💎 Manipur: The Jewel of India — Ultimate Static GK Guide 2026

🌿 Known as the “Jewel of India,” Manipur is a beautiful northeastern state celebrated for its green hills, floating wetlands, classical dance, sporting talent and diverse cultural traditions. For aspirants preparing for UPSC, SSC, MPSC and other state-level examinations, Manipur offers important topics spanning constitutional history, geography, tribal communities, biodiversity, governance and current affairs.

📘 Your 2026 exam handbook: Static GK + State Administration + History + Geography + Culture + Economy + Current Affairs + Quick Revision.

🏛️ 1. Manipur at a Glance

🎯 Exam focus: Statehood, legislative seats, district count, Sangai, Loktak Lake and Manipuri’s constitutional language status.

🏢 2. Political & Administrative Profile — 2026

👥 Current leadership

⚠️ Important update: N. Biren Singh is not the current Chief Minister. Following the period of President’s Rule imposed in February 2025, a new state government led by Yumnam Khemchand Singh was formed in February 2026.

🏘️ Districts of Manipur

Manipur has 16 districts.

🧠 Memory tip: Learn the districts in clusters—Imphal Valley districts, southern districts, western hill districts and eastern hill districts.

🗺️ 3. Geography of Manipur

Manipur is characterised by a central valley surrounded by hills. This distinctive physical structure influences settlement, agriculture, transport, biodiversity and cultural geography.

📍 Location and boundaries

• 🌏 East: Myanmar
• 🧭 North: Nagaland
• 🧭 West: Assam
• 🧭 Southwest: Mizoram

⛰️ Physical features

• A central valley surrounded by hill ranges.
• The Imphal Valley is the principal concentration of urban settlement and agriculture.
• The surrounding hills support forests, shifting cultivation and diverse tribal communities.
• The state’s landscape includes wetlands, rivers, hills and forest ecosystems.

🌊 Important geographical features

🌊 Loktak Lake

Loktak Lake is one of Manipur’s most important natural landmarks. Its floating phumdis create a distinctive wetland ecosystem and support fishing, livelihoods, tourism and biodiversity.

The lake is also closely associated with Keibul Lamjao National Park and the endangered Sangai deer.

🏗️ Major dams and projects

• Thoubal / Mapithel Dam: Associated with irrigation and water supply.
• Khoupum Dam: An important water-resource structure.
• Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project: A proposed project on the Barak River; distinguish its proposal status from completed infrastructure.

🎯 Exam trap: Loktak Lake is famous for phumdis. Keibul Lamjao is the floating national park, not the lake itself.

📜 4. History of Manipur

Manipur has a long history of indigenous kingdoms, cultural exchange, resistance to colonial rule and integration into the Indian Union.

🕰️ Important historical timeline

⚔️ Anglo-Manipur War, 1891

The Anglo-Manipur War was a major event in Manipur’s history. The conflict culminated in British control over the kingdom’s political administration.

Important personalities: Major General Paona Brajabashi is remembered for his role in the resistance.

📍 Khongjom War Memorial commemorates the sacrifices associated with the 1891 conflict.

🇮🇳 Manipur and the Indian National Army

Moirang holds a special place in India’s freedom struggle. The Indian National Army flag was raised there on 14 April 1944 during the Second World War.

The INA Museum at Moirang preserves material associated with this history.

🏛️ Manipur Merger Agreement, 1949

The agreement led to Manipur’s integration into the Indian Union. It is an important topic for questions on post-independence political integration and the reorganisation of Indian states.

🏛️ 5. Legislature, Governance & Constitutional Facts

🗳️ Legislative structure

Manipur has a unicameral legislature.

• 🏛️ Legislative Assembly: 60 seats
• 🗳️ Lok Sabha: 2 seats
• 🏛️ Rajya Sabha: 1 seat

📜 Manipuri language

Manipuri, also known as Meiteilon, is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

The language is associated with a rich literary tradition and is written using the Meitei Mayek script as well as Bengali script in certain contexts.

⚖️ High Court of Manipur

The High Court of Manipur is located at Imphal.

As of October 2026, Justice M. Sundar is the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur, having assumed office in September 2025.

⚠️ Judicial appointments and postings can change. Recheck the latest official judicial roster before the examination.

🎭 6. Culture, Festivals & Traditions

Manipur is famous for its classical dance tradition, traditional games, music, festivals and distinctive cultural practices.

🎉 Major festivals

💃 Classical and folk dances

Manipuri Raas Leela

• One of India’s eight recognised classical dance forms.
• Closely associated with Vaishnavite traditions and stories of Radha and Krishna.
• Known for graceful movements, devotional expression and distinctive costumes.

