NPR in India

1. The National Population Register (NPR) was approved by the Union Cabinet.

2. But NPR is being opposed as it is seen as the first step towards the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

What are NPR and NRC?

NPR

1. National Population Register (NPR) is a register of usual residents of the country, except Assam state as NRC was completed.

2. A usual resident is one who has been residing in a local area for at least the last six months or intends to stay in a particular location for the next six months.

3. NPR contains information collected at the local, subdistrict, district, state and national level under provisions of,

a) Citizenship Act, 1955

b) Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

4. The objective is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.

NRC

1. It is an official record of those who are legal Indian citizens. The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India.

2. It includes demographic information about all those individuals who qualify as citizens of India as per the Citizenship Act, 1955.

3. At present, it has been updated in the state of Assam only. It is stated to be extended to the entire country.

Who will conduct NPR?

1. The process of updating NPR will be carried out under the aegis of the Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, India.

2. NPR will be conducted in conjunction with the house-listing phase of the first phase of the Census 2021.

Which data will be collected?

1. The NPR will collect both demographic data and biometric data. Biometric data will depend upon Aadhaar.

2.  Compared to last NPR in 2010, there are following data points newly added in NPR 2020.

a) Aadhaar Number (voluntary)

b) Mobile Number

c) Date & Place of Birth of Parents

d) Place of the last Residence

e) Passport Number (if Indian passport holder)

f) Voter ID Card Number

g) Permanent Account Number

h) Driving Licence Number

3. Latest NPR also seeks to collect the date & place of birth of parents, which is objected to.

Why does the government want the data?

1. To develop a comprehensive identity database of its residents with demographic details.

2. Such a database can strengthen security and improve the targeting of beneficiaries under various Central government schemes.

3. Collection of data will ease the life of those residing in India by cutting red tape.

How are NPR and NRC different?

1. NPR can include the information of foreigners living for more than six months as it is not a citizenship enumeration drive. NRC includes information about Indian citizens exclusively.

2. NPR may be used as a register to verify the information of the citizens if the nation-wide NRC is implemented.

3. But there is no proposal at present to conduct a nationwide NRC based on the NPR data.