IPSA calls for simultaneous NRC 1951 updation and census 2027 in Manipur

A press briefing was held at Keishampat at around 1:20 pm today, where Shanta Nahakpam of the International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA), representing 14 civil society organisations of Kangleipak, presented a detailed proposal advocating the simultaneous conduct of NRC 1951 updation and the Census of India 2027.
Addressing media persons, Shanta Nahakpam stated that updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) 1951 alongside the Census 2027 is both feasible and administratively viable. He asserted that the NRC updation process can be carried out before, after, or in parallel with the Census exercise, adding that the two processes need not be mutually exclusive. Describing NRC updation as a “birth right” and Census 2027 as a “future destination,” he maintained that synchronisation would serve the long-term interests of the state.
Shanta outlined a series of conditions that must be incorporated into the rules and regulations if both processes are undertaken together. According to her, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, must issue a formal notification for NRC 1951 updation in Manipur prior to the Census 2027, with publication in the Gazette of India.
He further stated that preparatory steps for NRC updation should begin in advance, including the appointment of a State Commissioner and necessary officials to oversee the process. The formulation of detailed rules and regulations should be initiated in consultation with the Registrar General of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, he added.
The IPSA representative proposed that NRC 2027 be prepared by incorporating 15 categories of information derived from the National Population Register (NPR) 2010 during the Census 2027 enumeration. She also stressed the need to link NRC 1951 data with the proposed NRC 2027 database. In cases where legacy data or family tree verification is unavailable, individuals may be categorised as “non-citizens of Manipur,” with further action, including deportation or resettlement, to be carried out under the relevant NRC rules and the Foreigners Tribunal Act, 1946.
Another key point raised during the briefing was that the final population data of Census 2027 should be withheld until the completion of NRC updation processes, including deportation or resettlement measures. However, provisional figures may be released based on population projections of the Office of the Registrar General of India.
He also noted that while NRC 1951 updation involves lengthy procedural requirements, the Census 2027 is a time-bound national exercise to be conducted simultaneously across the country. Despite these differences, IPSA maintained that both processes can be aligned effectively with appropriate regulatory mechanisms.