NRC in Manipur

NRC in Manipur

Sub : Science and tech

Sec : Defence

Context:  Recently the Kuki community of Manipur welcomed the Implementation of NRC if  done  under strict supervision of the Supreme Court. 

• Previously the Meitei and Naga organisations have been demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens to check infiltration from Myanmar

About National Register of Citizens (NRC)

• Definition and Historical Context
  • Origin: Prepared after the Census of 1951 in Assam to document residents.
  • Scope: Initially housed with Deputy Commissioners and later transferred to Police in the 1960s.
  • Directive: Issued under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Implementation in Assam
  • Purpose: Identify Indian citizens amidst migration from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).
  • Scope: Currently exists only in Assam but may extend to other states.
  • Similar Efforts: Nagaland creating the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants.
• Updating the NRC
  • Provisions and Eligibility
  • Legal Basis: Updated under The Citizenship Act, 1955 and The Citizenship Rules, 2003.
• Inclusion Criteria:
  • Persons listed in NRC, 1951.
  • Those in Electoral Rolls up to March 24, 1971.
  • Descendants of eligible persons.
  • Migrants from Bangladesh registered between January 1966 and March 1971.
  • Indian Citizens who moved to Assam post March 24, 1971, with proof of residence.
• Need for the NRC
  • Identifying Infiltrators: Aims to identify and deport illegal immigrants living in India.
  • Target: Primarily focuses on immigrants from countries other than Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
  • Exclusions: Certain religious minorities from these countries are exempt under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
• Relationship with Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
  • No Direct Link: CAA and NRC are separate but related in immigration policy discourse.
  • CAA’s Focus: Grants citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.
• Conclusion
  • NRC’s Role: Essential for identifying Indian citizens and addressing concerns over illegal immigration.
  • Controversies: Surrounds potential nationwide implementation and its implications for various communities.