Understanding NRC: What it is and if it can be implemented across the country

How did Assam do it?

In Assam, one had to apply for inclusion. Whether or not will there be a similar option for a nationwide exercise, it's not yet clear. There's also no clarity on how documents will be processed for residents of different states, and what those documents will be, or if there will be a common set of guidelines for all of India.

The NRC update was involving over 52,000 state Government officials working for a prolonged period. Hundreds of NRC Seva Kendras (NSKs) were set up to process the documents under the apex court's watch. An applicant had to pick any one of the documents under two heads — list A and list B. The 14 documents in List A included:

1. 1951 NRC

2. Electoral roll(s) up to 24 March (midnight), 1971

3. Land and tenancy records

4. Citizenship certificate

5. Permanent residential certificate

6. Refugee registration certificate

7. Any government issued license/certificate

8. Government service/employment certificate

9. Bank or post office accounts

10. Birth certificate

11. State educational board or university educational certificate

12. Court records/processes

13. Passport

14. Any LIC policy

The above documents could not be from a date later than the cut-off date of March 24, 1971 (Midnight). Those who did not have any 1971 documents that mention their name can show any one of the documents named in this list if it mentions their parents/grandparents along with one more document from List B (with 8 options) to establish a connection. List B included:  

1. Birth certificate

2. Land document

3. Board/university certificate

4. Bank/LIC/post office records

5. Circle officer/gaon panchayat secretary certificate in case of married women

6. Electoral roll

7. Ration card

8. Any other legally acceptable document

For women married to other places, and with no documents to pick from list B to establish a family link, the state allowed.

a) Circle officer or gaon panchayat secretary certificate that need not be on or before the 1971 date

b) A ration card issued on or before the 1971 date.