Shillong, April 27: In a landmark development for Meghalaya’s linguistic and cultural identity, the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026 has received the assent of Governor C. H. Vijayashankar, officially recognizing Khasi and Garo as official languages of the state alongside English.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the development through a post on X, describing the move as a significant step towards strengthening the state’s long-standing aspiration to secure inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.
In his statement, the Chief Minister said the ordinance would “further strengthen our aspirations to have Khasi and Garo recognized in the Eighth Schedule.” He also expressed gratitude to Governor C. H. Vijayashankar for granting assent to what he termed a “very important Ordinance.”
According to the Extraordinary Gazette of Meghalaya published on April 27, 2026, the ordinance has been promulgated under Article 213(1) of the Constitution of India. The legislation has been titled “The Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026” and replaces the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005.
The ordinance provides for the use of English, Khasi and Garo for official purposes of the State Government. It also lays down provisions regarding the use of official languages in administrative offices across different regions of Meghalaya.
As per the notification, Khasi and English may be used in district, sub-divisional and block-level offices in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Division, while Garo and English may be used in offices across the Garo Hills Division.
However, the ordinance also clarifies that English will continue to be used for inter-district communication and in all Civil and Criminal Courts of the state. Proceedings in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will also continue in accordance with the Meghalaya State Legislature (Continuance of the English Language) Act, 1980.
The ordinance defines the Khasi and Jaintia Hills Division to include East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, South West Khasi Hills, Eastern West Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts. The Garo Hills Division includes West Garo Hills, East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, North Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
The move has been widely viewed as a major recognition of Meghalaya’s indigenous linguistic heritage and cultural identity. Demands for inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule have existed for years, with several organizations and leaders from the state advocating constitutional recognition for both languages.
The ordinance was notified by the Law (B) Department of the Government of Meghalaya and published in the Extraordinary Gazette on April 27, 2026.
