ShutterstockThe CPM on Tuesday extrapolated from Assam’s experience in preparing the National Register of Citizens to warn that a similar exercise nationwide would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore at a time the country was going through a recession. “The Assam NRC process has already cost the exchequer Rs 1,220 crore, with a population that is less than 3 per cent of India’s population. The CPM has also questioned the rationale in having an NRC when the coverage under the Aadhaar biometric scheme was near total. The rules state that “a population register will be prepared by collecting information relating to all persons who are usually residing within the jurisdiction of the local registrar. The local register of Indian citizens (as part of the national register) shall contain details of persons after due verification made from the population register”.

Source: The Telegraph December 31, 2019 20:48 UTC