Manipur NRC updation has emerged as a major point of contention ahead of the Census 2027 exercise, with the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) stepping up its opposition to the scheduled process. The group has demanded that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before census-related activities begin, arguing that resident verification is necessary before population data is recorded.
The JFD has repeatedly urged the Centre and the Manipur government to defer the census until the NRC is updated. It has also warned of intensified protests if authorities proceed without addressing the demand.
Manipur NRC updation sought before census
The JFD’s latest campaign comes as Manipur prepares for the first phase of Census 2027. According to the schedule announced by the state government, self-enumeration is set to take place from August 17 to August 31, while house-listing operations are scheduled from September 1 to September 30.
The organisation has objected to the exercise, saying the government should first establish a mechanism to identify undocumented migrants. In July, JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba urged the state government to take a clear decision on the NRC demand before the census process began.
The group has submitted representations to the President, Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, Registrar General of India and the Manipur chief minister. It has sought the identification of alleged illegal immigrants before population enumeration.
Protest movement gathers momentum
The demand has been building for several months. In March, hundreds of protesters marched towards the Manipur Assembly during a demonstration organised by the JFD. Police used tear gas after security forces stopped the march, and at least six protesters suffered minor injuries, according to reports.
The protesters argued that conducting the census without first addressing questions surrounding undocumented migration could affect the state’s demographic balance. The issue was also raised in the Assembly, where concerns were expressed about conducting the census while the state continues to deal with the consequences of prolonged violence and displacement.
In June, thousands of people participated in a rally in Imphal under the banner of “No NRC Update, No Census”. The demonstration involved 14 civil society organisations and called for updating the 1951 NRC before the census.
Concerns over displaced people and demographic data
The debate is also linked to Manipur’s continuing displacement crisis. Civil society groups have argued that thousands of internally displaced people remain away from their original homes following the ethnic violence that began in 2023.
The JFD has maintained that conducting a census under such circumstances could produce an incomplete picture of the state’s population. The organisation has also linked its demand to concerns over political representation, land rights and access to government benefits.
The group says an updated NRC would provide a reference point for determining citizenship and identifying people it considers undocumented migrants before population data is finalised. These are the organisation’s claims and remain part of a contentious political and demographic debate in the state.
At the same time, the Census itself is designed as a population-counting exercise rather than a citizenship-verification process. Reporting on the proposed exercise notes that the census counts usual residents, including foreign nationals who meet the criteria for inclusion, and is primarily intended to generate statistical information for governance and planning.
Government maintains focus on a fair census
The Manipur government has said it is committed to ensuring that the census is conducted fairly. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh said in March that the administration was making efforts to ensure a “just and fair census” amid concerns raised by various sections of society.
The government notification provides for self-enumeration from August 17 to August 31, followed by the house-listing phase in September. The population enumeration phase is scheduled for 2027.
JFD, however, has continued to insist that the census should be postponed until its demands are addressed. In July, the organisation warned that failure to act could trigger a stronger agitation and called on local groups and civil society organisations to organise meetings and demonstrations.
NRC demand remains politically sensitive
The dispute comes at a sensitive time for Manipur, where questions of identity, migration, representation and rehabilitation remain closely connected to the broader conflict. Various civil society groups have called for an NRC-based mechanism, while the government has stressed the need for an accurate and fair census.
Earlier, another civil society coalition, the International Peace and Social Advancement, proposed updating the 1951 NRC alongside Census 2027 rather than treating the two exercises as mutually exclusive.
With the August 17 self-enumeration exercise approaching, pressure is therefore building on both the state and Centre to respond to the demand. The immediate challenge will be to balance the need for reliable population data with concerns raised by civil society groups over citizenship, displacement and demographic change.
For Manipur, the coming weeks could determine whether the census proceeds amid continued protests or whether authorities take additional steps to address the demand for Manipur NRC updation before the wider enumeration process moves forward.
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