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THIRD HIKE IN EIGHT DAYS HITS CONSUMERS

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, April 23: Shillong’s transport-depen-dent economy was dealt a heavy blow on Saturday as petrol prices breached the psychological Rs 100-per-litre mark following the third hike in eight days, sparking immediate fears of a ripple effect on essential commodity prices and taxi fares.

On Saturday, the price of petrol in the state capital stood at Rs 100.34 per litre, a sharp increase from ap-proximately Rs 96.30 just one month ago. Diesel prices also surged to Rs 91.72 per litre, up from Rs 87.50 in the same period.

The rapid escalation is already impacting residents and the local transport sector. “On one hand, the govern-ment claims there is adequate fuel stock, but on the other, prices are being increased relentlessly,” said a local tourist cab driver. Other op-erators indicated they may be forced to formally discuss a fare hike if the current trend continues.

According to figures from the Meghalaya Great-er Shillong Petrol Retail-ers Association, Shillong consumes an average of 80,000 litres of petrol daily, underlin-ing the scale of the financial burden on the city’s commuters.

Nationally, fuel prices were raised by 87-91 paise per litre on Saturday, bring-ing the cumulative increase to nearly Rs 5 per litre in under 10 days. State-owned oil marketing companies are passing on the costs of soaring international crude oil, which has surged more than 50 per cent since late February due to geo-political tensions and disruptions in global shipping routes.

In addition to petrol and diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) prices were raised by Re 1 per kg on Saturday, marking a cumulative hike of Rs 4 per kg in recent days.

While the BJP has de-fended the price revisions as a response to global market volatility, the hikes come amid rising inflationary pres-sures. India’s retail inflation accelerated to 3.48 per cent in April, while wholesale inflation hit a 42-month high of 8.3 per cent, driven largely by energy costs.

Despite the recent in-creases, industry reports sug-gest oil marketing companies continue to face significant losses, losing an estimated Rs 10 per litre on petrol and Rs 13 per litre on diesel as they attempt to balance global input costs with do-mestic retail rates. (With PTI inputs)

Issue of supply ‘highly localised’, claims IndianOil

NEW DELHI, May 23: In-dian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nation’s largest oil firm, on Saturday said there was no overall shortage of petrol and diesel in the country and described fuel outages report-ed at some retail outlets as “highly localised” and tem-porary, caused by regional demand-supply mismatches and shifting sales patterns.

The state-owned fuel re-tailer said higher demand at certain outlets was driven by a seasonal rise in diesel con-sumption during the harvesting season, migration of customers from private pumps where retail prices were relatively higher, and increased institu-tional purchases at public sec-tor outlets as bulk fuel supplies were being priced in line with elevated international rates. (PTI) More on P-2

NEW DELHI, May 23: India and Boeing on Saturday held discussions on strengthening cooperation in aviation and aerospace manufacturing, focusing on opportunities in maintenance, repair and over-haul (MRO), skilling, supply chain development, innova-tion and expanding India’s role as a global manufacturing and engineering hub under the Make in India initiative.

Taking to the social media platform X, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, said that the de-liberations took place between him and a delegation led by Jeff Shockey, Executive Vice President, Government Op-erations, Global Public Policy & Corporate Strategy at Boeing.

“Held constructive dis-cussions with Jeff Shockey, Executive Vice President, Government Operations, Global Public Policy & Corporate Strategy at Boeing, and the accompanying delega-tion on advancing India-US cooperation in aviation and aerospace manufacturing,” he wrote.

The talks underscored efforts to deepen India-US collaboration in the aviation sector and enhance India’s po-sition in the global aerospace value chain.

“Deliberations focused on MRO opportunities, skilling, supply chains, innovation and India’s growing role as a trusted global manufacturing & engineering hub under the Make in India vision,” ac-cording to him.

Earlier in May, the United States approved two possible Foreign Military Sales to India worth a combined $428.2 million, covering sustainment support for Apache helicop-ters and M777A2 ultra-light howitzers.

The proposed assistance includes ancillary items, spare parts, repair and return services, training, technical assistance, field service rep-resentatives, depot capability and broader logistics and pro-gram support. The principal contractor for the package is BAE Systems.

In a separate notification, Washington approved a $198.2 million deal linked to AH-64E Apache helicopters. The pack-age includes sustainment sup-port services, engineering and technical assistance, logistics support, training, technical data and publications. Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been named as principal con-tractors for the Apache-related support. (Agencies)

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Agencies

(IANS)

NEW DELHI, May 23: The cumulative petrol and diesel revision of just under Rs 5 a litre in three days this month is the “smallest material upward move-ment” of any major economy outside the directly subsidising Gulf producers, and the states that tax fuel most heavily are governed by the political op-position, according to data.

