Politics
Democratic Party Says It Will Seek Removal of Uchral Government
Published: 2026-08-27
The DP (Democratic Party) said its parliamentary group will submit a proposal to remove the Uchral government when parliament convenes, citing inflation, fuel shortages and the budget deficit. At an August 27 briefing, DP deputy chair N. Ganibal alleged that poor management of Mongolia’s 45-day fuel reserve after the Naadam holiday contributed to shortages and higher prices. He also linked the situation to rising household costs before the school year. The reports describe these as opposition allegations, not government findings. Ganibal cited the Bank of Mongolia’s July inflation figure of 13 percent and a budget deficit of MNT 2.4 trillion. Minister G. Damdinnyam rejected the accusation, saying the shortage resulted from a 40 percent fall in imports from Russia and that no problem had occurred during Naadam.
“The DP parliamentary group will submit a proposal to remove the Uchral government.” - N. Ganibal (news.mn)
Coverage:
Two Zamiin-Uud Customs Inspectors Sent to Prosecutors in Bribery Case
Published: 2026-08-27
Investigators have completed their inquiry into J. Ochirkhuyag and L. Enkhjargal and transferred the case to prosecutors for review. Ochirkhuyag is accused of repeatedly accepting bribes ranging from MNT 300,000 to MNT 3 million from people working as authorized customs representatives. Enkhjargal is accused of passing bribes from those representatives to Ochirkhuyag. The investigation follows an April search at the Zamiin-Uud Customs Office, after which 36 customs inspectors and General Customs Administration officials were named as defendants, suspended from work and investigated. Prosecutors previously sent a separate case involving former senior inspector B.B. to the inter-soum first-instance criminal court in Zamiin-Uud, alleging he accepted MNT 58.9 million from four authorized representatives.
Coverage:
MP Questions Prime Minister Over Health Effects of K2-Grade Petrol
Published: 2026-08-27
Member of Parliament J. Bayarmaa submitted an official inquiry to Prime Minister N. Uchral on August 26 concerning the health effects of K2-grade AI-92 gasoline imported and used in Mongolia. The inquiry notes that much of Ulaanbaatar’s vehicle fleet is older and asks Mongolia to determine how high-sulfur fuel affects catalytic converters and emission-control systems in vehicles that have been used with lower-sulfur fuel. Bayarmaa requested eight sets of information, including laboratory results for sulfur, benzene, lead, iron and manganese in imported K2 AI-92 gasoline; a comparative quality assessment of K2 through K5 fuel grades; and reports on laboratory capacity and fuel-quality oversight. The inquiry also seeks laboratory results for other key indicators affecting human health and the environment.
Coverage:
Draft law would open regulated crowdfunding to small businesses
Published: 2026-08-27
Member of Parliament O. Saranchuluun and the Financial Regulatory Commission have drafted a Crowdfunding Law that would create a legal framework for start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to raise money from the public outside bank lending. If enacted, the bill would regulate four forms of crowdfunding: equity, loans, rewards and donations. The proposal is intended to give businesses another financing route when collateral requirements, lending criteria and borrowing costs limit access to bank credit. It cites research showing that 60 percent of entrepreneurs rely on their own funds and 36 percent use loans from banks or financial institutions. The bill would also set rules on who may raise funds, the information provided to investors, and protection of raised money. Its authors say this would make online fundraising more transparent and reduce fraud risks.
Coverage:
Registration Opens for Parliamentary Hearing on Agricultural Support Since 2008
Published: 2026-08-27
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Environment, Food and Agriculture will hold a general oversight hearing on September 28-29 on state support to the food, agriculture and light-industry sector since 2008. The hearing will examine subsidies and incentives as well as government-paid interest subsidies on loans, including their implementation. Registration for citizens, legal entities and media representatives is open until 5:00 p.m. on September 21. Applicants must submit a signed written request with their identity, registration number, residential and mailing addresses, and contact telephone number. Participants may submit written proposals, explanations or information by September 23, at least two working days before the hearing. Attendance will be limited by venue capacity, and applicants must specify which hearing date they wish to attend.
