Syllabus
GS Paper 2 – Governance
Context
The objective is to update the National Population Register as a prelude to the creation of the National Register of Indian Citizens
Source
The Hindu| Editorial dated 29th November 2024
Census 2025 as a comprehensive citizen registry
The 2025 Census will include an exercise to update the National Population Register (NPR), which is a crucial first step towards the creation of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC). Understanding the full scope and implications of this initiative is vital as it directly impacts national security, identity verification, welfare distribution, and citizenship documentation.
Citizenship Act of 1955 and NRIC Mandate
- The NRIC derives its mandate from Section 14A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which was introduced after the Subrahmanyam Committee’s recommendations following the 1999 Kargil War.
- These recommendations emphasized the need for a robust database to track both citizens and non-citizens, leading to the compulsory registration of citizens and the issuance of identity cards.
- The implementation of this registry has been in stages, with pilot projects such as the Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and Fishermen Identity Cards.
Origins of the NRIC Concept
- The concept of the NRIC dates back to 1951, with the first Census exercise being a precursor.
- Post-Kargil, the national security concerns reinforced the necessity for a citizen database that includes comprehensive demographic and biometric data.
- Section 14A mandates the creation of a citizen registry, which serves as the foundation for welfare programsand national security mechanisms.
Benefits of the NRIC
- National Security and Identity Verification
- Primary Purpose: The NRIC aims to create a verified citizen registry to enhance national security by distinguishing between citizens and non-citizens.
- Prevention of Identity Fraud: By maintaining a verified citizen database, it will significantly reduce identity fraud and duplication.
- Targeted Welfare Programs: The NRIC will ensure that welfare benefits such as subsidies and government schemes reach only eligible citizens, preventing misuse.
- Streamlining Administrative Processes
- Identity Cards for Citizens: The NRIC will issue identity cards for citizens, simplifying processes such as voter registration and access to government services.
- Data Integrity: The NPR exercise, which serves as the precursor to NRIC, will help maintain accurate and authentic demographic data, contributing to better governance.
- Increased Efficiency in Governance: The registry will support the government in better planning and resource allocation by providing real-time citizen data.
- Economic and Social Impact
- Economic Benefits: By improving the targeting of welfare and subsidies, the NRIC can reduce leakages and ensure that resources are directed towards those who need them the most.
- Improved Service Delivery: With a reliable citizen database, government schemes such as healthcare, education, and public distribution systems (PDS) can be delivered more effectively.
- Better Law Enforcement: The NRIC could contribute to better monitoring of criminal activities, immigration, and illegal migration, thus improving public safety.
The Process and Phases of NRIC Implementation
- Collection of Demographic and Biometric Data
- Demographic Data: The process begins with the compilation of demographic data during the houselisting operations as part of the 2025 Census.
- Biometric Data Collection: Following demographic data gathering, biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans, photographs) will be collected to eliminate duplicate records.
- Transparency and Public Claims: After data collection, public claims and objections will be invited to ensure transparency. This phase allows individuals to challenge any discrepancies in their records.
- Verification and Appeals Process
- Verification of Citizenship Status: The process will also include detailed inquiries into citizenship status, primarily focusing on residents’ status as citizens or non-citizens.
- Appeals Mechanism: If individuals face rejection or exclusion, there will be an appeals process to challenge and correct any errors in the final records.
- Final Compilation and Issuance of Identity Cards
- Once the data is verified and finalized, the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) will be created, separating citizens from non-citizens.
- The NRIC process culminates in the issuance of identity cards for Indian citizens, which will serve as official proof of their citizenship status.
Aadhaar vs NRIC
- Distinct Purposes
- Aadhaar is a universal identification number issued to all residents, not just citizens, linking individuals to government services.
- NRIC, on the other hand, is specifically aimed at documenting Indian citizens and verifying their citizenship status.
- Complementary but Separate Roles
- Aadhaar facilitates identity verification and enables access to welfare benefits, banking, and digital services.
- NRIC focuses on citizenship verification and aims to create a comprehensive and verified citizen database for purposes of national security and governance.
- Integration and Differentiation
- While Aadhaar holds biometric data for all residents, the NRIC will only include citizens and will not overlap in terms of citizenship verification.
Concerns and Challenges
- Exclusion and Inaccuracy
- Assam NRC Exercise: The Assam NRC (2019) exercise highlighted significant concerns about accuracy, documentation requirements, and the exclusion of rural or less-educated populations.
- The verification process in Assam led to confusion and fear of exclusion, which could potentially affect marginalized communities across the nation.
- Data Privacy and Protection
- Privacy Concerns: Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Aadhaar case, concerns regarding the misuse of personal data and potential surveillance persist.
- The security of biometric and demographic data collected during the NPR and NRIC exercises must be ensured through strong data protection laws.
- Logistical and Administrative Challenges
- Scalability: Given the vast scale of the exercise, logistical challenges such as infrastructure, staffing, and training will be significant.
- Public Awareness: Ensuring that citizens are informed about the process and understand their rights will be crucial for preventing inclusion errors and ensuring fairness.
Conclusion
The NRIC and the NPR initiative are aimed at creating a comprehensive and verified record of Indian citizens, significantly enhancing national security, governance, and the targeting of welfare programs. While these initiatives have their potential benefits, they also bring forth privacy concerns, the risk of exclusion, and logistical challenges. Citizens must remain engaged and proactive to ensure the integrity of the process, and the government must address the concerns of marginalized communities to build trust and ensure fairness in the citizenship verification process.
Related PYQ
Effectiveness of the government system at various levels and people’s participation in the governance system are inter-dependent.” Discuss their relationship with each other in context of India? [ UPSC Civil Services Exam – Mains 2016]
Practice Question
Discuss the role of the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) in ensuring national security and its implications on the socio-political landscape of India. [150 words]
Guidelines for Answering the Question
- Introduction:
- Briefly define National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) and its purpose.
- Mention its role in ensuring national security and the verification of citizenship.
- Body:
- Highlight its importance in strengthening national defense through accurate demographic data.
- Explore the political impact of NRIC, particularly in terms of disenfranchisement and potential marginalization of certain communities.
- Briefly mention the constitutional and legal debates surrounding NRIC, including privacy issues and the need for a robust data protection framework.
- Conclusion:
- Suggest that the implementation of NRIC should be carefully managed to ensure fairness and transparency
- Summarize key points succinctly.