Shillong: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma insists Meghalaya must weigh its own needs before backing any Uniform Civil Code. This follows Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim in Mumbai that all 21 BJP-led NDA states will adopt a UCC before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Sangma dismissed a single, national-level code as illogical. He prefers a state-specific approach but remains skeptical.
The State government will not rush. Sangma noted, "It would be premature to take a stand without seeing the contents of any proposed legislation." Leaders must first determine if the State wants a code at all. If officials proceed, the framework must respect Meghalaya’s tribal roots and matrilineal society. This creates complications for non-matrilineal communities in the region.
Any move requires broad consensus. Sangma pledged to consult stakeholders, political parties, and various communities. The UCC touches personal laws like marriage, divorce, inheritance, and adoption. These issues sit at the heart of indigenous customary practices and constitutional protections. While the BJP promises to shield tribal communities, the scope of that protection stays unclear.
The BJP remains a partner in the NPP-led MDA-II government. The code is a political firebrand. Both parties now face a test of their alliance as the push for national uniformity hits the realities of local governance.
Updated at 16th September 2026 at 9:52pm
Beyond the UCC debate, Sangma’s cabinet recently cleared a flurry of administrative overhauls. The government launched the CM IMPACT+ scheme to inject lump sum grants into 1,900 secondary and higher secondary schools to address a growing shortage of institutions across the state. Officials also standardized the retirement age for various categories of casual workers at 60, ending a messy disparity that allowed some muster roll employees to work until 65.
Infrastructure and tourism also took center stage. The cabinet approved the creation of the Meghalaya Integrated Transport Society to centralize bus, taxi, and helicopter bookings under one app. To manage future aviation growth, the state is standing up a dedicated civil aviation wing. Meanwhile, a new State Dam Safety Organisation will take over inspections to meet federal mandates, and the government is restructuring excise taxes to better align with neighboring Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, a move expected to pull in an extra 150 crore rupees.
Sangma is also tracking unrest on the frontier. The administration is probing claims that residents from Assam are trying to register as voters in Meghalaya border villages like Langpih and Mukroh during the ongoing electoral roll revision. Sangma stated that the Political Department is investigating the reports and he is prepared to consult directly with his counterpart in Assam to settle the matter.
Updated at 17th September 2026 at 9:48am
Sangma acknowledged a shift in the tone from the Centre, noting that federal signals suggesting states could draft their own UCC frameworks have fundamentally altered the local debate. Previously, his resistance stemmed from fears of a top-down mandate. With space now open for state-level tailoring, Sangma says he is open to discussing a framework that balances the state's tribal identity with the rights of non-tribal residents. "There is no harm in discussing and taking views from people. Whatever we do, it will be in the larger interest," he said.
The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organizations is leaning on the administration to hold firm on regional autonomy. In a formal representation, the group demanded the government defend protections granted under Article 244(2) and the Sixth Schedule, which give Autonomous District Councils legal control over marriage, inheritance, and social customs. The group explicitly flagged Paragraph 12A of the Sixth Schedule as a red line for any legislative drafting and is pushing the state to launch formal talks with the three district councils before making any commitments to New Delhi.
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