National Population Register (NPR)

As per Section 14A of the Citizenship Act 1955 as amended in 2004, it is compulsory for every citizen of the country to register in the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). 

"14A. Issue of national identity cards.-

 (l) The Central Government may compulsorily register every citizen of India and issue national identity card to him.

 (2) The Central Government may maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens and for that purpose establish a National Registration Authority.

(3) On and from the date of commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, the Registrar General, India, appointed under subsection (1) of section 3 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (18 of 1969) shall act as the National Registration Authority and he shall function as the Registrar General of Citizen Registration.

(4) The Central Government may appoint such other officers and staff as may be required to assist the Registrar General of Citizen Registration in discharging his functions and responsibilities.

 (5) The procedure to be followed in compulsory registration of the citizens of India shall be such as may be prescribed."

The creation of the National Population Register (NPR) is the first step towards preparation of the NRIC. 

Out of the universal data set of residents, the subset of citizens would be derived after due verification of the citizenship status. Therefore, it is compulsory for all usual residents to register under the NPR.

The National Population Register (NPR) is a comprehensive identity database to be maintained by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India , Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (RGI).

The objective of creating this identity database is to:

• Helps in better utilization and implementation of the benefits and services under govt schemes
• Improve planning
• Improve security

The Government of India has initiated the creation of this database, by collecting specific information of all usual residents in the country during the House listing and Housing Census phase of Census 2011 during April 2010 to September 2010. 

It is planned that the collected information of the Usual Residency (aged 5 and above) of 17 states and 2 UTs will now be digitized, and biometric data will be collected from these residents for further integration.

The security issue with respect to NPR register is important in India because of illegal migrants issue.

As per the Citizenship Act, 1955 as amended in 2004 , under section 2(1) (b) an "illegal migrant" means a foreigner who has entered into India

(i) without a valid passport or other travel documents and such other document or authority as may be prescribed by or under any law in that behalf; or

(ii) with a valid passport or other travel documents and such other document or authority 

as may be prescribed by or under any law in that behalf but remains therein beyond the 

permitted period of time

Citizenship:-

• Part II of the Constitution relates to Citizenship of India. 
• Articles 5 to 9 of the Constitution determine who are Indian citizens at the commencement of the Constitution. 
• Article 10 provides for their continuance as such citizens subject to the provisions of any law that may be made by Parliament. 
• Article 12 provides that nothing in the provisions of Part II of the Constitution shall derogate from the power of Parliament to make any : "provision with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship and all other matters relating to citizenship". 
• There being no law in existence with respect to the acquisition and termination of citizenship it was necessary to make such a law to supplement the provisions of the Constitution. To achieve this object the Citizenship Bill was introduced in the Parliament.