{"id":"in-meghalaya","country":"in","kind":"state","name":{"en":"Meghalaya","local":"Meghalaya"},"languages":["kha","grt","en"],"currency":"INR","symbol":"₹","fxPerUsd":94,"cities":{"T1":"Shillong","T2":"Tura","T3":"Jowai"},"basket":{"teaCup":15,"simpleMeal":110,"haircutMen":100,"milkLitre":66,"breadLoaf":50,"unskilledDayWage":600,"minWageMonthly":14430,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":120,"T2":45,"T3":35},"electricityCommercialKwh":7.45,"lpgCommercialCylinder":3078.5,"petrolLitre":102.64},"tax":{"salesTax":"GST 5/18% (national)","smallBizThreshold":"₹20 lakh goods / ₹20 lakh services (special category); composition ₹75 lakh","localLevies":"Professional tax up to ₹2,500/yr; district-council trading licence fees for non-tribals"},"licences":[{"name":"Trading licence for non-tribals, Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) — or GHADC/JHADC in Garo/Jaintia Hills","fee":"Fee not found; KHADC 2026 amendment adds a per-employee service licence for non-tribal staff","authority":"Autonomous District Council (Sixth Schedule)","source":"https://nenow.in/north-east-news/meghalaya-khadc-passes-bill-mandating-service-licence-for-non-tribal-employees-in-khasi-hills.html"},{"name":"Trade licence, Shillong Municipal Board","fee":"By trade; not published (est. ₹500–3,000/yr)","authority":"Shillong Municipal Board","source":"https://nenow.in/north-east-news/meghalaya/meghalaya-dual-permit-system-by-khadc-smb-leaves-shillong-non-tribal-shopkeepers-frustrated.html"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Christmas and New Year","dates2026_27":"24 Dec 2026–1 Jan 2027","effect":"Biggest spending season (~75% Christian); Shillong lights and tourist peak"},{"name":"Wangala (100 Drums), Garo Hills","dates2026_27":"about 2nd week Nov 2026","effect":"Tura area harvest festival; food and lodging demand"},{"name":"Shad Suk Mynsiem","dates2026_27":"about Apr 2027","effect":"Khasi thanksgiving dance in Shillong"},{"name":"Behdienkhlam","dates2026_27":"about Jul 2027","effect":"Jowai (T3) Pnar festival; local closures and fair"},{"name":"Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival","dates2026_27":"about mid-Nov 2026","effect":"Tourist and food-stall surge in Shillong"}],"seasons":[{"months":"May–Sep","what":"Extreme monsoon (Sohra/Mawsynram); landslides on Guwahati–Shillong road (NH-6)"},{"months":"Oct–Apr","what":"Tourist season (Shillong, Sohra, Dawki); cool climate"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"about 50–65% in Shillong; 30–45% in Tura/Jowai","credit":"udhaar common; matrilineal Khasi/Garo families often own and run shops"},"notes":"Meghalaya has the highest shop-worker wage floor in the eastern group (₹555/day, ₹14,430/month from Apr 2026), and Sixth Schedule district councils add a second layer of licensing: non-tribal traders need a council trading licence on top of a municipal licence, and the Khasi Hills council passed a 2026 amendment requiring a service licence for every non-tribal employee (disputed by the state government). The KHADC refused Blinkit a trading licence in June 2026 to protect local grocers, which keeps quick-commerce out. Power is flat-rate (₹7.45/unit, ₹170/kVA fixed) and LPG is ₹3,078.50. Tourism peaks Oct–Apr, Christmas is the biggest spending season and the monsoon brings landslides on the Guwahati–Shillong road. The PRIME and CM ELEVATE programmes fund local start-ups.","factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, unskilled, shops & establishments","value":"₹555/day, ₹14,430/month incl. VDA (from 1 Apr 2026; notification 1 May 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/meghalaya","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, semi-skilled","value":"₹598/day (₹15,548/month)","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/meghalaya","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum wage, skilled","value":"₹640/day (₹16,640/month)","role":"HV","source":"https://hrengage.ai/compliance/minimum-wages/meghalaya","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical informal shop helper pay (T2)","value":"₹10,000–13,000/month (Tura); ₹12,000–15,000 (Shillong)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: informal helpers commonly paid at or below the state floor; based on the state unskilled minimum and the national informal-helper presets in the BizGame shared