There is no need for National Register of Citizens, says former home secretary Gopal Pillai

The union cabinet has paved the way to update the National Population Register (NPR) next year. This exercise is to identify who the "usual residents" are. This will take place between April and September this year and will be followed by a census in 2021. The cost of both the NPR and the census will be Rs 13,000 crore. Government called this a routine process and claimed that no documentary proof is needed and this will be done through self-certification. The government also claimed that no biometrics data will be collected. All this comes at a time when many fear that this NPR could set the stage for the all-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). But the government has clarified that there is no link whatsoever between the National Register of Citizens and the NPR - Home Minister Amit Shah said that the NPR will enable the government to plan and execute social schemes in a better way, he further added that no one will lose their Indian citizenship on the basis of the NPR. Gopal Pillai, former home secretary also shared his views and outlook on the same.