Politics
DP Calls for Emergency Budget Revision as Deficit Reaches MNT 2.1 Trillion
Published: 2026-08-14
Members of the DP (Democratic Party) called on the government to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session this month to revise the 2026 budget, citing a MNT 2.1 trillion deficit reported last week by Finance Minister Z. Mendsaikhan. The government has said it is placing all sectors except health care under a savings regime and temporarily restricting non-essential events and procurement until social and economic conditions normalize. Lawmaker B. Jargalan said headline inflation had reached 13 percent and food-price growth 25 percent, while warning that fuel shortages could create another inflationary wave. Party secretary G. Lkhagdorj said the government had made more than 400 managerial appointments at ministry and agency level since 2025, adding pressure to public finances.
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Revised Family Law Allows Court Challenges Over Misused Child Support
Published: 2026-08-14
A revised Family Law adopted during Parliament’s spring session strengthens child-rights protections and introduces new rules on custody, property, support and guardianship. Parents have equal rights and shared responsibilities toward a child regardless of whether they are married or live together. The parent assigned custody may make decisions on health, education, travel abroad, religion and the management of a child’s separate property in the child’s best interests. Child support cannot be waived and must not be below the subsistence minimum. An interested party may bring a court claim if support payments are not used for the child’s needs. The law also gives children aged 14 and older the right to seek compensation in court for damage to their property.
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Ulaanbaatar Launches 150-150 Hotline for Resident Requests
Published: 2026-08-14
Ulaanbaatar has introduced the “Mayor Is Listening” platform, allowing residents to submit suggestions, requests and complaints by text message to the dedicated 150-150 number or by email at [email protected]. City Governor and Mayor B. Purevdavaa signed cooperation memorandums with Mobicom, Skytel, Unitel, G-Mobile and ONDO to support the service. The city says submissions will be received, referred to relevant agencies and answered within five working days, with progress and results communicated back to users. The platform is intended to improve access to public services, oversight of case handling and accountability in municipal operations. Telecommunications Regulatory Commission Chair J. Baterdene also expressed support for the initiative.
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Economy
Russian Fuel Deliveries Reported as Ulaanbaatar Prepares to End Sales Limits
Published: 2026-08-14
Industry and Mineral Resources Minister G. Damdinnyam said 146 rail wagons carrying 8,760 tonnes of AI-92 petrol entered the country during the previous 48 hours following meetings in Moscow with Russia’s Energy Ministry, Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. He described that volume as equivalent to four to five days of normal consumption. A further 42 wagons carrying 2,520 tonnes were due to arrive on August 14, and deliveries to filling stations had begun. Damdinnyam said he expects supply to return to normal and stabilize. He said the government will cancel temporary restrictions in Ulaanbaatar from August 15, including the MNT 50,000 sales cap, sales by odd and even license plate numbers, and the ban on filling containers.
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Budget Deficit Reaches MNT 2.2 Trillion in Seven Months
Published: 2026-08-14
Preliminary data show the consolidated state budget recorded a MNT 2.2 trillion deficit on a balanced basis in the first seven months of 2026. Total revenue and grants reached MNT 19.8 trillion, reported as an increase of MNT 3.3 trillion, or 19.6 percent, from a year earlier. Balanced revenue and grants totalled MNT 17.3 trillion. Spending and net lending came to MNT 19.5 trillion, while the source separately reported a MNT 2.6 trillion, or 15.5 percent, year-on-year increase. The deficit compared with a MNT 1.2 trillion shortfall in the same period of 2025 and a MNT 1.5 trillion surplus in 2024. Goods and services spending, capital expenditure, and current transfers were the main drivers of higher outlays.
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Exports Lift Trade Surplus as Service and Income Outflows Grow
Published: 2026-08-14
The balance of payments posted a US$566.6 million surplus in the first half of 2026, supported by US$10.5 billion in goods exports, up 68.2 percent year on year. Imports reached US$6.0 billion, producing a US$4.5 billion goods-trade surplus. That gain was offset by a US$1.7 billion services deficit and a US$2.7 billion primary-income deficit, including US$1.6 billion in reinvested income attributable to foreign direct investors. Separate National Statistics Office data for the first seven months showed total merchandise trade of US$19.4 billion: exports were US$12.2 billion, imports US$7.2 billion, and the trade surplus US$5.0 billion. Higher copper ore and coal exports contributed to the result, while diesel imports rose US$343.7 million.
