Hindustan Times - Latest NewsHome / India News / ISRO launches PSLV-C47 carrying Cartosat-3 and 13 nanosatellites from SriharikotaISRO launches PSLV-C47 carrying Cartosat-3 and 13 nanosatellites from SriharikotaThe 49th flight of India’s workhorse rocket – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV – took off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 9:28am. ISRO,PSLV C47,cartosat 3ISRO’s PSLV-47 rocket launched India’s Cartosat-3 and 13 US nanosatellites from Sriharikota on Nov 27, 2019. (ISRO / Twiiter )Updated: Nov 27, 2019 12:05 ISTBy Anonna Dutt , Hindustan Times, New DelhiIsro successfully injected Cartosat-3, an earth observation satellite, and 13 nanosatellites from US companies in precise orbits on Wednesday, in the first launch after the Chandrayaan-2 mission, and got a pat on its back from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The 49th flight of India’s workhorse rocket – the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle or PSLV – took off from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 9:28am.“I am extremely happy to declare that PSLV C47 precisely injected Cartosat 3 and 13 customer satellites in the desired orbit. I must compliment the satellite team for building such a wonderful satellite and the launch vehicle team for achieving this success,” said Indian Space Research Organisation’s chairperson K Sivan.Watch l ISRO successfully launches PSLV-C47 with Cartosat-3 & 13 nanosatellitesPlay VideoADVERTISEMENTSCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENTThe launch also earned a congratulation from Prime Minister Modi.“I heartily congratulate the entire @isro team on yet another successful launch of PSLV-C47 carrying indigenous Cartosat-3 satellite and over a dozen nano satellites of USA,” the Prime Minister tweeted.“The advanced Cartosat-3 will augment our high-resolution imaging capability. ISRO has once again made the nation proud!” he added.All the satellites were put into orbit within 26 minutes and 50 seconds of takeoff, officials said.The Indian satellite, Cartosat-3, is a third-generation earth observation satellite with very high resolution. Apart from its use in mapping, the satellite data will have uses in urban planning, development of rural infrastructure, and coastal and land cover analysis.It weighed 1625kg and was placed in a 509km polar sun-synchronous orbit, an orbit in which the satellites passes over a given location on Earth at the same local mean solar time every day.“This is the most advanced Earth Observation Satellite ever built by Isro. The realisation of Cartosat-3 has witnessed a totally new development in every area – the payload, the communication system, the optical system, the sensors, and so on,” P Kunhikrishnan, the director UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, said.“The satellite has the highest ever achieved a spatial resolution of about a foot and that too with a much higher swath. The realisation of each and every satellite is unique and very complex. There were four more satellites being developed concurrently at URSC, adding to the challenge,” Kunhikrishnan added.Along with the Indian satellite, the PSLV C47 also launched 13 nanosatellites commercially under a deal negotiated by the newly created PSU New Space India Limited.Of the 13 nanosatellites, 12 are earth observation satellites belonging to the American company Planet Labs and one a communication testbed developed by the US Analytical Space.Isro chairperson Sivan also added the space agency plans to complete another 13 missions by March 2020 – of these six will be launch vehicles and seven satellites.“We are having 13 missions up to March. As usual, our hands are full and as usual the team Isro will meet the challenge,” Sivan said.Of these, two launches are being planned for December, according to officials. tagsISRO CARTOSAT-3 PSLV India US Sriharikota Indian Space Research Organisation nano satellite trending topicsJammu and KashmirIndia vs Sri Lanka LiveArvind KejriwalVirat KohliHrithik RoshanDeepika PadukoneApple iPhoneUberMakar Sankranti 2020SCROLL FOR MORE NEWStop news A Delhi court had issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma – to be held on January 22.Sacks of sand test noose as Tihar prepares to hang December 16 convictsJan 13, 2020 04:57 Congress leader P Chidambaram at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Akbar road in New Delhi.Talk to us: Chidambaram proposes Q&A to Modi over citizenship actJan 13, 2020 08:47 The meeting, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comes at a time when there is a raging debate in the country over the CAA, NRC and NPR. Opposition meet today to chart plan to counter government on CAAJan 13, 2020 02:05 Police said they