Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh today welcomed the Union Government’s decision to constitute a High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC), calling it a historic and long-awaited intervention to address concerns over illegal immigration and demographic imbalance.
The move follows the formal resolution issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 26, 2026, constituting the committee to conduct a nationwide scientific study on demographic shifts and recommend legal, administrative and policy measures.
Khemchand Singh expressed gratitude to Narendra Modi for initiating what he described as a “High-powered Demography Mission,” first announced by the Prime Minister during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2025, and later approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2025.
The Chief Minister said the initiative holds particular significance for Manipur and other border states that have repeatedly raised concerns over unchecked illegal immigration, abnormal settlement patterns and changing demographic trends.
He also welcomed the observations made by Amit Shah, who reportedly described demographic change as a serious issue linked not only to national security and sovereignty, but also to law and order, social stability and the protection of tribal societies.
Assuring full cooperation from the Manipur Government, Khemchand Singh stated that the people of the state remain grateful to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister for their commitment towards safeguarding India’s borders and addressing demographic imbalance.
According to the MHA resolution, the Centre has expressed concern that demographic changes in several regions, particularly border districts, cannot be explained solely through normal fertility or mortality patterns. The document stated that illegal immigration, irregular population movement and abnormal settlement trends may be contributing to major demographic transformations affecting governance, public service delivery, resource distribution and social cohesion.
The Centre further noted that the impact of such demographic shifts is now extending beyond border areas and increasingly affecting urban centres, industrial corridors, tribal belts and other socially sensitive regions across the country.
The newly constituted committee will function under the Ministry of Home Affairs with its headquarters in New Delhi. It will be chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar, while the Joint Secretary (Foreigners-I), MHA, will serve as Member Secretary.
Other members include Census Commissioner, former IAS officer Durga Shankar Mishra, former IPS officer Balaji Srivastava, and economist Dr. Shamika Ravi.
The committee has been entrusted with examining demographic changes linked to illegal immigration, cross-border movement, abnormal settlement trends and structural population shifts among religious and social communities. It has also been tasked with recommending mechanisms for identification, detention and deportation of illegal immigrants, besides proposing measures for strengthening border management and long-term population monitoring systems.
The resolution empowers the panel to seek records and information from ministries, state governments and public authorities. It may also consult experts, academic institutions, security agencies and social organisations, and form specialised sub-committees with prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.