Coverage:
Economy
Fuel Authorities Restore Sales in Approved Containers; Deliveries Reported
Published: 2026-08-27
On August 27, the fuel supply task force said it had revoked the restriction on sales into approved portable containers and notified fuel importers and businesses that the policy applies nationwide. At a Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources briefing, State Secretary B. Dashpurev said 51,000 tonnes of 74,780 tonnes of AI-92 gasoline ordered for August had arrived, and that the remaining 23,000-plus tonnes could be brought in by month-end. He said 130,000 tonnes of 158,650 tonnes of diesel ordered had been delivered. Dashpurev reported that 3,360 tonnes of gasoline had arrived in the previous 24 hours, with 780 tonnes sent to 88 Ulaanbaatar filling stations and 500 tonnes to 45 provincial stations. Officials said they were working to increase volumes from China and prioritize five provinces with persistent queues.
Coverage:
Foreign Exchange Reserves Rise to USD 7.7 Billion
Published: 2026-08-27
Foreign exchange reserves reached USD 7.7 billion at the end of June 2026, up from USD 7.0 billion at the end of 2025 and equivalent to 4.8 months of imports. The balance of payments recorded a USD 566.6 million surplus in the first half of 2026. The current account posted a USD 179 million surplus, improving by USD 1.9 billion year on year as the merchandise trade surplus rose to USD 4.5 billion. Copper concentrate exports reached USD 4.6 billion and coal exports USD 3.9 billion. Imports increased by USD 590 million, mainly because of petroleum products, while the services deficit widened by USD 428 million. The financial account recorded a USD 613 million net inflow after Oyu Tolgoi made USD 2 billion in foreign debt repayments, reducing Mongolia’s external debt by the same amount.
Coverage:
Utility and Mobile Bills No Longer Lower Credit Scores
Published: 2026-08-27
Outstanding bills for mobile services, electricity, heating, water and other everyday utilities will no longer have a negative effect on credit scores. More than 390,000 debt records and more than 300,000 pending-payment records, about 700,000 records in total, have been excluded from the negative calculation. The payment information will remain visible in a person’s credit history, but it will not lower the score. Parliament Speaker S. Byambatsogt announced the change through social media, saying it followed proposals submitted through parliament’s public-feedback channel. The Bank of Mongolia is continuing work to revise regulations that create difficulties for citizens and to make the Credit Information Database’s scoring methodology more flexible and better developed. The report does not say that the underlying bills or payment obligations have been cancelled.
Coverage:
Mining Exchange to Return 90% of Buyer Deposits After Contracts Are Signed
Published: 2026-08-27
The government has approved measures for trading through the mining-products exchange that will return 90% of a buyer’s deposit once a contract is signed, with the remaining 10% released after an assessment. Mongolia adopted its Mining Products Exchange Law in 2022 to trade coal and other mineral products through transparent, competitive sales. The new resolution responds to concerns that limited product options, restrictions on long-term contracts and deposits frozen through contract performance have constrained company cash flow. Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi JSC sold 10.65 million tonnes of coal worth USD 940.4 million through 195 exchange transactions in the first seven months of 2026. The government said the changes are intended to improve the exchange’s efficiency, competitiveness and product range.
Coverage:
High Copper Prices Could Strengthen Export Revenue
Published: 2026-08-27
Copper prices have risen above USD 14,000 per tonne, with the London Metal Exchange’s three-month contract reaching USD 14,343 on August 25, close to its record of USD 14,527.50 per tonne. Analysts cited in the report link the rise largely to changes in global trade flows prompted by expectations of possible US tariffs on imported copper from 2027, which have drawn metal into US warehouses. Mongolia exported 1.53 million tonnes of copper concentrate in the first half of 2026, up 23 percent year on year, and its revenue from copper concentrate exceeded coal export revenue. The 2026 budget assumed a balanced copper price of USD 8,341.80 per tonne, while Oyu Tolgoi’s copper output rose 31 percent year on year in the first half.
Coverage:
Two companies advance in selection process for Darkhan steel complex
Published: 2026-08-27
The government has approved measures to advance a steel production complex planned for Darkhan-Uul Province. A working group was formed to prepare and approve a feasibility study and select a contractor for the project. It issued an open invitation for international investment and cooperation proposals, contacting 30 leading steel and metallurgy companies in Sweden, China, South Korea and the United States. Five proposals were submitted, all from Chinese companies, and two investors were chosen in the preliminary selection. The sector minister said a subcommittee has been formed and is ready to announce the next selection stage. Investors will be required to meet domestic demand for one million tonnes of steel, produce export-quality steel, create jobs for local businesses, and train workers. The construction site has been placed under state special-use status.
