National Population Register Updation

• 21 Dec 2019

Why in News

The Union Home Ministry will be undertaking an updation exercise of the National Population Register (NPR).

• The National Population Register (NPR) updation exercise will be undertaken alongside Census 2021. But no biometric data will be collected during the updation exercise
• It will be conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Home Ministry.

National Population Register

• Definition:
  
  • According to the Citizenship Rules (2003), an NPR is ‘the register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area (demarcated by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration).
    
    • According to Census of India, a “usual resident of the country” 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.
• Legal Provisions:
  
  • It is notified under the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
  • It is mandatory for every “usual resident of India” to register in the NPR.
• Current Scenario:
  
  • The data for the NPR was first collected in 2010 along with the house listing phase of Census 2011.
  • For Census 2021, data will be collected on 21 points for updating the NPR.
  • The updation of NPR will newly include date and place of birth of parents in addition to the last place of residence, Permanent Account Number, Aadhaar (on a voluntary basis), Voter ID card number, Driving License number and mobile number.
    
    • For NPR (2010), data was collected on 15 points. These 15 points did not include date and place of birth of parents, last place of residence, passport number, Aadhaar ID, PAN, Driving Licence number, Voter ID card and Mobile number.

Source: IE