Shillong: The Meghalaya cabinet on Wednesday approved bills to establish two new universities — Sister Nivedita University at Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district and Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian University at Sohiong.The Sister Nivedita University Meghalaya Bill, 2026, is named after Sister Nivedita, the philosopher, educator, writer, social activist and disciple of Swami Vivekananda.The cabinet also approved the Khasi Jaintia Presbyterian University, Meghalaya Bill, 2026, along with the Maharashtra Institute of Technology of Meghalaya (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Mahatma Gandhi University (Amendment) Bill, 2026.Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the amendments to the latter two laws will align provisions regarding the Visitor of the universities with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.“The amendments bring the provision regarding the Visitor of the University in line with UGC norms. Under the earlier Act, the Visitor was to be nominated by the sponsoring body. The amendment provides for the governor to be the Visitor, as is the case with other universities, ensuring uniformity and compliance with UGC requirements,” Sangma said.The cabinet also approved the Martin Luther Christian University (Amendment) Bill, 2026, restricting the university’s jurisdiction to Meghalaya, removing provisions for distance education and withdrawing its power to affiliate colleges.“One of the key changes is to restrict the university’s jurisdiction to Meghalaya. The existing Act allows the university to function outside the state, but the state legislature cannot authorize a university to operate beyond its jurisdiction. The amendment also removes provisions relating to distance education, which are not permitted under the applicable regulations for a private university,” Sangma said.The cabinet further approved the International Open University (Repeal) Bill, 2026. The Act, passed in 2011, remained non-functional until 2022.
