Politics
Published: 2026-09-08
A first-instance criminal court sentenced former Ovorkhangai Governor A. Ishdorj to 12 years and one month in prison and permanently barred him from public service after finding him guilty of aggravated bribery. The court also sentenced T. Baatarsuren, executive director of Bako Construction LLC, to two years in prison and barred him from public service for three years for giving a bribe. Prosecutors alleged that Ishdorj approved a construction contract, authorized financing between August 31, 2022 and February 8, 2023, and acted on commissioning the building in return for MNT 10 million. The court found that the money was transferred to the account of Ishdorj’s wife’s younger brother, R. Otgonbaatar, labelled as payment for materials. Both sentences will be served in open correctional facilities.
Coverage:
HUN Party Questions 24th Amendment to Fiscal Stability Law
Published: 2026-09-08
The HUN Party caucus in parliament criticized proposed changes accompanying the budget revision, saying the Fiscal Stability Law would be amended for the 24th time since its adoption. MP P. Naranbayar said an earlier change had removed a provision barring budget revisions within six months of approval. The new proposal would replace a requirement for a structural surplus of 2 percent with a ceiling on a structural deficit of 2 percent, he said. Naranbayar also said the revision would increase the deficit by MNT 1 trillion, expand the state role in the budget and reduce local-government resources. The caucus said it recognized that a revision had become necessary, while pledging to criticize and seek corrections despite HUN’s participation in government.
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Pensioners Demand MNT 3.33 Million as Government Plans MNT 1.335 Million Average Pension
Published: 2026-09-08
Pensioners demonstrating outside the State Palace are calling for pensions of MNT 3,333,333 and have asked the Speaker of Parliament and government members to hold an open discussion on October 1, Elderly Persons Day, in front of the Chinggis Khaan monument. Their campaign for higher payments has continued for more than a year and also seeks to reduce pension gaps among people with similar contribution histories. The government plans to raise the average pension to MNT 1,335,400 in 2027. Its budget-amendment proposal includes adding MNT 100,000 to MNT 300,000 for pension recipients from November. It also plans to address disparities affecting 141,000 elderly people from January 1, 2027, with longer contribution periods intended to produce higher benefits.
Coverage:
Economy
Budget Revision Would Raise Spending and Draw Dividends From State Firms
Published: 2026-09-08
Parliament is reviewing a proposed revision to the 2026 budget that would increase consolidated-budget spending by MNT 998 billion without increasing balanced revenue. In its presentation, the National Audit Office put the proposed deficit at MNT 2.048 trillion, or 2% of GDP. The government says the revision would fund pension support, public-service wage adjustments, food reserves and energy security. It proposes MNT 196.3 billion for base pensions for 435,000 older people from November 1 and MNT 844.6 billion for wage-related funding, including a 20% increase for health-sector staff from November. The plan also includes MNT 150 billion for wheat, meat, potato and vegetable reserves and MNT 200 billion for electricity tariff differences and network repairs. It would allow use of MNT 998 billion in unused local-budget balances and collect MNT 1.6 trillion in dividends from state-owned companies, including Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi.
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Banking Association Warns of Inflation Risk From Fuel Disruptions and Higher Spending
Published: 2026-09-08
The Mongolian Bankers Association says fuel supply disruptions, rising food and transport costs, and fiscal expansion could intensify inflationary pressure. The association reported 7.7% economic growth in the first half of 2026, supported by coal exports of about 61 million tonnes, mining, transport and business lending. Its baseline forecast puts 2026 inflation at 10.2%, rising to 13.8% if fuel restrictions continue, 14.2% if fuel prices rise, and as high as 18.6% in a scenario combining shortages, higher prices and stronger mining exports. The proposed 2027 budget would increase expenditure by MNT 9.6 trillion, or 28%, to MNT 43.6 trillion. Association officials also reported worsening repayment performance for salary, pension, card and vehicle loans, while warning that diesel constraints could affect mining, freight and the harvest.
