General Information
* Establishment Year as a State: Manipur was granted full statehood on January 21, 1972. It was a Union Territory from 1956 to 1972 and was merged into the Indian Union in 1949 after being a princely state under British paramountcy.
* Borders: Manipur is a landlocked state. It borders:
* Nagaland to the north.
* Assam to the west.
* Mizoram to the southwest.
* Myanmar (Burma) to the east and south.
* Population (2011 Census): The total population was 2,721,756.
* Official Language: Meiteilon (also known as Manipuri), which is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India.
* Other Languages/Dialects: Numerous Tibeto-Burman languages are spoken by different tribes in the hills, including Tangkhul, Hmar, Paite, Lushai, and Thadou/Kuki.
* Religion (Present - 2011 Census):
* Hinduism: Approximately 41.39%
* Christianity: Approximately 41.29%
* Islam: Approximately 8.40%
* Sanamahism (an indigenous religion of the Meitei people) and other faiths are also practiced.
List of Chief Ministers
Since achieving statehood in 1972, Manipur has had several Chief Ministers. The list below includes the major tenures, excluding very short-term caretaker periods or those prior to statehood.
| Name of Chief Minister | Joined Date | Left Date | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Alimuddin | Mar 23, 1972 | Mar 27, 1973 | Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) |
| Mohammed Alimuddin | Mar 4, 1974 | Jul 9, 1974 | MPP |
| Yangmaso Shaiza | Jul 10, 1974 | Dec 5, 1974 | Manipur Hills Union (MHU) |
| Raj Kumar Dorendra Singh | Dec 6, 1974 | May 15, 1977 | Indian National Congress (INC) |
| Yangmaso Shaiza | Jun 29, 1977 | Nov 13, 1979 | Janata Party (JNP) |
| Raj Kumar Dorendra Singh | Jan 14, 1980 | Nov 26, 1980 | INC |
| Rishang Keishing | Nov 27, 1980 | Feb 27, 1981 | INC |
| Rishang Keishing | Jun 19, 1981 | Mar 3, 1988 | INC |
| Raj Kumar Jaichandra Singh | Mar 4, 1988 | Feb 22, 1990 | INC |
| Raj Kumar Ranbir Singh | Feb 23, 1990 | Jan 6, 1992 | Manipur Peoples Party (MRP) |
| Raj Kumar Dorendra Singh | Apr 8, 1992 | Apr 10, 1993 | INC |
| Rishang Keishing | Dec 14, 1994 | Dec 15, 1997 | INC |
| Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh | Dec 16, 1997 | Feb 14, 2001 | Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) |
| Radhabinod Koijam | Feb 15, 2001 | Jun 1, 2001 | Samata Party (SAP) |
| Okram Ibobi Singh | Mar 7, 2002 | Mar 14, 2017 | INC |
| Nongthombam Biren Singh | Mar 15, 2017 | Incumbent (As of Oct 2025) | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) |
Note: Dates for joining/leaving may vary slightly depending on the source for transition periods.
President's Rule in Manipur
Manipur has been under President's Rule (Article 356) a total of 10 times (from 1972 onwards as a state, and a total of 11 times since 1951, which includes the period before statehood).
The major instances since statehood in 1972 are:
| Start Date | End Date | Duration (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 1973 | Mar 3, 1974 | 11 months |
| May 16, 1977 | Jun 28, 1977 | 1.5 months |
| Nov 14, 1979 | Jan 13, 1980 | 2 months |
| Feb 28, 1981 | Jun 18, 1981 | 3.5 months |
| Jan 7, 1992 | Apr 7, 1992 | 3 months |
| Dec 31, 1993 | Dec 13, 1994 | 11.5 months |
| Jun 2, 2001 | Mar 6, 2002 | 9 months |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Ongoing | Latest imposition |
Note: There were two instances before 1972 as well, when Manipur was a Union Territory, and multiple smaller periods of President's Rule or political instability, leading to the high count.
Famous Places and Products
Manipur is often called the "Jeweled Land" due to its lush natural environment.
Famous Places (Worldwide or in India)
* Keibul Lamjao National Park: This is the only floating national park in the world , situated on the Loktak Lake. It is the last natural habitat of the endangered Sangai (Manipur brow-antlered deer), the state animal.
* Loktak Lake: The largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, famous for its unique circular floating swamps locally called 'phumdis'.
* Kangla Fort (Imphal): The ancient capital and seat of power of the Meitei rulers of Manipur. It holds immense historical and cultural significance.
* Dzukou Valley: Located on the border of Manipur and Nagaland, this valley is a trekker's paradise known for its rolling hills and seasonal flowers, including the rare Dzukou Lily.
* Ima Keithel (Mother's Market - Imphal): One of the largest and oldest marketplaces in Asia run entirely by women. It's a key cultural landmark.
Famous Products (Worldwide or in India)
* Handloom and Handicrafts: Manipur is renowned for its exquisite hand-woven textiles like the Moirang Phee and Wangkhai Phee, and beautiful hand-crafted items made from bamboo and cane.
* Polo (Sagol Kangjei): Manipur is considered the birthplace of modern polo (known locally as Sagol Kangjei).
* Manipur Manipuri Dance (Jagoi): A major classical dance form of India, renowned worldwide for its graceful, lyrical movements that depict the Raslila (the love story of Radha and Krishna).
* Shiroi Lily (Shirui Kashong): A unique and endangered terrestrial lily (Lilium mackliniae) found only in the Shiroi Hills of the Ukhrul district, famous for its purplish-blue petals.
* Black Rice (Chak-hao): A distinctive aromatic glutinous black rice variety from the state, increasingly recognized in India and globally for its health benefits.
