Cabinet approves funds to update National Population Register

Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given in principal approval to clear budgetary allocation of Rs.8,754.23 crore for conducting Census of India, 2021, a Decennial Census (recurring every 10 years) exercise along with Rs.3,941.35 crore for updating National Population Register (NPR) across the country (barring Assam),which is a list of ‘usual residents’ of India. Both the exercises will be conducted simultaneously through door-to-door enumeration, with commencing from April 2020 to September 2020.

About National Population Register (NPR)

The NPR exercise aims to create a comprehensive identity database by collecting biometric and demographic details of every “usual resident” of India. It is mandatory for every usual resident of country to register in NPR. A ‘usual resident’ is defined as a person who has resided in an area for past 6 months or more, or a person who intends to reside in that area for next 6 months or more.

The NPR was last updated in 2010 and 2015. The data for National Population Register was collected in 2010 along with house-listing phase of 2011 Census of India.

Registrar General and Census Commissioner: It is responsible for arranging, conducting and analysing results of demographic surveys of India including Census of India as well as Linguistic Survey of country. It functions under Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Key Highlights

In 2015, the National Population Register data was updated by conducting door-to-door surveys and the digitisation of updated information had also been completed. It has now been decided that NPR will be updated along with house-listing phase of Census 2021 from April 2020 to September 2020 in all States/Union Territories, except Assam. A gazette notification to this effect was issued in August 2019.

Preparation of National Population Register: NPR will be prepared at National, State, District, Sub-District and local (Village or Sub-Town) level under provisions of Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019