Shillong, October 12: The Meghalaya government on Monday launched the Chief Minister’s Innovation Contest 2026, offering cash prizes of up to ₹5 lakh each to the top three winners, while also unveiling a government-backed digital marketplace to connect local service providers with households and businesses.
The announcements were made during the Chief Minister’s Youth and Innovation Summit 2026, organised by PRIME, Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA), in collaboration with IIM Shillong. The summit brought together young innovators, aspiring entrepreneurs and institutional stakeholders to strengthen the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The event also saw the distribution of ₹80 lakh in grants to 13 beneficiaries under the PRIME Grant to support entrepreneurial initiatives. A key highlight was the launch of the PRIME Digital Service Provider Platform (DSPP), described as Meghalaya’s first government-backed digital marketplace aimed at bridging the gap between service providers and customers across the state.
The detailed section of the press release states that 64 service providers — including electricians, plumbers, tailors, cleaners and other skilled professionals — had been onboarded, with more registrations underway. The release’s summary, however, refers to 276 verified local service providers.
The platform aims to improve the visibility and accessibility of local service providers, strengthen market access and allow skilled workers to connect with prospective customers through a common digital platform.
Addressing the summit, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the government is working to build Meghalaya as a destination for innovation by creating momentum around entrepreneurship, attracting investment and developing an environment where new ideas can grow. “I want that kind of a momentum to be created out here,” Sangma said, adding that the objective was to create an ecosystem where entrepreneurs see Meghalaya as a place where “new ideas can actually” take shape and attract venture capitalists and investors.
The Chief Minister said the same approach could be applied across sectors including music, culture and tourism. He stressed that while the government could provide opportunities, platforms and support, entrepreneurs themselves would ultimately have to transform ideas into viable businesses. “We can only be the catalyst, we can only provide you the platform but ultimately, it is you who’s going to take the idea and convert it into a viable business,” Sangma said, assuring continued government support to help businesses expand beyond Meghalaya and reach global markets.
The Chief Minister’s Innovation Contest 2026 will focus on identifying and scaling innovative solutions to real-world challenges faced by communities across Meghalaya. The initiative will connect innovators with government stakeholders, technical experts and potential avenues for adoption to help promising ideas move towards practical implementation. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of up to ₹5 lakh each, depending on assessed costs and requirements.
During the summit, cheques totalling ₹80 lakh were distributed to 13 entrepreneurs under the PRIME Grant. The grants were awarded under categories including the Small Support Grant, InnoVenture Grant and Kickstart Grant.
MBMA Executive Director Saloni Verma highlighted PRIME’s role in providing incubation support, market connections and other opportunities to aspiring entrepreneurs. She said that under the Chief Minister’s Business Catalyst programme, 60 students from 15 colleges across five districts had received mentoring from IIM Shillong.
The summit also showcased student-led solutions developed under the Chief Minister’s Business Catalyst programme, which was launched in collaboration with IIM Shillong in 2024 to encourage entrepreneurship and innovative responses to local environmental and social challenges.
Banroilang Massar of St Anthony’s College shared his team’s idea to address the improper disposal of used cooking oil by converting it into products such as soap, turning waste into a potentially valuable resource.
The winners of the CMBC Challenge were also announced, with 17 winners from institutions including MIT University, St Anthony’s College, St Edmund’s College, St Mary’s College and Captain Williamson Sangma State University recognised for their entrepreneurial ideas.
IIM Shillong Associate Professor and NECCIE Chairperson Dr Teidorlang Lyngdoh said the programme helps bridge the gap between government entrepreneurship schemes and students’ awareness of and access to funding, while IIM Shillong assists students in refining their ideas and preparing them to access government schemes and innovation challenges.