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Oyu Tolgoi Reviews Underground Lift Emergency After Workers Trapped for Six Hours
Published: 2026-09-08
Oyu Tolgoi LLC Chief Executive S. Munkhsukh met workers involved in an underground mine lift incident to hear their accounts and review the company response. About 40 workers were inside the lift for roughly six hours after it stopped abruptly, according to the report. Munkhsukh said the confined conditions and limited ability to move had been psychologically difficult, while workers supported one another and their families worried outside the mine. He acknowledged that the response took longer than expected, despite multiple teams working to carry out each step safely. All workers were brought out safely, but the company said the event would not be treated as closed merely because everyone emerged safely. Oyu Tolgoi plans to assess its emergency response, identify improvements in communication and procedures, and place worker safety above production plans.
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Household Survey Puts Year-End Inflation Expectations at 12.1%
Published: 2026-09-08
A Bank of Mongolia survey of 1,790 university-educated respondents aged 26 to 55 found that median expectations place inflation at about 12.1% by the end of 2026. Respondents also expected inflation to increase by 0.4% by the end of the current quarter and anticipated inflation would remain above the central bank’s target next year. The survey indicated weaker household income expectations than in the previous quarter, with respondents expecting income and employment to decline. Participants also anticipated slower economic growth, further depreciation of the tugrik and higher lending rates. For two consecutive quarters, respondents have expected monetary policy to tighten. The central bank said expectations broadly aligned with observed conditions when income expectations were compared with the real-wage index and spending expectations with final-consumption growth.
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Banking Sector Reports Strong Asset Growth as Foreign Investment Falls
Published: 2026-09-08
The Mongolian Bankers Association reported that systemically important banks increased their funding by MNT 8.7 trillion, or 22%, in the first half of 2026. New business lending to mining, manufacturing and construction reached about MNT 15 trillion, up 30% year on year, while herder and consumer lending exceeded MNT 5.2 trillion between January and June. The five systemically important banks recorded combined half-year net profit of MNT 714 billion, with a weighted average lending rate of 18%. Tugrik deposits rose 25% to MNT 28.2 trillion, although the association warned that sustained inflation could weaken real returns and encourage dollarization. The economy expanded 7.7% in the second quarter, with mining contributing 3.9 percentage points. Exports rose 58%, but foreign investment declined, contributing to a USD 126 million financial-account deficit. The fiscal balance recorded a MNT 2.1 trillion deficit as spending rose 20%.
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Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Faces Budget Dividend Gap After Funding Projects
Published: 2026-09-08
Mongolia’s government has included expected dividends from state-owned companies in its 2026 budget amendment and 2027 budget, projecting MNT 1.5 trillion this year and MNT 3.5 trillion next year. A law passed in June requires state-owned companies to transfer at least 30 percent of their profits to the budget. Within the Chinggis Khaan Wealth Fund group, Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi and Erdenet Mining Corporation are described as the principal profitable producers, but Erdenet’s ownership dispute prevents dividend distribution to the budget. Finance Ministry State Secretary M. Sanjaadorj said Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi has accumulated MNT 7.6 trillion in dividends not transferred to the state. The report says the company used funds for projects including Tavan Tolgoi Fuel, railways and the Gashuunsukhait road, leaving no money currently available for the budget.
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One in Five Car-Loan Borrowers Falls Behind on Payments
Published: 2026-09-08
One in five Mongolian borrowers with a car loan is failing to make repayments, according to L. Amar, executive director of the Mongolian Bankers Association. The warning came as systemically important banks reported combined first-half 2026 profit of MNT 714 billion. Amar said non-performing salary and credit-card loans have also risen, indicating pressure on household finances. He said limits on debt-to-income ratios have constrained further bank borrowing, especially for mortgage holders, and may push some people toward non-bank lenders, payday loans and pawnshops. He called for lending products that fund household cost reductions, including home insulation and energy-efficient appliances.
“One in five car-loan borrowers is not repaying their loan.” - L. Amar (gogo.mn)
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Tourist Arrivals Rise 17.9 Percent in First Eight Months
Published: 2026-09-08
Mongolia received 705,098 foreign tourists in the first eight months of 2026, an increase of 106,896 visitors, or 17.9 percent, from the same period a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth. Russia was the largest source market with 239,134 arrivals, followed by China with 171,497 and South Korea with 128,589. Japan contributed 30,417 visitors and Kazakhstan 16,870. The ministry said international visitor flows have continued to rise. It also reported that Mongolia ranked second among the strongest tourism-spending markets in the first half of 2026, citing the World Tourism Organization. The figures cover arrivals through August and indicate continued growth in the tourism sector during the year.