Coverage:
Economic Council questions whether proposed budget revision would reduce spending
Published: 2026-08-27
The Economic Council of the Open Society Forum estimates that the proposed 2026 budget revision would save MNT 433.4 billion from ministers’ current expenditure packages, MNT 758 billion from municipal bond financing, and MNT 249.5 billion from investment spending. The total planned savings are MNT 1.441 trillion. Researchers at the council’s meeting said those funds would be reallocated to other items, however, increasing state-budget expenditure by MNT 1.093 trillion and consolidated-budget expenditure by MNT 998 billion. They therefore described the proposal as an expansion of overall spending rather than a contractionary revision. The researchers also warned that measures to protect purchasing power through wages, pensions and subsidies could add inflationary pressure if goods and services supply does not rise accordingly. The government submitted the package to parliament on August 20.
Coverage:
Vehicle imports decline as licence-plate issuance restrictions take effect
Published: 2026-08-27
Vehicle imports have fallen in 2026 after years of growth, according to the report, which links the decline to restrictions on issuing licence plates. Imports were reported to have fallen 68 percent at the beginning of the year and 52.5 percent in the second half. In the first half of 2026, Mongolia imported 43,131 passenger cars, 10,389 trucks and 615 public-transport motor vehicles. The value of passenger-car imports fell by USD 155 million and truck imports by USD 57 million. From 2015 through 2025, the country imported 718,190 passenger cars, 215,065 trucks and 14,779 public-transport vehicles. Passenger-car imports reached a record 123,089 units in 2024. The report also cites a January 2025 decision to raise Ulaanbaatar vehicle and road taxes, exchange rates, credit conditions, overseas supply, congestion and parking as factors affecting imports.
Coverage:
Govisumber Leads Corruption-Risk Assessment as Bulgan Scores Lowest
Published: 2026-08-27
A private-sector assessment of corruption risks in local business environments found wide differences among Mongolia’s 21 provinces. The Economic Policy and Competitiveness Research Center surveyed 204 companies and reported an overall score of 37.79 points. Govisumber received the highest score, 55.07, followed by Darkhan-Uul at 49.07 and Khuvsgul at 48.40, while Bulgan ranked lowest at 20.28. The report says risk patterns differ by local economic structure and public-service practices: mining, major projects, licences and procurement are key concerns in Gobi provinces; state support, financing and permits are highlighted in Khangai; and access to services and information is a concern in western provinces. The Central Region had the highest regional score, 44.83, with land, construction and tenders identified as sensitive areas.
Coverage:
Business Survey Flags Loan Costs and Collateral Requirements as Main Burden
Published: 2026-08-27
A Democratic Party Economic, Business and Employment Policy Council survey of 122 businesses found weak confidence and significant financing pressure. Its Business Pulse index scored business confidence at 33 out of 100, while average capacity utilization was 60.3 percent, indicating that firms are not fully using available resources. Financing pressure received the highest burden score, 72.3, driven by bank loan interest rates, collateral requirements and difficulties obtaining credit. Cost pressure scored 60.5 as businesses cited rising raw-material, rent, wage, transport and logistics expenses. Regulatory and administrative pressure scored 57.9, covering tax inspections, reporting, permits, licences, customs, labour and social-insurance oversight. Conducted in August, the survey mainly covered small Ulaanbaatar businesses focused on the domestic market.
Coverage:
Diplomacy
Hunnu Air to Launch Regular Ulaanbaatar-Delhi Flights
Published: 2026-08-27
Hunnu Air said it is ready to officially begin direct Ulaanbaatar-Delhi service on August 28, with regular passenger flights from Mongolia to India scheduled every Monday. The route follows discussions during President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh’s state visit to India last year, when the two countries considered making direct air links regular as part of broader strategic, economic and tourism cooperation. Hunnu Air completed an initial direct test flight on the route in late 2025 using an Embraer E195-E2 aircraft; the flight took more than six hours. The carrier and relevant parties have now completed preparations for the regular service, which will provide a direct scheduled connection between the two capitals.