have identified the masked woman (right) involved in the attack as a student of Daulat Ram College.JNU violence: Police identify masked woman in armed groupJan 13, 2020 09:10latest news 2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s Agra2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s AgraJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Ramakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentRamakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Wrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautWrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautJan 13, 2020 09:23 IST DMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comDMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comJan 13, 2020 09:20 ISTHome / India News / 2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s Agra2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s AgraThe Volvo bus of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, carrying 35 to 40 passengers from Agra, was heading to Lucknow when the accident happened on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway. Agra,UP,Accident in UPThe bus was heading to Lucknow when the accident happened.(HT Photo)Updated: Jan 13, 2020 09:33 ISTBy HT Correspondent , Hindustan Times, AgraAt least two people were killed and more than a dozen injured on Monday after a bus they were travelling in fell off a foggy road into a 20-feet ditch in Uttar Pradesh’s Agra district.The Volvo bus of the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, carrying 35 to 40 passengers from Agra, was heading to Lucknow when the accident happened on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.Agra’s senior superintendent of police Babloo Kumar confirmed the two deaths and said 16 others were also injured in the accident at Sikrara turn under Fatehabad police station of the district.The injured, two of whom are serious, were taken to a hospital. Officials said 10 of them were discharged after first aid.Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred after the bus driver could not see a truck with a flat tyre by the road on time because of low visibility and applied brakes.The bus collided with the divider and then lost balance and fell into the ditch, they said.The 302-kilometre Agra-Lucknow Express Way is prone to accidents and turns riskier in foggy weather.Monday’s accident comes after 11 people were killed in the state’s Kannuaj district on Friday night after a private double-decker bus caught fire after colliding with a truck. tagsAgra Uttar Pradesh trending topicsJammu and KashmirIndia vs Sri Lanka LiveArvind KejriwalVirat KohliHrithik RoshanDeepika PadukoneApple iPhoneUberMakar Sankranti 2020SCROLL FOR MORE NEWStop news A Delhi court had issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma – to be held on January 22.Sacks of sand test noose as Tihar prepares to hang December 16 convictsJan 13, 2020 04:57 Congress leader P Chidambaram at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Akbar road in New Delhi.Talk to us: Chidambaram proposes Q&A to Modi over citizenship actJan 13, 2020 08:47 The meeting, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comes at a time when there is a raging debate in the country over the CAA, NRC and NPR. Opposition meet today to chart plan to counter government on CAAJan 13, 2020 02:05 Police said they have identified the masked woman (right) involved in the attack as a student of Daulat Ram College.JNU violence: Police identify masked woman in armed groupJan 13, 2020 09:10latest news 2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s Agra2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s AgraJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Ramakrishna Mission distances self from PM’s CAA speech, says won’t commentRamakrishna Mission distances self from PM’s CAA speech, says won’t commentJan 13, 2020 09:33 IST Wrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautWrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautJan 13, 2020 09:23 IST DMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comDMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comJan 13, 2020 09:20 ISTHome / India News / Ramakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentRamakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentThe prime minister, during his address at Belur Math -- the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission -- said that the new law would not take away anybody’s citizenship, and a section of the youth was being misguided about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA. Modi,Belur,CAAPrime Minister Narendra Modi at Belur Math in Howrah district,. (PTI)Updated: Jan 13, 2020 09:28 ISTBy Press Trust of India , BelurThe