New Delhi— The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved the extension of President’s Rule in Manipur for another six months, following a statutory resolution moved by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. The motion was passed amid heavy sloganeering and protests from opposition benches.
The resolution extends the central rule in Manipur until February 2026, continuing the Proclamation issued on February 13, 2025, under Article 356 of the Constitution. This move had already secured the Lok Sabha’s nod on July 30.
President’s Rule was initially imposed after Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stepped down amid ongoing ethnic violence and political instability that had severely disrupted governance for nearly two years. His resignation paved the way for the Centre to take direct control of Manipur’s administration through the state Governor.
The latest proclamation, published in the Gazette of India by the Union Home Ministry, empowers the Parliament to assume the functions of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. All legislative powers of the state now rest with the President, while specific constitutional articles related to governance have been suspended to facilitate central administration.
President’s Rule is typically enacted when a state government is unable to function constitutionally. In Manipur’s case, the long-standing ethnic conflict between the Meitei majority and the Kuki-Zomi tribes created a deepening crisis. The tension centered on disputes over land ownership, reservation policies, and economic privileges. The violence led to hundreds of deaths and forced nearly 60,000 people to flee their homes.
While the extension allows the Centre to maintain law and order and potentially pave the way for future elections, opposition parties have sharply criticized the lack of political resolution and prolonged federal control.
