Last updated: Dec, 2023
Introduction
Meghalaya is located in the northeast of India. The state shares its border on the north and the east with Assam and on the south and the west with Bangladesh. Meghalaya, with an average annual rainfall of 1,150 cm, receives the highest amount of rainfall in the country. The diverse range of soil types, including red-loamy and laterite, support various agricultural crops like rice, maize, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, jute, and mesta. The state has achieved success in the cultivation of non-traditional crops like tea, cashew nuts, oilseeds, tomatoes, mushrooms, wheat, etc. During 2019–20*, the state produced 393.51 thousand tonnes of fruits and 75.38 thousand tonnes of spices.
At current prices, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Meghalaya is estimated at Rs. 0.46 trillion (US$ 5.68 billion) in 2023-24.
At current prices, the net state domestic product (NSDP) of Meghalaya reached Rs. 37,925 crore (US$ 4.76 billion) in 2022-23. The state’s NSDP (in Rs.) increased at a CAGR of 7.73% between 2015-16 and 2022-23.
At a CAGR of 14%, the tertiary sector was the fastest-growing sector among all sectors between 2011-12 and 2022-23. This was driven by trade, hotels, real estate, finance, insurance, transport, communications and other services. Primary sector, the largest contributor to Meghalaya’s economy, expanded at a CAGR of 10.73% between 2011-12 and 2022-23.
Meghalaya, with abundant deposits of coal, limestone, kaolin feldspar, quartz, granite, industrial clay and uranium, and a small deposit base of sillimanite, bauxite, base metals and apatite has great industrial potential. Meghalaya, one of the most picturesque states in the country, has two national parks and three wildlife sanctuaries. It offers many adventure tourism opportunities like mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking and trekking, water sports, etc.
In FY24 (until September 2023) passenger traffic at Barapani Airport reached 65,643 and aircraft movements at the airport stood at 1,755.
According to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), FDI inflows in Meghalaya stood at US$ 1.09 million between October 2019-June 2023.
Meghalaya recorded US$ 10.12 million worth of exports in 2022-23. Meghalaya recorded US$ 2.75 million worth of exports in 2023-24 (till July 2023). Iron and Steel, Processed minerals, Petroleum products, coal, coke and briquettes account for a majority share in the overall exports from the state.
Key Sectors
- As of September 2023, Meghalaya had a total installed power generation capacity of 651.69 MW, comprising 377.03 MW from state utilities, 17.99 MW from private utilities and 256.67 MW by central utilities. Of the total installed power generation capacity, 417.38 MW was contributed by hydropower and 73.02 MW by renewable power.
- As of August 17th, 2023, there are 17 ongoing projects with a length of 388 km and an estimated total project cost of Rs. 7,252 crore (US$ 989,78 million).
- In August 2023, the Centre has proposed two railway projects in Meghalaya – the 22 km Tetelia-Byrnihat tracks and the 108 km Byrnihat-Shillong line.
- In August 2023, North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) halted a proposed 500 MW Meghalaya thermal power project to focus on green energy.
- In March 2023, the target of providing capacity building to 45,000 municipal functionaries and elected representatives under AMRUT has already been achieved. There are 90 target functionaries and 32 municipal functionaries / elected representatives trained.
- In March 2023, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), launched the first Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast-Charging station at NES pump, Mawsmai.
- The health infrastructure of the state is growing robustly. As of March 2022, there were 459 Sub-Centres and 122 Primary Health Centres in Meghalaya.
- According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Meghalaya had 2.51 million wireless and 0.05 million wireline subscribers, as of March 2023. The number of internet subscribers in Meghalaya stood at 1.93 million, as of March 2023. Meghalaya had a total teledensity of 76.36%, as of March 2023.
- In January 2023, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated the long-awaited 22.5 MW Ganol Hydro Power Project, near Tura in West Garo Hills.
- The foot traffic from tourists was 12.7 lakh in 2019, and it is anticipated that this number will exceed 15 lakh by the year 2024.
- According to Chief Minister Mr. Conrad K Sangma, Meghalaya is home to nearly 14,600 schools and employs over 55,160 teachers, surpassing other small states in Northeast India (2020-21).
- In June 2023, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Mr. Conrad Sangma, launched the Tourism Policy 2023, which aims to capitalize on the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Meghalaya while ensuring sustainability and responsible development.
- The total length of roads sanctioned under the main schemes of MDoNER, namely the North East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), implemented either directly or through the North Eastern Council (NEC), in the state of Meghalaya over the last three years (2020-21 to 2022-23) is 169.51 kilometres.
- On March 15th, 2023, Northeast Frontier Railway achieved another milestone of electrification by commissioning the Dudhnai – Mendipathar (22.823 Track Kilometre) single line section and Abhayapuri – Pancharatna (34.59 Track Kilometre) double line section. Mendipathar is the only railway station in the northeastern state of Meghalaya which has been in operation since 2014.
- The Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and inaugurated and dedicated to the nation multiple projects worth over US$ 298.74 million (Rs. 2,450 crore) in Shillong, Meghalaya.
- In January 2023, the Meghalaya Mental Health and Social Care Policy was introduced which aims to promote mental health and social care through collaborative engagement with all concerned Agencies/Departments and communities.
- The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) has sanctioned 41 projects worth Rs. 90 crore (US$ 10.99 billion), under Hill Area Development Programme.
- Under the crop insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the government of Meghalaya is providing farmers with 100% premium support for both the Kharif and Rabi seasons in 2023-24. Meghalaya produces Rs. 400 crore (US$ 48.50 million) worth of jackfruit annually and this can be scaled up to Rs. 1,000 crore (US$ 121.25 million).
- In October 2022, the Meghalaya government signed an agreement with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd for the development of two hydel projects in the state.
- In Meghalaya, coal mining will start up again after nine years. The Union Ministry of Coal has granted mining leases to four license applicants, paving the way for the start of scientific mining with minimal environmental impact via sustainable and legally compliant extraction processes.
Note: * - As per 2022-23 (3rd Adv. Est.), MW - Megawatt
