Census and NPR

In News

• The first phase of the census and collection of details to update the National Population Register (NPR) have been postponed at least till September 2021.

Background

• The Registrar General of India (RGI) had in December 2021 informed the States that freezing of boundaries of districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas, police stations etc. has been postponed till June 2022.
  • Freezing of boundary limits of administrative units, at least three months prior, is a prerequisite for conducting the census.
  • Even if the RGI issues an order in June 2022 to freeze the boundaries again, the exercise can take place only in September 2021.

About National Population Register

• It is a Register of usual residents of the country. 
  • It is being 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.
  • NPR was first done in 2010 and was later updated in 2015 when it was linked with Aadhar.it already has a database of 119 crore residents. 
  •  It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
    • A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.
  • The Registrar General India shall act as the “National Registration Authority”, it is also the country’s Census Commissioner.
• Objective:
  • To create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.

• Significance :
  • NPR data helps identify the demographics of actual residents who will be direct beneficiaries of any schemes launched in the area.
  • The NPR data will help the government design and adapt schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Jandhan Yojna, or medium of instruction in schools as per the current demographics, thus making the schemes more effective.

• Opposition: 
  • Many Opposition-ruled States have opposed the updation of the NPR due to its link with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the yet to be implemented Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

What is Census?

• The Census is the enumeration of the population of the country and it is being conducted at an interval of 10 years. 
• It was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872. 
  • It helped in framing new policies, government programs to uplift areas of improvement in the community.
• The first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. 
• The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
• In the Census, data is collected on demographic and various socio-economic parameters like education, SC/ST, religion, language, marriage, fertility, disability, occupation and migration of the individuals.

• Significance: 
  • The census is the basis for reviewing the country’s progress in the past decade, monitoring the ongoing schemes of the government and planning for the future.
• Census 2021:
  • For the first time, the Census 2021 will use the Mobile App for data collection. It will also provide a facility to the public for self-enumeration.

Source: TH