Centre defers Census operations in Manipur after Amit Shah-led review as CM Khemchand thanks Modi, Shah and 14 CSOs for fulfilling public aspirations, according to a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Monday.
New Delhi, August 31: The Union Government has deferred the Census operations in Manipur following a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday, after discussions on demands to postpone the exercise until the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is implemented in the state.
The decision was taken during a meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs to assess the prevailing situation in Manipur and consider concerns surrounding the proposed Census exercise.
The meeting was chaired by Amit Shah and attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials.
According to the Manipur Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the meeting discussed in detail the demand raised by people in the state to defer the Census exercise until the implementation of the NRC. The Union government agreed to defer the proposed Census in Manipur, taking into consideration the “feelings and aspirations” of the people of the state.
The decision comes amid sustained demands from sections of civil society and political representatives in Manipur for the NRC to be implemented before the Census exercise is conducted.
Khemchand thanks Modi, Shah and central leaders
Following the decision, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin and other central leaders for agreeing to defer the Census operations.
In a post on X, Khemchand wrote: “I express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji, @BJP4India National President Shri @NitinNabin ji, and other central leaders for fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State by deferring Census operations in Manipur.”
The Chief Minister also acknowledged the role of civil society groups and BJP legislators who had taken up the issue with the Centre.
“I also appreciate the efforts of the leaders of 14 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the delegation of BJP MLAs, who recently campaigned in New Delhi. Their regular engagement with central leaders and officials has resulted in today's decision,” he stated.
Khemchand had earlier appreciated the efforts of the 14 CSOs and the delegation of BJP MLAs for their engagement with central leaders and officials over the demand for NRC implementation and deferment of the Census.
I express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji, @BJP4India National President Shri @NitinNabin ji, and other central leaders for fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State by deferring Census operations… pic.twitter.com/dITbRLGV8a
— Khemchand Yumnam (@YKhemchandSingh) August 31, 2026
The Chief Minister also reassured the people of the state that both governments would continue working to address their concerns.
“I reassure the people of Manipur that both the Manipur Government and the Union Government remain committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State,” he wrote.
Census deferment follows sustained NRC demand
The deferment follows weeks of demands in Manipur for the Census exercise to be postponed, particularly over concerns that the population enumeration should not proceed before steps are taken towards implementing the NRC.
Civil society organisations and political representatives have raised the issue with the Centre, including through recent visits and engagements in New Delhi.
The demand has also been the subject of legal proceedings before the High Court of Manipur. The High Court on Monday directed that house-listing operations for Census 2027 in Manipur remain in abeyance until October 12 after the Centre and the state government gave undertakings that the exercise would not commence as scheduled on September 1.
The court proceedings involved petitions seeking deferment of the census over concerns related to the NRC, demographic changes and the enumeration of internally displaced persons affected by the conflict in Manipur.
The Centre’s decision announced on Monday now formally moves the issue into the policy and administrative domain following the high-level review chaired by the Union Home Minister.
CM appeals against bandhs and general strikes
While welcoming the Centre’s decision, Khemchand also appealed to civil society organisations and other groups to avoid bandhs and general strikes while pursuing their demands.
The Chief Minister stated that such actions would cause additional hardship to ordinary people and would not help in effectively taking demands forward before the government.
He urged civil society groups to continue engaging with the government through dialogue and to cooperate with the administration in addressing the socio-political challenges confronting Manipur.
“The government is for the people,” Khemchand stated, adding that issues concerning the state should be discussed with the government to find better solutions.
The appeal comes after a series of shutdowns and general strikes in Manipur over the Census and NRC issue, with civil society groups pressing the Centre to defer the population enumeration exercise.
Government reiterates commitment to Manipur
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat stated that both the Manipur government and the Union government remain committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the state.
Monday’s high-level meeting brought together the Union Home Ministry’s senior officials and the state’s constitutional and administrative leadership to review the situation and consider the concerns surrounding the Census.
With the Centre deciding to defer the Census operations, further consultations are expected on the timing and modalities of the exercise in Manipur, as well as the issues raised by various groups concerning the NRC and population enumeration.
The Chief Minister, meanwhile, has credited sustained engagement by civil society organisations and BJP legislators with contributing to the Centre’s decision and reiterated his appeal for dialogue rather than shutdowns as the government addresses the state’s concerns.
