UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Why has the Census been deferred in Manipur?

Q1. With reference to the conduct of Census 2027 in India, which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. The National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation conducts it entirely through its own permanent field staff.
  • B. The Unique Identification Authority of India under the Ministry of Electronics and IT conducts it exclusively from the Aadhaar database, with no field enumeration at all.
  • C. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs conducts it, with field operations carried out in collaboration with State/UT Governments.
  • D. Each State Government conducts it within its own territory, the Union Government in every case merely publishing the final totals.

Q2. Which one of the following correctly states the statute under which Census 2027 is being taken and its reference date?

  • A. The Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, under which a single uniform reference date is binding on every area without exception.
  • B. The Census Act, 1948 read with the Census Rules, 1990, with 00:00 hours of 1 March 2027 as the reference date for most of the country.
  • C. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which alone governs every population count undertaken in India for all purposes.
  • D. The Citizenship Act, 1955, under which the reference date is invariably fixed at 1 January of the census year in all States.

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the Census with the National Register of Citizens (NRC): 1. The Census is taken under the Census Act, 1948, whereas the NRC draws its statutory authority from Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. 2. The preparation of the NRC in Assam has been application-based, unlike the enumeration-based process contemplated for the rest of India. 3. The two exercises are headed by two different functionaries — the Census Commissioner of India and the Chief Election Commissioner of India respectively. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Census is taken under the Census Act, 1948, whereas the NRC draws its statutory authority from Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
  2. The preparation of the NRC in Assam has been application-based, unlike the enumeration-based process contemplated for the rest of India.
  3. The two exercises are headed by two different functionaries — the Census Commissioner of India and the Chief Election Commissioner of India respectively.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following functions as the National Registration Authority for the purpose of preparing the National Register of Indian Citizens?

  • A. The Foreigners Regional Registration Officer of the State concerned, acting under the Foreigners Act, 1946
  • B. The Chief Secretary of the State concerned, acting under the Citizenship Rules, 2003
  • C. The Director of the National Crime Records Bureau, acting under the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Registrar General, India, appointed under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969

Q5. Manipur, where Census house-listing operations were deferred in 2026, is at present divided into how many administrative districts?

  • A. 9
  • B. 10
  • C. 16
  • D. 6

Q6. Manipur's commonly cited demographic split — Meiteis at about 53 per cent and tribal communities, chiefly Nagas and Kukis, at about 40 per cent — rests on the data of which Census?

  • A. Census of 1991
  • B. Census of 2011
  • C. Census of 2001
  • D. Census of 1971

Q7. With reference to the deferment of Census operations in Manipur in 2026, consider the following: 1. The phase deferred was the Houselisting and Housing Operations phase, which was to run for 30 days from 1 September 2026. 2. The Kuki-Zo Council opposed the deferment, arguing that an impartial headcount was needed to establish demographic facts. 3. The Manipur Chief Minister indicated that NRC implementation would be taken up in the Assembly session beginning 2 September 2026. 4. The deferment was applied simultaneously to all the eight States of the North Eastern Region. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The phase deferred was the Houselisting and Housing Operations phase, which was to run for 30 days from 1 September 2026.
  2. The Kuki-Zo Council opposed the deferment, arguing that an impartial headcount was needed to establish demographic facts.
  3. The Manipur Chief Minister indicated that NRC implementation would be taken up in the Assembly session beginning 2 September 2026.
  4. The deferment was applied simultaneously to all the eight States of the North Eastern Region.
  • A. 1 and 4
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 and 4

Q8. Which one of the following was the principal demand advanced by the civil society organisations that sought postponement of the Census in Manipur in 2026?

  • A. Completion of the delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the State before any fresh headcount
  • B. Updation of the National Register of Citizens, with 1951 as the base year, before any fresh headcount
  • C. Grant of Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community in the State list before any fresh headcount
  • D. Extension of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to the hill districts of the State before any fresh headcount

Q9. Consider the following statements about the ethnic conflict in Manipur that began in May 2023: 1. Violence broke out on 3 May 2023 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the hill districts. 2. The march had been called to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status. 3. The directive asking the State to consider the Meitei claim for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list had been issued by the Supreme Court of India in March 2023. 4. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur in February 2025 following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Violence broke out on 3 May 2023 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the hill districts.
  2. The march had been called to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
  3. The directive asking the State to consider the Meitei claim for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list had been issued by the Supreme Court of India in March 2023.
  4. President's Rule was imposed in Manipur in February 2025 following the resignation of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q10. The revocation of President's Rule in Manipur in February 2026 was followed by the swearing-in of which one of the following as Chief Minister of the State?

  • A. Nongthombam Biren Singh
  • B. Yumnam Khemchand Singh
  • C. Nemcha Kipgen
  • D. Losii Dikho

Q11. In the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, 'Census' finds place as which one of the following?

  • A. Entry 69 of the Union List
  • B. Entry 45 of the Concurrent List
  • C. Entry 94 of the Union List
  • D. Entry 30 of the State List

Q12. The petitions seeking updation of the National Register of Citizens ahead of the Census in Manipur are being examined by the Manipur High Court in exercise of which one of the following jurisdictions?

  • A. Its writ jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution
  • B. Its power of superintendence over subordinate courts and tribunals under Article 227
  • C. Its advisory jurisdiction on questions of law of public importance under Article 143
  • D. Its original jurisdiction in disputes between the Union and a State under Article 131