Country’s Demographic Profile: Census of India, NPR, NRC

India’s Population Landscape: NRC, NPR & Census of India

The National Register of Citizens (NRC), Census, and National Population Register (NPR), and Census of India collectively serve as vital tools employed by the government to track the country’s population. They offer valuable insights into the demographics, socioeconomic status, and migration trends of the Indian population.

NRC and the Census of India Connection: Identity and Citizenship in India

• The National Register of Citizens is a list of all the legal citizens of the country, with necessary documents. 
  • Framing the Foundation: The Citizenship Rules, 2003 framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955 prescribe the manner of preparation of the National Register of Citizens. 
  • Understanding the Purpose: Its purpose is to document all the legal citizens of India so that the illegal immigrants can be identified and deported
  • Implementation Plans: The Government of India announced plans to implement it for the rest of the country in 2021, but it has not yet been implemented.
• Nodal Agency for NRC: Registrar General and Census Commissioner India.
• The Inaugural NRC: The only time that a National Register of Citizens (NRC) was prepared was in 1951 when after conduct of the Census of 1951, the NRC was prepared by recording particulars of all the persons enumerated during that Census, including details from the Census of India . 
• Judicial Directive: In 2014, the Supreme Court asked the state government to update the 1951 NRC in a time- bound manner. 
  • The Present exercise is being carried out under the oversight of the Supreme Court.
• Special Provision NRC in Assam: There is a special provision under the Rules to prepare the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam which is application based and distinct from the rest of India where the process is enumeration based, drawing on data from the Census of India .
  • Distinct Characteristics: It is a list of all bona fide Indian citizens of Assam, the only state with such a document. 
  • Context and Rationale: The reason behind the move was to identify Indian citizens in Assam amid “unabated” migration from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). 
  • Rising Demand: Other states, such as Tripura, are also demanding for NRC.
    • Nagaland is in the process of establishing a comparable database called the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants.
• Assam’s NRC Update: Following the Supreme Court’s order in 2013, the Government conducted the NRC updating exercise in Assam and as a result, over 19 lakh applicants failed to make it to the NRC list, a process influenced by data from the Census of India .
  • Inclusion Criteria: It will include persons whose names appear in any of the electoral rolls upto the midnight of 24th March, 1971 or National Register of Citizens, 1951 and their descendants.
  • Exceptional Citizenship Provisions: Assam stands as the sole exception to the provisions of the Citizenship Act of 1955. According to the 1985 Assam Accord, foreigners who arrived in the state up to March 24, 1971, were to be granted Indian citizenship.. 
  • Documentary Evidence Requirement: To prove their or their ancestors’ presence before 1971, applicants in Assam had to produce any one of 14 possible documents like,
    • 1951 NRC; or
    • Electoral roll(s) up to March 24, 1971; or
    • Any one of 12 other types of documents, such as land and tenancy records, citizenship papers, passports, and Board/University certificates.
• Verification Protocols: The process of verification involved house-to-house field verification, determination of authenticity of documents, family tree investigations in order to rule out bogus claims of parenthood, and linkages and separate hearings for married women.
• Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) Implementation: To implement the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019, citizens and illegal migrants have to be identified.
  • So, a National Register Citizens (NRC) is the necessary first step, with insights drawn from the Census of India .

Do You Know?

Doubtful Or D-Voters

• Doubtful or D-voters are those who are disenfranchised by the government on the account of their alleged lack of proper citizenship credentials and their inclusion will depend on the decision of the Foreigners Tribunal. 

Foreigners Tribunals: Legal Mechanisms and Census of India’s Role

• These were established through the Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 1964 of the Ministry of Home Affairs under Foreigners Act, 1946. 
• They were set up to decide whether a person staying illegally in India is a foreigner or not, as per the Foreigners Act. 
• The recently amended order also empowers individuals to approach the Census of India Tribunals.
  • Previously, only the State administration could bring a case to the Tribunal against a suspect.. 

Digital Transformation of Indian Census: Demographics, Dynamics and Innovations

• The census offers data on the size, distribution, and socio-economic, demographic, and other characteristics of the country’s population.
  