Coverage:
Parliament Speaker Begins Official Visits to Luxembourg and Belgium
Published: 2026-08-27
State Great Khural Speaker Sandagiin Byambatsogt departed on August 26 for official visits to Luxembourg and Belgium, his first foreign trip as parliament speaker. At the invitation of Luxembourg’s parliament speaker Claude Wiseler, Byambatsogt will visit Luxembourg on August 26-27 and Belgium on August 28-30. The visits coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Luxembourg, the 25th anniversary of their development cooperation, and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Belgium. Parliament said the program aims to strengthen friendly relations, deepen cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, sustain high-level dialogue and reciprocal visits, and advance interparliamentary cooperation. It will be the first visit to both countries by a Mongolian parliament speaker in 24 years.
Coverage:
Ulaanbaatar Starts Drive to Align the Three Rio Conventions
Published: 2026-08-27
At a high-level COP17 discussion, the presidencies of the three 2026 Rio Convention conferences began a process to align action on climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, land degradation and drought. Mongolia hosts UNCCD COP17; Armenia and Turkey will host the subsequent conferences. The process is expected to move from Ulaanbaatar through Armenia to Turkey during the Triple COP year. The COP presidencies and the three convention secretariats plan to establish a Rio Synergies Group for Action linking governments, international and financial institutions, and implementing partners. Its purpose is to coordinate existing initiatives rather than duplicate them. The government also presented its Steppe Action Agenda as a vehicle for land management, restoration, partnerships and investment.
“Mongolia is playing a leading role internationally in nomadic livestock production and pasture protection.” - U. Tungalag (unuudur.mn)
Coverage:
Infrastructure
First 100 km of Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait Freight Road Opens
Published: 2026-08-27
The first 100 km of the 240-km Tavan Tolgoi-Gashuunsukhait heavy-haul road opened on August 27 in Tsogttsetsii soum, Umnugovi province. Built to carry mining products, the road is 14.5 meters wide, has a 7.5-meter carriageway and is designed for loads of 20 to 24 tonnes. The project proceeds under a build-operate-transfer concession signed with Tal Nutgiin Khugjliin Zam LLC on March 29, 2019, after construction began in June 2020. Its implementation slowed because of the pandemic, geopolitical conditions, higher construction-material, fuel and transport costs, and supply difficulties. The government, Ministry of Road and Transport, local authorities, concession holder and contractors have accelerated the work. The ministry has directed that the remaining section be completed by September 2026 without changing the overall concession period.
Coverage:
Construction of Four-Lane Ulaanbaatar-Lun Road Set for September
Published: 2026-08-27
Construction of a 101.7-km, four-lane road between Ulaanbaatar and Lun is scheduled to begin in September under a public-private partnership, following a government decision in July. The route is a principal gateway linking the capital with the western region and is used by an estimated 1 million to 1.2 million people each year. Its design and feasibility study have been fully approved, according to the report. The planned project is intended to improve road safety and traffic capacity for travel toward the western provinces and to shorten journey times. The announcement concerns the start of construction rather than completion of the road. No completion date, project cost, contractor or financing terms were provided in the source report.
Coverage:
Tuul Substation Upgrade Targets More Reliable Power for 11,000 Users
Published: 2026-08-27
The National Power Transmission Grid is expanding and modernizing the Tuul Substation, a key node in Ulaanbaatar’s 110-kilovolt transmission network. The work includes a new substation, a double-circuit cable line and a comprehensive upgrade of the existing Tuul facility, financed through a concessional loan from Germany’s KfW Development Bank. German State Secretary Jochen Saathoff of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development visited the substation on August 22 with a delegation. Discussions covered the Mongolia-Germany transmission-network modernization and expansion project, renewable-energy integration and workforce development. The National Power Transmission Grid also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Partnership II project. Once fully implemented, the project is expected to strengthen long-term network capacity and reliability for more than 11,000 users in the capital.
Coverage:
Jadegas Holdings submits Tavan Tolgoi methane project operating plan
Published: 2026-08-27
Australia-registered Jadegas Holdings has submitted the operating plan for its Tavan Tolgoi coal-bed methane project to the Mineral Resources Professional Council. The company has also agreed with the regulator to seek a production licence covering 502 square kilometres, equal to 80 percent of its exploration area under the production-sharing agreement. In June, Jadegas registered the project’s initial reserves with the council, described as the first official confirmation of natural-gas reserves in Mongolia. The confirmed reserves cover only a small part of the project area. The Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority signed the production-sharing agreement for the area on May 6, 2020. Independent Jadegas board member Ian Wang said the company intends to increase reserves and move toward commercial production. The council reviews exploration results, reserve estimates and mining feasibility studies before issuing professional opinions and recommendations.
