Explained: What is National Population Register (NPR)

With the government all set to carry out two mega exercises – the Census and the updating data of the National Population Register (NPR) – across the country involving every resident next year, The Federal explains the process.

What is National Population Register (NPR)?

The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country.

Who will make it?

It will be prepared at the local (village/sub-town), sub-district, district, state and national level under provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

Also read: Explained: What is Census

Who is a resident?

A usual resident is defined, for the purposes of the NPR, as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more, or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months. The law compulsorily seeks to register every citizen of India and issue a national identity card.

When will it be held?

The NPR exercise will be carried out between April and September 2020 in all states and Union Territories, except Assam, along with the house listing phase of the census exercise.

Why is Assam excluded?

Assam has been excluded because the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise has already been conducted in the state.

What is NPRs objective?

NPR being carried out under the aegis of the Registrar General and ex-Officio Census Commissioner, is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.

What details will be collected?

The demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident: name, relationship to head of household, father’s name, mother’s name, spouse’s name (if married), sex, date of birth, marital status, place of birth, nationality (as declared), present address of usual residence, duration of stay at present address, permanent residential address, occupation, educational qualification.

When was it done last time?

The data for NPR was last collected in 2010 along with the house listing phase of the Census 2011. Updating of this data was done during 2015 by conducting door to door survey.