Pinarayi says Centre is trying to include NPR in Census work
Kerala Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Census 2027 questionnaire and alleged it will bring National Population Register (NPR) elements into the census.
GS2The HinduGS2Census 2027 questionnaireNational Population Register (NPR)Citizenship
What happened: Pinarayi Vijayan’s allegations about Census 2027 questionnaire
Kerala Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the Census 2027 questionnaire. He alleged that the questionnaire seeks information on religion and the birthplace of both parents.
Pinarayi Vijayan further argued that the Union government is trying to merge elements of the National Population Register (NPR) into the census process. He stated that linking religion to citizenship is unacceptable.
Pinarayi Vijayan urged the Union government to remove the “sinister queries” from the Census 2027 questionnaire. He also stated that the Kerala United Democratic Front (UDF) government has remained silent on the issue.
Background and earlier position: NPR–NRC linkage concerns in Kerala
To support his allegations, Pinarayi Vijayan cited a Home Ministry report from 2018–19. He claimed that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is prepared by filtering data from the NPR, and that the NPR is a step toward NRC.