Coverage:
Society
Police Arrest Five Suspects Over Bank-Phishing Scam
Published: 2026-08-27
Police have arrested four Mongolian citizens and one foreign national suspected of using fraudulent online promotions to steal internet-banking credentials and transfer money from victims’ accounts. The links and fake websites advertised offers such as a Khan Bank 35th-anniversary promotion, commercial-bank scholarships, mobile data and prize draws. Authorities recorded 234 cases of this type of phishing scam in July. Investigators said the suspects copied users’ login names, passwords and one-time verification codes, then accessed their accounts. Searches of the suspects’ homes and persons, authorized by prosecutors, recovered digital and physical evidence linked to alleged attacks and preparations for further attacks. The case is being investigated with the authorization of the Khan-Uul District prosecutor. Police advised people not to enter banking information on suspicious links or disclose OTP codes.
Coverage:
Micromobility Crashes Injure 160 People in First 20 Days of August
Published: 2026-08-27
Road crashes involving mopeds, scooters and Surron vehicles injured 160 people who received medical care during the first 20 days of August, according to L. Bum-Ayush, an emergency physician at the National Center for Traumatology and Orthopedics. Police recorded 236 traffic crashes involving these vehicles in the first seven months of 2026, while health facilities registered 1,327 related injury cases. A road-safety law effective July 1 classifies Surrons as motorcycles and scooters as mopeds. Surron riders must be at least 18 and hold a Category A license; scooters and mopeds may use bicycle lanes and the rightmost traffic lane. Authorities cited underage driving, unsafe vehicles, wrong-way travel and weaving between vehicles as major factors.
“Children aged 10-14 and 16-17 are involved in scooter, Surron and moped crashes.” - L. Bum-Ayush (unuudur.mn)
Coverage:
2025 Census Counts 35,446 Long-Term Foreign Residents
Published: 2026-08-27
The 2025 intercensal census counted Mongolia’s citizen population at 3,589,826, growing by an average 1.4% annually since the 2020 census. Of that total, 201,350 citizens had lived abroad for six months or longer. The population residing within the country was 3,423,940, including 3,388,476 citizens, 35,446 foreign nationals living in Mongolia for at least six months, and 18 stateless residents. Chinese nationals accounted for 60.1% of long-term foreign residents, compared with 41.7% in 2020, while the shares of Russian, South Korean and US nationals declined. Foreign residents remain concentrated in Ulaanbaatar, although its share fell to 64.0%; Dornogovi, Tuv and Umnugovi recorded increases. Most foreign residents are aged 25-54.
Coverage:
Environment
Published: 2026-08-27
Veterinary authorities have imposed quarantine measures after laboratory tests confirmed the SAT-1 strain of foot-and-mouth disease in Dashbalbar and Chuluunkhoroot soums of Dornod Province and Sukhbaatar soum of Sukhbaatar Province. In Dornod, 595 cattle belonging to 17 households in Dashbalbar and more than 1,100 cattle at the Magic Angus farm in Chuluunkhoroot have been affected. Fifteen control posts are operating in Dornod, where the movement of livestock and livestock products from the two affected soums, Bayandun, Bayan-Uul, and Gurvanzagal has been banned indefinitely. Officials also found foot-and-mouth disease among gazelles sampled near Dashbalbar. The herd may migrate after the Ulz River freezes, posing a risk of spreading the disease into Khentii and Sukhbaatar provinces. A 74-member response team has begun vaccinating susceptible animals, with 190,000 additional vaccine doses dispatched.
Coverage:
Rain and Thunderstorms Forecast Across Northern, Central and Eastern Areas
Published: 2026-08-27
Rain and thunderstorms are forecast across much of the western and central provinces and northern parts of the eastern provinces on August 27, with further rain expected across most central and eastern provinces on August 28. The weather agency warned of gusty winds, hail, lightning and flood risks before showers. Westerly winds are expected at 5-10 meters per second, strengthening briefly in some locations before rainfall. Daytime temperatures are forecast at 11-16C in the Altai, Khangai and Khuvsgul mountain regions, the Great Lakes Depression, and the Ider and Tes river valleys. Southern Gobi areas, Dornod and the Dariganga steppe may reach 27-32C. Ulaanbaatar will be cloudy with rain, winds shifting from southwest to north, and daytime temperatures of 20-22C.
