Key facts
- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed annual NRC checks along the international border.
- The proposal was made to a High-powered Demography Mission chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar.
- The Demography Mission is expected to submit its report within a year.
- Assam has banned new Aadhaar card enrollments for individuals over 18.
- Exemptions for Aadhaar enrollment apply to specific communities until March 2027.
- Individuals under 18 are not affected by the Aadhaar enrollment ban.
- Assam CM Sarma called delayed border fencing a 'historical mistake'.
- Fencing efforts have recently gained momentum in Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and West Bengal.
- Sarma highlighted central assistance for Assam's development and infrastructure projects.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has put forth a proposal for annual National Register of Citizens (NRC) checks for residents situated along the international border. This initiative, suggested to a High-powered Demography Mission chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar, aims to scrutinize citizenship. The mission is expected to deliver its report within a year. Sarma also acknowledged substantial central government assistance that is fueling development and infrastructure projects within Assam.
In parallel, the Assam government has imposed a ban on new Aadhaar card enrollments for individuals aged 18 and above. This decision is attributed to apprehensions regarding illegal immigrants. However, certain communities are granted exemptions until March 2027. The new regulations do not impact those under 18 years of age.
Furthermore, Sarma has characterized the protracted delay in implementing border fencing provisions, as stipulated by the 1985 Assam Accord, as a "historical mistake." He pointed out that fencing initiatives have only recently accelerated, with notable progress in states such as Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, and West Bengal, which had previously remained largely unfenced for extended periods. Sarma also highlighted the significant central assistance contributing to Assam's development and infrastructure projects.