• A systematic and modern population census, in its current form, was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 across different regions of the country.
• The Decennial Population  Census of India was started in 1872 under British Viceroy Lord Mayo.
• However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. 
  • Since then, censuses have been conducted regularly every ten years without interruption.
• Decadal Census Oversight: The responsibility of conducting the decadal census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (ORGI ), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 
  • It’s interesting to note that, despite being a major administrative task, India’s population census has a historical significance; 
  • Until the 1951 census, the census organization was established on an ad hoc basis for each census.
    
  • The Census of India was enacted in 1948 to provide a plan for conducting population census along with the duties and responsibilities of census officers.
  • The Indian Census is one of the largest administrative undertakings in the world.
  • Present Registrar general & census commissioner of India is Shri Mritunjay Kumar Narayan (2022 to till date)
• Census 2011: It was the 15th National Census of the Country and 7th Census after Independence. 
  • This census was conducted under the guidance of Registrar General and Census Commissioners, India Mr. C. Chandramouli.
  • The country’s population stood at 121 crore as per 2011 census.
• Census of India 2021: It will be 16th in series and 8th after independence. 
  • This is indeed a gigantic operation for which nearly thirty lakh Enumerators and Supervisors will be engaged to enumerate almost 135 crore (1.35 billion) people across the country.
  • For the first time in the history of the Indian Census, data will be collected digitally via a mobile app in the upcoming census.
    
  • The mobile app for the census is designed to be simple, convenient, and user-friendly to ensure maximum acceptance by all enumerators and supervisors.
    
  • Using the mobile app, all data will be instantly ready for processing, eliminating the need for additional logistics for schedules and ICR processing. 
• Also, self-enumeration facilities will be provided for the first time in the forthcoming Census. The Population Census of India is evolving into a ‘Digital Census’.
• CMMS Portal: Adopting a scientific approach, the CMMS portal has been developed by ORGI for smooth conduct and effective management and monitoring of forthcoming Census exercise.
• The Census Operations in India have been carried out in two phases: – i) Houselisting and Housing Census and ii) Population Enumeration. 
  • Houselisting and Housing Census: All buildings, census houses, and households are identified and systematically recorded in the relevant schedules.
    • It offers detailed data on human settlement conditions, housing deficits, and housing needs for policy formulation.
      
    • It provides extensive information on amenities and assets available to households.
      
    • It serves as a foundation for population enumeration by giving a realistic estimate of the population size in houselisting blocks, ensuring practical delineation of these blocks for enumeration..
  • The Population Enumeration: It follows the Housing Census within a gap of six to eight months. 
    • During the second phase of census taking, each person is enumerated and her/his individual particulars like Age, Marital status, Religion, Schedule Caste/Scheduled Tribe, Mother tongue, Education level, Disability, Economic activity, Migration, Fertility (for female) are collected.
  • Separate Code Directory: For the first time, a separate code directory will be provided for several questions asked in the second phase of forthcoming Census.
    • The Code Directory will include codes for relationship to head of household, mother tongue, other languages known, occupation, nature of industry, trade or service, birthplace/place of last residence, Scheduled Caste/ST’s etc. 

National Population Register (NPR) and Census of India Integration: Mapping Identity and Demographics in India

• Ministerial Initiative Post-Kargil: A group of ministers created after the Kargil war recommended compulsory registration of all residents in India, to facilitate the preparation of a national register of citizens and curb illegal migration. 
• NPR Overview: According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Population Register (NPR) includes individuals who have been residing in a local area for at least the past six months or intend to stay in that location for the next six months.
  • The National Population Register (NPR) is a register containing details of persons usually residing in a village or rural area, town or ward or demarcated area within a ward in a town or urban area, in conjunction with Census of India  .
  • To incorporate the changes due to birth, death and migration, the NPR would be updated along with House listing and Housing Operations of forthcoming Census.
• Building a Comprehensive Identity Database: The NPR exercise aims to create a comprehensive identity database by collecting biometric and demographic details of every “usual resident” of India
• Evolution of the National Population Register (NPR): The NPR was first created in 2010 and then updated in 2015. This was done under specific rules established in 2003, which are part of the Citizenship Act of 1955.
• Citizenship Act (Amendment) 2004: The Citizenship Act 1955 was amended in 2004 by inserting Section 14A which provides for the following:
  • The Central Government has the authority to require mandatory registration of every citizen of India and to issue them a National Identity Card. 
• The Central Government may maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) or National Register of Citizens (NRC) and for that purpose, establish a National Registration Authority (NRA) in conjunction with Census of India .
  • Therefore, it is also compulsory for all usual residents to register under the NPR. 
• Synchronizing Data Collection: It will be conducted in conjunction with the first phase of the Census 2021, by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Home Ministry.

