10 October 2026
The High Court of Manipur, by an order dated 19 May 2026, permitted the State government and the State Election Commission to hold the sixth general panchayat elections on or before 16 October 2026.
That order came from a Division Bench of Chief Justice M. Sundar and Justice A. Guneshwar Sharma, which allowed the State's review of the High Court's judgment of August 2025 directing elections within six months.
The State had placed before the court the law and order situation and the President's rule imposed in February 2025.
On 2 July 2026 a Supreme Court Bench of Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice N.V. Anjaria dismissed a special leave petition in Pheiroijam Heramani and Others v. The State of Manipur and Others, which had challenged the extension.
The petitioners relied on Article 243E, which provides a five-year term for panchayats, and on Sections 92 and 109 of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.
The Supreme Court left the petitioners free to move the competent forum if the State did not comply with the High Court's directions.
Deadline for the polls:
16 October 2026
High Court order:
19 May 2026
Supreme Court order:
2 July 2026
Constitutional provision relied on:
Article 243E
Why it matters for exams: Article 243E, a State Election Commission's duty and a court-fixed election deadline make this a high-value polity item.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Article 243E Constitution of India, Article 243E — It gives every panchayat a term of five years and requires a fresh election to be completed before that term ends.
SLP Special Leave Petition — A petition under Article 136 asking the Supreme Court for leave to appeal against an order of a lower court.
10 October 2026
The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on 25 September 2026 under Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.
It declares the whole of Manipur a disturbed area for six months with effect from 1 October 2026, that is until 31 March 2027 unless withdrawn earlier.
Areas falling under 13 police stations in five districts are kept outside the declaration.
The excluded police stations are six in Imphal West, three in Imphal East, two in Bishnupur, one in Thoubal and one in Kakching.
The five districts are Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching.
Act and section:
Section 3, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958
Notification date:
25 September 2026
In force from:
1 October 2026
In force until:
31 March 2027
Police station areas excluded:
13, in five districts
Why it matters for exams: AFSPA, its Section 3 disturbed area declaration and the exact exclusions are a recurring polity and internal security question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
AFSPA Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 — Once an area is declared disturbed under Section 3, the Act gives the armed forces special powers in that area.
Background
The Government of Manipur's own At a Glance page says the name Manipur literally means "A jeweled land", and records that Jawaharlal Nehru described the state as the "Jewel of India".
Manipur came under British rule as a princely state after its defeat in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891.
The princely state was merged in the Indian Union in 1949 and became a full-fledged State of India in 1972, with a Legislative Assembly of 60 seats.
The page's table gives the area as 22327 sq.km, the Capital as Imphal and the State Language as Manipuri.
The listed symbols are State Emblem Kangla Shaa, State Bird Nongyeen, State Animal Sangai, State Game Manipuri Polo and State Flower Siroi Lily.
Assembly Constituencies are given as 60 and Parliamentary Constituencies as 2 (One for Inner and One for Outer).
Imphal's altitude is given as 790 mtrs. above MSL and the average rainfall as 1467.5 mm.
Scheduled Tribes recognised by Government are listed as 33.
Area:
22327 sq.km
Capital:
Imphal
State Animal:
Sangai
State Flower:
Siroi Lily
State Game:
Manipuri Polo
Parliamentary Constituencies:
2 (One for Inner and One for Outer)
Altitude:
790 mtrs. above MSL (Imphal)
Why it matters for exams: State symbols, the statehood sequence and the seat structure of a North-Eastern state are standard one-mark questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC prelims.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
MSL Mean Sea Level — The reference level from which the altitude of a place is measured.
Sangai Brow-antlered deer, the State Animal of Manipur — The deer the State portal lists as Manipur's State Animal.
Kangla Shaa The State Emblem of Manipur — The emblem listed for the state on the official At a Glance table.
Background
Manipur Tourism describes Loktak Lake, in Bishnupur District, as the largest fresh water lake in the North–East India; it is 48kms from Imphal City.
The lake's surface carries floating islands called Phumdis, on which fishermen live in floating huts known as Phumsangs.
Visitors get a bird's eye view of the lake from Sendra, and boating and water sports are organised at Takmu Water Sports Complex.
Keibul Lamjao National Park, located on the Loktak Lake, is described as the only floating National Park in the world.
