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Manipur Delays Census Amid Calls for Citizenship Register
Manipur was supposed to begin counting households for the Census.
The Union government delayed that work on 31 August.
Some groups want officials to first create a National Register of Citizens, or NRC.
An NRC would examine who can prove they are citizens.
Fourteen organisations representing Meitei and Naga interests supported this demand.
Some people suggested using 1951 as the starting year for checking records.
The Manipur Assembly again asked for an NRC before the Census, but did not name 1951 in its final resolution.
The issue is sensitive because Manipur has experienced violence and shares a porous border with Myanmar.
The Union government deferred Manipur’s Census on 31 August, one day before house-listing was scheduled to begin.
A meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah considered demands for a National Register of Citizens before the Census.
Fourteen civil society organisations representing Meitei and Naga interests called for an NRC before the Census and delimitation.
Some campaigners proposed using 1951 as the reference year, but the Manipur Assembly did not include that date in its final resolution.
The NRC demand has gained political importance amid unresolved violence, fresh conflict in 2026, and concerns about migration across Manipur’s border with Myanmar.
- Who
- The Union government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, 14 civil society organisations representing Meitei and Naga interests, and the Manipur Assembly are involved.
- What
- The Census in Manipur was deferred amid demands that a National Register of Citizens precede the Census and delimitation.
- Where
- Manipur, which shares a porous international boundary with Myanmar.
- When
- The Census was deferred on 31 August; the Manipur Assembly renewed its demand on 2 September, during the 2026 conflict period.
- Why
- The stated reasons include demands to determine citizenship before the population count, concerns about migration, and the demographic effects of ongoing conflict.
Key facts
- Census status
- The Union government deferred the exercise one day before house-listing was to begin.
- Deferral date
- 31 August
- NRC demand
- Civil society organisations and the Manipur Assembly called for an NRC before the Census and delimitation.
- Organisations involved
- Fourteen civil society organisations representing Meitei and Naga interests supported the demand.
- Proposed reference year
- Some campaigners proposed 1951, but the final Assembly resolution did not specify that year.
- Border context
- Manipur shares a porous international boundary with Myanmar.
- Conflict context
- The 2023 violence remains unresolved, and fresh conflict emerged in 2026.
Sources
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