29 November 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. Census 2025 as a comprehensive citizen registry

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 8)

Topic: GS2 – Governance

Context

The 2025 Census includes updating the National Population Register (NPR), a precursor to the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), under the Citizenship Act, 1955.The NRIC aims to create a verified citizen database, enhancing national security and streamlining welfare delivery. However, concerns regarding data privacy, exclusion, and administrative challenges remain significant.

2025 Census and National Population Register (NPR) Overview

• The 2025 Census includes an initiative to update the National Population Register (NPR), marking the first step towards establishing the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).
• The NRIC is rooted in the Citizenship Act, 1955, conceptualized after the 1951 Census and reinforced by the Subrahmanyam Committee’s recommendations post-Kargil War (1999).
• The addition of Section 14A to the Citizenship Act mandates compulsory registration of Indian citizens and the issuance of identity cards.
• Pilot projects like the Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and fishermen identity cards have been implemented previously.

Objectives and Benefits of NRIC

• The NRIC aims to enhance national security through a verified citizen registry, ensuring accurate differentiation between citizens and non-citizens.
• Additional benefits include:
  • Streamlining identity verification, reducing identity fraud, and eliminating duplication.
  • Facilitating targeted welfare programmes, ensuring benefits reach only eligible recipients.

Process of NRIC Implementation

• The process is multi-phased, beginning with the NPR as part of Census operations:
  • Demographic data is collected during houselisting.
  • Biometric data is used to eliminate duplicate entries.
  • Public claims and objections are invited for transparency and accuracy.
  • Verification and appeals processes allow challenges to ensure authenticity.
  • Citizenship inquiries finalize the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
  • Identity cards are issued as per the Citizenship Act.

Details from the 2011 Census and Anticipations for 2025

• The 2011 Census collected personal details such as name, gender, date of birth, nationality, and socio-economic indicators.
• The 2025 Census is expected to follow a similar structure but may exclude biometric data collection since this is already available in the Aadhaar database.

Aadhaar vs. NRIC

• While Aadhaar is a unique ID issued to residents, irrespective of citizenship, the NRIC focuses on establishing a citizen-specific registry.
• Key differences:
  • Aadhaar serves as a biometric identity tool, linking residents to services like banking and subsidies.
  • The NRIC mandates proof of citizenship, making it exclusive to Indian citizens.
• Both play complementary roles, supporting governance and security.

Lessons from Assam’s NRC Exercise

• Assam updated its NRC in 2019 under the Assam Accord, identifying illegal immigrants.
• The exercise faced issues such as:
  • Stringent documentation requirements, which excluded rural and less-educated residents.
  • Concerns over accuracy and fairness.
• The Assam experience highlights potential challenges for a nationwide NRIC.

Data Privacy and Administrative Concerns

• Data privacy and potential misuse of information remain concerns, despite Supreme Court guidelines in the Aadhaar case.
• Verifying citizenship at a large scale poses:
  • Logistical and administrative challenges.
  • Fears of exclusion for communities with limited documentation.
• Strong data protection measures, simplified procedures, and public awareness campaigns are essential to mitigate these risks.

Role of Citizens and Transparency

• Citizens must stay vigilant and engaged throughout the process by:
  • Verifying their records and providing accurate information.
  • Understanding their rights and raising concerns.
• Transparency and fairness in the NRIC depend on ensuring that the process is inclusive and equitable.

Practice Question:  Discuss the objectives and challenges of implementing the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) in India. How can the government address concerns related to data privacy and exclusion during this process? (250 Words /15 marks)

2. Do new schemes ahead of elections amount to ‘voter bribes’?

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 9)

Topic: GS2 – Governance

Context

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra’s state elections on November 23, partly attributed to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. This scheme provides a monthly direct benefit transfer (DBT) of ₹1,500 to women aged 21-65 with annual incomes below ₹2.5 lakh, introduced four months before the elections. Critics argue such schemes may be seen as voter inducements, raising concerns about fairness in electoral processes.

Merits and Timing of Welfare Programmes

• Welfare programmes based on political processes reflect popular needs and are essential for social equity.
• However, their implementation shortly before elections raises concerns about their genuine intent and long-term impact on social welfare systems.
• If such schemes do not establish robust welfare frameworks, they risk being labeled as temporary electoral incentives.

Cash Transfers as Modern Electoral Promises

• Cash transfers are viewed as modern versions of past electoral promises, like providing household goods in southern states.
• These transfers reflect democratic flaws, as citizens often gain attention from political parties only during elections.
• While cash transfers may be welcomed by vulnerable groups, the long-term impact on democratic decision-making remains questionable.

Role of Cash Transfers in Social Welfare

• The objectives of cash transfers include economic independence for women, improved health and nutrition, and compensation for unpaid domestic work.
• Critics argue that these objectives could be better achieved through alternative measures:
  • Economic Independence: Employment schemes like MNREGA offer higher earnings and empowerment.
  • Health and Nutrition: Providing nutritious meals in schools and anganwadis could achieve better outcomes.
  • Domestic Work Compensation: Transforming gender norms is more impactful than monetary compensation for domestic responsibilities.

Comparison with Other Welfare Measures

• Large-scale employment schemes like MNREGA are credited with creating durable welfare frameworks, unlike cash transfers, which may lack long-term stability.
• Welfare schemes should be evaluated for their ability to address structural issues rather than being opportunistic interventions.

Challenges of Cash Transfers

1. Fiscal Impact: Cash transfers can divert funds from essential welfare programs such as health and education.
   1. For instance, Karnataka’s cash transfer budget exceeds twice the Union budget for mid-day meals.
2. Implementation Issues:
   1. Corruption and inefficiencies in cash disbursal mechanisms.
   1. Lack of robust banking infrastructure, leading to reliance on intermediaries who replicate earlier forms of exploitation.
3. Targeting Mechanisms: Unlike employment schemes, cash transfers lack robust self-targeting mechanisms, increasing risks of misallocation.

Concerns over Evaluation Mechanisms

• Independent evaluations of welfare schemes have been weakened over time, affecting transparency and accountability.
• Mechanisms like performance audits, national surveys, and robust data analysis, crucial for identifying inefficiencies and corruption, need to be strengthened.

Conclusion

• While cash transfer schemes provide immediate relief to vulnerable groups, their design and implementation raise significant concerns about their impact on welfare spending, targeting efficiency, and sustainability.
• Long-term welfare frameworks should focus on systemic solutions such as employment creation, education, and health infrastructure, rather than short-term cash incentives.

Practice Question:  Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes are often criticized as electoral inducements but appreciated for providing immediate relief to marginalized groups. Discuss the implications of such schemes on fiscal priorities, democratic processes, and long-term welfare policies. (250 Words /15 marks)