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New Cooperative Loan Repayments Reach MNT 218.8 Billion
Published: 2026-09-08
The New Cooperative movement has involved 7,784 cooperatives and 103,000 herders, representing 33 percent of the country’s herders, according to one report. Launched in 2024, the program aims to help herders establish primary production and work collectively in rural areas, where limited economic activity has contributed to migration to cities. Bank of Mongolia data as of July 31, 2026, showed MNT 218.8 billion in loan repayments. One report described repayment performance as normal, while another put the repayment rate at 99 percent. A total of 139 borrowers have fully repaid MNT 3.5 billion in principal: 86 in breeding-livestock purchasing, rearing and sales, and 53 in other activities. Loans cover 14 designated purposes.
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Diplomacy
Government Seeks Broader Protection for Workers in South Korea
Published: 2026-09-08
Family, Labor and Social Protection Minister T. Aubakir met South Korean Employment and Labor Minister Kim Yong-hun on September 7 to seek stronger protections for Mongolian workers in South Korea. Mongolia proposed extending coverage beyond pension insurance to benefits, workplace accidents and occupational diseases, and including citizens holding other work-authorized visas in the bilateral social-security agreement. The ministry also requested consideration of family co-residence and employment under defined conditions for contract workers, whose families can be separated for long periods. Other proposals included easing the employment-permit language test and removing regional limits on changing jobs, which can leave workers in difficult sectors at risk of overstaying. South Korea’s minister said he would support cooperation on workplace safety and protection from discrimination.
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Vietnamese National Assembly Chair to Make Official Visit
Published: 2026-09-08
Vietnamese National Assembly Chair Tran Thanh Man will make an official visit from September 9 to 11 at the invitation of Parliament Speaker S. Byambatsogt. It will be the first visit to Mongolia by a Vietnamese National Assembly chair in 23 years. Tran Thanh Man and Byambatsogt are scheduled to hold official talks and sign parliamentary cooperation documents. The visit is intended to expand exchanges between the two legislatures, their friendship groups and secretariats under the countries’ Comprehensive Partnership. Mongolia and Vietnam established diplomatic relations on November 17, 1954. They issued a joint declaration establishing the Comprehensive Partnership during the 70th anniversary of those relations. Previous Mongolian parliament speakers made official visits to Vietnam in 1998, 2004, 2010 and 2018.
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Presidents Sign Joint Declaration and Cooperation Documents
Published: 2026-09-08
President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and Montenegro President Jakov Milatovic held official talks at the State Palace on September 8 during Milatovic’s September 8–10 state visit, the first to Mongolia by a Montenegrin head of state. The leaders signed a joint declaration as the countries mark 20 years of diplomatic relations and agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education, science, culture and tourism. Officials also exchanged a reciprocal visa-exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders, along with memorandums on diplomatic training, academic cooperation, chamber-of-commerce links and national broadcasters. The leaders said a private-sector roundtable could foster direct business contacts, new partnerships and new markets. Milatovic received an official welcome at Sukhbaatar Square and invited Parliament Speaker S. Byambatsogt to visit Montenegro.
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Traffic Controls Introduced During Montenegro President’s State Visit
Published: 2026-09-08
Traffic police have introduced traffic management measures in Ulaanbaatar during Montenegro’s president’s state visit with his spouse from September 8 to 10. The Transportation Police Department asked drivers and other road users to follow traffic rules, comply with lawful police instructions, and travel responsibly while the restrictions are in effect. The reports do not specify the roads, times, or form of the measures. The visit brings Montenegro’s head of state to Mongolia for official engagements; coverage cited possible areas of bilateral cooperation including access to European markets, European Union policy, Balkan transport and logistics networks, tourism, environmental protection and mountain ecosystems. Those cooperation areas were presented as potential opportunities, not announced agreements.