Coverage:
September Forecast Warns of Early Frost and Wet Snow in Mountain Areas
Published: 2026-08-27
The national weather agency forecasts near-average September temperatures across most areas, although the southwest is expected to be warmer than average and parts of the central and eastern provinces cooler. Rainfall is forecast to be below average in the southwest but above average in parts of central and eastern Mongolia. The agency expects cooler conditions early and late in the month, with warmer intervals during the middle. Wet snow is possible in mountain areas during several periods, while winds may strengthen and dust storms are possible in eastern and Gobi areas. It warned that overnight temperatures could fall sharply, bringing early frost and sudden freezing at ground level in farming districts. Herders were advised to prepare feed and winter shelters, while farmers should organize harvesting around short-term forecasts and protect crops from frost.
Coverage:
Ulaanbaatar Announces Revocation of 407 Green-Zone Land Permits
Published: 2026-08-27
Ulaanbaatar announced it would revoke land-use rights for 407 plots in green zones and forested summer-camp areas in Sukhbaatar and Chingeltei districts. The plots were cited for blocking public access routes, exceeding permitted fence boundaries, being left unused or containing unauthorized structures. City officials inspected 26 valleys where 11,706 plots have been allocated on forest land intended for public access and recreation. Blocked entrances have also restricted access for rescue vehicles during fires and floods, officials said. Mayor B. Purevdagva said the city will examine creating pedestrian paths, green corridors and firebreaks on recovered land with residents and specialist organizations. The city said it would not allow the released sites to be fenced again or used for unauthorized purposes.
“Ulaanbaatar’s green zone is not the possession of a few people; it is a vital urban resource that protects public health, safety and quality of life.” - B. Purevdagva (ikon.mn)
Coverage:
Harvest Forecast Points to Full Wheat and Potato Self-Sufficiency
Published: 2026-08-27
Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Ts. Iderbat presented the government’s preliminary harvest balance to a cabinet meeting. Mongolia planted 370,000 hectares this spring, including 318,000 hectares of wheat, 13,000 hectares of potatoes and 14,000 hectares of vegetables. Preliminary estimates put the harvest at 555,300 tonnes of wheat, 168,200 tonnes of potatoes and 220,000 tonnes of vegetables. The forecast would cover domestic wheat and potato needs in full and 70 percent of vegetable demand. The cabinet also approved revised payments for herders and intensive livestock producers who supply compliant raw milk to processors between November 1 and March 31. Payments are set at MNT 1,000 per liter, with applications submitted through tus.mofa.gov.mn.
Coverage:
Ulaanbaatar Sets Out Water Reuse and Rainwater Storage Projects
Published: 2026-08-27
Ulaanbaatar Mayor B. Purevdavaa said the city will pursue wastewater reuse, rainwater collection and storage projects as water demand increases. Speaking at a COP17 session on preventing water shortages, he said the capital relies mainly on groundwater in the Tuul River basin. A 2026 World Bank assessment found that pressure on Ulaanbaatar’s groundwater has increased and that withdrawals exceed aquifer recharge rates, according to the report. The city has commissioned a wastewater recycling plant that further treats water released from the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant; it could save up to 18 million cubic meters of groundwater annually for the energy sector. Planned projects include regulated reservoirs on rivers, use of surface water for drinking and household supply, and flood-risk prevention measures.
Coverage:
Rising Heat Raises Risks of Drought, Dzud and Flooding
Published: 2026-08-27
Climate change is advancing rapidly in Mongolia, with national air temperatures rising 2.5C over more than 80 years, according to Ts. Bat-Oyun, head of the Agricultural Research Department at the Institute of Meteorology and Environmental Research. He said the rise is twice the global average, while total precipitation has shown no overall trend. Hotter warm seasons with unchanged rainfall are increasing aridity. Winters are becoming slightly warmer, with snowfall varying between areas. Bat-Oyun said these patterns point to drought and dzud becoming more frequent and increasing in intensity and geographical scale. He also said intense downpours are increasingly observed and can erode soil, while some areas experience floods as others face drought. He called for protecting pasture, aligning herd numbers with carrying capacity, and combining herders’ traditional knowledge with science.
