Schools, colleges closed across Manipur from today as NRC-before-Census stir intensifies

The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered the closure of educational institutions across the state from August 20 in view of the prevailing law and order situation, as protests over demands for an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the 2027 Census continue to disrupt normal life. The order covers schools, colleges, higher educational institutions and universities across government, aided and unaided sectors. Authorities have asked officials at the district and education department levels to ensure that the directive reaches institutions under their jurisdiction.

The decision comes against the backdrop of an agitation led by the Joint Forum for Delimitation (JFD), which has demanded that the NRC be updated before the Census and any subsequent delimitation exercise is undertaken in Manipur. The organisation had called a 48-hour statewide shutdown beginning Monday midnight.

Schools across boards covered

An order issued by the state Education Department said the decision had been taken after considering the security situation.

Schools affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM), Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM), Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and other boards come under the closure directive.

The restrictions also extend to government, government-aided and private colleges, higher education institutes and universities. Deputy commissioners, zonal education officers and directors of the departments concerned have been instructed to circulate the directions among institutions under their administrative control. The move is intended to keep students and teaching staff away from possible disruptions while the administration assesses the law and order situation.

NRC demand fuels protests

The latest disruption is linked to opposition from several groups to conducting the 2027 Census in Manipur without first updating the NRC. The JFD has argued that the state's population register should be updated before Census figures are used for any future delimitation of constituencies. The group fears that proceeding with delimitation on the basis of population data without first addressing its concerns over migration could affect political representation in the state.

The 48-hour general strike called over the issue received support from sections of students and women vendors, while protests were reported in parts of the state. The demand has emerged as another sensitive political issue in Manipur, where questions surrounding population, migration, citizenship and representation have remained contentious.

Government faces calls to address agitation

The shutdown has increased pressure on the state administration to address the protesters' concerns while preventing further disruption to public life. Protesters have demanded an assurance that the NRC exercise will precede the Census and delimitation process. The agitation has affected normal activities in parts of Manipur, with educational institutions now formally being kept closed as a precaution. The government has not, through the education closure order, taken a position on the protesters' substantive demands. Its directive cites the prevailing law and order situation as the reason for keeping institutions shut.

Education again hit by unrest

The closure represents another interruption to education in a state where schools and colleges have repeatedly been affected by periods of unrest over the past few years. Educational institutions in Manipur have previously been forced to suspend physical classes during episodes of violence, curfews and other security-related restrictions.

The latest directive again puts student safety at the centre of the administration's response to political unrest. For now, district administrations and education officials have been tasked with implementing the closure order, while the government continues to monitor the security situation and the fallout from the NRC-before-Census agitation.