Meghalaya Cabinet on Thursday took a landmark linguistic policy decision, approving an ordinance that elevates Khasi and Garo to the status of official languages alongside English, a move aimed at reshaping governance, expanding opportunities for youth, and strengthening the State’s push for inclusion of indigenous languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Announcing the decision after chairing the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said, “Today the cabinet has made I should say historic and a very important decision which will impact the overall functioning as well as opportunities that will open specially for the youth of our state and also help in promoting our languages.” He informed that the Cabinet has passed the Meghalaya Official Languages Ordinance, 2026, repealing the Meghalaya State Language Act, 2005, thereby formally recognising Khasi and Garo as official languages of the State in addition to English.
“The main point is that from now on apart from English, Khasi and Garo language will also become official language of the state,” he said, adding that the decision would facilitate the use of these languages in government communications and administrative processes. The Chief Minister further stated, “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 and when I said due course, I mean very very shortly necessary amendments will be made to relevant acts namely the Meghalaya State Legislature continuance of English language act 1980, once ammended will also enable our legislators to speak in Khasi and Garo and debate in Khasi and Garo language apart from English even during the Assembly sessions.”
He also underscored the broader implications for education and recruitment, noting that the decision would pave the way for conducting examinations in Khasi and Garo apart from English. “This decision will also paved the way for different important examinations also to be held apart from English in our own local languages which is Garo and Khasi. This will of course not happen everything will not happen immediately. The process will take some time. Certain decisions will be much more easier to implement immediately. Certain decisions will require logistical setups to be created, manpower to be employed and different infrastructure to be created, rules to be created. But is a set the decision today will allow all of these things to fall into place,” he said.
The move, he added, is aligned with the Assembly’s earlier resolution seeking inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the Eighth Schedule. “This also is being done primarily because the resolution to include the Khasi and Garo language in the eight schedule was taken by the Assembly and our Government felt very strongly that while we are demanding for eight schedule, it is important that in our state itself, We must also take necessary steps to make both khasi and Garo official. So that a stronger message can be sent to 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 8th schedule. So this is also one important step towards achieving that particular goal.”
