Manipur’s NRC Push Gains Momentum, Assembly Set To Take Up Debate Ahead Of Census

Manipur’s demand for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the 2027 Census is rapidly turning into a larger political and administrative confrontation, with the state government now preparing to take the issue to the Assembly on September 2.

Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh assured a student delegation on August 20 that the government would move a discussion on NRC implementation and reiterated its support for the exercise. But the announcement comes as protests over the timing of the Census have already disrupted normal life across the state.

The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) recently observed a 48-hour shutdown, with road blockades and demonstrations reported across several valley districts. Protesters have demanded “No NRC, No Census”, arguing that citizenship verification should precede population enumeration. A Census training programme in Lilong was also cancelled amid the agitation.

The confrontation has begun affecting education too. The state government ordered all educational institutions to remain closed from August 20 to 22, citing the prevailing law-and-order situation.

The timing is particularly significant. The self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 began on August 17 and runs until August 31, while the main house-listing exercise is scheduled for September. Protesters are therefore seeking an NRC at a point when the Census machinery is already moving ahead.

Another unresolved question is the NRC cut-off year. Several groups have demanded 1951 as the base year, while Manipur has previously used 1961 as a reference point for determining native status under its Inner Line Permit framework. The CM has not yet publicly specified which cut-off the government would favour.

The issue is also intertwined with delimitation, demographic change and the return of internally displaced people, making the debate far broader than citizenship verification alone.

With protests intensifying and Census operations underway, the September Assembly session could determine whether Manipur’s NRC demand moves from political pressure to a formal state-backed proposal, and whether New Delhi is prepared to act on it.