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Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has announced a financial assistance programme for candidates who clear the preliminary stage of the Union Public Service Commission examination, in a bid to improve the state’s representation in civil services.

 

The initiative aims to provide direct monetary support to aspirants who qualify the prelims, helping them prepare for the more demanding subsequent stages, including the mains and interview. The move is expected to ease the financial burden associated with coaching, study materials and travel.

 

Addressing concerns over low success rates, Sangma said the government is “very, very concerned” about the number of candidates from the state clearing the civil services examination. He added that no single intervention can resolve the issue entirely and emphasised the need for sustained and adaptive efforts.

 

“Efforts must align with existing systems while adapting to emerging challenges,” the Chief Minister said, underlining the importance of a long-term strategy.

 

Alongside the new scheme, the state government is continuing district-level initiatives and collaborations with organisations to expand access to coaching, training and financial support for aspirants.

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Sangma noted that an earlier online preparation programme, launched before the pandemic, had to be discontinued due to COVID-19 disruptions. However, efforts are now underway to restructure and revive such initiatives with improved frameworks.

 

He also highlighted increasing participation from community and religious organisations, particularly in regions like Garo Hills, where coaching and training efforts are being carried out with support from the government.

 

Emphasising a collective approach, the Chief Minister said improving success rates would require coordinated action across stakeholders. “Society as a whole… has to work unitedly to make this happen,” he said, stressing collaboration between government bodies, institutions and local communities.

 

Officials said the initiative is part of a broader push to create a supportive ecosystem for aspirants from Meghalaya, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder capable candidates from pursuing civil services.