Manipur CM urges dialogue over agitations, launches AI Career Hub in Imphal
Synopsis
With Manipur still unsettled after months of unrest, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh chose a girls' school inauguration to deliver his most direct appeal yet — urging students and the public to trade blockades for dialogue. The same event unveiled the Northeast's first AI-powered career guidance hub, signalling an attempt to pivot the state's narrative from conflict to opportunity.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to students and citizens on 7 November 2026 to pursue dialogue instead of agitations and blockades.
He inaugurated the state's first AI-Enabled Career Intelligence Hub at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School , Imphal — also the first such hub in the Northeast .
The Hub was established under MPLADS funding and aims to provide AI-driven career counselling and guidance to students.
The Chief Minister commended school students for showing restraint during the state's seven-to-eight month period of unrest.
He also launched the State-Level 32nd National Children's Science Congress 2026–27 , with 39 student group leaders from 12 districts participating.
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Saturday, 7 November 2026, appealed to students and the general public in Imphal to shun agitations and blockades, calling instead for peaceful dialogue as the preferred means of resolving grievances. The appeal came as the state continues to navigate a prolonged period of unrest spanning the past seven to eight months.
The Appeal for Peace
Speaking at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School in Imphal, Khemchand Singh emphasised that constructive dialogue — not confrontation — was essential to restoring lasting peace in Manipur. He specifically commended the school's students for maintaining restraint and staying focused on their education during what he described as a deeply challenging phase for the state.
'Students should remain focused on their education and future rather than becoming involved in agitation during times of crisis,' the Chief Minister said, underscoring that maturity and discipline were as vital as academic achievement.
AI-Enabled Career Hub: A First for the Northeast
The occasion also marked the inauguration of the state's first AI-Enabled Career Intelligence Hub at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School — the first such facility in the Northeastern region. The Hub, established under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), is designed to offer students technology-driven career guidance, personalised counselling, and information on emerging professional opportunities.
Khemchand Singh expressed satisfaction over the initiative, noting that it would help students better understand their own abilities and explore varied career pathways. He highlighted the growing transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) across fields and professions, calling such integration into education a timely and necessary step.
The Chief Minister also thanked Rajya Sabha Member Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, the state's Education Department, and the faculty of Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School for enabling the initiative. Notably, the Hub is funded through MPLADS, underlining the role of parliamentary outreach in driving localised development even during a period of civil strain.
National Children's Science Congress Launched
At the same event, Khemchand Singh formally inaugurated the State-Level 32nd National Children's Science Congress (NCSC) 2026–27, organised by Manipur Upliftment Centre in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha, Manipur. The congress is themed around 'Understanding Ecosystem for Health and Well-being'.
A total of 39 student group leaders from schools across 12 districts of Manipur have been shortlisted to participate. The Chief Minister inspected exhibits and interacted with student participants, encouraging them to nurture scientific curiosity and a spirit of innovation.
Broader Context: Peace, Values, and Education
Beyond the specific events, Khemchand Singh used the platform to articulate a broader message: that humanity and honesty must guide individuals through both personal ambitions and collective crises. He stressed that Classes XI and XII are particularly decisive years in shaping future academic and professional trajectories, and that the formative years must not be lost to unrest.
This comes amid sustained pressure on the Manipur government to restore normalcy, with repeated incidents of ethnic tension and civil disruption having disrupted daily life and education across the state. The Chief Minister's remarks signal an effort to redirect public energy — especially among the youth — toward institution-building over protest. How durable that message proves will depend on whether the dialogue he advocates actually takes shape on the ground.
Point of View
Not coincidence. Appealing for dialogue while inaugurating an AI career hub threads together the government's immediate crisis-management imperative with a longer-term development narrative. Yet the core tension remains unaddressed: Manipur's unrest has structural, ethnic, and political roots that a speech about restraint cannot dissolve. What the state needs is a credible, inclusive dialogue mechanism — not just a call for one. Until that framework materialises, appeals from the Chief Minister risk reading as rhetoric rather than roadmap.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh say about agitations?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to students and the public on 7 November 2026 to refrain from agitations and blockades, urging peaceful dialogue as the preferred means of resolving grievances. He made the appeal in the context of the state's prolonged unrest over the past seven to eight months.
What is the AI-Enabled Career Intelligence Hub in Manipur?
It is the first AI-powered career guidance facility in the Northeastern region, inaugurated at Tamphasana Girls' Higher Secondary School in Imphal. Established under the MPLADS scheme, it offers students technology-driven counselling, career pathway exploration, and insights into emerging opportunities.
Who funded the AI Career Hub in Imphal?
The Hub was funded under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). Rajya Sabha Member Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi, the Education Department, and the school's faculty were credited for making the initiative possible.
What is the National Children's Science Congress 2026–27 in Manipur?
It is the State-Level 32nd National Children's Science Congress, organised by Manipur Upliftment Centre in collaboration with Samagra Shiksha, Manipur, under the theme 'Understanding Ecosystem for Health and Well-being'. A total of 39 student group leaders from 12 districts have been shortlisted to participate.
Why is Manipur experiencing unrest?
Manipur has been going through a period of ethnic tension and civil disruption for approximately seven to eight months, according to the Chief Minister's remarks. The state has seen repeated agitations and blockades that have disrupted daily life and education, though the government has not yet established a formal dialogue process to address the underlying issues.