Ramakrishna Math and Mission on Sunday distanced itself from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, contending that it was a strictly apolitical body which did not respond to “ephemeral” calls.The prime minister, during his address at Belur Math -- the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission -- said that the new law would not take away anybody’s citizenship, and a section of the youth was being misguided about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.Addressing a press meet, Swami Suvirananda, the Ramakrishna Math and Mission general secretary, said, “The organisation will not comment on the prime minister’s speech on CAA. We are a strictly apolitical body. We have come here after leaving our homes to answer eternal calls. We do not respond to ephemeral calls.” He said Modi was a guest and the onus was on him on what he had spoken at the Math.“But when you have a guest... Atithi Devo Bhava is the Indian culture. And you must extend all kinds of courtesies, decencies to him. And if something you feel ought not have been told, the onus lies on the person who tells it but not on the host -- by no logic,” he added.Swami Suvirananda further said that both Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are not politicians but leaders holding constitutional posts.“They represent the Constitution of India as they have a statutory post. Mamata Banerjee is the leader of West Bengal and Modi is the leader of India,” he noted.Asked whether Modi’s speech on the CAA was an attempt to ‘saffronise’ the Mission, Swami Suvirananda said, “We are already saffron but that doesn’t mean that we are saffron in the sense that is being interpreted in politics today.” He said the Mission believes in inclusivity and is the only order in the world where the monks do not cast their votes.“We are apolitical to that extent that our monks do not cast votes. The only order in the world which does not cast votes.“We are inclusive as an organisation, only order in the world which has monks from Hindus sects and from even Islam... Islamic people from Iran and Iraq. Ours is the only organisation which has Christian monks, hundreds in numbers, Buddhist monks and we live like brothers, more brotherly than the brother born to same parents... What more inclusiveness do you want?” he said.Modi, who came to the city on Saturday evening on a two-day trip to attend 150 years celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust, spent a night at the Math here.The prime minister described his visit to the Math as a “homecoming”. PTI SCH SOM SOM tagsNarendra Modi Mamata Banerjee West Bengal trending topicsJammu and KashmirIndia vs Sri Lanka LiveArvind KejriwalVirat KohliHrithik RoshanDeepika PadukoneApple iPhoneUberMakar Sankranti 2020SCROLL FOR MORE NEWStop news A Delhi court had issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma – to be held on January 22.Sacks of sand test noose as Tihar prepares to hang December 16 convictsJan 13, 2020 04:57 Congress leader P Chidambaram at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Akbar road in New Delhi.Talk to us: Chidambaram proposes Q&A to Modi over citizenship actJan 13, 2020 08:47 The meeting, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comes at a time when there is a raging debate in the country over the CAA, NRC and NPR. Opposition meet today to chart plan to counter government on CAAJan 13, 2020 02:05 Police said they have identified the masked woman (right) involved in the attack as a student of Daulat Ram College.JNU violence: Police identify masked woman in armed groupJan 13, 2020 09:10latest news 2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s Agra2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s AgraJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Ramakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentRamakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Wrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautWrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautJan 13, 2020 09:23 IST DMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comDMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comJan 13, 2020 09:20 ISTHome / India News / Wrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautWrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautSanjay Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha member and the executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, said the country cannot be run in a “Talibani” style. Sanjay Raut,Deepika Padukone,ChhapaakShiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday came out in support of actor Deepika Padukone.(Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)Updated: Jan 13, 2020 09:23 ISTBy Press Trust of India , MumbaiShiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday came out in support of actor Deepika Padukone, who is facing flak from the BJP and some other quarters over her visit to the JNU campus in Delhi to express solidarity with students who were recently attacked by armed assailants.Raut, who is a Rajya Sabha member and the executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, said the country cannot be run in a “Talibani” style.After Padukone’s visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Tuesday, many appreciated her “silent solidarity”, but some others criticised her for “supporting Leftists”, saying it was a promotional stunt for her latest film “Chhapaak”.Some also demanded a boycott of her film, based on the life of an acid attack survivor, played by Padukone.A section of BJP leaders also criticised the 34-year- old actor over her JNU visit.Talking to PTI, Raut said, “The demand for boycott of the actress and her film is wrong. The country cannot be run in a ‘Talibani’ style.” “Chhapaak”, directed by Meghna Gulzar, hit the theatres on Friday.The Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on Thursday declared the film tax-free in the two states.Declaring a movie tax-free means the state has waived the entertainment levy imposed on it, thereby bringing down the ticket rates and encouraging more people to watch it. tagsDeepika Padukone Chhapaak trending topicsJammu and KashmirIndia vs Sri Lanka LiveArvind KejriwalVirat KohliHrithik RoshanDeepika PadukoneApple iPhoneUberMakar Sankranti 2020SCROLL FOR MORE NEWStop news A Delhi court had issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma – to be held on January 22.Sacks of sand test noose as Tihar prepares to hang December 16 convictsJan 13, 2020 04:57 Congress leader P Chidambaram at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Akbar road in New Delhi.Talk to us: Chidambaram proposes Q&A to Modi over citizenship actJan 13, 2020 08:47 The meeting, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comes at a time when there is a raging debate in the country over the CAA, NRC and NPR. Opposition meet today to chart plan to counter government on CAAJan 13, 2020 02:05 Police said they have identified the masked woman (right) involved in the attack as a student of Daulat Ram College.JNU violence: Police identify masked woman in armed groupJan 13, 2020 09:10latest news Samsung Galaxy Plus images leaked onlineSamsung Galaxy Plus images leaked onlineJan 13, 2020 09:19 IST Walmart prepares to halt expansion in India, fires a third of its executives here: ReportWalmart prepares to halt expansion in India, fires a third of its executives here: ReportJan 13, 2020 09:17 IST Ajay Devgn’s Tanhaji outpaces Deepika’s Chhapaak in opening weekend BOAjay Devgn’s Tanhaji outpaces Deepika’s Chhapaak in opening weekend BOJan 13, 2020 09:15 IST Rituparna Mitra accuses Bengali filmmaker Arindam Sil of sexual misconductRituparna Mitra accuses Bengali filmmaker Arindam Sil of sexual misconductJan 13, 2020 09:09 ISTHome / India News / ‘Will be shot like in UP’: Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh’s warning for those damaging public property‘Will be shot like in UP’: Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh’s warning for those damaging public propertyThe senior leader also criticised chief minister Mamata Banerjee “for not opening fire and ordering lathicharge” on those destroying railway property and public transport during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the state in December last year. Dilip Ghosh,UP,CAABJP’s West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh said those involved in arson and damaging public property will be shot “like the same way in Uttar Pradesh.”(PTI Photo)Updated: Jan 13, 2020 09:05 ISTBy HT Correspondent , Hindustan Times, New DelhiThe Bharatiya Janata Party’s West Bengal unit chief Dilip Ghosh has said those damaging property in the state will be shot and killed “like the same way in Uttar Pradesh”.The senior leader also criticised chief minister Mamata Banerjee “for not opening fire and ordering lathicharge” on those destroying railway property and public transport during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests in the state in December last year.The Indian Railways have said they lost property worth Rs 90 crore, with Eastern Railways—mostly spread across West Bengal—alone accounting for 80% of those losses alone accounting for 80% of those losses pegged at Rs 72.19 crore during the country-wide protests in the past 10 days.