constants (T2 ₹9–13k)","estimate":true},{"id":"P05","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T1 (Shillong)","value":"₹120/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Police Bazaar/Laitumkhrah frontage is scarce and council land rules limit supply","estimate":true},{"id":"P06","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T2 (Tura)","value":"₹45/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Police Bazaar/Laitumkhrah frontage is scarce and council land rules limit supply","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Rent","name":"Small shop rent, T3 (Jowai)","value":"₹35/sq ft/month","role":"HV","source":"Est.: no 2026 high-street rent survey found for this city; reasoned from the BizGame national presets (T1 ₹80–150, T2 ₹35–70, T3 ₹15–30 per sq ft/month) and the city's size and land scarcity; Police Bazaar/Laitumkhrah frontage is scarce and council land rules limit supply","estimate":true},{"id":"P08","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity, small shop (~200 units/month)","value":"Non-domestic/commercial LT ₹7.45/unit flat; fixed ₹170/kVA/month; duty extra (MSERC order 26 Mar 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://thediscombill.com/tariffs/meghalaya/","estimate":false},{"id":"P09","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial LPG 19 kg cylinder","value":"₹3,078.5 (25 Oct 2026; national Delhi reference ₹2,810)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/lpg-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P10","cat":"Energy","name":"Domestic LPG 14.2 kg (illegal for commercial use)","value":"₹1,009","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/lpg-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P11","cat":"Energy","name":"Petrol, per litre","value":"₹102.64 (25 Oct 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.goodreturns.in/petrol-price.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P12","cat":"Tax","name":"Professional tax","value":"Annual slabs on income, capped at ₹2,500/yr","role":"HV","source":"https://calcguru.in/professional-tax-india-state-wise-guide-fy-2026-27/","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Tax","name":"GST registration threshold / composition","value":"₹20 lakh for goods and services (special category); composition limit ₹75 lakh","role":"PD","source":"https://cleartax.in/s/special-category-states-in-gst","estimate":false},{"id":"P14","cat":"Prices","name":"Cup of tea, roadside (T2)","value":"₹15","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Tura/Shillong roadside tea ₹15; national chai notes put a tapri cup at ₹10–15 with milk ~55% of cost; set from the state milk price and wage level","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Simple veg meal / thali (T2)","value":"₹110","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Tura/Shillong jadoh/rice-meat or veg thali ₹100–150; scaled from the national street-food meal band (₹60–120) by state wage and rent level","estimate":true},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut, basic salon (T2)","value":"₹100","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Tura/Shillong ₹80–120; scaled from the national salon notes (basic men's cut ₹80–150 urban, ₹50–80 T3)","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Packet milk, per litre (toned/standard)","value":"≈₹66/L (Meghalaya Milk Union 'Mylk'/Amul)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Guwahati ₹62 plus freight up NH-6; state union price not found","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Bread loaf, 400 g (T2)","value":"₹50","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Tura/Shillong ₹45–55; national branded 400 g loaf ₹40–50 plus freight to the state","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Wages","name":"Casual unskilled day wage, open market (T2)","value":"₹600/day","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Tura casual labour ₹600/day; open-market casual rates run at or slightly above the notified unskilled floor in towns (MGNREGA and construction rates as lower/upper anchors)","estimate":true},{"id":"P20","cat":"Demographics","name":"Per-capita income (GSDP per capita, current prices)","value":"₹1,90,414 (2025–26); about 76% of national","role":"HV","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_states_and_union_territories_by_GDP_per_capita","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Demographics","name":"Urbanisation (Census 2011; Census 2027 pending)","value":"20.1% urban","role":"HV","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_union_territories_of_India_by_urban_population","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Language","name":"Business languages","value":"English (official); Khasi and Garo (associate official); Pnar in Jaintia Hills","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Meghalaya State Language Act 2005","estimate":true},{"id":"P23","cat":"Payments","name":"Digital (UPI) share of small-shop takings","value":"about 50–65% in Shillong; 30–45% in Tura/Jowai","role":"HV","source":"Est.: national UPI is 86.8% of retail payment volume (Q1 FY27, CareEdge) but street/kirana merchant shares are far lower; scaled down for this state's income and urbanisation — https://www.outlookbusiness.com/amp/story/news/upi-emerges-as-dominant-retail-payment-system-with-transaction-volume-share-at-87-careedge","estimate":true},{"id":"P24","cat":"Payments","name":"Credit culture","value":"udhaar common; matrilineal Khasi/Garo families often own and run shops","role":"HV","source":"Est.: kirana/udhaar pattern from BizGame kirana notes, adjusted for state income level","estimate":true},{"id":"P25","cat":"Currency","name":"INR per USD","value":"₹95.7 (RBI reference, Sep 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.wisemonk.io/blogs/indias-minimum-wage-guide-in-usd","estimate":false},{"id":"P26","cat":"Licences","name":"Dual licensing (KHADC + SMB)","value":"Non-tribal shopkeepers in Shillong need a KHADC trading licence and a municipal licence","role":"HV","source":"https://nenow.in/north-east-news/meghalaya/meghalaya-dual-permit-system-by-khadc-smb-leaves-shillong-non-tribal-shopkeepers-frustrated.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P27","cat":"Licences","name":"Non-tribal employee service licence (KHADC Amendment Bill 2026)","value":"Employers must licence each non-tribal employee; needs headman recommendation; state minister sought Governor's intervention, assent unconfirmed","role":"RE","source":"https://nenow.in/north-east-news/meghalaya-khadc-passes-bill-mandating-service-licence-for-non-tribal-employees-in-khasi-hills.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P28","cat":"Rules","name":"Quick-commerce barred","value":"KHADC refused Blinkit a trading licence (Jun 2026) to protect local grocers","role":"HV","source":"https://www.outlookbusiness.com/news/tribal-council-rejects-blinkits-trading-license-permission-in-meghalaya","estimate":false},{"id":"P29","cat":"Rules","name":"Iewduh market restriction","value":"KHADC stopped issuing trade licences to non-tribals at Iewduh (Bara Bazar)","role":"HV","source":"https://sentinelassam.com/amp/story/north-east-india-news/meghalaya-news/khadc-to-stop-issuing-trade-license-to-non-tribals-at-iewduh-market","estimate":false},{"id":"P30","cat":"Schemes","name":"PRIME / CM ELEVATE","value":"State start-up and enterprise programme: 885+ entities funded, 2,847 entrepreneurs initiated under CM ELEVATE (Apr 2026)","role":"PD","source":"https://morungexpress.com/entrepreneurship-key-to-meghalayas-economic-transformation-conrad-sangma","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Festivals","name":"Christmas–New Year","value":"24 Dec–1 Jan: spending and tourist peak in Shillong","role":"HV","source":"Est.: ~75% Christian population (Census 2011)","estimate":true},{"id":"P32","cat":"Festivals","name":"Wangala","value":"About Nov 2026 (Tura): food and lodging demand","role":"HV","source":"Est.: held after harvest each Nov","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Climate","name":"Monsoon landslides","value":"May–Sep: NH-6 Guwahati–Shillong blockages; Sohra/Mawsynram rainfall extremes","role":"RE","source":"Est.: annual pattern","estimate":true},{"id":"P34","cat":"Risk","name":"Pressure-group bandh / ILP agitation","value":"KSU and others call shutdowns (e.g. ILP demand); curfews in Shillong (2018, 2021 precedents)","role":"RE","source":"Est.: reasoned from 2018–25 press","estimate":true},{"id":"P35","cat":"Risk","name":"Assam–Meghalaya border tension","value":"Border incidents disrupt trucks and markets in Ri-Bhoi/West Jaintia Hills","role":"RE","source":"Est.: 2022 Mukroh firing precedent","estimate":true}]}