India approves population survey amid protests over new law

02:24

India is in the midst of social uncertainty. Demonstrations against a controversial new citizenship law have intensified with protesters demanding a roll-back

But the government isn't backing down.

On Tuesday, the cabinet approved 550 million U.S. dollars for a census and population survey called the National Population Register (NPR), slated for next year.

Many argue that the new set of announcements would set the stage for the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC), opposed by a large section of society.

Demonstrators display placards during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Bill, a bill that seeks to give citizenship to religious minorities who came to India from neighboring Muslim countries, in Ahmedabad, December 9, 2019. /Reuters Photo

So how does it work on the ground?

First begin with the NPR. Authorities say the aim of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every "usual resident." This includes both Indian citizens and foreigners. Local officials would go to each household and collect data. The information will then be verified. Individuals whose citizenship is doubtful would be put on a "doubtful list."

Once the NPR is completed, analysts say the government is likely to go ahead with National Register of Citizens. The NRC would include data of only Indian citizens. All citizens, including those on the NPR "doubtful list," would be required to submit documents to officials. If excluded again, a person could be declared a non-citizen.

In August, the NRC was conducted in the Indian state of Assam. Around two million people were rendered stateless.

Demonstrators burn copies of Citizenship Amendment Bill during a protest in New Delhi, December 11, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Many experts say the final move in the process would likely be the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act.

The law provides that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who came to India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh can be granted Indian citizenship. But it excludes Muslims.

So in simpler terms, it could be easier for Hindus and other minority groups to gain citizenship, but Muslims again may be left out.

Opponents say the overriding motive is to marginalize the Muslim community and strip them of Indian citizenship. But the government argues that there is no plan to conduct a nationwide NRC yet and there is no link between the NPR and NRC.

Video edited by Wang Yushen