“Is it the father’s property of those who are setting public property on fire? How can they destroy government property built on taxpayers’ money!” Ghosh said during a public meeting in Nadia district, according to news agency PTI.The BJP leader said those involved in arson and damaging public property will be shot “like the same way in Uttar Pradesh”, according to the news agency.Ghosh also said that the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka “did the right thing by opening fire on these anti-national elements”.“They will come here, enjoy all the facilities and destroy the country’s property. Is it their zamindari?” he asked.Ghosh also called for identifying those “sabotaging the interests” of Hindu Bengalis as he claimed that there are two crore “Muslim infiltrators” in the country.“One crore alone is in West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee is trying to protect them,” he alleged.Banerjee has staunchly criticised CAA, which fast-tracks the process of granting of Indian citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.The chief minister has led protests against the amended law and while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the state’s capital over the weekend, she even attended a demonstration against CAA by the TMC’s students’ wingShe reiterated her party Trinamool Congress’ stand that the state government will not implement the new citizenship law or the proposed National Register for Citizens (NRC) in the state.More than 20 have died in protest-related violence across the country since the legislation was passed by Parliament in December last year. tagsDilip Ghosh UP CAA CAA 2019 trending topicsJammu and KashmirIndia vs Sri Lanka LiveArvind KejriwalVirat KohliHrithik RoshanDeepika PadukoneApple iPhoneUberMakar Sankranti 2020SCROLL FOR MORE NEWStop news A Delhi court had issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Thakur and Vinay Sharma – to be held on January 22.Sacks of sand test noose as Tihar prepares to hang December 16 convictsJan 13, 2020 04:57 Congress leader P Chidambaram at All India Congress Committee (AICC) office, Akbar road in New Delhi.Talk to us: Chidambaram proposes Q&A to Modi over citizenship actJan 13, 2020 08:47 The meeting, called by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, comes at a time when there is a raging debate in the country over the CAA, NRC and NPR. Opposition meet today to chart plan to counter government on CAAJan 13, 2020 02:05 Police said they have identified the masked woman (right) involved in the attack as a student of Daulat Ram College.JNU violence: Police identify masked woman in armed groupJan 13, 2020 09:10latest news 2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s Agra2 killed, 16 injured in road accident in UP’s AgraJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Ramakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentRamakrishna Mission distances self from PM Modi’s CAA speech, says won’t commentJan 13, 2020 09:28 IST Wrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautWrong to boycott Deepika Padukone or ‘Chhapaak’, says Sena MP Sanjay RautJan 13, 2020 09:23 IST DMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comDMRC recruitment 2020: Registration to fill 1492 vacancies closes soon at delhimetrorail.comJan 13, 2020 09:20 ISTHindustantimes NewsCity NewsEducation NewsLifestyleEntertainment NewsSports NewsUseful LinksBrand PostTop TrendsHoroscope TodayBigg Boss 13Chhapaak movie reviewJamtara ReviewRanveer SinghShah Rukh KhanRealmeNissanPrivacy PolicyTerms Of UseDisclaimerContact UsCopyright © HT Digital Streams Ltd. 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DescriptionMeghalaya is a hilly state in northeastern India. The name means "the abode of clouds" in Sanskrit. The population of Meghalaya as of 2016 is estimated to be 3,211,474. Meghalaya covers an area of approximately 22,430 square kilometres, with a length to breadth ratio of about 3:1. WikipediaCapital: ShillongPLAN A TRIPMeghalaya travel guide15 h flightDESTINATIONSShillongGuwahatiCherrapunji‎MawlynnongDawkiMāwsynrāmNongriatUmiamView allPEOPLE ALSO SEARCH FORMizoramArunachal PradeshNagalandManipurSikkimTripuraAssamHimachal PradeshView allMore about MeghalayaPEOPLE ALSO ASKWhat is Meghalaya famous for?Is Meghalaya safe for tourists?

