discussed the proposed support to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs)- Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills, and Khasi Hills. This decision is to address the financial and operational challenges of the ADCs. It is proposed to set up 3 subcommittees(one for each council) to engage with them over the next 45 days.
The Government’s support will only be in regard to salaries to ensure financial reforms and transparent salary disbursement.
Importantly, the state government will not interfere in the constitutional or traditional functions of the councils.
