Fourteen civil society organisations from Manipur have urged the Central Government to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before completing the Census 2027 exercise in the state. A delegation met senior officials in New Delhi between July 5 and 7, requesting that the NRC be notified before the census concludes or that both exercises be conducted simultaneously.
The organisations argued that demographic changes and alleged illegal immigration require immediate attention before census figures are finalised. Additionally, they asked the Centre to delay delimitation in Manipur until the NRC process is completed. The demand comes amid ongoing debates over migration, population data, and representation in the northeastern state.
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Key Facts
- State: Manipur
- Issue: Demand for NRC update before Census 2027
- Organisations Involved: 14 civil society organisations
- Delegation Visit: July 5–7, 2026
- Officials Met: Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, and senior Union Home Ministry officials
- Main Demands:
- Notify NRC before Census 2027 concludes
- Conduct NRC and Census simultaneously if needed
- Withhold final census figures until NRC is completed
- Delay delimitation until NRC exercise is over
Delegation Meets Central Officials
A delegation representing 14 civil society organisations from Manipur visited New Delhi between July 5 and July 7 to present its demands before senior Central Government officials.
During the visit, the delegation met Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan along with two senior officials from the Union Home Ministry. They urged the Centre to prioritise updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census 2027 process concludes in Manipur.
Organisations Seek NRC Before Census Completion
According to a statement issued after the meetings, the organisations requested the Centre to officially notify the NRC update before the Census 2027 exercise reaches completion in the state.
Alternatively, they proposed conducting the NRC update and the census simultaneously. They argued that completing both exercises together would help ensure greater accuracy in population records.
Furthermore, the organisations requested the Centre to withhold the final Census 2027 population figures for Manipur until the NRC verification process is complete.
Demand to Delay Delimitation
In addition to the NRC demand, the delegation urged the Centre not to proceed with the delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies before completing the NRC exercise.
According to the organisations, accurate population data is essential because census figures play a key role in determining future electoral boundaries.
Therefore, they believe delimitation should only take place after authorities complete the NRC verification process.
Concerns Over Demographic Changes
The civil society organisations claimed that decades of cross-border migration from Myanmar have significantly altered Manipur’s demographic profile.
Consequently, they requested the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes under the Union Home Ministry to expedite its inquiry into the issue.
Moreover, the delegation proposed including a representative from a future Manipur Population Commission in the committee to ensure broader representation during the inquiry.
Reference to Earlier Government Resolutions
The organisations also referred to resolutions passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly supporting the implementation of the NRC.
In addition, they cited communications sent by the Manipur government to the Centre in January 2023 requesting that the NRC be implemented in the state.
While welcoming the Census 2027 exercise, the groups maintained that longstanding concerns regarding the accuracy of census figures in certain hill districts should be addressed before finalising population data.
Different Views on the NRC Demand
The demand for updating the NRC has gained momentum among several Meitei civil society organisations since ethnic violence erupted in Manipur in May 2023.
These organisations contend that unchecked illegal immigration from Myanmar has contributed to demographic changes in the state.
However, Kuki-Zo organisations disagree with this view. Instead, they argue that the conflict primarily stems from political and constitutional issues rather than cross-border migration.
As a result, the issue continues to generate debate among different communities in Manipur.
Question & Answer
Q1. What did the Manipur organisations demand?
Answer: They urged the Centre to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before completing Census 2027 in the state.
Q2. Why do the organisations want the NRC first?
Answer: They argue that the NRC would help verify population records and address concerns over demographic changes and alleged illegal immigration.
Q3. Who met the Central Government officials?
Answer: A delegation representing 14 civil society organisations from Manipur met the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India and senior Union Home Ministry officials.
Q4. What did the delegation say about delimitation?
Answer: The delegation requested the Centre to postpone delimitation of parliamentary and assembly constituencies until the NRC process is completed.
Q5. Is there agreement among all groups in Manipur?
Answer: No. While several Meitei organisations support the NRC demand, Kuki-Zo organisations maintain that the conflict is rooted in political and constitutional issues rather than migration.
Location Context
Manipur is a strategically important border state in Northeast India that shares an international boundary with Myanmar. Consequently, issues related to migration, population records, border management, and electoral representation have significant administrative, political, and security implications for both the state and the wider Northeast region.
