In a significant policy signal amid ongoing ethnic tensions, Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh has announced that the state will study Assam’s experience with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as a possible mechanism to address its complex demographic and security challenges.
The Chief Minister stated that the government will initiate consultations with experts and officials associated with the NRC process in Assam, where the citizenship register exercise was carried out over several years before its final publication in 2019. The move comes against the backdrop of persistent demands from various civil society groups in Manipur, particularly in the valley, for the identification of alleged illegal migrants.
Officials indicated that the state is currently in an exploratory phase and no immediate decision has been taken to implement an NRC. Instead, the government plans to organise seminars and discussions involving legal experts, administrators, and stakeholders to better understand the administrative, legal, and logistical implications of such an exercise.
The NRC, aimed at identifying genuine Indian citizens and detecting undocumented immigrants, has remained a contentious issue since its implementation in Assam. While it was intended to resolve long-standing concerns over illegal immigration, the process drew criticism over documentation challenges and the exclusion of a large number of residents from the final list.
Observers caution that replicating the Assam model in Manipur would require careful adaptation to the state’s unique socio-political landscape. Analysts argue that while an NRC-like exercise may address concerns related to demographic changes, it is unlikely to resolve the deeper ethnic and political divisions that underpin the ongoing conflict.
Manipur has been grappling with prolonged unrest marked by violence, displacement, and mistrust among communities. Experts emphasize that any administrative measure, including a citizenship verification exercise, must be accompanied by sustained dialogue, inclusive governance, and confidence-building initiatives.
For now, the state government’s approach remains consultative, with the proposed study of Assam’s NRC experience seen as a preliminary step rather than a definitive policy direction.