Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Manipur Sets 1951 Base Year for Proposed NRC
Manipur’s government wants to use 1951 as the starting year for checking who belongs on a citizens’ register.
The Home Minister said old records from that year are being searched for.
The state cannot begin the process by itself and needs approval from the Central Government.
Officials said they found 24,475 people they described as illegal immigrants in three border districts.
They said 14,992 of them were sent back across the border through diplomatic channels.
Others are staying in government camps or designated areas.
Some people have had their fingerprints or other biometric details recorded.
The government says these people must be kept separate from local Indian communities while officials manage the situation.
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said 1951 will be the base year for the state’s proposed NRC.
The state is tracing physical records from the 1951 NRC but needs Central Government approval to proceed.
Officials said 24,475 illegal immigrants were detected in Manipur’s border districts, including Chandel, Kamjong and Tengnoupal.
The minister said 14,992 people had been pushed back across the border through diplomatic channels.
The government said identified immigrants are being housed separately, biometrically recorded and managed by district authorities.
- Who
- Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam, the state government, opposition legislators and officials in the border districts are involved.
- What
- The state government announced that 1951 will be the base year for a proposed National Register of Citizens and reported action involving 24,475 detected illegal immigrants.
- When
- The announcement was made on September 7; the article also cites House resolutions from August 5, 2022, March 1, 2024, and September 2, 2026.
- Where
- Manipur, particularly the border districts of Chandel, Kamjong and Tengnoupal, along the India-Myanmar border.
- Why
- The state says it wants to establish the NRC base year and address illegal immigration, while avoiding complications associated with Assam’s NRC process.
State Government Position
Opposition Questions and Concerns
NRC implementation
State Government Position
The Home Minister said 1951 will be the base year, physical records are being traced, and the state will pursue implementation with the Central Government.
Opposition Questions and Concerns
Opposition MLA K. Meghachandra Singh questioned the government about the NRC base year and implementation in the Assembly.
Handling the process
State Government Position
The minister said the process must be handled cautiously because Assam’s NRC remains pending in court and out of the public domain.
Opposition Questions and Concerns
The government’s need for Central approval means the state cannot independently implement the NRC, leaving the process dependent on further decisions beyond Manipur.
Illegal immigration response
State Government Position
The government said detected immigrants are being repatriated, biometrically recorded, housed in designated facilities and segregated from local Indian communities.
Opposition Questions and Concerns
Opposition MLA Th. Lokeshwar Singh sought information about the number of illegal immigrants detected and the actions taken against them.
- NRC base year
- 1951
- Approval required
- The state government says Central Government approval is needed before implementation.
- Illegal immigrants detected
- 24,475 across Chandel, Kamjong and Tengnoupal.
- People pushed back
- 14,992 were sent back across the border through diplomatic channels.
- Chandel detections
- 14,370, of whom the minister said 9,600 were sent back to Myanmar.
- Kamjong detections
- 6,545, of whom 5,378 were repatriated.
- Tengnoupal detections
- 3,560, of whom 14 were pushed back, according to the minister.