The Meiteis, also known as the Meetei or Manipuri people, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and the largest community native to the Indian state of Manipur. They are primarily settled in the Imphal Valley, which constitutes about 10% of Manipur's geographical area, while the surrounding hills are inhabited by various Naga and Kuki tribes. The Meiteis' population was approximately 53% of Manipur's total population as per the 2011 Census.
The Meitei language, officially called Manipuri, is one of the 22 official languages included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India, having been added in 1992. Historically, the Meiteis were the ruling community of the former kingdom of Kangleipak, which was renamed Manipur in the early 18th century. Their traditional religion is Sanamahism, though the majority now follow Hinduism, which was popularized after the 18th century.
A significant recent development is the long-standing demand by the Scheduled Tribes Demand Committee of Manipur (STDCM) for the Meitei community to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list under the Constitution. This demand, which began around 2012, is driven by the desire for constitutional safeguards to protect their land, culture, and identity, as they argue they were recognized as a tribe before Manipur's merger with India in 1949. The issue gained prominence after a Manipur High Court order on April 19, 2023, directed the state government to consider the recommendation for ST status. This order triggered a "Tribal Solidarity March" by the All Tribal Students' Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, 2023, which led to widespread ethnic violence. The demand connects to the mechanism of land protection, as Meiteis, who are currently classified under Scheduled Castes (SC) or Other Backward Classes (OBC), cannot buy land in the ST-dominated hill areas, while tribal people can acquire land in the valley.