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Consulate Urges Travelers to Check Documents Before US Trips
Published: 2026-09-08
The Consulate General of Mongolia in San Francisco has advised Mongolian citizens traveling to the United States to check visas, immigration status and documents supporting the purpose of their trip before departure. The notice follows reports of more foreign travelers facing secondary inspection, extended detention or refusal of entry at US international airports. A valid visa permits a person to seek admission at a port of entry, but US Customs and Border Protection officers make the final decision on entry. Travelers should verify passport and visa validity, confirm that the visa category matches the trip, and carry information on accommodation, return flights, work, school or invitations where applicable. Former US residents should also check I-94 records and authorized stays; students and exchange participants should confirm that I-20 and DS-2019 documents remain valid.
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Infrastructure
Fuel Deliveries Planned for 12 Soums Facing Petrol Shortages
Published: 2026-09-08
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources said fuel shipments were scheduled for 12 soums reported to have no or low petrol stocks, as authorities sought to maintain rural supply during the hay and fodder season. Over the previous 24 hours, 2,000 tonnes of AI-92 petrol were delivered to 160 filling stations in Ulaanbaatar and 1,038 tonnes of petrol to 84 stations outside the capital. State Secretary B. Dashpurev said national queues were decreasing and conditions were emerging to rebuild stocks. On September 8, 2,000 tonnes of petrol entered through the Zamiin-Uud border crossing. Reports said fuel entering through Ereentsav could be supplied quickly to the eastern region, while western-region distribution continued from Ulaanbaatar. Authorities were also negotiating additional imports from Russia, China, South Korea and other countries.
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Household and Public-Service Heating Set to Start September 15
Published: 2026-09-08
Heating for households, schools, kindergartens and hospitals is scheduled to begin on September 15, the start date set for the 2026-27 heating season. The schedule covers buildings supplied by both centralized and non-centralized heating systems, including apartment housing and the listed public institutions. Their heating period is set to run from September 15 through May 15. Businesses and other organizations have a later scheduled start date of October 1. The timetable separates residential customers and essential public services from commercial and institutional customers, with the first group scheduled to receive heating 16 days before the second. The report identifies the seasonal start and end dates but does not name individual heating suppliers, districts or facilities.
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Renewable-power auction for Oyu Tolgoi set for September 11
Published: 2026-09-08
The Ministry of Energy opened an auction for renewable-energy project proposals on August 13 and will hold competition on September 11 to select a supplier for Oyu Tolgoi. Bidders are to compete on providing reliable solar and wind power at the lowest price. The stated requirement is annual supply of 1.7 billion kilowatt-hours with 99.5% reliability. The proposal describes a 600-megawatt solar-and-wind facility dedicated to Oyu Tolgoi rather than the central grid. Oyu Tolgoi currently spends about USD 120 million annually importing electricity from China, according to the reports. The reports state that a renewable facility could be built in about two years, compared with an estimated five years for a coal-fired plant.
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Ulaanbaatar Plans to Add 156 Buses and Build 84 Schools
Published: 2026-09-08
Ulaanbaatar Governor B. Purevdavaa said the city plans to add 60 high-capacity electric buses, 46 medium-capacity buses and 50 school buses to public transport. Speaking at a meeting with senior citizens on September 8, he identified inadequate public transport, schools, roads and cycling infrastructure as key contributors to daily congestion. The city also plans to build 84 schools. Thirty-three schools can be addressed through World Bank financing and 11 through Asian Development Bank financing. Twenty-one neighborhood primary schools are planned to accommodate more than 8,700 children. The government has included MNT 50 billion for the School Near Home program in its 2026 budget amendment, which remains under discussion at a special parliamentary session. Officials also outlined proposed cycle paths, pedestrian overpasses and smart traffic signals.
