India’s Government has mandated the National Population Register (NPR) for Census 2021, allowing citizens to self-enumerate if they prefer to complete the census form independently. This option will be available only to households that have updated their NPR online. During this process, collecting Aadhaar or a mobile number will be mandatory.
The Questionnaires for the Next Census
The upcoming Census will be India’s first digital Census, allowing respondents to complete questionnaires at home. The set of questions for the Houselisting and Housing Schedule phase is ready, while those for the Population Enumeration phase are pending. A comparison of the 2011 Census and the upcoming one displays new inquiries regarding commuting time and metro rail usage. Furthermore, additional categories have been included under disabilities, such as acid attack survivors, intellectual disability, chronic neurological conditions, and blood disorders.
About the National Population Register (NPR)
The NPR is a comprehensive database containing a list of all individuals ordinarily residing in India. It includes people who have lived in a place for six months or more and intend to reside there for another six months or more. Initially collected in 2010 and updated in 2015, the NPR already has data of 119 crore residents.
Implementation and Legal Backing of the NPR
In March 2020, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) updated the Census Rules formed in 1990 to capture and store Census data in an electronic form, enabling self-enumeration by respondents. The NPR is prepared under the provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
NPR’s Significance
The NPR is significant for several reasons. It will streamline data across various platforms, ensuring accuracy and eliminating discrepancies in individuals’ data across different government documents. In addition, the NPR will aid the government in formulating policies and improving national security.
NPR and National Register of Citizens (NRC)
According to Citizenship Rules 2003, the NPR is the first step towards creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC). After generating a list of residents (i.e., the NPR), a nationwide NRC could proceed with verifying the citizens from that list.
The Difference Between NPR and Census
While both NPR and Census collect data about residents, there are differences between the two. The census involves a detailed questionnaire aimed at gathering particulars of every person, including age, gender, marital status, occupation, birthplace, religion, disability, and more. The NPR, on the other hand, collects basic demographic and biometric data.Yet, unlike the Census which has legal backing from the Census Act, 1948, the NPR is outlined in a set of rules framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ)
The population density of India has not increased over three times between the Census of 1951 and 2001, and the annual growth rate of population has not doubled during this period, thus contradicting statements from 2009’s Prelims Q. Contemplating the merits of the Aadhar Card and NPR, one voluntary and the other compulsory, led to national debates and litigations. Despite these debates, both schemes’ potential to achieve developmental benefits and equitable growth cannot be denied.