For example, states with the highest pump prices concentrate in the Congress-ruled and INDIA-bloc south (Telangana, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu) and in a single NDA-allied outlier (Andhra Pradesh, where the TDP state government levies an excep-tionally high VAT plus per-litre addition).

States with the lowest pump prices concentrate in the BJP-ruled north and west: Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Goa, Assam. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are BJP-led but carry a higher VAT or recent cess.

Three states have petrol above Rs 112 a litre after the latest revisions are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala. Telangana and Kerala are governed by parties of the INDIA bloc. These three states levy the highest VAT rates in the country.

Andhra Pradesh charges 31 per cent VAT plus Rs 4 a litre plus a road development cess, taking the effective rate close to 35 per cent. Telangana takes petrol close to Rs 116. Kerala adds a social security cess on top of its base VAT.

Meanwhile, six states have petrol at or below Rs 102 a litre are Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Goa, and Assam. All six are governed by the BJP.

The same opposition leaderships that ask the central government to cut excise duty for the relief of the consumer have at no point cut the value added tax their own state governments levy on the same litre of fuel, according to sources.

When the central excise duty was cut on March 27, 2026, by 10 rupees a litre on petrol and diesel, the BJP-ruled states passed the full cut through to the pump. The framing that the central government overtaxes fuel collapses against the state-level data. The states that tax fuel is hardest are not the Centre; they are the political opponents of the Centre.

At peak Brent of around $126 a barrel during the Hormuz disruption, the Government of India was absorbing approximately Rs 24 a litre on petrol and Rs 30 a litre on diesel.

Through the seventy-six days from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28 to the OMC revisions of 15, 19, and 23 May, India held petrol and diesel prices essentially unchanged while the rest of the world raised prices by 10, 20, 50, and in some cases 90 per cent.

(IANS)

NEW DELHI, May 23: Agreements signed between India and the United Arab Emirates during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits deepen strategic-economic partnership across energy storage, long-term fuel supplies, defence cooperation and artificial intelligence, a report said.

The report from India Narrative said the agreement builds India’s energy resilience, maritime security, digital ecosystems, and emerging artificial intelligence capabilities. It includes a $5 billion investment commitment through the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund of India and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and an arrangement to store up to 30 million barrels of crude oil possibly in Fujairah as part of India’s strategic petroleum reserves.

At the domestic level, $5 billion investment commitment facilitates long-term capital accumulation in critical sectors that require sustained and patient investment.

Analysts said the crude storage agreement possibly holding Indian strategic oil in Fujairah outside the Strait of Hormuz reduces chances of supply disruption and strengthens India’s buffer against supply shocks.

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 23: Exposing the collapse of recent border peace talks, the Hill Farmers’ Union (HFU) has petitioned the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) over the state’s failure to protect Lapangap farmers from continued harassment, stone-pelting, and “shifting” demands by Karbi groups backed by Assam Police.

The move signals a breakdown in trust toward the West Jaintia Hills district administration and police. The HFU alleges that despite multiple “peace meetings,” farmers remain barred from their fields, threatening the economic survival of the border community.

HFU general secretary A Kharsyntiew stated that a May 5 agreement—which was supposed to allow farmers back to their lands by May 8—was ignored. Instead, when villagers attempted to resume cultivation, they were met with stone-pelting from Karbi groups while Assam Police personnel actively stopped them from working.

“The situation has moved beyond the scope of district-level authorities,” Kharsyntiew said, noting that local officials appear unable to enforce order or provide safety.

The union also highlighted a pattern of shifting demands from the Karbi side. (Contd on P-7)

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 23: A Meghalaya youth, allegedly abused in Jammu and Kashmir, was reunited with his family on Saturday after a distress call to the 1971 CM Connect helpline made the state government coordinate his rescue through an interstate operation.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma received Genal R Marak of the East Khasi Hills district’s Lumturi village at Guwahati Airport.

According to an official release, Marak was working at a restaurant in Srinagar for the past three years under allegedly exploitative and abusive conditions.

The release stated that he left Meghalaya at the age of 16 in search of employment after arriving in Shillong, where he later came in contact with an individual who reportedly took him to Kashmir for work at the restaurant. During his employment there, he was allegedly denied wages and subjected to both physical and mental abuse by the restaurant owner and his son.

The government said the turning point in Marak’s ordeal came on April 24 after a distress call was received through the 1971 CM Connect helpline. According to the release, Marak contemplated taking his own life if help had not reached him in time.

