The recent announcement from the Union Home Ministry about the update of the National Population Register (NPR) has drawn attention to this important government initiative. The NPR update, which was undertaken in conjunction with Census 2021, will differ from previous exercises in a significant way – no biometric data will be collected. The Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), under the Home Ministry, will oversee the process.
Understanding the National Population Register
According to the Citizenship Rules established in 2003, the NPR is a register that contains details of individuals who usually reside in a village, rural area, town, ward, or demarcated area as designated by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration. The definition of “usual resident of the country” as per the Census of India 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.
The Legal Provisions Guiding NPR
The NPR comes under the purview of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. As per these rules, it is mandatory for every “usual resident of India” to register in the NPR.
Reviewing the Current Scenario
The data collection for NPR first took place in 2010 alongside the house listing phase of Census 2011. Data for NPR will be collected on 21 points for updating the NPR as part of Census 2021.
| Date | Process | Points of Data Collection |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | NPR Initiation | Data was collected on 15 points |
| 2021 | NPR Update with Census 2021 | Data will be collected on 21 points |
Changes in Data Collection for NPR Update
The upcoming update of the NPR will include new categories of information. These additional points of data capture include date and place of birth of parents, last place of residence, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Aadhaar number (provided voluntarily), Voter ID card number, Driving License number, and mobile number. The original data collection in 2010, comprising 15 points, did not include these categories.
Source of Information
The information and details that have been outlined here are sourced from The Indian Express (IE).
