Imphal: The Census exercise in Manipur has been put on hold amid prolonged protests and demands for an update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the population enumeration process begins.
The Manipur High Court has directed that the Census and house-listing exercise remain suspended until further orders. The house-listing exercise was scheduled to begin on August 17, while the Census was scheduled to start from September 1.
NRC Demand at the Centre of the Dispute
Several civil society organisations in Manipur have been demanding that the NRC be updated before the Census is conducted.
Fourteen Valley-based civil society organisations have reportedly been campaigning for an NRC update, with petitions also filed before the High Court.
The petitioners have sought an NRC update using 1951 as the base year and have raised concerns over alleged illegal migration. They have argued that citizens should first be identified through the NRC before the Census and subsequent delimitation exercises are carried out.
Protests Continue in Manipur
The NRC demand has triggered protests across Manipur for more than two months. Several shutdowns have also been observed as civil society groups intensified their campaign.
The issue has become politically and socially sensitive, with different communities and organisations taking different positions on the demand for an NRC update.
Centre Also Discusses the Census Issue
The Census issue has also been discussed at the Centre. A high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah was held in New Delhi to discuss the situation in Manipur and concerns surrounding the Census process.
Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Following the discussions, the concerns and demands raised by various sections of people in Manipur have received renewed attention.
Chief Minister Thanks Central Leadership
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah following the Centre’s decision regarding the Census.
He also appreciated the civil society organisations and BJP legislators who had raised the NRC-related concerns before the central leadership.
Next Hearing on October 12
The Manipur High Court has kept the Census and house-listing exercise on hold until further orders.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for October 12, 2026.
The court’s decision has once again brought the issues of the Census, NRC, citizenship and alleged illegal migration into sharp focus in Manipur. The next steps by the Centre and the High Court will determine when the Census process can resume and how the NRC demand will be addressed.
