# Manipur census deferred amid NRC demands and Naga MLA unrest > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/manipur-protests-over-nrc-and-census-demands > Updated: 2026-09-05T18:01:52.000Z. Sources: 32. Developments: 6. The Indian government has officially postponed the house listing process for the 2027 Census in Manipur until further notice. An official notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs, issued by Registrar General and Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, excludes Manipur from the current national schedule while the census proceeds in all other states and union territories. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh welcomed the move, stating it reflects the central government’s sensitivity to the state’s concerns and its efforts to strengthen peace. This postponement follows a unanimous resolution by the Manipur Legislative Assembly requesting that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated prior to any census to address demographic changes linked to illegal immigration. Political instability persists as nine Naga legislators, including Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho, have issued an urgent appeal to the Union Home Minister. The MLAs demanded the arrest of Kuki-Zo militant leaders, specifically naming Thangboi Kipgen of the Kuki National Front (Presidential faction), alleging involvement in the killing and dismemberment of Naga civilians. The legislators also accused Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen of colluding with the militant group led by her husband and called for the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups. They warned that their continued support for the state government may be at risk if decisive action is not taken. ## Claims - The Union Government deferred the Census 2027 operations in Manipur. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The decision to defer the census followed a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Civil society organizations demanded the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Nine Naga MLAs demanded the arrest of Thangboi Kipgen, alleging involvement in the killing of Naga civilians. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Naga legislators called for the immediate abrogation of the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with Kuki militant groups. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Naga MLAs alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Nemcha Kipgen's office was colluding with a Kuki militant group. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Meitei and Naga communities expressed concern that conducting a census without an updated NRC could lead to demographic changes. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to the public to avoid bandhs and blockades during protests. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-05: Manipur Census 2027 house listing postponed by Ministry of Home Affairs The Indian government has postponed the 2027 Census house listing process in Manipur until further notice, while the exercise continues in the rest of the country. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-census-2027-house-listing-postponed-by-ministry-of-home-affairs ### 2026-09-02: Manipur Assembly passes resolution to update NRC before census The Manipur Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution urging the Indian government to update the NRC before the census, while opposition leaders called for greater political neutrality. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-assembly-passes-resolution-to-update-nrc-before-census ### 2026-08-31: Manipur census deferred amid NRC demands and Naga MLA protests The Indian government has deferred the Manipur census following demands to update the NRC first. Meanwhile, Naga MLAs are demanding action against Kuki militants and Deputy CM Nemcha Kipgen. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-protests-over-nrc-and-census-implementation-turn-violent ### 2026-08-24: Manipur activists demand NRC update before Census Activists in Manipur are protesting to demand an NRC update before the Census, while the Kuki-Zo Council supports the Census to establish accurate demographics, calling the NRC demand premature. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-activists-demand-nrc-update-before-census ### 2026-08-19: Manipur shuts schools and colleges amid NRC and Census protests Manipur has ordered a three-day closure of all educational institutions from August 20 to 22 due to escalating protests demanding an NRC update before the state's Census exercise. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-strike-disrupts-imphal-valley-over-nrc-demands ### 2026-08-17: Manipur protesters demand NRC update before census Protesters in Manipur, led by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation, are demanding the NRC be updated and displaced persons resettled before the state conducts its census exercise. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/manipur-protesters-demand-nrc-update-before-census --- Cite as: Manipur census deferred amid NRC demands and Naga MLA unrest. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/manipur-protests-over-nrc-and-census-demands