National Population Register (NPR): Key Points to remember.

The NPR is a register of usual residents of the country, at the local (village/sub-town), sub-district, district, state and national level under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, which was subsequently updated in 2015 by seeding it with Aadhaar.

A usual resident 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.

NPR is a register of usual residents with location particulars such as village/town, sub-district, district, and state NPR will help in improving the delivery mechanism of benefits under various government Schemes/programs. NPR data is necessary for transparent and efficient delivery of social benefits by linking it with various beneficiary oriented Government schemes.

The database would contain demographic particulars such as:

• 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

During the NPR, a respondent will not require to produce any document. As per a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah, NPR information will be self-attested, that is, whatever information is provided by the respondent will be deemed correct and no documents or biometric would be required.

Home Minister Amit Shah categorically stated that there is no link between the National Population Register and the Nation Register of Citizens. NRC demands proof of citizenship from the citizens. And those who fail to produce proof will face deportation under NRC. But in NPR, there is no such condition. It is entirely based on the information given by respondents.

NPR data will be necessary for identifying the beneficiaries of subsidies. The officials say that National Population Register data helps identify the demographics of actual residents who will be direct beneficiaries of any schemes launched in the area.