Schools, Colleges to be Shut in Manipur Till August 23 Amid Census-NRC Dispute

The government has ordered the closure of all academic institutions amid the 'prevailing law and order situation' in the state as the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation's demands an NRC before Census 2027.

The Wire Staff

schools colleges to be shut in manipur till august 23 amid census nrc dispute

Imphal East: Demonstrators hold placards as they block the movement of security personnel and vehicles on the second day of a 48-hour statewide strike called by Campaign for Just and Free Delimitation (JFD) demanding NRC implementation before the census, at Lamlong area in Imphal East district, Manipur, Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Photo:PTI.

New Delhi: As the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), a civil society and public movement in Manipur, continue their 48-hour long shutdown, the state government declared the closure of all educational institutions from August 20 to 23 in view of the "prevailing law and order situation" on Wednesday (August 19).

The directive extends to schools, higher education institutions and colleges, including institutions affiliated with the state's education boards and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Order circulated by the state government on Wednesday (August 19).

The shutdown by JFD, demanding that Census 2027 be conducted only after the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC), has become a point of contention as preparations for the 2027 census continue. It has impacted the appointments connected with census training for supervisors, enumerators and field trainers, reported Times of India.

Earlier protests in the state had also hindered training programmes for personnel participating in the exercise. On August 14, protesters disrupted a census training programme in Bishnupur district as per a report by PTI.

JFD has linked its demand for an NRC exercise to precede the census due to concerns about alleged undocumented migration and demographic changes. These concerns remain a significant part of the wider social and political dispute in the state.

Kuki organisations, which have rejected the characterisation of members of their community as "undocumented immigrants," have opposed the JFD's demand. The shutdown, therefore, has become intricately connected with the existing tensions between ethnic and tribal communities in Manipur that have plagued the conflict-torn state for the past three years.

Educational institutions closed for four days

The government's order to shut down schools and colleges for four days comprises institutions under different management categories and education boards making it a state-wide measure rather than an action limited to geographical pockets that are experiencing a relatively more intense upheaval.

The temporary direction for closure also interrupts regular classes and academic schedules and reflects on the broader impact of the ongoing agitation, which has moved beyond protests, to affect administrative preparations related to Census 2027.

Authorities are expected to monitor the ground situation before deciding on further action regarding the reopening of institutions.

This article went live on August twentieth, two thousand twenty six, at twenty-one minutes past twelve at noon.

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