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Contracted Foreign Workforce Rises 43% to 30,000
Published: 2026-08-14
The number of foreign nationals employed under contract reached 30,000 in the first half of 2026, a 43 percent increase from the same period last year, according to National Statistics Office data. Chinese citizens accounted for 70 percent of the workforce, followed by Indian citizens at 11.5 percent. Foreign workers from 112 countries were employed in the country, including notable numbers from Vietnam, Bangladesh, Nepal, South Korea, the United States, and Russia. Construction employed the largest share, at 26 percent, followed by mining and extraction at 22.8 percent and manufacturing at 17.7 percent. Wholesale and retail trade, vehicle repair, energy and air conditioning, education, international organizations, transport, and warehousing also employed contracted foreign workers.
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Sukhbaatar District Has Ulaanbaatar’s Highest Home Prices
Published: 2026-08-14
Housing prices rose 6.2 percent year on year in July, according to the National Statistics Office’s housing price index. Prices for new apartments increased 5.1 percent and resale apartments rose 6.8 percent. The average price for both new and existing housing was MNT 4.7 million per square metre. Sukhbaatar District was the most expensive area, with prices around Sukhbaatar Square and the 220 Myangat area reaching MNT 7.9 million per square metre. The lowest reported price was MNT 3.1 million per square metre near the 21st Khoroolol area in Chingeltei District. As the school year approaches, average monthly rents are MNT 1.3 million for one-bedroom, MNT 1.9 million for two-bedroom, and MNT 2.9 million for three-bedroom apartments.
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Government Reviews Permit Services to Cut Red Tape for Businesses
Published: 2026-08-14
A government working group is reviewing how authorities issue standard permits in Ulaanbaatar from August 12 to 21, under a plan to implement amendments linked to the Economic Freedom Law, the Investment Law and the Permits Law. The plan was approved by Government Resolution No. 329 of August 5, 2025. The Government Oversight Agency is supervising permit-issuing bodies nationwide to improve service delivery. The review focuses on ensuring that citizens and legal entities can obtain standard permits quickly and without unnecessary bureaucracy, with the stated aim of improving the business environment.
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Ulaanbaatar Veterinary Office Begins Issuing Selected Export Certificates
Published: 2026-08-14
The Ulaanbaatar Veterinary Office has begun issuing selected international veterinary certificates for exports, transferring part of a service previously concentrated at the General Authority for Veterinary Services. Since August 10, the office has begun issuing certificates for exports including hides, skins, wool, cashmere, horse mane and tail hair, bristles, animal hair and certain companion-animal shipments. Its inspectors received professional and methodological training from the General Authority for Veterinary Services. Applicants must provide documents covering origin, veterinary and sanitary assurances, laboratory results, processing, disinfection, packaging, transport and any requirements imposed by the importing country. Certificates will be issued under relevant laws, importing-country veterinary and quarantine rules, bilateral protocols and approved forms.
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Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi Sells 396,800 Tonnes of Coal in Six Auctions
Published: 2026-08-14
Erdenes Tavan Tolgoi sold 396,800 tonnes of coal through six successful auctions on the Mongolian Stock Exchange between August 10 and 14, with a combined value of $36.93 million. The contracts are on delivery terms to Ganqmod port in China. Sales included 128,000 tonnes of thermal coal worth $7.48 million, 128,000 tonnes of enriched weakly coking coal in two lots worth $9.12 million and $9.18 million, and 128,000 tonnes of enriched non-coking coal in two lots worth $4.44 million and $4.52 million. A further 12,800 tonnes of medium-volatile coking coal sold for $2.19 million. Prices rose 17.8% and 18.6% for the two weakly coking coal lots, 8.9% and 10.8% for non-coking lots, and 21.3% for the final coking-coal lot. As of August 14, the company had auctioned 13.11 million tonnes worth $1.18 billion in 212 trades during 2026.
