Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has issued a directive stating that the National Population Register (NPR) will not be implemented in the state as part of the forthcoming Census exercise. The order reaffirms the state’s earlier position opposing the NPR, citing concerns raised over privacy and potential misuse of personal data.
According to official communication, the directive was issued by the state administration to ensure that no preparatory activities related to NPR are carried out alongside census operations. Authorities clarified that only the standard population enumeration approved by the Union government would proceed.
Kerala has consistently maintained reservations about NPR since debates intensified nationwide, with the state arguing that the register could create apprehension among residents. The latest order effectively instructs officials to avoid any action that could be interpreted as implementing NPR within the census framework.
Officials indicated that the move is aimed at maintaining administrative clarity and preventing confusion among the public during the large-scale enumeration process. The decision also reflects the state’s broader policy stance on population data collection mechanisms.