Pung Cholom

• A traditional drum dance.
• Performers dance while playing the pung, a traditional Manipuri drum.

Thang-Ta

• A traditional martial art involving sword and spear techniques.
• Reflects the martial heritage of Manipur.

🎯 Exam tip: Manipuri Raas Leela is a classical dance form. Pung Cholom is a drum dance, while Thang-Ta is a martial art tradition.

🐘 7. Wildlife, National Parks & Biodiversity

Manipur lies in a biodiversity-rich region connecting the Indian subcontinent with the Indo-Myanmar ecological zone.

🌳 National parks

• Keibul Lamjao National Park: The world’s only floating national park.
• Sirohi National Park: Associated with the rare Shirui Lily and the Ukhrul region.

🦌 Sangai — The Dancing Deer

The Sangai, or brow-antlered deer, is Manipur’s state animal.

• Its survival is closely linked to the phumdi ecosystem of Loktak Lake.
• Keibul Lamjao National Park is its last natural habitat.
• It is a symbol of Manipur’s ecological and cultural identity.

🐦 State bird: Nongin

Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant, commonly known locally as Nongin, is Manipur’s state bird.

🌸 Shirui Lily

The Shirui Lily is associated with the Shirui Hills in Ukhrul district. It is an important symbol of the state’s unique flora.

🌱 Conservation challenges

• Habitat degradation.
• Wetland ecosystem changes.
• Pressure on forest resources.
• Human–wildlife conflict.
• Climate-related risks.
• Protection of endangered and geographically restricted species.

🧠 Mains connection: Loktak Lake illustrates the link between wetland conservation, livelihoods, biodiversity and sustainable tourism.

⚡ 8. Energy & Renewable Power

Manipur’s electricity supply relies on a combination of locally available generation and power received through the wider electricity grid.

☀️ Solar power

The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is a national rooftop solar programme designed to encourage residential solar adoption.

Its objectives include:

• Promoting rooftop solar installations.
• Reducing household electricity bills.
• Expanding renewable energy.
• Encouraging decentralised electricity generation.

🔌 Manipur’s energy challenges

• Difficult terrain increases infrastructure costs.
• Remote hill settlements can face connectivity and supply challenges.
• Dependence on power purchased from outside the state creates energy-security considerations.
• Solar and hydropower offer potential, but implementation depends on financing, grid integration and local conditions.

⚠️ Fact-checking note: Claims that every government health centre will be solar-electrified by the end of 2026, or that a particular new solar target has already been achieved, should be used only after confirming an official notification or progress report.

📰 9. Current Affairs — 2025–October 2026

🏛️ 9.1 Change in state government

Manipur underwent a major political transition in 2025–2026.

• President’s Rule was imposed in February 2025.
• A new state government was formed in February 2026.
• Yumnam Khemchand Singh became Chief Minister.

Why it matters: Questions may examine Article 356, President’s Rule, legislative governance and the restoration of an elected state government.

⚖️ 9.2 High Court leadership

Justice M. Sundar assumed office as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur on 15 September 2025.

Exam connection: Learn the distinction between the High Court’s Chief Justice and the Governor, who holds a separate constitutional office.

🦌 9.3 Sangai conservation

Sangai conservation remains a significant environmental priority because the species depends on the distinctive wetland habitat of Keibul Lamjao National Park.

For current affairs, verify the latest official announcements before attributing a newly launched mission, expanded habitat programme or specific population target to the state government.

🏹 9.4 Sports and youth development

Manipur has a strong reputation for producing athletes, including participants in boxing, weightlifting, football, hockey and other sports.

For examination preparation, distinguish the state’s established sporting legacy from announcements about proposed academies, new facilities or Olympic training programmes. Confirm a project’s official launch and status before treating it as a completed development.

🌞 9.5 Renewable energy

PM Surya Ghar remains an important national scheme to know for questions on residential rooftop solar power.

For Manipur-specific implementation figures, examine the latest official data on approved installations, completed systems, subsidies and district-level coverage.

💰 10. Economy & Livelihoods

Manipur’s economy includes agriculture, horticulture, handloom, handicrafts, trade, services and small-scale enterprises.

🌾 Agriculture

Important agricultural activities include:

• Rice cultivation.
• Horticulture and fruit production.
• Vegetable cultivation.
• Livestock rearing.
• Traditional forms of shifting cultivation in hill areas.

🧵 Handloom and handicrafts

Manipur is known for its handloom products, traditional textiles, weaving skills and handicrafts.

These activities support cultural preservation and livelihoods, particularly for artisans and small enterprises.

