Modi Govt to Update 'National Population Register' by 2020

Guwahati, December 25, 2019:

Inching one step closer to implementing the proposed nationwide 'National Register of Citizens' (NRC), the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government is all set to introduce the National Population Register (NPR).

The exercise, that is expected to incur expenditure in the crores, is seen by many as a risky endeavor, as the economy is already tottering. Moreover, the NPR -- that is being introduced as a way to provide subsidies -- asks some rather uncomfortable questions: such as birth details of parents.

Now, despite the Home Minister Amit Shah's assurances that the two are not linked, detractors are not convinced. Shah has said that the NPR is a database for policy, while NRC is the process where people are asked to prove citizenship.

It is now being proposed that the NPR is the first step towards conducting a nationwide NRC. This is mentioned in the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 under the Citizenship Act 1955.

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The notification reads, "What is NPR? The NPR is a register of the usual residents of the country. It contains information collected at the local (village/sub-town), subdistrict, district, state and national level under provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003."

According to Government reports, the local Register of Indian citizens shall contain details of persons after due verification made from the Population Register.

The government notification then goes on to suggest that the preparation and inclusion of individuals in the Local Register of India Citizens will be conducted on the basis of details collected from each family and individual in the Population Register after due verification and scrutiny by the Local Registrar.

"For the purposes of preparation and inclusion in the Local Register of Indian Citizens, the particulars collected of every family and individual in the Population Register shall be verified and scrutinized by the Local Registrar, who may be assisted by one or more persons as specified by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration," stated the MHA notification.

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