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The state is bounded to the south by the Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh and Sylhet, to the west by the Bangladeshi division of Rangpur, and to the north and east by India's State of Assam. The capital of Meghalaya is Shillong. During the British rule of India, the British imperial authorities nicknamed it the "Scotland of the East".[7] Meghalaya was previously part of Assam, but on 21 January 1972, the districts of Khasi, Garo and Jaintia hills became the new state of Meghalaya. English is the official language of Meghalaya. Unlike many Indian states, Meghalaya has historically followed a matrilineal system where the lineage and inheritance are traced through women; the youngest daughter inherits all wealth and she also takes care of her parents.[7]The state is the wettest region of India, recording an average of 12,000 mm (470 in) of rain a year.[6] About 70% of the state is forested.[8] The Meghalaya subtropical forests ecoregion encompasses the state; its mountain forests are distinct from the lowland tropical forests to the north and south. The forests are notable for their biodiversity of mammals, birds, and plants.Meghalaya has predominantly an agrarian economy with a significant commercial forestry industry. The important crops are potatoes, rice, maize, pineapples, bananas, papayas, spices, etc. The service sector is made up of real estate and insurance companies. Meghalaya's gross state domestic product for 2012 was estimated at ₹16,173 crore (US$2.3 billion) in current prices.[9] The state is geologically rich in minerals, but it has no significant industries.[7] The state has about 1,170 km (730 mi) of national highways. It is also a major logistical center for trade with Bangladesh.[6]In July 2018, the International Commission on Stratigraphy divided the Holocene epoch into three,[10][11] with the late Holocene being called the Meghalayan stage/age,[12][13] since a speleothem in Mawmluh cave indicating a dramatic worldwide climate event around 2250 BC had been chosen as the.Ancient EditMeghalaya, along with the neighbouring Indian states, have been of archaeological interest. People have lived here since Neolithic era. Neolithic sites discovered so far are located in areas of high elevation such as in Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and neighbouring states. Here neolithic style jhum or shifting cultivation is practised even today. The highland plateaus fed by abundant rains provided safety from floods and a rich soil.[15] The importance of Meghalaya is its possible role in human history through domestication of rice. One of the competing theories for the origin of rice, is from Ian Glover, who states, "India is the center of greatest diversity of domesticated rice with over 20,000 identified species and Northeast India is the most favorable single area of the origin of domesticated rice."[16] The limited archaeology done in the hills of Meghalaya suggest human settlement since ancient times.[17]After the Conquest of Taraf in 1304, Shah Arifin Rafiuddin, a disciple of Shah Jalal, migrated and settled in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills where he preached Islam to the local people. His khanqah remains in Sarping/Laurergarh on the Bangladeshi border but the part containing his mazar is in Meghalaya on top of Laur Hill.[18]Modern history EditThe British discovery of Camellia sinensis in 1834 in Assam and later companies to renting land from 1839 onwards.[19]Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, and the Garo Hills on 21 January 1972. Before attaining full statehood, Meghalaya was given semi-autonomous status in 1970.[20]The Khasi, Garo, and Jaintia tribes had their own kingdoms until they came under British administration in the 19th century. Later, the British incorporated Meghalaya into Assam in 1835.[7] The region enjoyed semi-independent status by virtue of a treaty relationship with the British Crown. When Bengal was partitioned on 16 October 1905 by Lord Curzon, Meghalaya became a part of the new province of Eastern Bengal and Assam. However, when the partition was reversed in 1912, Meghalaya became a part of the province of Assam. On 3 January 1921 in pursuance of Section 52A of the Government of India Act of 1919, the governor-general-in-council declared the areas now in Meghalaya, other than the Khasi states, as "backward tracts." Subsequently, the British administration enacted the Government of India Act of 1935, which regrouped the backward tracts into two categories: "excluded" and "partially excluded" areas.At the time of Indian independence in 1947, present-day Meghalaya constituted two districts of Assam and enjoyed limited autonomy within the state of Assam. A movement for a separate Hill State began in 1960.