Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on April 14 announced a comprehensive research project in Shillong to investigate the origins of the state’s indigenous tribes, naming the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities as the primary focus. The study aims to combine scientific and cultural methods to build a clearer record of tribal origins and evolution.
Two separate committees have been constituted to ensure a specialised approach: one will focus on the Khasi-Jaintia communities and the other on the Garo tribe. Officials said this division is intended to allow more detailed, community-specific research and analysis.
The project will include DNA mapping alongside in-depth studies of linguistic and cultural linkages. Researchers will document various historical, social and genetic aspects of the tribes’ origins and evolution, and the teams will consult with national and international institutions to broaden the analysis.
Sangma said the research is expected to take 18 to 24 months, with periodic reports released during the study. A formal launch of the programme is scheduled for May, while preliminary groundwork by research teams has been under way since February.
“We are undertaking this initiative to enhance documentation and ascertain if more facts can be established,” Sangma said after chairing a series of meetings at Tara Ghar State Guest House in Shillong.
Officials and observers describe the initiative as a significant step toward documenting the historical, cultural and genetic roots of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo communities, and toward strengthening the archival and academic record of Meghalaya’s indigenous heritage.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/meghalaya/story/meghalaya-to-launch-dna-based-study-on-origins-of-khasi-jaintia-and-garo-tribes-1375822-2026-04-15?utm_source=rssfeed
Category:
Tags:
Publish Date: 2026-04-15 08:23:00