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Protests Challenge Oil Exploration Linked to Planned Refinery Supply
Published: 2026-08-14
Oil exploration at the Kherlen Tohoi Block 28, spanning Matad soum in Dornod province and Sukhbaatar soum in Sukhbaatar province, has drawn protests from people livestreaming at the site. The Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority said 11 exploration blocks are active nationwide. It identified Mongolia Foison Energy LLC as the operator in Matad, working under a production-sharing agreement approved by government Resolution No. 137 in October 2024. The company has contracted to invest $50 million over eight years. The agency said exploration is needed before domestic production can supply the refinery under construction in Altanshiree soum, Dornogovi province; officials have set a target for the refinery to enter service by the first quarter of 2028. The other report described a video showing protesters disrupting the company’s camp.
“Exploration is the fundamental work needed before production can supply the refinery with domestic raw material.” - S. Tuvshinbayar (ikon.mn)
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Chinggis Khaan Wealth Fund Alliance Dissolves 14 Companies in Efficiency Drive
Published: 2026-08-14
The Chinggis Khaan Wealth Fund Alliance said it has dissolved 14 low-efficiency, high-cost companies and optimized 260 positions as part of a structural reform program. The measures were reported at the alliance’s first-half 2026 review meeting, attended by Cabinet Secretariat Head B. Enkhbayar. He instructed state-owned companies to avoid financial violations, stop purchasing new buildings or offices, cut deferrable spending and reduce inefficient costs. Enkhbayar also called for stronger corporate governance and more active efforts to attract investment. The alliance said it would lead implementation of these directions, while further reforms are planned in stages to increase accountability, efficiency and operational capacity across state-owned enterprises. The report presented the restructuring as part of a wider effort to support economic growth.
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Diplomacy
Global Pastoralist Forum Opens in Ulaanbaatar With Delegates From 102 Countries
Published: 2026-08-14
The Global Pastoralists Forum and Conference opened in Ulaanbaatar on August 14 and is scheduled to run through August 15. Organized by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, it brings together about 240 overseas guests representing pastoralists’ and nomadic organizations, civil society and universities from 102 countries, as well as 100 herders from Mongolia. The gathering is part of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, proclaimed by the UN General Assembly at Mongolia’s initiative and supported by more than 102 countries and 550 organizations. The forum is issuing a major declaration on pastoralist livelihoods and challenges, including rangeland degradation, water supply, food security, shrinking migration routes and changing land use.
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Government and FAO Set Out Expanded Agriculture Cooperation
Published: 2026-08-14
Food, Agriculture and Light Industry Minister Ts. Iderbat met FAO Deputy Director-General Thanawat Tiensin during the Global Herders Forum to discuss expanded cooperation on food security, livestock health, pasture management and agricultural technology. Iderbat outlined government priorities including more productive, climate-resilient agriculture, domestic processing of raw materials and higher-value exports. He also cited the planned “One Soum-One Veterinary Clinic” program and requested international technical support following the first detection of SAT-1 foot-and-mouth disease in western Mongolia in 2026. FAO proposed cooperation on agricultural planning and a livestock training center, and presented regional experience using drones for livestock registration, pasture monitoring and seed dispersal. The sides agreed to deepen cooperation in these areas.
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Infrastructure
Ulaanbaatar Imposes Alternate-Day Vehicle Access From August 15
Published: 2026-08-14
Ulaanbaatar will restrict private vehicles in its six central districts by license-plate parity from August 15 through September 12, between 07:00 and 21:00. Cars with plates ending in odd numbers may travel on August 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29 and 31, and September 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11. Even-numbered plates may travel on the alternating dates, beginning August 16 and ending September 12. The city links the measure to preparations for the new school year and COP17, and says it applies without zone-based exceptions. Exempt vehicles include green-plate electric vehicles, public transport, compliant taxis, diplomatic and delegation vehicles, permitted and equipped food-delivery vehicles, road, city-improvement and utility-repair vehicles, funeral vehicles, school and workplace buses, and marked media vehicles.
