First phase of NPR exercise deferred as 21-day nationwide lockdown announced

The first phase to update the National Population Register (NPR) has been deferred soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 21-day nationwide lockdown to prevent coronavirus spread in the country.

This exercise was scheduled to begin from April 1.

According to the Government officials, a formal order on this effect is expected within a day or two.

In view of the Corona Virus outbreak, there were a series discussions held at the highest level of the Government to defer the updation process of NPR and house listing phase of the Census work, an official said on condition of anonymity.

The exercise to update NPR and the housing listing phase of the Census is scheduled to be carried out across the country from April 1 to September 30.

The preparation for the Census 2021 and updation of the NPR were in full swings to begin from April 1, despite the opposition from several state governments to the NPR and some of the assemblies even adopted resolutions expressing reservations on the exercise.

The states which have been opposing the NPR include Kerala, West Bengal, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.

However, most of them also said they will cooperate with the house listing phase of the Census.

The updation of NPR contains the demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident’s name, relationship to head of household, father's name, mother's name, spouse's name (if married), sex, date of birth, marital status, place of birth, nationality (as declared), present address of usual residence, duration of stay at present address, permanent residential address, occupation, educational qualification.

The last data for NPR updation was made in 2010 along with House listing phase of Census in 2011 and updation of this data was`done in 2015 when it was linked with Aadhar data.

The Union Cabinet has approved Rs 3,941.35 crore for the NPR exercise.