NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of 18 workers after blast at an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya

• NHRC invoked its suo motu power on a media report of 18 workers killed in a blast at an illegal coal mine at Thangskai, East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya on 5 Feb 2026.
• Touches three live UPSC threads: NHRC's statutory mandate, persistence of banned rat-hole mining in Meghalaya despite NGT (2014) prohibition, and labour rights of migrant/tribal workers in the informal extractive sector.
• Tests aspirant knowledge of Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, MMDR Act, 1957, and Sixth Schedule / Article 371 issues on tribal land mineral rights.