NRC in Manipur has emerged as a major demand from the Joint Tribes Council (JTC), which has called for the National Register of Citizens to be updated before the next Census and any future delimitation exercise. The demand comes amid renewed debate over demographic changes, political representation and the impact of the prolonged ethnic conflict in the state.
The JTC represents four Naga tribes — Rongmei, Liangmai, Zeme and Inpui. The council has previously raised concerns over what it describes as unchecked migration and its possible impact on indigenous communities. Its latest position comes as civil society groups across Manipur intensify calls for safeguards before the proposed 2027 Census.
Why NRC in Manipur is central to the demand
The Joint Tribes Council has argued that an updated NRC is necessary to establish a clearer record of genuine citizens before population figures are used for major administrative and electoral decisions. The council has linked the demand to concerns about demographic changes and the protection of indigenous communities.
The issue is not new. In December 2025, the JTC submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through then Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, seeking urgent action against what it termed unchecked illegal migration. The council said migration from Myanmar and other areas had placed pressure on local resources and threatened the cultural identity, economic stability and traditional livelihoods of indigenous communities.
The JTC has also pointed to population changes over several decades as a reason for closer scrutiny. However, allegations about illegal immigration and demographic shifts remain contested political issues, and population growth by itself does not establish a person’s citizenship status.
Census and delimitation concerns
The demand for NRC in Manipur is closely connected to the proposed Census and the eventual delimitation of electoral constituencies. Civil society organisations have argued that population figures must accurately reflect the state’s citizen population before they are used for determining political representation.
In June, a Native People’s Convention attended by representatives of the Joint Tribes Council and other organisations adopted a resolution calling for the NRC to be updated before Census operations. The gathering included representatives from several indigenous communities and featured discussions on demographic change, migration and the NRC.
The Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation has also repeatedly demanded that the NRC process precede the Census. In August, the group warned of intensified agitation if the government proceeded with Census operations without first updating the NRC.
Concerns over disputed population data
Another major element of the debate is the history of contested Census figures in Manipur. Civil society groups have raised questions about population data from earlier exercises, particularly in some hill districts.
A delegation of Manipur civil society organisations that travelled to Delhi recently argued that the state’s delimitation process has been stalled for decades amid disputes surrounding earlier Census figures. The groups cited concerns over the 2001 Census and said questions about population counts in certain hill areas had affected the delimitation process. They called for the NRC to use 1951 as its base year.
The issue has also prompted calls for the final population data from the 2027 Census to be withheld until the NRC process is completed. Civil society representatives have additionally sought a freeze on delimitation until the citizenship verification exercise is concluded.
Political representation at the heart of the debate
Supporters of NRC in Manipur say the sequencing of citizenship verification, Census and delimitation is important because population figures can eventually influence the distribution of electoral constituencies.
The New Indian Express reported in June that civil society organisations sought NRC updation before the Census, arguing that unverified demographic figures could affect electoral representation and constitutional safeguards for indigenous communities. The groups also urged the Manipur government to engage with the Centre on the issue.
At the same time, the Census is a national statistical exercise with wider implications for planning, administration and public policy. Any decision to alter its timing or methodology in Manipur therefore involves both administrative and constitutional considerations.
Government faces growing pressure
The demand for NRC in Manipur has gained momentum through protests, public meetings and representations to authorities. In July, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation staged a demonstration in Imphal and urged the state government to announce that NRC updation would precede the Census. The organisation warned of a larger agitation if its demand was not addressed.
Separately, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has held discussions with the Joint Tribes Council and other civil society representatives on NRC updation and demographic concerns, indicating that the issue remains part of ongoing consultations.
For now, the debate reflects a broader struggle over citizenship, demographic change and political representation in a state still recovering from prolonged ethnic violence. The JTC and allied groups want the Centre and state government to address their concerns before population data are used for future electoral restructuring.
The demand for NRC in Manipur is therefore likely to remain a significant issue as preparations for the next Census move forward. How the government balances concerns over citizenship verification, the rights of indigenous communities and the need for a credible Census will be closely watched across the state.
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