National Population Register (NPR): West Bengal Opts out of the exercise

National Population Register (NPR): West Bengal Opts out of the exercise

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Governance, Federalism

In News

• The objective of the NPR,is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. 
• Usual resident is defined as a person who has resided in a local area for the past six months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next six months or more
• The database will contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.
• It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
• Unlike the NRC, the NPR will also include foreigners living in India.
• The NPR is being developed under the principles of the Citizenship Act of 1955, and the Citizenship Rules set out in 2003

• When was it recently conducted?

• • The data for National Population Register was collected in 2010 alongwith the houselisting phase of Census of India 2011. 
  • It has been decided to update the National Population Register along with the Houselisting phase of Census 2021 during April to September 2020 in all the States/UTs except Assam.
• Criticism: About the government’s capability to manage and protect this information.