Politics · India Bureau
Four States Advance Census Ahead of Elections; Manipur Postpones
India has accelerated population enumeration in four election-bound states to ensure completion before polling begins. The census exercise in Manipur has been deferred following public protests and demands for a National Register of Citizens.
LSN India ·
The government has moved up the census schedule in four states facing imminent electoral contests, aiming to complete the population enumeration process before voting commences. Officials expect the revised timeline will allow these states to finalize demographic data collection without disruption from election-related activities.
Meanwhile, authorities have postponed the census operations in Manipur, where civil society groups and local organizations have mounted sustained opposition to the exercise. The protests have been accompanied by demands that the state undertake a National Register of Citizens before proceeding with the census, reflecting concerns about citizenship documentation and demographic documentation in the northeastern state.
The staggered approach reflects logistical challenges of conducting simultaneous census and election activities. States preparing for elections have requested priority completion of enumeration to prevent operational conflicts and ensure data quality during the census process.
The postponement in Manipur underscores the intersection of census operations with broader questions of citizenship verification that have gained prominence across several Indian states. Officials have indicated they will review conditions in Manipur before determining a fresh schedule for the demographic survey.