Meghalaya tribal council rejects Blinkit trading licence, cites threat to 4,000 local retailers

Quick-commerce platform Blinkit has hit a major hurdle in its expansion plans in Meghalaya after the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) denied it the mandatory trading licence required to operate, citing concerns over the impact of its business model on thousands of local grocery stores.

Defending the decision, KHADC Chief Executive Member Winston Tony Lyngdoh said the council would continue to prioritise the interests of indigenous traders and small businesses.