India’s National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) are two separate databases linked to identity and citizenship under the Citizenship Act, 1955. While NPR records all usual residents of India, NRC is a verified register of Indian citizens only. The NPR update was planned alongside Census 2021 (except Assam), and it serves as a base for any future nationwide NRC exercise.

BulletsIn

• NPR records all usual residents; NRC lists only Indian citizens
• Usual resident: lived 6+ months or intends to stay 6+ months
• NPR mandatory for every resident; includes foreigners
• NRC excludes foreigners; citizenship verification required
• NPR prepared under Citizenship Act 1955, Rules 2003
• NRC first created after 1951 Census; updated in Assam recently
• NPR planned with Census 2021 (except Assam)
• Aadhaar is 12-digit ID for residents; does not prove citizenship
• NPR can be base database for nationwide NRC
• Census collects population data; NPR collects individual identity details