Manipur Census Deferred Amid Public Demand for NRC Update

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh announced on September 2 that the Centre has deferred the state’s Census exercise, citing public concern and demands for an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC). Addressing the opening day of the Assembly’s eighth session, Singh said the state government has consistently lobbied for the NRC update to precede the Census. The Chief Minister noted that the Assembly first passed an NRC resolution in August 2022 under the N Biren Singh administration, forwarding it to the Home Ministry in 2023. The demand was subsequently reiterated during the 2024 Assembly session. Following the imposition of President’s Rule and the formation of the current government, a state Home Department seminar in August concluded that the NRC must take priority over the Census. Singh stated that these resolutions and public grievances were escalated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “The Census was deferred in accordance with the wishes of the people,” he told the House. Responding to queries regarding the lack of a formal written order, Singh confirmed that the decision was finalized during a New Delhi meeting chaired by Shah, which he attended alongside Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. The Chief Minister’s Secretariat had previously announced the deferral on August 31, following a high-level review by Shah. The move follows widespread local protests demanding an NRC update ahead of any census tracking.