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Baganuur Battery Storage Station Supplies 43.1 Million kWh This Year
Published: 2026-09-08
Baganuur’s 50 MW battery energy storage station supplied 5.8 million kWh to the central grid in August and 43.1 million kWh so far this year, according to the operator, Ulaanbaatar City Development Corporation JSC. China’s Envision Energy built the facility in 2024, using MNT 293.5 billion from municipal bonds, and it began supplying the central regional integrated grid in December 2024. The station stores surplus power during periods of low nighttime demand and releases it during daytime peak demand. Peak and off-peak demand differ by 300-400 MW, the report said. The report describes the station as designed to supply 25,000 Ulaanbaatar households with electricity for four hours.
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Society
Two 16-year-old girls die after falling from ninth floor in Bayanzurkh
Published: 2026-09-08
Two 16-year-old girls died on September 8 after falling from the ninth floor of a building in Bayanzurkh District’s 18th khoroo. Police were conducting an on-site inspection when the report was published, and authorities said they would provide further information about the case later. The report identifies both victims as female and gives their age as 16, but provides no names, the building’s address, or details about the circumstances of the fall. It does not state whether the girls were together before the incident or identify any witnesses. No cause of death beyond the fall, official finding, or further investigative conclusion had been released in the report. Police examination of the scene was under way when the information was published.
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Foreign nationals detained at airport over alleged MNT 900 million fraud involving jewelry
Published: 2026-09-08
Police detained foreign nationals at Chinggis Khaan International Airport on September 8 as they allegedly attempted to leave the country after allegedly defrauding people of MNT 900 million and jewelry valued at MNT 30 million. The reported cash amount was also given as USD 250,000. The arrests were carried out at the airport by officers mobilized for the operation, according to the Chingeltei District Police Department. The report does not name the detainees, identify their nationalities, describe the alleged fraud scheme, or state how many people were arrested. It also does not identify those allegedly defrauded or specify when the alleged offenses occurred. Authorities had not announced charges, court proceedings, or the current legal status of those detained in the information provided.
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Police Investigate MNT 93.9 Million Currency-Exchange Fraud
Published: 2026-09-08
Police are investigating a report that a person lost MNT 93.9 million after responding to a Facebook advertisement offering Chinese yuan exchange services. The complainant contacted an unidentified person and made three transfers totaling MNT 93.9 million, police said. Investigators have frozen the recipient account and are continuing the case. Authorities warned the public to verify online advertisements carefully before making financial transfers, noting that scammers may operate behind such listings. In the first eight months of 2026, police recorded 31,233 crimes nationwide; fraud accounted for 10,633 cases, or 34 percent. Online activity accounted for 76 percent of registered fraud cases.
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Officials Sent to Court Over Forest-Land Allocations
Published: 2026-09-08
The Capital City Prosecutor’s Office has sent a case involving two former land-management officers in Songinokhairkhan District and a private citizen to court. Prosecutors allege that B.B., B.U. and E.M. arranged for the district governor to issue Resolution A/799, allowing 11 people to hold 500 square meters each of forest-fund land for 15 years. The defendants are accused of using official authority to create unlawful land-use rights and confer an advantage on the recipients. The case has been transferred to the first-instance criminal court serving Bayangol, Khan-Uul and Songinokhairkhan districts. The indictment cites Article 22.1, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, covering abuse of official position by a public official.
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Court Upholds One-Month Detention of Philosopher S. Molor-Erdene
Published: 2026-09-08
A district court on September 8 upheld a 30-day pretrial detention order for philosopher S. Molor-Erdene, rejecting an appeal filed by his lawyers, B. Enkh-Amgalan and S. Gankhuyag. The court had approved the prosecutor’s request on September 2 after he was detained and investigated by the intelligence agency. Prosecutors opened a criminal case and named him as an accused person in connection with an alleged offense of undermining national unity. The detention request cited information suggesting risks that he could flee or commit an offense. The chief judge reviewing the appeal found that the original order met legal requirements and contained legally grounded reasoning for accepting the prosecutor’s request. The decision leaves the one-month custodial measure in force while the investigation continues.
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Second Round of Ulaanbaatar Kindergarten Registration Closes September 11
Published: 2026-09-08
The second round of online registration for kindergartens in Ulaanbaatar began September 3 and will close at 11:59 p.m. on September 11. It is for children with temporary residence addresses who did not complete the first-round electronic registration. Parents and guardians are to submit a request to enroll their child through the E-Mongolia system. The second round follows the initial electronic registration period and provides an application route for eligible children who missed it. The registration itself is conducted electronically. The report does not state when placement decisions will be announced, how applications will be assessed, or how many places may be available.