[20] The Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969 accorded an autonomous status to the state of Meghalaya. The Act came into effect on 2 April 1970, and an autonomous state of Meghalaya was born out of Assam. The autonomous state had a 37-member legislature in accordance with the Sixth Schedule to the Indian constitution.In 1971, the Parliament passed the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganization) Act, 1971, which conferred full statehood on the autonomous state of Meghalaya. Meghalaya attained statehood on 21 January 1972, with a Legislative Assembly of its own.Meghalaya is one of the Seven Sister States of northeast India. The state of Meghalaya is mountainous, with stretches of valley and highland plateaus, and it is geologically rich. It consists mainly of Archean rock formations. These rock formations contain rich deposits of valuable minerals like coal, limestone, uranium and sillimanite.Meghalaya has many rivers. Most of these are rainfed and seasonal. The important rivers in the Garo Hills region are Ganol, Daring, Sanda, Bandra, Bugai, Dareng, Simsang, Nitai and the Bhupai. In the central and eastern sections of the plateau, the important rivers are Khri, Umtrew, Digaru, Umiam or Barapani, Kynshi (Jadukata), Umngi, Mawpa, Umiam Khwan, Umngot, Umkhen, Myntdu and Myntang. In the southern Khasi Hills region, these rivers have created deep gorges and several beautiful waterfalls.Farming on hilly terrain (tea plantation).The elevation of the plateau ranges between 150 m (490 ft) to 1,961 m (6,434 ft). The central part of the plateau comprising the Khasi Hills has the highest elevations, followed by the eastern section comprising the Jaintia Hills region. The highest point in Meghalaya is Shillong Peak, which is a prominent IAF station in the Khasi Hills overlooking the city of Shillong. It has an altitude of 1961 m. The Garo Hills region in the western section of the plateau is nearly plain. The highest point in the Garo Hills is Nokrek Peak with an altitude of 1515 m.The town of Sohra (Cherrapunji) in the Khasi Hills south of capital Shillong holds the world record for most rain in a calendar month, while the village of Mawsynram, near Sohra (Cherrapunji), holds the record for the most rain in a year.[23]Flora and fauna EditSee also: Meghalaya subtropical forestsMeghalaya's forests host 660 species of birds[24] and numerous species of other wildlife. Peacock pheasant (top) and hoolock gibbon (bottom) are found in Meghalaya.[25]About 70% of the state is forested, of which 9,496 km2 (3,666 sq mi) is dense primary subtropical forest.[8] The Meghalayan forests are considered to be among the richest botanical habitats of Asia. These forests receive abundant rainfall and support a vast variety of floral and faunal biodiversity. A small portion of the forest area in Meghalaya is under what are known as "sacred groves" (see Sacred groves of India). These are small pockets of an ancient forest that have been preserved by the communities for hundreds of years due to religious and cultural beliefs. These forests are reserved for religious rituals and generally remain protected from any exploitation. These sacred groves harbour many rare plant and animal species. The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve in the West Garo Hills and the Balphakram National Park in the South Garo Hills are considered to be the most biodiversity-rich sites in Meghalaya. In addition, Meghalaya has three wildlife sanctuaries. These are the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary, the Siju Sanctuary, and the Baghmara Sanctuary, which is also the home of the insect-eating pitcher plant Nepenthes khasiana also called "Me'mang Koksi" in local language.Due to diverse climatic and topographic conditions, Meghalaya forests support a vast floral diversity, including a large variety of parasites, epiphytes, succulent plants and shrubs. Two of the most important tree varieties are Shorea robusta (sal tree) and Tectona grandis (teak). Meghalaya is also the home to a large variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, and medicinal plants. Meghalaya is also famous for its large variety of orchids — nearly 325 of them. Of these, the largest variety is found in the Mawsmai, Mawmluh and Sohrarim forests in the Khasi hills.Nepenthes khasianaMeghalaya also has a large variety of mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.[26] The important mammal species include elephants, bear, red pandas,[27] civets, mongooses, weasels, rodents, gaur, wild buffalo,[28] deer, wild boar and a number of primates. Meghalaya also has a large variety of bats. The limestone caves in Meghalaya such as the Siju Cave are home to some of the nation's rarest bat species. The hoolock gibbon is found in all districts of Meghalaya.[29]Common reptiles in Meghalaya are lizards, crocodiles and tortoises. Meghalaya also has a number of snakes including the python, copperhead, green tree racer, Indian cobra, king cobra, coral snake and vipers.[30]Meghalaya's forests host 660 species of birds, many of which are endemic to Himalayan foothills, Tibet and Southeast Asia. Of the birds found in Meghalaya forests, 34 are on worldwide threatened species list and 9 are on the critically endangered list.