Do we need a countrywide National Register of Citizens? (The Hindu)

Mains Paper 2: Polity
Prelims level: NRC
Mains level: Arguments behind NRC and implementation process

Context

• After rolling out the National Register of Citizens(NRC) in Assam, the incumbent government at the Centre has said it will conduct a similar exercise in the rest of the country.

History of NRC

• In 1971, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan. The liberation war led to a massive influx of migrants to India until 1983.
• In 1983, the Parliament enacted the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act (IMDT Act). The IMDT Act laid down the procedure to detect illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and expel them from Assam.
• This Act was applicable to only Assam, while the Foreigners Act, 1946 was applicable to all other states. Thus NRC is an Assam specific exercise and it is opined that there is no need for a nationwide NRC.

Key issues

• It is alleged that the all India NRC is based on majoritarian sentiments built on the misery of minorities.
• The government claims extending NRC to other states as an exercise to get rid of illegal migrants, protect interests of the minorities and better utilisation of resources which has not been accepted by many experts considering the fate of 1.9 crore people excluded from it.

Conclusion

• Thus it is opined that a nationwide NRC will only be problematic and should be avoided.

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Prelims Questions:

Q.1) Consider following statements regarding ‘Index of Industrial Production (IIP)’-
1. It has its base 2011-12
2. Index number for the base year is to be taken as 100, and that for all subsequent periods are the percentages of the value for the base period

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 Nor 2

Answer: C
Mains Questions:
Q.1) Do we need a countrywide National Register of Citizens? Give your arguments in this regard.