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Environment
Cold Nights and Ground Frost Forecast for Farming Areas
Published: 2026-09-08
Weather authorities warned that ground frost may continue in agricultural areas, putting uncovered potatoes and vegetables at risk. On September 8, light rain of 0.0-1.4 mm was forecast for parts of Arkhangai, Bayan-Ulgii, Khovd, Zavkhan, Govi-Altai, Khuvsgul, Bulgan and northern Uvurkhangai, while most other areas were expected to remain dry. Daytime temperatures were forecast at 13-18C in mountain areas, major river valleys, the northern Gobi and the eastern steppe; 22-27C in the Great Lakes Depression; and 16-21C elsewhere. Ulaanbaatar was expected to be cloudy and dry; some supplied forecasts put daytime temperatures at 17-19C, while others gave 18-20C. Overnight temperatures around the Tuul River valley could fall below zero, while Terelj was forecast at minus 4C to minus 6C. Authorities forecast further rain in eastern and central areas over following days, with warmer conditions from September 14-16.
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Authorities Issue Bear Alert After More Than 10 Encounters Near Settlements
Published: 2026-09-08
Environmental authorities have recorded more than 10 cases of brown bears entering or approaching settled areas in 2026, including in Khentii, Dornod, Selenge and Khuvsgul provinces. Ulaanbaatar has recorded three entries into residential areas this year; the latest was in Uliastai Valley, Khoroo 20 of Bayanzurkh District. Provincial environmental offices, emergency services and local emergency commissions have been working together to drive bears away without frightening or startling them. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is examining why bears are nearing people, including food scarcity, drought, fires, food waste, livestock carcasses, berry and nut gathering, and possible disturbance from poaching. Residents near the city, summer-camp areas, herders and visitors are advised to stay alert. Bear sightings should be reported to the Ulaanbaatar Environmental Department at 72720303 during working hours or to the Ulaanbaatar Emergency Management and Coordination Center at 11-310005 outside working hours.
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Published: 2026-09-08
Acting Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Ts. Iderbat told the Environment, Food and Agriculture Standing Committee that no current cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported. The discussion took place during consideration of a budget amendment. Authorities plan to vaccinate more than six million cattle between September 15 and October 15. Vaccine deliveries are due to begin Friday in Khentii, Dornod, Sukhbaatar, Tuv, Dundgovi, Govisumber and Dornogovi provinces. Iderbat said foot-and-mouth disease had spread to small livestock after the 2025 vaccination campaign was administered during severe midwinter cold, which he said was considered ineffective. He said emergency measures were taken to bring the outbreak under control. The planned campaign covers cattle in the seven named provinces.
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National Audit Office Opens COP17 Spending Review
Published: 2026-09-08
The National Audit Office has begun a financial and compliance audit of spending and results from COP17, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification conference hosted in Mongolia. The review will examine funding sources, planning, budget inclusion, legality of expenditure and results across the COP17 National Committee, Finance Ministry, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, Foreign Ministry, Ulaanbaatar Governor’s Office and other bodies. Auditors will inspect decisions, policy documents, reports, financial records and procurement contracts from 2023 through 2026. Separately, MAK Policy Council Chair B. Nyamtai Shir called for easier production-sharing terms for oil exploration licence holders near the refinery, arguing this could attract investment and improve potential crude supply. He also proposed tax incentives and regulatory reforms for energy projects.
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Gold Miner Investigated for Operating Beyond Licensed Area
Published: 2026-09-08
Environmental police are investigating Altai Khangai Burd LLC over suspected gold mining beyond its licensed area in Khentii Province. The company holds license MV-006505 for a project listed in its environmental impact assessment as operating in Batshireet soum. However, the report says mining has occurred on the western bank and in the channel of the Saikhanii River in Omnodelger soum, near forest land and an area associated with the Khan Khentii protected area and Onon-Balj national park. Police inspections across eight provinces also identified suspected mining outside licensed areas at a site in Bombogor soum, Bayankhongor Province. The report says authorities had previously ordered Altai Khangai Burd LLC to halt operations and sealed its equipment over alleged Water Law violations; it further alleges that the company continued operating after breaking the seals.
