The Government of Meghalaya, on September 25, 2025, enacted the Meghalaya Heritage (Amendment) Act, 2025, amending the Meghalaya Heritage Act, 2012, with effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, to strengthen the legal framework for protection of intangible and community-based heritage.
The amendment introduces a statutory definition of “Living Heritage” by inserting a new sub-clause 2(j)(b), covering cultural practices, oral traditions, performing arts, rituals, festive events, traditional knowledge systems, and craftsmanship skills transmitted across generations, thereby formally recognising intangible cultural heritage within the State’s heritage regime.
Further, a new Section 4A empowers the Government to exempt acquisition or possession of Living Heritage sites where such sites are vested in a community or society, and Section 6 is amended to mandate community representation by requiring the Authority to co-opt at least two community members for declaration of Living Heritage areas, reinforcing participatory and community-centric conservation.
[Notification No. G.S.R. 159]
