The Manipur Government has issued an Extraordinary Gazette Notification freezing all administrative boundaries across the state to facilitate forthcoming Census operations. The notification was published in the Manipur Gazette Extraordinary, Issue No. 255, dated Friday, January 2, 2026.
According to the notification issued by the Home Department, Government of Manipur, the Governor of Manipur has exercised powers conferred under Clause (iv) of Rule 8 of the Census Rules, 1990. As per the order, the administrative boundaries of all districts, tehsils, villages, and other related units in the state shall remain frozen with effect from January 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027.
The boundary freeze is a standard administrative measure undertaken ahead of Census operations to ensure uniformity and consistency in population enumeration and data collection. During the freeze period, no changes such as the creation of new districts, subdivision of existing units, or alteration of village and revenue boundaries are permitted.
The notification, dated December 31, 2025, was signed by Ahanthem Subhash Singh, Additional Secretary in the Home Department, Government of Manipur. The move signals the formal initiation of preparatory steps for the Census in the state, even as concerns continue to be raised by various sections of society regarding the prevailing law and order situation and large-scale population displacement in Manipur.
The issuance of the boundary freeze notification has drawn public attention as it comes amid ongoing instability in the state, with many areas still affected by internal displacement and restrictions on movement. Observers note that while boundary freezing is procedurally linked to Census preparation, the broader feasibility of conducting Census operations under current conditions remains a subject of debate within the state.