National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) and 2025 Census

The 2025 Census in India will include an initiative to update the National Population Register (NPR), which is a critical step towards establishing the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

Table of Contents

About National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC)

The National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) is an official government-maintained registry that records the names and details of all Indian citizens, distinguishing them from non-citizens residing in the country.

Distinction from NPR

The National Population Register (NPR) is a database that contains a list of all usual residents of the country.
Criteria for Usual Resident: A usual resident is someone who has:
- Lived in a place for six months or more.
- Plans to stay in the same place for at least another six months.
Objective: The NPR aims to create a comprehensive identity database of all residents in India.
Method of Collection: Data is collected through house-to-house enumeration during the house-listing phase of the Census.
Timeline:
- The NPR was first prepared in 2010.
- It was updated in 2015.
Legal Backing:
- The NPR is prepared under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
- It follows the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
Mandatory Registration: It is compulsory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.

Note:

National Population Register (NPR): Focused on all residents, regardless of citizenship.
National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC): Exclusively verifies and documents Indian citizens.

Fact

The only state where an NRC has been updated is Assam (2019) to identify illegal immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh.

The NRIC, mandated by the Citizenship Act 1955, was conceptualized after the 1951 Census and gained traction after the Kargil War (1999) based on recommendations by the Subrahmanyam Committee.
This led to the inclusion of Section 14A was added to the Citizenship Act, which mandates:
- Compulsory registration of citizens.
- Issuance of identity cards to document citizenship status.

Objectives and Benefits of NRIC

The primary aim of the NRIC is to enhance national security by maintaining a verified registry of citizens.
Additional benefits include:
- Streamlining identity verification processes.
- Reducing instances of identity fraud and duplication.
- Enabling targeted welfare programs to ensure that benefits reach eligible recipients.
The NPR serves as the foundational step in this process, differentiating between citizens and non-citizens through a multi-phase data collection strategy that includes both demographic and biometric information.

Process for Developing NRIC

The multi-phase process involving:

Data Collection: Comprehensive demographic data was collected during houselisting operations of the Census.
- Biometric data was collected to eliminate duplicates.
Transparency Mechanisms: Public claims and objections are invited.
- The verification and appeals process ensures accuracy and allows residents to challenge records.
Detailed Inquiries: Citizenship status inquiries finalize the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Final Step: Issuance of identity cards, as the Citizenship Act mandates.

Distinction Between Aadhaar and NRIC

A common question arises regarding the necessity of NRIC when Aadhaar exists. It is crucial to recognize that:

Aadhaar is a unique identification number (12-digit) issued by the UIDAI to residents regardless of citizenship status, primarily for identity verification linked to services like banking and subsidies.
The NRIC, on the other hand, focuses specifically on verifying citizenship status and requires proof of citizenship.

Thus, while Aadhaar serves all residents, NRIC is exclusive to citizens, playing complementary yet distinct roles in India’s governance framework.

Challenges and Concerns Faced by NRIC (National Register of Indian Citizens)

Exclusion of Marginalized Communities: Vulnerable groups such as rural residents, economically weaker sections, and less-educated individuals may struggle to provide adequate documentation to prove citizenship.
- Women and transitory populations face additional challenges due to lack of formal records like birth certificates or land ownership documents.
- g., About 1.9 million people were excluded, many of whom were unable to meet documentation criteria despite being long-term residents.
Humanitarian Concerns: Mass exclusions from the NRC could lead to significant social and economic displacement.
Administrative and Logistical Challenges: The scale of verifying citizenship for over 1.4 billion people is a monumental task.
Lack of Effective Communication: There are significant coordination issues among various government agencies involved in implementing the NRC.
- Poor communication can lead to errors and mismanagement, complicating the verification process and undermining public trust
Data Privacy and Security: Concerns over the misuse or unauthorized sharing of sensitive demographic and biometric data persist.
Exclusion from Electoral Processes: Individuals whose names are not included in the NRC would lose their constitutional right to vote.