Manipur shuts schools and colleges amid NRC and Census protests

The Manipur government has ordered the closure of all schools, colleges, and higher education institutions across the state from August 20 to August 22, 2026. The decision, issued by the Education Department, cites the prevailing law-and-order situation as the reason for the three-day shutdown. The order applies to all government, aided, and unaided institutions, including those affiliated with the CBSE and various state boards.

The closure follows intensifying protests led by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD). The group is demanding that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the upcoming Census exercise is conducted in the state. Protesters have staged torch rallies, road blockades, and burnt effigies of political leaders in several valley districts, including Imphal East and Imphal West.

While the shutdown has significantly disrupted normal life in the Imphal Valley—affecting markets, public transport, and government offices—it has reportedly had less impact on the hill districts. The agitation includes calls to defer the Census until internally displaced persons (IDPs) can return to their native places.