Manipur ethnic conflict cost state ₹1,200 crore in GST revenue: CM Singh
Synopsis
Manipur's three-year ethnic conflict has carved out over ₹1,200 crore from the state's GST revenues, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh revealed — a stark fiscal reckoning that comes alongside appeals to civil society to stop bandhs and blockades compounding the damage. The admission, made at a journalists' gathering, signals how deep the economic wound has run.
Key Takeaways
Manipur CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh disclosed a ₹1,200 crore GST revenue loss due to the ethnic conflict between 2023 and 2026 .
The CM appealed to civil society organisations to stop bandhs and blockades, citing their significant economic collateral damage.
Journalist pension raised from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per month ; family pension raised from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 per month .
A one-time relaxation will be offered to journalists who could not contribute to the DIPR Journalist Pension Scheme during the conflict.
Pending advertisement bills worth approximately ₹1 crore have been disbursed to media organisations.
All welfare measures are to be placed before the Cabinet ; a departmental review is scheduled for 25 September .
Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, disclosed that the prolonged ethnic conflict in the state had caused a decline of over ₹1,200 crore in Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue between 2023 and 2026, placing severe strain on Manipur's economy. The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing the 52nd Foundation Day celebration of the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal.
Scale of the Economic Damage
The ₹1,200 crore GST shortfall represents a direct fiscal blow to a state already reliant on central transfers and grants. According to Chief Minister Singh, both economic activity and development initiatives have been significantly disrupted over the three-year period of unrest. This comes amid a wider pattern seen across conflict-affected regions, where trade restrictions, displacement, and shutdowns systematically erode the tax base.
CM's Appeal Against Bandhs and Blockades
Addressing civil society organisations (CSOs) directly, Khemchand Singh appealed for an end to bandhs (shutdowns) and blockades, describing their collateral economic impact as significant. He called for collective efforts to build an environment conducive to economic recovery and sustained development. Notably, Manipur has seen frequent blockades on key supply routes, which critics argue compound the damage caused by the underlying conflict itself.
Relief Measures for Journalists
The Chief Minister announced a series of welfare measures for journalists at the event. The journalist pension amount will be increased from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per month, while the family pension will be raised from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 per month. Additionally, journalists who were unable to contribute to the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) Journalist Pension Scheme during the conflict period will be extended a one-time relaxation to reactivate their pension accounts.
Singh also confirmed that pending advertisement bills worth approximately ₹1 crore had been disbursed to media organisations. He added that all the aforementioned welfare measures would be placed before the Cabinet for formal consideration.
Follow-Up and Next Steps
A follow-up meeting with all Heads of Departments has been scheduled for 25 September to further deliberate on pending media-related matters. The event was attended by MLA Khongbantabam Ibomcha, Secretary (IPR) Neeta Arambam, Director Charanjeet Singh, Editors' Guild Manipur President Khogenra Khomdram, and AMWJU President Asem Bhakta Singh, along with officials and journalists. The Chief Minister also paid floral tribute at the AMWJU memorial stone in remembrance of journalists who have passed away.
With Cabinet approval pending and a departmental review set for later this month, the measures signal a tentative effort to stabilise both the state's fiscal position and the media ecosystem that has borne the brunt of three years of unrest.
Point of View
200 crore GST figure is a headline number, but the deeper story is structural: Manipur's revenue base was already thin before 2023, and three years of conflict have made fiscal self-sufficiency a more distant goal. The Chief Minister's appeal against bandhs is well-intentioned, but it sidesteps the harder accountability question — why the conflict has persisted long enough to inflict this scale of economic damage in the first place. Pension hikes for journalists are a welcome signal, but with Cabinet approval still pending, the gap between announcement and implementation remains a recurring feature of relief pledges in the state. The 25 September departmental review will be an early test of whether these commitments translate into action.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much GST revenue did Manipur lose due to the ethnic conflict?
Manipur lost over ₹1,200 crore in GST revenue between 2023 and 2026 as a direct result of the prolonged ethnic conflict, according to Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The shortfall has put considerable pressure on the state's economy.
What did Manipur CM say about bandhs and blockades?
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh appealed to all civil society organisations in Manipur to refrain from organising bandhs and blockades, stating that such actions had significantly affected the state in terms of economic activity and development. He called for collective efforts to create an environment conducive to recovery.
What are the new pension benefits announced for Manipur journalists?
The journalist pension will be increased from ₹8,000 to ₹10,000 per month, and the family pension from ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 per month. Journalists who could not contribute to the DIPR Journalist Pension Scheme during the conflict will be given a one-time relaxation to reactivate their accounts. These measures are pending Cabinet approval.
When will the journalist welfare measures take effect in Manipur?
The measures announced by CM Yumnam Khemchand Singh are to be placed before the Cabinet for formal consideration before taking effect. A follow-up meeting with all Heads of Departments is scheduled for 25 September 2026 to deliberate further on the matter.
What is the AMWJU and why was the event significant?
The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union (AMWJU) is a state-level journalists' body that was marking its 52nd Foundation Day at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal. The occasion was significant because the Chief Minister used the platform to make several economic and welfare disclosures, including the GST revenue loss figure and pension hike announcements.
