Centre defers Census in Manipur following ‘NRC first’ demand by civil society groups
In a significant development, the Indian Centre has decided to postpone the Census 2027 house-listing phase in Manipur due to mounting opposition from civil society groups. The request stems from demands by Meitei and Naga communities in the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley for a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state before the Census.
The Centre's decision follows a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, attended by the Manipur Chief Minister, Union Home Secretary, and other senior officials. The Centre agreed to defer the exercise "considering the feelings and aspirations of the people of Manipur." The decision is also influenced by the tenuous security situation in Manipur.
The state government will keep its March 22, 2026 notification on the Census in abeyance, pending the Centre's formal notification.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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