Coverage:
COP17 Puts Food Systems and Soil Health on Its Day 11 Agenda
Published: 2026-08-27
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification will focus on food systems and soil health on its 11th day. The program will build on COP16 outcomes and ongoing partnerships to advance UNCCD targets through 2030. Discussions are scheduled around five areas: healthy soils as the basis for resilient food systems; soil assessment, monitoring and evidence-based data; people-centered value chains; financing and investment; and policy coordination across ministries. Speakers include Andrea Meza Murillo, UNCCD deputy executive secretary; Barron Joseph Orr, the convention’s chief scientist; Li Lifeng of the Food and Agriculture Organization; and Emeline Fellus of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. The agenda also includes discussions on rangelands, nomadic livestock production, drought resilience, land tenure, financing and links between land and water.
Coverage:
UNCCD and Business Council Launch Business4Land Hub
Published: 2026-08-27
On August 27, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and the Business Council of Mongolia signed a memorandum to establish the Business4Land Mongolia Hub during COP17. The Business Council will manage the national platform, which will join the international Business4Land Hub network. Business4Land is an official UNCCD initiative that mobilizes private-sector participation, investment and innovation to reduce land degradation, restore degraded land and improve drought resilience. Mongolia is the third country to establish a hub, after France and China. The agreement creates a route for Mongolian businesses to connect with international partners, investors, knowledge and experience. Separately, the source identifies land degradation, desertification, drought and pasture degradation as Mongolia’s broader challenges, linked to water and food security, livestock production, mining, supply chains and long-term economic stability.
Coverage:
Innovation
Universities Set September 16 Return to In-Person Classes
Published: 2026-08-27
Universities and colleges will begin in-person instruction on September 16 for the 2026-2027 academic year, after holding their first 14 days of classes online because Mongolia is hosting the COP17 international conference. Sixty-eight higher-education institutions and colleges will operate nationwide this academic year. Education Ministry Higher Education Department director I. Purevtsogt said about 44,000 students took entrance examinations, with state-owned institutions reaching 84 percent of their planned enrollment and private institutions 70 percent. One ministry update put tuition for the academic year at 5.9 million tugriks, while another reported an average tuition figure of 5.4 million tugriks. The Education Loan Fund will provide funding for 506 eligible children of education staff and for 1,692 students in priority, high-demand and teaching fields in provincial areas.
Coverage:
Schools Adopt Four-Term Year and New First-Grade Curriculum
Published: 2026-08-27
The 2026-2027 school year begins on September 1 with a four-term calendar for all general education schools, replacing the previous three-term structure. The first term had lasted 16 weeks; under the new schedule, pupils will study in blocks of seven to nine weeks, with two independent-study weeks. One will coincide with Tsagaan Sar, while another will align with the winter break in Ulaanbaatar and the spring livestock-birthing period in rural areas. A preliminary estimate puts the number of six-year-olds entering first grade at 75,838. They will use revised textbooks and spend September 1 to October 1 adjusting to school before regular textbook lessons begin. A voluntary blended classroom, online and home-learning pilot for herder households will operate for one year in Umnugovi and Dundgovi provinces.
Coverage:
Schools Told Not to Require Housing Orders From Temporary Residents
Published: 2026-08-27
Ulaanbaatar general education schools have been instructed not to require a housing order when registering children of temporary residents, according to Metropolitan Education Department Director B. Amartuvshin. Families must still provide other documents proving temporary residency. The directive follows complaints that schools were requesting additional documents or declining applications from temporary residents. For the 2026-2027 academic year, 653 kindergartens and 340 general education schools are ready to operate in the capital. Registration for kindergarten and first grade has been conducted online since 2022, with 100,481 children registered for kindergarten and 36,016 for first grade. Officials said they are also checking addresses where many children are registered within a few days.
Coverage:
300 Presidential Scholarship Students Depart for Universities Abroad
Published: 2026-08-27
Three hundred students who completed preparatory programs at the National University of Mongolia and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology have departed to study at universities in 16 countries under the Presidential Scholarship 2100 program. Their destinations include the United States, Germany, France, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, South Korea, India and Russia. President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh saw the students off at Chinggis Khaan International Airport and presented them with national flags. The program, launched in 2021, selects one top student each year from every soum and Ulaanbaatar khoroo for study at leading overseas universities. It currently supports 1,055 students at universities in 21 countries. This year, 136 graduates returned and, under their contracts, will work in their assigned local areas for at least five years.
Coverage: