The Joint Committee Opposing Delimitation Exercise in Manipur (Kangleipak) (JCODEM) has urged the Government and people of Manipur to remain alert as the nationwide Census, scheduled to begin in April 2026, approaches.
In a statement, JCODEM said the Union Cabinet of India approved the Census on December 12. The exercise, described as the world’s largest statistical operation, will be conducted in two phases—House Listing and Housing Census from April to September 2026, followed by Population Enumeration in February 2027. The total estimated expenditure has been fixed at Rs. 11,718.24 crore.
The committee highlighted that Manipur has long relied on provisional and disputed Census data of 2001, as the final report was never released due to alleged irregularities and bogus entries. Population figures of 2011 were also only projected estimates. JCODEM recalled that the 2001 report, described as inaccurate and abnormal, needs revision under the Census Act, 1948 and Census Rules, 1990. The decennial Census scheduled for 2021 was postponed to 2027 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
JCODEM also referred to unusually high decadal growth rates recorded between 1991 and 2001, particularly in Chandel district, which recorded 66.62 percent—far above the state average of 24.86 percent and the national average of 21.98 percent. Subdivisions in Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, and Churachandpur districts showed growth rates considered humanly impossible. The committee alleged that large-scale illegal immigration from Myanmar contributed to these figures.
The Manipur High Court has admitted public interest litigations filed by the Kuki Students’ Association (KSA) and the Imphal People’s Students’ Association (IPSA) challenging aspects of the Census and Delimitation exercises. Petitioners warned that any irregularities in the 2026 Census could directly affect Manipur’s political representation, the delimitation of constituencies, and the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), whose cut-off year is 1951, coinciding with the introduction of the Inner Line Permit system on November 18, 1951.
They urged the Government of India to carefully consider Manipur’s specific conditions and ensure that the Census and Delimitation exercises are conducted accurately to prevent long-term administrative and legal complications.