The park is the last natural habitat of the Sangai (Rucervus eldii eldii), the dancing deer of Manipur.
Other wildlife in the park includes Hog Deer, otter and a host of water fowls, besides migratory birds.
The Forest Department of Manipur maintains watch towers and two rest houses within the park.
Bishnupur district's own site notes that its small rivers, except the Khuga River, start from the hill located at the west of the Tiddim Road and flow towards east, falling into Loktak Lake.
District of Loktak Lake:
Bishnupur District
Distance from Imphal City:
48kms from Imphal City
Floating islands on the lake:
Phumdis
Floating huts of the fishermen:
Phumsangs
Scientific name of the Sangai:
Rucervus eldii eldii
Rest houses inside the park:
two rest houses
Why it matters for exams: Loktak, the phumdis and the floating national park are the single most asked Manipur geography-ecology cluster in both Kerala PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Phumdi Floating island of matted vegetation on Loktak Lake — Manipur Tourism calls them floating islands on which fishermen live.
Phumsang Floating hut built on a phumdi — The floating huts of Loktak's fishing families.
Sangai Rucervus eldii eldii, the dancing deer of Manipur — Keibul Lamjao is its last natural habitat.
Background
The district administration's own page says Imphal West District falls in the category of the Manipur valley region, a tiny plain at the centre of Manipur.
Imphal City, the State Capital, is the nodal functional centre of this district.
It is surrounded by Kangpokpi District on the north, by Imphal East and Thoubal on the east, by Thoubal and Bishnupur on the south, and by Senapati and Bishnupur on the west.
The district's area is given as 519.00 sq km, and its population as 5,17,992, of which 3,22,879 persons are urban.
Population density is 998 persons per sq km against 128 for the state, and the share of urban population is 62.33 against 29.21 for the state.
The district's sex ratio is 1,031 females per 1000 males, above the state figure of 985.
The main rivers draining the Imphal West plain are the Imphal river and the Nambul river; the Nambul's outlet falls on Loktak Lake.
The State portal's district directory lists Imphal-West along with Bishnupur, Chandel, Churachandpur, Imphal-East, Senapati, Tamenglong, Thoubal, Ukhrul, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Pherzawl, Noney, Kamjong, Jiribam and Kakching.
Area of Imphal West district:
519.00
Population of the district:
5,17,992
Density of population, district (persons per sq km):
998
Percentage urban population, district:
62.33
Sex ratio, district (females per 1000 males):
1,031
Average annual rainfall, district:
1259.5 mm
Why it matters for exams: Which district holds a state capital, and how a valley district's density and urban share differ from the state average, are recurring map-and-table questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Sex ratio Number of females per 1000 males — Imphal West records 1,031 against the state's 985.
Manipur valley The central plain of Manipur, as distinct from the surrounding hills — Imphal West is described as falling in the category of the Manipur valley region.
Background
Manipur Tourism calls the Raas Leela the epitome of Manipuri classical dance, interwoven with the love of Radha and Krishna as described in the Hindu scriptures.
Raas performances are seasonal and are given at the temple of Shree Shree Govindajee in Imphal and at local temples, generally in an enclosure in front of the temple through the night.
Nupa Pala, otherwise known as Kartal Cholom or Cymbal Dance, is a group performance by male partners using cymbals and wearing snow white ball-shaped turbans; it acts as a prologue to the Ras Lila dances.
Pung, the Manipuri Mridanga, is called the soul of Manipuri Sankirtana music and classical Manipuri dance, and the instrument itself becomes an object of veneration.
Pung Cholom is performed as an invocatory number preceding the Sankirtana and the Ras Lila.
The Maibi Dance belongs to Lai-Haraoba, the annual ritual festival of the Meiteis, the inhabitants of the valley of Manipur; the Maibis are priestesses considered spiritual mediums.
Khamba Thoibi dance is a duet of male and female partners dedicated to the sylvan deity Thangjing of Moirang, and with the Maibi dance and Leima Jagoi it forms the Laiharaoba dance.
The State portal records that Rajashree Bhagyachandra created the famous Ras Lila, the classical dance of Manipur.