Following the complaint, officials from Meghalaya coordinated with law enforcement authorities

PTI

A man drinks water under the shade of a water tanker on a hot summer day, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday. (PTI) Related report on P-5

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 23: Khasi and Garo languages have been formally included in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Scheme of Studies, thus paving the way for affiliated schools to offer them as optional third-language subjects from the 2026-27 academic session.

The updated language list uploaded on the CBSE OA-SIS portal places Khasi and Garo at serial numbers 46 and 47, respectively, under the board’s revised three-language structure (R1-R2-R3), being implemented in line with the National Education Policy and the National Curriculum Framework. The develop-ment follows concerns raised in Meghalaya after the two languages were initially left out of the recognised subject framework under CBSE’s revised language policy. The state government had taken up the issue with CBSE authori-ties and sought their inclusion through formal communica-tion and discussions.

“On behalf of the people of Meghalaya, I express heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Union Education Minister @ dpradhanbjp Ji for his swift intervention in enabling the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the CBSE R3 framework,” Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma posted on X. (Contd on P-7)

Shillong, often hailed as the “Rock Capital of India,” has a vibrant music scene deeply ingrained in its cultural fabric. From the legendary bands of the 70s and 80s to the contemporary indie artists, music has always been the heartbeat of this picturesque hill station. However, beneath the surface of its grand music festivals and established venues, there’s a persistent, almost nostalgic, undercurrent: the open mic night.

For many cities, open mic nights are a stepping stone, a place for budding artists to hone their craft before moving on to bigger stages. In Shillong, while they serve this purpose, they also seem to have become a permanent fixture, a beloved institution that refuses to fade into the background. It’s as if the city, despite its evolution and growth, holds onto the raw, unpolished charm of an open mic night with a fierce loyalty.

The concept of an open mic night is simple: anyone can sign up and perform. It’s a democratic stage, where seasoned musicians might share the spotlight with nervous newcomers, poets might recite their verses, and comedians might test out new material. In Shillong, these nights are predominantly dominated by musicians, reflecting the city’s deep-rooted passion for music.

Walk into a café or a pub on a Tuesday or Thursday evening, and you’re likely to stumble upon an open mic session. The air is thick with anticipation, the aroma of coffee or local brews, and the strumming of guitars. The audience is a mix of regulars, curious tourists, and supportive friends, all united by their love for live, unadulterated performances.

What makes Shillong’s open mic nights so enduring? Part of it lies in the city’s unique social dynamics. Shillong is a close-knit community, where word-of-mouth travels fast, and local talent is celebrated with genuine enthusiasm. These nights provide a platform for connection, a space where artists and audiences can interact on a personal level, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual appreciation.

Moreover, the city’s relatively smaller size means that the music scene, while vibrant, can sometimes feel insular. Open mic nights break down these barriers, offering an accessible entry point for anyone with a song to sing or a story to tell. They are a breeding ground for new talent, a place where artists can experiment without the pressure of a formal gig.

Many established Shillong artists credit open mic nights as their formative training ground. “I started out at an open mic night,” recalls a prominent local guitarist. “It was terrifying, but it taught me how to connect with an audience, how to handle stage fright, and most importantly, it gave me the confidence to pursue music seriously.”

The venues themselves play a crucial role. Cozy cafes with dim lighting, pubs with rustic interiors, and even community halls transform into intimate performance spaces. These settings enhance the raw, authentic feel of the open mic, making each performance feel personal and heartfelt.

However, the enduring popularity of open mic nights also raises a question: Is Shillong’s music scene perhaps too comfortable with this format? While it’s a fantastic platform for emerging artists, some argue that the city needs more diverse venues and opportunities for artists to graduate to larger stages and reach wider audiences.

“It’s great for starting out, but after a point, you need more,” says a local band manager. “We have incredible talent here, but sometimes it feels like we’re stuck in a loop of open mics. We need more dedicated performance spaces, more festivals that showcase local bands, and more opportunities to tour outside the state.”

Despite these concerns, the charm of Shillong’s open mic nights remains undeniable. They are a testament to the city’s unwavering love for music, a place where the spirit of rock and roll, in its most unadulterated form, continues to thrive. They are a reminder that sometimes, the most profound musical experiences happen not on grand stages, but in intimate settings, where passion trumps polish, and every voice finds its moment to shine.

As the sun sets over the rolling hills of Shillong, and the evening air fills with the melodies of a new performer taking the stage, one thing becomes clear: the “Rock Capital” may have grown, but it has never quite left its beloved open mic night. And perhaps, that’s exactly how it should be.

Seeking to arrest a historic decline in Meghalaya’s premier central university, the Ministry of Education has officially kickstarted the search for a new Vice-Chancellor for replace Prof. PS Shukla, whose tenure the NEHUTA has branded the “worst” in the institution’s 50-year history.