National Population Register to be created along with census

New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) The Government is creating a National Population Register (NPR) by collecting information on specified items of each resident along with the population enumeration at the time of next decennial Census in 2011, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

The Planning Commission has allocated Rs 300 crore for this in the 11th Plan. The preparatory work for NPR has been initiated.

Meanwhile, the implementation of the Pilot Project on Multi-purpose National Identity Cards (MNIC) has been successfully completed on March 31,2008 with the distribution of more than 12 lakh smart cards to those of 18 years of age and above in the selected areas in 12 States and one Union Territory in the country.

Twenty MNIC Centres, one in each tehsil/block in the pilot areas, will remain functional till March 31, 2009 for maintenance and updating of database and issuing identity cards to those who would attain the age of 18 years during this period, Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmad said in a written reply.

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