NATIONAL REGISTER OF CITIZENS (NRC)

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register maintained by the Government of India containing names & certain relevant information for identification of Indian citizens of Assam state. The register was initially, specifically made for Assam state. However, on 20th November 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah declared during a Parliamentary Session that the register would be extended to the entire country.

The register was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India and since then it has not been updated until recently.

Assam has become the first state in India where the updating of the NRC is being taken up to include the names of those persons whose names appeared in the NRC of 1951 and is still alive; and/or of their presently living descendants who have permanent residence within the state.

The updated final NRC was released on August 31, 2019 with over 1.9 million applicants failing to make it to the list.

PURPOSE OF NRC

The purpose of NRC update in the state of Assam is to identify Indian citizens from among all the present residents of the state thereby leading to identification of illegal migrants residing in that state, who entered into it after the midnight of 24 March 1971. It will prevent further illegal migration that will ensure rights of Indian citizens in Assam.

WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR INCLUSION IN UPDATED  NRC ?

~ Persons whose names appear in NRC, 1951.

~ Persons whose names appear in any of the Electoral Rolls up to 24th March (midnight), 1971.

~ Descendants of the above persons.

~ Persons who came to Assam on or after 1st January 1966 but before 25th March 1971 and registered themselves in accordance with the rules made by the Central Government with the Foreigners Registration Regional Officer (FRRO) and who have not been declared as illegal migrants or foreigners by the competent authority.

~ Persons who are original inhabitant of Assam and their children and descendant who are citizens of India provided the citizenship of such personas is ascertained reasonable doubt by the registering authority.

~ ‘D’ voters can apply for inclusion of their names in the updated NRC. However, their names will. Be finally included only when the appropriate Foreigner Tribunal declares them as non-foreigners.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR NRC

Two set of documents had to be furnished by the applicants for inclusion in the updated NRC. They are -

• List A Documents
• List B Documents

List A Documents

For inclusion of names of any person in updated NRC, the applicants must produce any one of the following List A documents 

• 1951 NRC
• Electoral Roll(s) up to 24 March (midnight), 1971
• Land & Tenancy Records
• Citizenship Certificate
• Permanent Residential Certificate
• Refugee Registration Certificate
• Any Govt. issued License/Certificate
• Govt. Service/ Employment Certificate
• Bank/Post Office Accounts
• Birth Certificate
• Board/University Educational Certificate
• Court Records/Processes

List B Documents 

If any of the documents of List A is not of the applicant himself/herself but that of an ancestor, namely, father or mother or grandfather or grandmother or great grandfather or great grandmother (and so on) the applicant then have to submit List B documents :

• Birth Certificate
• Land document
• Board/University Certificate
• Bank/LIC/Post Office records
• Circle Officer/GP Secretary Certificate in case of married women
• Electoral Roll
• Ration Card
• Any other legally acceptable document

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE LEFT OUT OF THE FINAL LIST

Applicants will have the option of taking the legal route—first at the Foreigners’ tribunals and later in the civil courts—to prove citizenship. They would have to file appeals within 120 days of publication of the final NRC.