Meghalaya cabinet recognizes Khasi and Garo as official languages

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said that the State Cabinet has approved the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, recognising Khasi and Garo as official languages alongside English, and has decided to repeal the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005.
Terming the cabinet decision a ‘historic’ and ‘very important’ decision, Sangma said the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, will impact the overall functioning and open opportunities, especially for the youth of our state, while also helping to promote our languages.
Under the new Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance 2026, the Chief Minister said the main point is that from now on apart from English, Khasi and Garo language will also become official language of the state.
Noting that English language will remain a common language in the state, the Chief Minister said,” 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.”
“The communication, inter-district will happen in English, the official notifications and orders and file noting will be in English,” he added.
“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,” Sangma said, adding that the decision will expand the use of both languages in administration and governance.
Stating that the cabinet decision will also extend to competitive examinations, the Chief Minister, however said that the implementation will be in a phased manner.
“This will of course not happen immediately; the process will take some time. While some decisions can be implemented right away, others will require logistical setups, new manpower, infrastructure, and rules to be created. But as I said the cabinet decision will allow all of these things to fall into place,” Sangma stated
The Chief Minister said that necessary amendments will be made to relevant Acts, namely the Meghalaya State Legislature (Continuation of the English Language) Act, 1980 in due course of time.
“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.
Linking the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, to the state’s long-standing demand for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the constitution, the Chief Minister said, the cabinet approved the ordinance primarily because of the resolution adopted by the Meghalaya Assembly to include the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule.
“Our government feels strongly that, while we are demanding the inclusion of the Khasi and Garo languages in the Eighth Schedule, we must make both official languages in our state, thus sending a stronger message to the Union government and Parliament,” he said.