- The origin of the Rajya Sainik Board, Meghalaya / Directorate of Sainik Welfare Meghalaya can be traced to the establishment of the Indian Soldiers' Board by the Government of India vide Government Resolution dated 7 September 1919, replacing the Central Recruiting Board. The Board was constituted to advise the Government on matters relating to the welfare of serving, discharged, and deceased soldiers and their dependents. In 1944, with the expansion of the Navy and Air Force during the Second World War, the Board was reconstituted to extend its functions to personnel of all three Services.
- In March 1951, the organization was redesignated as the Indian Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen Board. Subsequently, in 1975, the Government of India introduced a uniform nomenclature for the Ex-Servicemen welfare organization across the country, redesignating it as the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) at the Central level, Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) at the State level, and Zila Sainik Boards (ZSBs) at the District level.
- Following the attainment of full statehood by Meghalaya in 1972, the Government of Meghalaya constituted the State-level Ex-Servicemen welfare organization vide Government Notification No. GA 76/71/41 dated 11 October 1972. Consequent upon the adoption of the revised nomenclature in 1975, it was redesignated as the Rajya Sainik Board, Meghalaya, to function as the apex State-level body for the welfare, rehabilitation, and resettlement of Ex-Servicemen, war widows, and their dependants.
- The Rajya Sainik Board, Meghalaya, functions in close coordination with the Kendriya Sainik Board, which presently operates under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, in accordance with Government of India Notification No. 10(02)/1/D(Res.)/2007 dated 29 January 2009. The executive functions of the Board are carried out by the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, Meghalaya, which serves as its Secretariat and is responsible for implementing the welfare, rehabilitation, resettlement, and employment programmes of the Central and State Governments for the benefit of the Ex-Servicemen community in the State.
