Shillong, April 1: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday honoured 203 meritorious students with laptops at the Meghalaya IT Awards 2026, with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma using the occasion to underline the state’s growing ambitions in the digital and innovation space.
The awards ceremony, held at the U Soso Tham Auditorium in Shillong, recognised top performers from Classes 10 and 12 across boards, including MBOSE, CBSE and ICSE. Among the awardees were two specially-abled students.
Calling the laptops “more than a token”, Sangma said they symbolise the government’s confidence in the students’ potential and a push towards digital empowerment. He urged students to leverage technology to access global opportunities while contributing to Meghalaya’s growth.
Highlighting rapid shifts in the global tech landscape, Sangma pointed to disruptions such as layoffs in the IT sector, noting that such changes also open new avenues for innovation. He cited the emerging IT ecosystem in Shillong, including work in Artificial Intelligence and enterprise systems, as evidence that global opportunities are increasingly accessible from within the state.
Reflecting on his own journey after studying at the Wharton School, Sangma said the lack of an enabling ecosystem earlier had shaped the government’s current focus on entrepreneurship, skill development and innovation.
Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui stressed that digital literacy is no longer optional, describing technology as central to modern life. He said the initiative reflects the government’s long-term investment in students and their future readiness.
Rymbui also flagged concerns over declining success rates of Meghalaya candidates in the UPSC Civil Services Examination since 2013, urging students to aim for national-level excellence.
Officials said the Meghalaya IT Awards, instituted in 2007, aim to promote academic excellence and digital inclusion. This year’s awardees include 131 students from MBOSE, 51 from CBSE and 21 from ICSE.
Topper Leisha Agarwal of St Margaret’s Higher Secondary School, who secured the highest rank in the 2025 MBOSE Class 10 examination, said the recognition was both an honour and a motivation to aim higher.
The programme was organised by the state’s Information Technology & Communications Department as part of broader efforts to build a digitally skilled and future-ready youth population.
