NPR data was first collected in 2010-The Hindu-(PG-12)-25-12-2019

Context:

Union cabinet’s approval for the National Population Register.

Background:

The data for the National Population Register (NPR) was first collected in 2010.
The NPR was updated in 2015 by seeding it with biometric details of Aadhaar.
The data under NPR was collected through door-to-door enumeration under various categories like age, marital status, place of birth, nationality (as declared), present and permanent residential address, occupation, activity and educational qualification.

West Bengal and Kerala have decided to put on hold the proceedings for updating the National Population Register (NPR). The States declined to update NPR amid apprehensions that it will be followed by the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Details:

In the past, NPR household data was provided to several State governments for the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The States which have used the NPR data collected by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on behalf of the Centre were West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Manipur and Rajasthan. They have used the information available for planning various beneficiary schemes.
The register was being updated for efficient delivery of social benefits by linking it with various government schemes.

Government sources state that the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) is based on the NPR data.
Household-wise NPR data was used in better targeting of schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, Prime Minister Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya, etc.

An archived page on censusindia.gov.in says that a proposal to issue Resident Identity Cards to all usual residents in the NPR, of 18 years of age and above, is under consideration of the Government. This proposed identity card would be a smart card and would bear the Aadhaar number.