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Free Shuttle Buses to Serve Narantuul and Dunjingarav During COP17
Published: 2026-08-14
Ulaanbaatar will provide free short-route buses from 06:00 on August 17 after temporarily closing the car parks at Dunjingarav shopping center and Narantuul market during COP17, the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The conference runs from August 17 to 28 and is expected to bring guests and delegates from 196 countries. Free services will operate between Officers’ Palace, Narantuul and Dunjingarav, and between Dunjingarav and Narantuul. Route BE:10 will link Dunjingarav shopping center with the COP17 venue. Authorities will also restrict traffic from 07:00 to 21:00 during the conference on the section of Narnii Road between the southeast intersection of Uguumur market, the southwest intersection of Narantuul market, the southwest intersection of Dunjingarav and the Eastern Generals intersection.
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Fuel Shortage Drives Sharp Rise in Train Travel
Published: 2026-08-14
Passenger numbers on Ulaanbaatar Railway services have risen sharply during the nationwide fuel shortage, the railway said. On the morning of August 13, 1,001 passengers arrived in Ulaanbaatar from Zamiin-Uud on a 27-carriage train. The operator expects demand to increase further during the peak tourism season and as the new school year approaches. It advised passengers to reserve tickets early, noting that passenger-train tickets can be booked two months before travel. The railway said travel typically increases during those periods, making advance bookings advisable. Ulaanbaatar Railway operates passenger services on five domestic routes and three international routes.
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Scheduled Power Interruptions Announced for August 14
Published: 2026-08-14
Scheduled electricity interruptions were announced for August 14 at listed locations for repair work. The notice did not provide times or an expected duration. It said repair work is performed only after the relevant equipment has been fully disconnected from the electricity supply, and asked customers to be patient while the work is completed. The schedule may change because of weather conditions. If the planned work is altered, information will be sent to the telephone number registered in the contract. The announcement concerns scheduled, temporary interruptions connected to repair work rather than a reported system-wide outage. Customers with a phone number registered in their contract will receive notice if the schedule changes.
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Published: 2026-08-14
Authorities are investigating a 19-year-old in connection with a Surron electric motorcycle crash that killed former minister and civil servant Z. B on the evening of August 6. According to people close to the victim, Z. B was returning home after work related to the COP17 international conference being held in Mongolia. The investigation is expected to determine where the crash occurred, whether it involved a pedestrian crossing, the vehicle’s speed, possible traffic-rule violations and responsibility. Amendments to the Road Traffic Safety Law took effect on July 1, prohibiting mopeds and scooters from using sidewalks and requiring riders to dismount at pedestrian crossings. The rules also address age requirements, training, registration and insurance for such vehicles.
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New Railway Set to Move Hazardous Freight Outside Ulaanbaatar
Published: 2026-08-14
The 127.1-kilometer Bagakhangai-Khushig Valley-Emeelt railway is scheduled to enter full operation in September 2026. The route will branch from Bagakhangai station, pass through Khushig Valley in Sergelen soum and Altanbulag soum, and connect to Emeelt station. The report says main construction is complete on the first phase, while work on the second phase is continuing. A 476-meter bridge over the Tuul River is under construction. The line is planned to include four stations, three passing loops, nine reinforced-concrete bridges totaling 1,200 meters, and 127 concrete pipes for water and crossings. When operational, it is expected to divert fuel, petroleum products and 34 types of explosive-risk cargo from central Ulaanbaatar. Prime Minister Uchral said the government plans to move about 100 private terminals from the city, beginning with 14, and offer departing businesses free land in Khushig Valley. The project is expected to create 976 permanent jobs.
