The Centre has deferred the Census exercise in Manipur amid a growing debate over whether the National Register of Citizens should be updated before the population enumeration process. The Census house-listing exercise in the northeastern state was scheduled to begin on September 1, 2026, but the Union government decided to put the operation on hold following demands from civil society organisations.
The decision came after a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials attended the meeting. According to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the decision was taken after considering the concerns and aspirations expressed by people and civil society groups in the state.
The Census exercise has become a politically sensitive issue in Manipur because of continuing disagreements among different communities over citizenship documentation, demographic data and the identification of people who may not be Indian citizens.
Several Meitei civil society organisations have demanded that the National Register of Citizens be updated before the Census is conducted in the state. These organisations have argued that an NRC exercise is necessary to address their concerns about demographic changes and alleged illegal immigration from neighbouring countries.
Naga organisations have also supported the demand for an NRC before the Census and related delimitation exercises. The United Naga Council recently called on Naga organisations and tribal bodies to ensure that people did not cooperate with officials assigned to conduct the Census exercise.
The demand has also received support from several civil society organisations in the Imphal Valley. Earlier protests and public rallies were organised in the state seeking an update of the NRC before the 2027 Census. Organisers have said that the demand is connected with concerns over indigenous identity, land rights, political representation and demographic changes.
However, the Kuki-Zo community has taken a different position. The Kuki-Zo Council and other organisations representing the community have opposed the demand to conduct an NRC exercise before the Census. They have argued against making the NRC a prerequisite for the population enumeration process.
The disagreement reflects the wider political and social complexities in Manipur, where tensions between the Meitei and Kuki communities have continued since ethnic violence broke out in May 2023. The conflict has resulted in deaths, displacement and prolonged political uncertainty in the state.
The question of demographic data has become particularly sensitive during this period. Different communities have expressed concerns about population changes, citizenship verification and political representation. However, claims about the scale or source of demographic changes remain matters of political debate and should not be treated as independently established facts without official verification.
The National Register of Citizens and the Census are separate exercises with different purposes. A Census primarily collects information about the population, households and demographic characteristics of people living in the country. An NRC, by contrast, concerns the identification and registration of Indian citizens.
The demand for an NRC before the Census has therefore become a major political issue in Manipur. Supporters argue that citizenship verification should take place first so that population data can be compiled accurately. Opponents, including Kuki-Zo organisations, have rejected the sequencing proposed by the NRC-first campaign.
The Manipur High Court has also become involved in the issue. On August 31, the court ordered that the Census house-listing operation remain on hold until October 12. The court was informed that the government had already decided to defer the exercise following instructions from the Registrar General and Census Commissioner.
The court-related development provides an additional legal dimension to the postponement. The Centre’s decision to defer the Census means that the house-listing process will not begin in Manipur according to the original September 1 schedule.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh welcomed the Centre’s decision. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders for considering the concerns raised in the state. The Chief Minister also acknowledged the role of civil society organisations and state BJP legislators in raising the issue with the central government.
The decision has been welcomed by groups supporting the NRC-first demand, but the Kuki-Zo community has expressed opposition to the proposal. This difference in position means that the Census issue is likely to remain a point of disagreement between communities in the state.
The Centre has not announced a new date for the Census exercise in Manipur. The future schedule is expected to depend on developments related to the legal proceedings, consultations with stakeholders and the government’s assessment of the situation.
The postponement also raises questions about the sequencing of the NRC and Census processes. While some organisations want citizenship verification to precede population enumeration, other groups want the Census to proceed without waiting for an NRC update.
The issue is particularly significant because Census data is used for a wide range of public policy purposes, including planning, administration, welfare programmes and allocation of resources. Accurate population data is therefore considered important for governance.
At the same time, the NRC debate involves questions of citizenship and documentation. Any such exercise would involve legal and administrative procedures for determining citizenship status. Claims concerning individuals or communities must therefore be assessed through established legal processes rather than political assertions.
For now, the immediate development is the Centre’s decision to defer the Census operation in Manipur. The decision came amid sustained demands from sections of civil society for an NRC update before the Census and amid opposition to that demand from Kuki-Zo organisations.
The Manipur High Court’s order to keep the house-listing process on hold until October 12 adds another layer to the situation. The court proceedings and the Centre’s future decision on the Census schedule will be closely watched.
The issue remains politically sensitive because it touches on citizenship, demographic data, community identity and representation. With different communities holding sharply different views, the Centre will have to consider the legal, administrative and social implications before deciding the next steps.
Until a new schedule is announced, the Census house-listing exercise in Manipur remains deferred. The debate over whether an NRC should precede the Census is also continuing, with Meitei and Naga organisations supporting the demand and Kuki-Zo organisations opposing it.