New Delhi: The National Population Register, envisioned during the Atal Behari Vajpayee government in 2002, is all set to be the final word on the identity of Indian citizens.
The Union home ministry is now fast-tracking the merger of Aadhaar with NPR, which it believes will be the final authentic national database on the basis of which National Identity Cards for all citizens above 18 can be issued.
So far, 75 crore people have been enrolled in the NPR, and the home ministry hopes to complete the entire enrolment process by March 2016. The MHA is looking at NPR data to tackle rising internal security threats from organised crime, money-laundering, terrorism and illegal migration.
From weeding out wrong persons holding ration cards and LPG subsidy to illegal migrants and terror suspects, the biometric details and iris images along with personal data will be readily available. Those with Aadhaar, will not have to go for a separate entry in NPR.