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Khunnu City Substation Nears Completion as Utility Works Advance
Published: 2026-08-14
Construction of the Sergelen substation, the first-phase utility foundation for the planned Khunnu City near Chinggis Khaan International Airport, is 95% complete, according to the Capital City’s Integrated Project Management Office. The 220/110/35-kV facility is intended to provide a reliable power source for the new city in Altanbulag and Sergelen soums, Tuv province. Designs for utility networks are 75% complete, construction of the wastewater-treatment plant is 35% complete, and work on 127.4 kilometers of roads has reached 40%. The government plans Khunnu City as an administrative, education, research, innovation, manufacturing, trade, transport and logistics center. Future phases envision government offices, a free economic zone, universities, student housing, a high-technology park and airport-linked cargo and logistics facilities.
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Thermal Power Plant V Construction Advances with Boiler Foundations Under Way
Published: 2026-08-14
Construction is continuing on the main buildings and infrastructure for Thermal Power Plant V. Project managers agreed the route for a road carrying ash with the Capital Road Development Agency and began removing ash accumulated on site on April 22. To limit traffic impacts, trucks operate from 20:00 to 08:00. A concrete batching plant and vehicle scale have been installed, while temporary worker accommodation is being built on cleared land in the northeast of the site. Work has started on the boiler foundations, including reinforcing, formwork and concrete pouring for boilers one and two, plus the foundation for a tower crane. Orders for core equipment have been placed, with overall manufacturing about 30% complete. The turbines, generators and transformers are being selected for Mongolia’s climate, coal dust and urban-demand conditions.
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Monel Street to Close for Road Works Through Monday Morning
Published: 2026-08-14
A 2-kilometer section of Monel Street in Bayanzurkh District, Ulaanbaatar, will be closed to vehicle traffic from 23:00 on August 14 until 06:00 on August 17. Road repair and upgrading work on the section will include construction of a cement-stabilized base and installation of asphalt-concrete surfacing. The scheduled work period runs from late on August 14 through early on August 17. The project covers both the road base and asphalt-concrete surfacing on the affected 2-kilometer section. Motorists using Monel Street should note the stated closure period, which begins at 23:00 on August 14 and ends at 06:00 on August 17. The work is identified as road repair and upgrading in Ulaanbaatar’s Bayanzurkh District.
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Society
Search Continues for Missing 10-Year-Old Girl in Khovd Province
Published: 2026-08-14
Police continue searching for a 10-year-old girl reported missing in Norjinkhairkhan bag, Buyant soum, Khovd Province. The report was logged at 20:40 on August 2 after the girl left home around 09:00 on August 1, saying she was going to harvest watermelons, and did not return. The General Police Department has denied social-media claims that her body was found. Police say one person has been detained in connection with the case, while two other supplied reports say a neighboring father and his 26-year-old son were detained. Criminal police, provincial police, emergency personnel, Buyant soum public agencies and Armed Forces personnel are participating in the search. Authorities warned that unverified claims and live broadcasts at the scene can disrupt the investigation, and said verified information will be released in accordance with the law.
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Police Investigate Theft of 2,900 Yuan From Tourist at Gandan Monastery
Published: 2026-08-14
Police are investigating a report that 2,900 yuan was stolen from the backpack of a Chinese tourist visiting Gandantegchinlen Monastery. Authorities received a report on August 1 that someone had lost money at the monastery. Their inquiry found that cash had been stolen from the visitor’s backpack. The General Police Department urged guides responsible for foreign tourists to advise visitors how to protect money and valuables in public places. Police recommended not carrying money or valuables openly, keeping bags and backpacks close to the body, securing zippers and openings, and never leaving belongings unattended. They also warned that crowded places, distraction, and openly carrying valuables can make people victims of this type of crime. The case remains under investigation.
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Authorities Identify 1,407 Sites That Pose Risks to Children
Published: 2026-08-14
The General Authority for Child and Family Development and Protection has identified 1,407 locations nationwide that could endanger children’s health or lives through its third annual Together Inspect, Together Protect campaign. The authority said it documented the sites with 2,916 photographs and videos and instructed provincial and district branches to remove the hazards before the new school year begins. Local offices must report results using standardized figures and before-and-after evidence, including dates and photographs. Inspections cover inadequate lighting, unsafe apartment stairs, balconies, window guards and elevators, pit latrines, wastewater pits, uncovered cellars, damaged playgrounds, exposed electrical wires, stray dogs, wild-animal bite risks, unstable fences and walls, and objects that could fall from height. The campaign seeks to prevent household accidents and injuries through community participation.
