Governor                 : Dr. Najma A.             Chief Secretary        : Rajani Ranjan
                                   Heptulla                                          Rashmi
       Chief Minister           : N. Biren Singh           Jurisdiction of        : Manipur
                                                           High Court
      Meghalaya
       Area                     : 22,429 sq km             Population             : 29.67 lakh (prov.
                                                                                     2011 census)
       Capital                  : Shillong                 Principal              : Khasi, Garo &
                                                           Languages                 English
      History and Geography
            Meghalaya was created as an autonomous state within the state of Assam in 1970. The full-
      fledged state of Meghalaya came into existence in 1972. It is bound on the north and east by
      Assam and on the south and west by Bangladesh. Meghalaya literally means the ‘Abode of
      Clouds’ and is essentially a hilly state. It is predominately inhabited by the tribal Khasis, Jaintias
      and Garos population. The Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills which form the central and eastern part
      of the state form an imposing plateau with rolling grassland, hills and river valleys. The southern
      face of the plateau is marked by deep gorges and abrupt slopes, at the foot of which, a narrow
      strip of plain runs along the international border with Bangladesh.
            Carved from the erstwhile state of Assam, Meghalaya became a full fledged State on
      January 21, 1972. Bounded on the north and east by Assam and on the south and west by
      Bangladesh, Meghalaya is spread over an area of 22, 429 square kilometers, and lies between 24°
      57’ and 26° 10 north latitude and 89° 46’ and 92° 53’ east longitudes.
      Agriculture
            Meghalaya is basically an agricultural state with about 81 per cent of its total population
      depending entirely on it for their livelihood. The hilly terrain and land conditions of the state do
      not offer much scope in bringing additional area under wet condition, but the state has a vast
      potential for developing horticulture. The agro-climatic variations offer much scope for
      cultivation of temperate as well as tropical fruits and vegetables. Besides the major food crops of
      rice and maize, the state is also renowned for its horticultural crops like orange. lemon,
      pineapple, guava, litchi, banana, jackfruits and temperate fruits such as plum, pear, peach, etc.
      Potato, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, arecanut, tezpata, betel, short- staple cotton, jute, mesta,
      mustard and rapeseed etc., are some of the important cash crops. Apart from these, the state has
      achieved success in the cultivation of non-traditional crops like tea, cashew nut, oilseeds, tomato,
      mushroom, wheat, etc.
      Forest
            The total forest area is 9,49,56,000 hectares which includes reserved forest, protected forest,
      national park and unclassed forest. The principal timber species are sal, teak, titachap, gomari,
      bol, pine, birch and makri-sal. The principal forest products include timber, bamboo, reed,