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Nationwide Air-Quality Monitoring Network Comes Online
Published: 2026-09-08
Ulaanbaatar and the administrative centers of all 21 provinces have completed installation of automated air-quality monitoring stations under a joint project of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment and its Environmental Corporation. The project ran from 2023 to 2026 with a USD 8.9 million grant. The network can continuously measure sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, PM2.5 and PM10 particles, ozone, carbon monoxide and other meteorological indicators. Readings are now available on agaar.gov.mn, which previously displayed only current air-quality conditions. The ministry said the website now also provides forecasts, giving residents access to both live measurements and expected conditions across the expanded national network.
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Domestic Harvest Expected to Cover 70% of Vegetable Demand
Published: 2026-09-08
Preliminary harvest forecasts project 555,300 tonnes of grain this autumn, including 497,100 tonnes of wheat, alongside 168,200 tonnes of potatoes, 218,400 tonnes of vegetables, 50,400 tonnes of oilseeds and 201,800 tonnes of fodder crops. The projected harvest would cover 100 percent of domestic demand for food wheat and potatoes and 70 percent of vegetable demand with local production. To stabilize supplies and prices, the proposed budget amendment includes financing to establish reserves from this autumn’s harvest: 100,000 tonnes of food wheat, 12,000 tonnes of potatoes, and an unspecified amount of vegetables. The measures remain tied to the budget amendment, rather than representing stocks already set aside.
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Innovation
PISA Results Show Science Gains but Persistent Gaps in Reading and Mathematics
Published: 2026-09-08
Mongolia ranked 49th among 91 countries in the OECD’s 2025 PISA assessment, based on results from 7,146 15-year-old students at 191 schools representing 59,900 learners. Students scored 419 in mathematics, ranking 49th; 424 in science, ranking 56th; and 374 in reading, placing around 69th or 70th depending on the report. Science improved by 12 points from 2022, placing the country among the 10 largest improvers in that subject, while mathematics and reading remained broadly stable but below OECD averages. Some 56.9% of students reached at least the Level 2 baseline in science. Results also indicated that socioeconomically advantaged students outperformed disadvantaged peers in science by 71 points, although performance among disadvantaged students improved and gaps between Ulaanbaatar and provincial centers narrowed. The assessment also measured digital problem-solving, where the country ranked 51st.
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Education agency targets October 1 for full delivery of first-grade textbooks
Published: 2026-09-08
The General Education Agency says it is working to deliver all first-grade textbooks by October 1 after the curriculum was revised for the 2026-2027 school year. First-grade students began the school year without textbooks after an initial tender announced on June 11 was cancelled because no bidder met the requirements; a new tender was issued on August 5. The agency has also announced a package tender for writing, printing and distributing textbooks for grades 1-12. Director Kh. Tamir said reserves are sufficient for grades 2-5, which continue under the previous year’s curriculum, and schools with shortages will receive redistributed stock. Rental-textbook reserves for grades 6-12 are reported to cover 71% of need. A tender was announced to print 62,000 additional textbook packages.
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Health
Regulator Recalls Metoclopramide Batch That Failed Quality Standards
Published: 2026-09-08
The Drug and Medical Device Regulatory Authority is recalling a batch of Metoclopramide 10mg injectable medicine after laboratory testing found it did not meet required standards. The recalled product is batch 2502026, manufactured by Guizhou Tiandi Pharmaceutical in China. The authority classified the action as a Class 2 recall and is withdrawing the batch through 65 distribution channels. The decision follows pharmaceutical laboratory testing dated July 31, 2026. Authorities also reported that the recall of Dae-Kal tablets, batch FE8665, had been completed. That product was manufactured by PT Caprifamindo Laboratories in Indonesia and failed standards in testing conclusions dated August 11, 2026. Both actions concern specific batches rather than all products from the named manufacturers. The reports did not state the nature of the quality failures or identify the distribution outlets involved.
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