[24] Prominent birds spotted in Meghalaya include those from the families of Phasianidae, Anatidae, Podicipedidae, Ciconiidae, Threskiornithidae, Ardeidae, Pelecanidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Falconidae, Accipitridae, Otididae, Rallidae, Heliornithidae, Gruidae, Turnicidae, Burhinidae, Charadriidae, Glareolidae, Scolopacidae, Jacanidae, Columbidae, Psittacidae, Cuculidae, Strigidae, Caprimulgidae, Apodidae, Alcedinidae, Bucerotidae, Ramphastidae, Picidae, Campephagidae, Dicruridae, Corvidae, Hirundinidae, Cisticolidae, Pycnonotidae, Sylviidae, Timaliidae, Sittidae, Sturnidae, Turdidae, Nectariniidae and Muscicapidae.[24] Each of these families have many species. The great Indian hornbill is the largest bird in Meghalaya. Other regional birds found include the grey peacock pheasant, the large Indian parakeet, the common green pigeon and the blue jay.[31] Meghalaya is also home to over 250 species of butterflies, nearly a quarter of all butterfly species found in India.Meghalaya is one of three states in India to have a Christian majority. About 75% of the population practices Christianity, with Presbyterians, Baptists and Catholics the more common denominations.[33] .The religion of the people in Meghalaya is closely related to their ethnicity. Close to 90% of the Garo tribe and nearly 80% of the Khasi are Christian, while more than 97% of the Hajong, 98.53% of the Koch, and 94.60% of the Rabha tribes are Hindu.[citation needed]Hindus are the largest religious minority in Meghalaya with 11.52% of the total state's population as of 2011 census[33]Hindus are concentrated mainly in West Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi with 19.11 percent, 17.55 percent and 11.96 percent respectively.The Nartiang Durga Temple in Meghalaya is a famous Hindu temple and it is one of the 51 Shakti peethas on Earth.[34]Muslims constitute 4.39% of the population[33] The Muslims are concentrated mainly in West Garo Hills with 16.60 percent.[35]Conversion from indigenous to Christianity began in the 19th century under the British era. In the 1830s, American Baptist Foreign Missionary Society had become active in Northeast to convert indigenous tribes to Christianity.[36] Later, they were offered to expand and reach into Cherrapunji Meghalaya, but they lacked the resources to do so and declined. Welsh Presbyterian Mission took the offer and they began work at the Cherrapunji mission field. By the early 1900s, other Protestant denominations of Christianity were active in Meghalaya. The outbreak of World Wars forced the preachers to return home to Europe and America. It is during this period that Catholicism took root in Meghalaya and neighbouring region. In the 20th century, Union Christian College started operations at Barapani, Shillong. Currently, Presbyterians and Catholics are two most common Christian denominations found in Meghalaya.[37]State government EditThe Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has 60 members at present. Meghalaya has two representatives in the Lok Sabha, one each from Shillong and Tura. It also has one representative in the Rajya Sabha.Since the creation of the state the Gauhati High Court has jurisdiction in Meghalaya. A Circuit Bench of the Guwahati High Court has been functioning at Shillong since 1974. However recently in March 2013 the Meghalaya High Court was separated from the Gauhati High Court and now the state has its own High Court.Local self-government EditNE Autonomous divisions of India.svgTo provide local self-governance machinery to the rural population of the country, provisions were made in the Constitution of India; accordingly, the Panchayati Raj institutions were set up. However, on account of the distinct customs and traditions prevailing in the northeast region, it was felt necessary to have a separate political and administrative structure in the region.[citation needed] Some of the tribal communities in the region had their own traditional political systems, and it was felt that Panchayati Raj institutions may come into conflict with these traditional systems. The Sixth Schedule was appended to the Constitution on the recommendations of a subcommittee formed under the leadership of Gopinath Bordoloi, and the constitution of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) is provided in certain rural areas of the northeast including areas in Meghalaya. The ADCs in Meghalaya are the Khasi Hills Autonomous District CouncilGaro Hills Autonomous District CouncilJaintia Hills Autonomous District CouncilEconomy Urban areas Culture and society EditThe main tribes in Meghalaya are the Khasis, the Garos, and the Jaintias. Each tribe has its own culture, traditions, dress, and language.

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