Epitome of Manipuri classical dance:
Raas Leela
Temple in Imphal where Raas is performed:
Shree Shree Govindajee
Other names of Nupa Pala:
Kartal Cholom
The Manipuri Mridanga:
Pung
Annual ritual festival of the Meiteis:
Lai-Haraoba
Deity to whom Khamba Thoibi is dedicated:
Thangjing of Moirang
Why it matters for exams: Matching a classical dance to its state, and naming Pung, Kartal Cholom and Lai-Haraoba, are standard art-and-culture questions in Kerala PSC and UPSC papers.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Pung The Manipuri Mridanga, a classical drum — Called the soul of Manipuri Sankirtana music and classical dance.
Lai-Haraoba The annual ritual festival of the Meiteis — The Maibi dance and Khamba Thoibi dance both belong to it.
Maibi Priestess regarded as a spiritual medium — Maibis trace the Meitei concept of creation through their dance.
Background
Manipur University was established as a State University under the Manipur University Act 1980.
It became a Central University through the Manipur University Act 2005, passed by the Parliament.
The university has nine Schools of Studies, forty-seven departments and seven Centres of Studies attached to the Schools of Studies.
Its total student strength is 7,396, and it has 119 affiliated colleges, including three medical colleges.
The Manipur Institute of Technology (MIT), under the School of Engineering, is a constituent college of the university.
The campus is located in Canchipur, Imphal, and spans 287.53 acres.
Its declared authorities include the Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, the College Development Council, the Board of Studies and the Finance Committee.
Among its stated objectives is to educate and train manpower for the development of the state of Manipur.
Statute that established it as a State University:
Manipur University Act 1980
Statute that made it a Central University:
Manipur University Act 2005
Schools of Studies:
nine Schools of Studies
Departments:
forty-seven departments
Total student strength:
7,396
Affiliated colleges:
119 affiliated colleges
Campus area:
287.53 acres
NAAC accreditation:
'B+' grade (2023)
Why it matters for exams: The conversion of a state university into a Central university by an Act of Parliament, and the institution's structure, are standard education-sector questions.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Central University A university established or incorporated by an Act of Parliament — Manipur University became one through the Manipur University Act 2005, passed by the Parliament.
NAAC National Assessment and Accreditation Council — The body that assessed and accredited Manipur University.
Constituent college A college that is part of the university itself rather than merely affiliated to it — The Manipur Institute of Technology is one such college.
Background
The deadline within which Manipur must complete its sixth general panchayat elections was fixed by the High Court of Manipur, which is also the court the Supreme Court declined to disturb.
That court was created under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012, which Parliament passed in May 2012, with the Central Government fixing the date of commencement by notification.
The High Court of Manipur came into existence on 23 March 2013.
The President appointed Imphal as its principal seat with effect from 23 March 2013.
Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre took the oath of office as its first Chief Justice on 23 March 2013.
Creating Act:
North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) and Other Related Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012
Came into existence:
23 March 2013
Principal seat:
Imphal
First Chief Justice:
Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre
Why it matters for exams: The creating Act, the commencement date, the principal seat and the first Chief Justice of a High Court are standard objective questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Principal seat Principal seat of a High Court — The place appointed by the President as the main location where a High Court sits.
Background
Manipur's panchayat system, whose Zilla Parishad chairpersons the State has just appointed in its valley districts, runs alongside a separate constitutional arrangement for the hill areas.
That arrangement rests on Article 371C of the Constitution, which was inserted by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971.
Under clause (1), the President may by order constitute a committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly consisting of members elected from the hill areas, and define its functions.
The same order may modify the rules of business of the State government and the rules of procedure of the Assembly, and entrust the Governor with special responsibility for the committee's proper functioning.
Under clause (2), the Governor must report to the President every year, or whenever the President requires, on the administration of the hill areas.
The executive power of the Union extends to giving directions to the State on that administration, and the Explanation defines hill areas as those the President declares to be hill areas by order.
Article:
Article 371C
Inserted by:
The Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971
Committee's composition:
Members of the Manipur Legislative Assembly elected from the hill areas
Annual reporting duty:
The Governor reports to the President
Why it matters for exams: Article 371C is the single most asked constitutional provision on Manipur, and it is regularly tested against Articles 371A and 371B.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Hill Areas Committee Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly — The committee of Assembly members elected from the hill areas, which a Presidential order under Article 371C constitutes.