Koklabari Chapaguri College, Baksa, Bags Best Performing College Award as NEGC 2026 Concludes Successfully at USTM with Grand Cultural Finale
Star-studded Bollywood Night featuring Aditya Narayan and Madhubanti Bagchi enthrals audiences, marking a spectacular close to the Congress
The three-day 8th North East Graduate Congress (NEGC) 2026, hosted by the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, concluded successfully with a grand Valedictory Session, marking the culmination of one of the largest and most vibrant youth-centric academic, cultural, and sporting festivals in the North East.
The Congress witnessed enthusiastic participation from thousands of students representing leading colleges and universities across the country. The Valedictory Session was graced by Wailadmiki Shylla, Hon’ble Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, as the Chief Guest, and C. P. Marak, Chairman, Lokayukta, Government of Meghalaya, as the Distinguished Guest along with the presence of distinguished Vice Chancellors from leading institutions across the region, including Prof Nasir Ahmed Khan of Apex Professional University, Prof Amerendra Kumar Das of Tezpur University, and Prof Rajendra Prasad Das of K.K. Handiqui State Open University.
The programme began with a welcome address by Anju Hazarika, Registrar, USTM, followed by the Valedictory Address delivered by Prof G. D. Sharma, Vice Chancellor of USTM.
Highlighting the importance of youth engagement, Wailadmiki Shylla, Minister, emphasised the role of platforms like NEGC in shaping future leaders and fostering holistic development through academics, sports, innovation, and cultural integration.
A major highlight of the valedictory session was the Prize Distribution Ceremony, where winners across a wide array of competitions—including Robo Soccer, Business Ideathon, AI & Innovation, Quiz, Debate, Extempore Speech, Moot Court, sports events, and cultural competitions—were honoured for their outstanding performances. Participants competed for whopping cash prizes amounting to nearly ₹50 lakh, making the Congress one of the most rewarding youth platforms in the region. The Moot Court Competition witnessed intense participation from premier law institutions, with teams from National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam securing top honours, while J.B. Law College earned multiple accolades including Best Memorial and Best Speaker. The Debate segment also stood out, with participants showcasing exceptional oratory skills and critical thinking.
The prestigious Best Performing College Award was conferred upon Koklabari Chapaguri College, Hazuwa, Baksa, in recognition of its exceptional overall performance across multiple disciplines during the Congress, emerging as the top-performing institution of NEGC 2026.
Adding grandeur to the closing of NEGC 2026 was the much-anticipated three-day Bollywood Nights and One North East Music Festival, which turned the campus into a spectacular celebration of music and culture. The event featured electrifying performances by renowned artists, including Lou Majaw, Madhubanti Bagchi, Aditya Narayan, and Dharmesh Yelande, as well as popular regional bands like Hillphonic and other artists from across the Northeast. With its successful conclusion, NEGC 2026 has once again reaffirmed its position as a landmark youth festival of the North East. Established in 2011, USTM is the first state private university in Science and Technology in North East India and was accredited with an ‘A Grade’ by NAAC in its first cycle in 2021. The university continues to play a pivotal role in advancing quality higher education, fostering innovation, and driving socio-economic development in the North East region.
