Archive · 31 Aug 2026
Manipur Census Deferred Until October 12 Amid NRC Demands
The Census is a process used to count and record households.
In Manipur, officials were scheduled to begin listing homes on September 1.
Civil society groups asked the court to delay this work.
They want the National Register of Citizens, or NRC, updated first.
They also raised concerns about alleged illegal migration from Myanmar.
The Manipur High Court ordered that the Census work remain paused for now.
The court will hear the matter again on October 12, 2026.
The house-listing operation is also scheduled to resume on that date, subject to further orders.
The Manipur High Court ordered the state’s Census house-listing operation to remain deferred.
The operation had been scheduled to begin on September 1, 2026.
The court issued the order after petitions from civil society groups seeking an updated NRC.
The petitions cited alleged illegal migration from neighbouring Myanmar and concerns for indigenous communities.
The next hearing and proposed house-listing date are both set for October 12, 2026.
- Who
- The Manipur High Court, the Central and Manipur governments, the Kangleipak Students’ Association, and a coalition of 14 civil society organisations are involved.
- What
- The court deferred the Census of India 2027 house-listing operation in Manipur until the next hearing.
- When
- The order was issued on August 31; house-listing had been scheduled for September 1, and the next hearing is October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Manipur, India.
- Why
- Civil society groups sought an updated National Register of Citizens using 1951 as the base year and action on alleged illegal migration concerns before the Census proceeds.
- Court
- Manipur High Court
- Census exercise
- Census of India 2027 house-listing operation
- Original start date
- September 1, 2026
- Next hearing
- October 12, 2026
- Main demand
- Update the National Register of Citizens using 1951 as the base year
- Migration concern
- Petitioners cited alleged illegal migration from neighbouring Myanmar
- Petitioners
- Kangleipak Students’ Association and a coalition of 14 civil society organisations