🛍️ Trade and connectivity

Moreh is an important border town on the India–Myanmar frontier.

Its location makes Manipur relevant to:

• India’s Act East policy.
• Regional trade and connectivity.
• Border infrastructure.
• Cross-border economic cooperation.

⚠️ Development challenges

• Transport costs caused by difficult terrain.
• Market access for rural producers.
• Employment generation.
• Disruptions caused by conflict and displacement.
• Infrastructure and logistics constraints.

🏟️ 11. Sports: Why Manipur Matters

Manipur is widely recognised for its contribution to Indian sports.

🥇 Sports and sporting culture

The state has produced prominent athletes in disciplines such as:

• Boxing.
• Weightlifting.
• Football.
• Hockey.
• Martial arts.

Mary Kom, the celebrated Indian boxer from Manipur, is one of the state’s most prominent sporting personalities.

🎯 Exam tip: Questions may connect Manipur with sports personalities, women’s participation in sports, Olympic achievements and sports development in Northeast India.

🧠 12. High-Yield One-Liners

1. 🏙️ Capital of Manipur — Imphal.
2. 🗓️ Statehood Day — 21 January.
3. 🇮🇳 Year of statehood — 1972.
4. 🏘️ Number of districts — 16.
5. 🏛️ Legislative Assembly — 60 seats.
6. 🗳️ Lok Sabha — 2 seats.
7. 🏛️ Rajya Sabha — 1 seat.
8. 🗣️ Scheduled language — Manipuri.
9. 🌊 Largest freshwater lake in Northeast India — Loktak Lake.
10. 🌱 Floating wetland formations — Phumdis.
11. 🦌 State animal — Sangai.
12. 🐦 State bird — Mrs. Hume’s Pheasant (Nongin).
13. 🌸 State flower — Shirui Lily.
14. 🌳 World’s only floating national park — Keibul Lamjao National Park.
15. 🎭 Classical dance — Manipuri Raas Leela.
16. 🥁 Traditional drum dance — Pung Cholom.
17. ⚔️ Traditional martial art — Thang-Ta.
18. 🎉 Festival often compared with Holi — Yaoshang.
19. 👨‍👩‍👧 Family festival — Ningol Chakouba.
20. 🪔 Traditional ritual festival — Lai Haraoba.
21. ⚔️ Anglo-Manipur War — 1891.
22. 🇮🇳 INA flag raised at Moirang — 14 April 1944.
23. 📜 Manipur Merger Agreement — 1949.
24. 🏛️ Manipur became a Union Territory — 1956.
25. ⚖️ Manipur attained statehood — 1972.
26. 🌏 International neighbour — Myanmar.
27. 🏘️ Important border town — Moreh.
28. 👤 Chief Minister as of October 2026 — Yumnam Khemchand Singh.
29. 🏛️ Governor — Ajay Kumar Bhalla.
30. ⚖️ Chief Justice of Manipur High Court — Justice M. Sundar.

❓ 13. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is Manipur called the Jewel of India?

Manipur is known for its scenic landscapes, hills, lakes, cultural heritage and distinctive traditions.

Q2. Which is the most famous lake in Manipur?

Loktak Lake, famous for its floating phumdis.

Q3. What is Manipur’s state animal?

The Sangai, also known as the dancing deer.

Q4. What is unique about Keibul Lamjao National Park?

It is recognised as the world’s only floating national park and provides the last natural habitat of the Sangai.

Q5. Which classical dance form is associated with Manipur?

Manipuri Raas Leela is one of India’s eight classical dance forms.

Q6. When did Manipur become a state?

On 21 January 1972.

Q7. What is Manipuri’s constitutional status?

Manipuri is included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Q8. Who is the Chief Minister of Manipur as of October 2026?

Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

Q9. Which international country borders Manipur?

Myanmar.

Q10. Why is Moirang historically important?

The Indian National Army flag was raised there on 14 April 1944.

📚 14. Seven-Day Revision Plan

🎯 Final exam strategy

Prioritise these topics first:

• 🦌 Sangai and Keibul Lamjao National Park.
• 🌊 Loktak Lake and phumdis.
• 📜 Statehood, the Anglo-Manipur War and the INA at Moirang.
• 🗣️ Manipuri and the Eighth Schedule.
• 🎭 Manipuri Raas Leela, Yaoshang and Lai Haraoba.
• 🏛️ Districts, Assembly seats and current leadership.
• ⚖️ President’s Rule and the 2026 political transition.
• ☀️ PM Surya Ghar and renewable-energy policy.

💎 Remember: Manipur GK = Geography + History + Culture + Governance + Biodiversity + Current Affairs.