SHILLONG, APR 16: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday announced that the state cabinet has approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, repealing the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, to make Khasi and Garo official languages of the state alongside English.
“The cabinet (today took a) historic and a very important decision (by approving) Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance 2026 repealing the Meghalaya State Language Act 2005 which will impact the overall functioning as well as opportunities that will open especially for the youths of our state and also help in promoting our languages,” Sangma said after chairing the cabinet meeting.
“Under the new Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance 2026, the main point is that from now on apart from English, Khasi and Garo language will also become official language of the state,” he added.
According to him, the move will expand the use of both languages in administration and governance.
“With this very important and landmark decision, this will facilitate the process of allowing Khasi and Garo language to be used in most of the government communications and also in the due course of time,” Sangma said.
The CM informed that in due course of time, necessary amendments will be made to relevant Acts, namely the Meghalaya State Legislature (Continuation of the English Language) Act, 1980.
“Once amended, it will also enable our legislators to speak and debate in Khasi and Garo language apart from English even during their Assembly sessions,” he said.
Sangma said the decision will also extend to competitive examinations. “This decision will also pave the way for different important examinations also to be held apart from English in our own local languages which is Garo and Khasi.”
Implementation, however, will be phased.
“This will of course not happen immediately. The process will take some time. Certain decisions will be much easier to implement immediately, certain decisions will require logistical setups to be created, manpower to be employed and different infrastructures to be created, rules to be created. But as I said the decision today will allow all of these things to fall into place,” he noted.
The Chief Minister linked the ordinance to the state’s long-standing demand for Eighth Schedule status. “This also is being done primarily because the resolution to include the Khasi and Garo language in the Eighth Scheduled was taken by the Assembly and our government felt very strongly that while we are demanding for Eighth Scheduled, it is important that in our state itself, we must also take necessary steps to make both Khasi and Garo official,” he said.
“So that a stronger message can be sent to the Government of India and the parliament and further pave the way for us to be able to expect that both Khasi and Garo language will be also included in the Eighth Schedule. So, this is also one important step towards achieving that particular goal,” Sangma stated.
On usage, he clarified that English will remain a common link. “The notifications in the gazetted and the orders that come out from the government of Meghalaya will be in English, Garo and Khasi…so all three languages will be there,” he said.
“The communication, inter-district will happen in English, the official notifications and orders and file noting will be in English,” he added.
On the status of the Eighth Schedule demand, the Chief Minister said the decision rests with the Centre.
“That will depend on the government of India and the prime minister and home minister, it is not something that I am in any position to be able to give a date because the decision lies with the Government of India and the parliament and therefore, we have to push in the parliament,” he said.
“All of this has to be looked into. So, we hope that we will be able to carry forward and take this work and hopefully one day will be able to include both Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule,” Sangma added.
