Context:
The Government of India has initiated preparatory discussions for Census 2027, but no final decision has been taken yet on updating the National Population Register (NPR) during this exercise, according to senior Home Ministry officials.
What is NPR?
The National Population Register (NPR) is a comprehensive database of “usual residents” of India. A usual resident is defined as someone who has stayed in a local area for at least 6 months or intends to stay for the next 6 months. It includes both Indian citizens and foreign nationals.
Background and Legal Framework
- Introduced under: Citizenship Act, 1955
- Rules: Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003
- Nodal Agency: Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs
- First Collected: In 2010, updated in 2015 through a door-to-door survey.
Features and Process
- Mandatory: Registration is legally compulsory for all usual residents.
- Enumeration Method: House-to-house survey during the census’s house-listing phase.
- Inclusivity: Covers citizens and non-citizens residing in India.
- Levels of Compilation: Local (village/town) → Sub-district → District → State → National.
- Possible Outcome: Issue of a National Identity Card based on NPR data.
- Authority: Registrar General acts as National Registration Authority.