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Schools to Restrict Facebook and Group Chats From September 1
Published: 2026-08-14
General education schools will restrict the use of social media, Facebook and online group chats in teaching activities from September 1. The measure is intended to prevent peer bullying, crime and other violations involving students, while strengthening child safety in schools. The source specifically identifies social media, Facebook and online group chats as covered by the restriction. It does not explain how schools will implement the restriction in daily instruction. The decision will be enforced from September 1 in teaching activities. The report presents the measure as a child-safety step intended to address bullying and violations among students.
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Births Fall 22.8 Percent From 2020 to 2024
Published: 2026-08-14
The number of births fell by 22.8 percent from 2020 to 2024, according to National Statistics Office data. Annual births declined from 77,946 in 2020 to 73,866 in 2021, 67,874 in 2022, 66,763 in 2023 and 60,214 in 2024, a reduction of 17,732 children over the period. Average daily births dropped from about 213 in 2020 to 165 in 2024. The birth rate per 1,000 people also fell from 23.2 to 17.0, down 6.2 points. The decline appeared to continue in 2025, with 13,482 births in the first quarter, 762 fewer than in the same period a year earlier.
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Police Warn Adults Not to Let Minors Drive Sur-Ron Bikes or Other Vehicles
Published: 2026-08-14
The Transport Police Department has warned parents and guardians not to hand over Sur-Ron bikes or other vehicles to minors or allow them to take part in road traffic. Under Article 14.7.2 of the Law on Offences, a person who gives control of a vehicle to someone without the right to drive it, except during driving practice, or to someone whose driving right has ended can be fined 100 units. The warning applies when a child does not hold the licence required for that vehicle category. Police said parents and guardians may face legal responsibility for transferring a vehicle’s controls to a minor who lacks the required licence for that vehicle category. The department urged adults to strengthen supervision of children’s safety and not allow minors to drive or use vehicles.
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Environment
Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Forecast Across Central and Eastern Areas
Published: 2026-08-14
The weather agency forecast rain and thunderstorms across much of the country on August 14, with heavy rain expected in Selenge, Tuv and northern Khentii. It warned that rising river levels, strong gusts, hail, lightning and flooding could pose hazards. Rain and thunderstorms are also forecast in parts of western and Gobi provinces, most central provinces and western areas of eastern provinces. Ulaanbaatar is expected to be cloudy with daytime rain, temperatures of 19-21C and winds shifting from southwest to northwest at 4-9 meters per second, briefly strengthening before rain. Rain is also forecast for Baganuur and Terelj. The agency separately warned of overnight heavy rain and thunderstorms in Khentii and northern Dornod, where several rivers had exceeded flood or danger levels earlier this month.
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Ulaanbaatar Prepares to Host UN Desertification Conference
Published: 2026-08-14
Ulaanbaatar will host the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, COP17, from August 17 to 28. Organizers say 7,800 guests and delegates have confirmed attendance and preparations are essentially complete. The conference will have a Blue Zone for representatives of 197 countries and the government to conduct multilateral discussions on desertification, land degradation, and drought. A public Green Zone will allow businesses to present their work and seek investment and partnerships; access will be available through an E-Mongolia registration. The Foreign Ministry has presented the proposed Steppe Plan to the cabinet. Its three initiatives cover rangelands, integrated water and land management, and sustainable infrastructure based on nature-based solutions.
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COP17 Green Zone Sets 481 Public Events as Venues Reach Completion
Published: 2026-08-14
COP17 organizers said the conference’s public Green Zone has completed seven facilities that will provide free access and will host 481 events during the 12-day gathering. The program is expected to draw 42,000 participants, compared with more than 7,000 expected in the restricted Blue Zone, where party negotiations and formal agreements will take place. It includes 180 project presentations, 110 discussions, about 1,500 presentations and information sessions, exhibitions from 21 provinces, daily cultural events, and six film premieres. Three gers will present tangible and intangible cultural heritage, while exhibition halls will feature 39 businesses, projects and programs alongside environmental work by civil-society groups, ministries and agencies. Mongolian citizens can pre-register online or register on site with an identity card or E-Mongolia; the COP17 app provides Mongolian- and English-language schedules, speaker information and venue maps.