Comprehensive Citizenship Data: Integrating National Population Register and Census of India Across All Levels

• NPR will be prepared at National, State, District, Sub-District, local (Village or Sub-Town) level under provisions of Citizenship Act 1955 and Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003,  in conjunction with the Census of India 

The National Population Register: Demographic Insights, Biometric Integration, and Census of India Coordination

• NPR data was first collected in 2010 and West Bengal was one of the five States that used the requisite information for planning various beneficiary schemes  in coordination with the Census of India .
• Biometric Integration: NPR was updated in 2015 by seeding it with biometric details of Aadhaar.
• Data Collection Methods: Data under NPR was collected through door-to-door enumeration under various categories like age, marital status, place of birth, nationality (as declared), present and permanent residential address, occupation, activity and educational qualification, aligning with Census of India methods
  • The NPR will gather both demographic and biometric data.
    
  • Demographic data will include 15 categories, such as name, place of birth, education, and occupation.
    
  • For biometric data, it will rely on Aadhaar and will request Aadhaar details from residents.. 
• A Distinctive Feature of NPR: No document will be collected during this exercise. 
• Voluntary vs. Mandatory Data Submission: While registering with the NPR is mandatory, furnishing additional data such as PAN, Aadhaar, driving license and voter ID is voluntary in line with Census of India practices.. 
• Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC)-2011  is based on the NPR data.
• Enhancing Identification Measures: There is also a proposal to issue Resident Identity Cards (RIC) to all usual residents in the NPR of 18 years of age.

Do You Know?

• The last caste-based census was carried out by the British in 1931.

Census of India vs NPR: A Comparative Analysis of Population Data Collection

NPR Vs Aadhar: Analyzing Data Collection Methods in Harmony with Census of India

• The data collected in NPR will be sent to UIDAI for de-duplication and issue of Aadhaar Number. 
• Mandatory vs Voluntary: NPR registration is compulsory for all Indian residents, while UIDAI registration is considered voluntary. 
• Number vs. Register: UIDAI issues a number, while NPR serves as a precursor to the National Citizens Register and is primarily a Register. 
• Authentication vs. Identification: UID number authenticates transactions, while the National Resident Card signifies resident status and citizenship, aligned with the Census of India. 
• UIDAI vs. RGI: UIDAI enrolls individuals in the UID scheme, while the Registrar General of India (RGI) enrolls individuals in the NPR scheme.
• Door to Door Canvassing vs. Centre Enrolment:  Individuals must visit an enrolment center to register for UID, while NPR conducts part of the enrolment through door-to-door canvassing, in line with Census efforts.  
• Prior Documentation vs. Census Material: UID is based on prior documentation, while NPR is based on census data.

Registrar General and Census of India: Coordinating Population Surveys and Census Operations

• The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India were established in 1961 by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Their responsibilities include organizing, conducting, and analyzing demographic surveys such as the Census of India and Linguistic Survey.
  
• The RGCC of India is usually a civil servant holding the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India.
• He leads the Census organization, mentioned in the Constitution’s seventh schedule, operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with a primary focus on the Census of India.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Registrar General and Census of India, established in 1961, play a important role in conducting demographic surveys, particularly the Census of India. This position oversees the Census organization under the Ministry of Home Affairs, providing crucial data for policymaking and resource allocation. The Constitution mandates the Census of India, which serves as a cornerstone for understanding and addressing the diverse needs of the nation’s population.

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