Manipur's Home Minister Highlights Ongoing Search for 1951 NRC Records

Manipur's Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam Singh told legislators on Monday that a comprehensive hunt for the 1951 NRC documentation is currently in progress. The minister said the effort is part of the state's broader strategy to adopt 1951 as the base year for the national citizen register.

Answering questions from Congress MLA Kesham Meghchandra Singh, Singh explained that the archival search involves multiple government departments and aims to locate original physical registers dated 1951.

He reiterated that state authorities lack the power to enforce the NRC without a nod from the Union government. The minister also reminded members that the Manipur State Population Commission, established after a 5 August 2022 resolution, is ready to cooperate once the centre grants approval.

While Assam's NRC exercise has been completed, the process remains under judicial scrutiny. Singh warned that any attempt to proceed without due diligence could lead to legal setbacks. The state reiterated its request to the centre on 1 March 2024 and secured another assembly endorsement on 2 September 2026 to ensure a synchronized rollout.