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Gobi Herders Call for Grazing Rights to Be Included in COP17 Decisions
Published: 2026-08-14
Herders and residents living near mining, transport and border-crossing developments in the Gobi region have launched the Nomadic Red Line for Sustainable Rangeland Rights initiative. The declaration calls on COP17 parties to place herders’ rights at the center of land-use, mining and infrastructure policy; protect pasture, water sources and seasonal migration routes; and ensure meaningful participation in decisions affecting local communities. Supporters say mining and infrastructure planning has reduced pasture, water and migration routes, directly affecting herders’ rights and livelihoods. The document was prepared with civil-society organizations working on herders’ rights, livelihoods and environmental protection in areas affected by major mining, energy and infrastructure projects. It also advocates social and cultural impact assessments, rights-based land governance, restoration funding and stronger use of free, prior and informed consent principles.
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Umnugovi Establishes Water Research Unit to Monitor Scarcity and Quality
Published: 2026-08-14
Umnugovi Province has established a Water Research Unit under its Department of Environment to assess water scarcity and quality issues in the Gobi region using scientific monitoring. Working with the Altai Uvurkhangai Gobi Basin Administration, the unit will regularly monitor the quality and composition of drinking and pasture water, changes in deep groundwater reserves, and mining companies’ water use. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has supplied portable water-quality meters and other required equipment to support the unit’s operations. Officials say the new capacity will allow local staff to analyze water quality and composition without sending samples to laboratories in Ulaanbaatar, reducing delays. The unit will also be able to respond to calls in soums and other local areas and produce initial data more quickly.
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Innovation
First-Grade Registration Opens Online on August 17
Published: 2026-08-14
Parents and guardians enrolling children in the first grade of state-owned general education schools for the 2026-2027 academic year will use the E-Mongolia system. Online registration opens at 09:00 on August 17, 2026, and closes at 23:59 on August 28. The registration applies to first-grade admissions at state-owned general education schools. Parents and guardians are advised to register their children online within the announced period. The sources state that the registration will be conducted through E-Mongolia and identify the opening and closing times for the process. They do not provide further details about admissions procedures or requirements beyond online registration during the stated period.
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Health
Medical Team in Khovd Faces Power Cuts and Fuel Shortage During Free Surgery Mission
Published: 2026-08-14
A specialist medical team scheduled to work in Khovd Province from August 7 to 14 said province-wide power cuts disrupted its free services for children with dental, jaw and facial conditions. The team, from the National Center for Maternal and Child Health, the Ulaanbaatar Dental, Jaw and Facial Center, and Empire Dental Hospital, was also scheduled to provide speech-therapy services. It works under the 28-year Borderland Smile project, led by honored physician G. Ayanga and funded for the past 16 years by the Taiwan Fund for Children and Families. Ayanga said Khovd experienced two days without electricity. Separately, the team could not find fuel for its return to the city.
“I never expected to encounter this again more than 30 years later.” - G. Ayanga (unuudur.mn)
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National Center for Maternal and Child Health Partners With South Korean Hospital on ENT Care
Published: 2026-08-14
The National Center for Maternal and Child Health has signed a cooperation agreement with Chosun University Hospital in South Korea to improve pediatric ear, nose and throat diagnosis, treatment and surgical care. The partnership will focus on introducing modern clinical methods and technologies, particularly high-precision microscopic and endoscopic surgical techniques. Doctors and specialists from the National Center for Maternal and Child Health will receive specialist training and practical placements at Chosun University Hospital. The institutions also plan remote consultations, professional exchanges, training and research collaboration. The agreement is intended to expand diagnostic and treatment options for children with ENT conditions while improving the quality and safety of surgery. It also establishes a framework for regular professional advice and continued development of clinical methods through international cooperation.
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