Politics
Parliament Advances 2027 Budget Bills With Education, Health and Housing Plans
Published: 2026-09-26
Parliament held the first reading of the 2027 state budget, National Wealth Fund budget, social insurance fund budget and health insurance fund budget bills on September 25, then sent them to the relevant standing committees for preparation for a second reading. The proposals include 1.4 trillion tugriks in education investment to reduce school crowding, narrow differences in learning conditions and improve the quality of children’s food and nutrition. Health investment of 414 billion tugriks is proposed to expand access to treatment and diagnostics. Other measures would raise the threshold for paying the 1 percent tax, estimated to reduce the burden on about 180,000 small, medium and micro businesses by 246 billion tugriks. The plan also proposes an additional 1.8 trillion tugriks for housing finance and support for 16,000 households through mortgages, lowering the down-payment threshold, shared ownership and rent-to-own arrangements.
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Published: 2026-09-26
The Independent Authority Against Corruption has opened a criminal case and named former Ulaanbaatar mayor H. Nyambaatar as a defendant, Tug.mn reported. The investigation concerns alleged abuse of official power under Article 22.1 of the Criminal Code. The report also notes a separate case involving former city deputy governor T. Davaadalai in connection with the Tuul Expressway and Ring Roads One and Two projects. He was previously detained over allegations that MNT 6.6 billion was laundered through his wife’s company account, later released under a travel ban, and the prosecutor has sent that case to court. No further details of the allegations against Nyambaatar were provided.
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Published: 2026-09-26
Mongolia’s intelligence agency has reportedly begun investigating former Prime Minister L. Oyun-Erdene, according to Isee.mn; the report did not cite an official agency confirmation. Former parliament member Ts. Oyunbaatar said he requested an inquiry from the General Intelligence Agency in April 2026 and cited comments L. Oyun-Erdene made on NTV’s Wednesday Review program. Ts. Oyunbaatar characterized the remarks as potentially relating to Criminal Code provisions on undermining national unity and extremist activity, and also raised other allegations for investigation. The report says the intelligence agency is examining the case under those provisions. This is an investigation report, not a finding of wrongdoing, and no charge or court decision was reported.
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Economy
Drivers Report Ordinary AI-92 Shortages; Some Say Euro-92 Also Unavailable
Published: 2026-09-26
Residents reported that ordinary AI-92 petrol was difficult to find at filling stations, while the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said Euro-92 was being supplied without queues and lines had formed for lower-priced standard AI-92. Motorists told Zarig.mn they were visiting multiple stations and buying whatever petrol they could find, rather than choosing among readily available grades. Some residents also said Euro-92, which the ministry described as available without queues, was unavailable at certain stations. The accounts distinguish the ministry’s assessment of queues for the two grades from consumers’ reports of availability at retail outlets. The source provided no nationwide supply figures, duration of the reported shortages, or official explanation for the difference.
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Society
Central Ulaanbaatar Roads Close for Car-Free Day and Night Marathon
Published: 2026-09-26
Ulaanbaatar is holding its Car-Free Day on September 26, restricting vehicle traffic on central roads from 07:00 to 18:00. Closures cover routes between Western and Eastern Four Roads, sections around Ogooj Intersection, Seoul Street, Tsetseg Center, the Meteorological Intersection, Government House, Chinggis Khaan National Museum and several university intersections. Residents inside the restricted area were asked to move vehicles out in advance; authorities said vehicles left there could not exit until the following day. Public transport continues with temporary route changes affecting 43 routes and 448 vehicles, while route Ch:71A is suspended. A Night Marathon runs from 17:00 to 23:00, with three night bus routes operating until 02:00. The UB Food Festival also opened at the central square through September 30.
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Court Returns Dunjingarav Explosion Case for Further Investigation
Published: 2026-09-26
The First Instance Criminal Court for Bayanzurkh, Sukhbaatar and Chingeltei districts returned the Dunjingarav intersection explosion case to prosecutors for further investigation. The case concerns Dashvaanjil LLC driver Ch.R, who was indicted over negligent death and negligent serious and moderate bodily harm after a gas-carrying truck collided with a passenger vehicle during the night of January 23-24, 2024. The resulting fire and explosion killed seven people, including emergency personnel and civilians. The court found that residents of Building 207, which reportedly burned in the blast, had not been recognized as victims under the required legal basis. It also found incomplete work on whether the building had met fire-safety requirements when accepted by the state commission.
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Environment
Rain and Wet Snow Forecast as Cold Conditions Threaten Crops
Published: 2026-09-26
The weather agency forecast light rain in parts of Tuv, Darkhan-Uul, Selenge, Dundgovi, Dornogovi, Khentii and Dornod on September 26, with wet snow in mountainous areas and a risk of wet snow in agricultural districts. It warned that grain and vegetables could be covered by snow or damaged by frost. Wet snow was reported earlier in the week in Tariat and Tsakhir soums of Arkhangai. The agency also warned of sharp overnight ground frost from September 28 to 30. Ulaanbaatar is forecast to be cloudy with light rain, north-turning winds of 5-10 meters per second, and a daytime high of 11-13C. Stronger winds of up to 14 meters per second are expected in desert and steppe areas.
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2,300-Ton Diesel Reserve Planned for Harvest
Published: 2026-09-26
An agreement has been made to establish a 2,300-ton diesel reserve to stabilize fuel supplies during the harvest season. So far, 350 tons of diesel have been delivered and stored. A separate loan-supply agreement with a fuel-importing company provides for 1,000 tons at MNT 4,960 per liter. Under that arrangement, 83 grain, potato, and vegetable growers have received a combined 130 tons of fuel. Separately, preparations are under way to establish reserves of 100,000 tons of wheat and 12,000 tons of potatoes and vegetables to stabilize domestic production and food supplies. The diesel-reserve agreement is intended to stabilize fuel supplies during harvest season.
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Police Investigate Attempted Saiga-Horn Smuggling Concealed in Onion Shipment
Published: 2026-09-26
Police in Bayan-Ulgii province are investigating an alleged attempt to smuggle 3,260 saiga horns across Mongolia’s border from Russia. The horns, packed in 19 boxes, weighed 677 kilograms, although some reports rounded the total to about 700 kilograms. Investigators say a person identified only as N concealed them in a truckload of 18 tons of onions while crossing through a road border checkpoint. A report of an alleged attempted illegal border crossing was recorded on September 17. The matter is being investigated with border and customs authorities. Saiga horns are subject to illegal cross-border trade, including demand linked to traditional-medicine markets. The investigation remains under way.
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Health
National Center for Public Health Becomes National Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Published: 2026-09-26
The National Center for Public Health has been reorganized as the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention under Government Resolution No. 52, issued this year. The change aligns the institution’s structure with international practice and establishes a national CDC-style body focused on disease surveillance and prevention. S.Gerelmaa was appointed acting director general. She has worked at the former center for many years, progressing from specialist roles to head of its health-promotion and disease-prevention information department, and has participated in public-health education, prevention and early-detection campaigns. Gerelmaa described the change as the result of sustained work by successive leaders, scientists and researchers and as a step toward strengthening public-health services.
“Establishing a national CDC is the result of the long-standing goals and efforts of generations of leaders, scientists and researchers at the National Center for Public Health.” - S.Gerelmaa (unuudur.mn)
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