Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Vijayan Accuses Centre of Pushing NPR Through Census Questions
Pinarayi Vijayan is worried about some questions reportedly planned for India’s 2027 census.
The questions ask about a person’s religion and where both parents were born.
He says these questions could help create a population register.
He also says that register could later help create a citizens’ register.
Vijayan believes this could divide people and unfairly affect some groups.
He asked the Union government to remove the questions.
He also asked secular groups to oppose the plan.
The Union government and its supporters have said that the CAA and NRC are not linked.
Vijayan also criticized Kerala’s current government for not speaking out.
Pinarayi Vijayan questioned reported Census 2027 questions about respondents’ religion and both parents’ birthplaces.
He alleged that the Union government was using the census to introduce the National Population Register agenda.
Vijayan cited a 2018–19 Home Ministry report saying the NPR could be used to prepare the National Register of Citizens.
He urged the Centre to remove the questions and called for opposition from secular groups, saying citizenship must not be linked to religion.
Vijayan accused Kerala’s United Democratic Front government of silence, while noting that the previous LDF government suspended NPR-related activities in 2019.
- Who
- Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and a Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, made the allegations.
- What
- He alleged that the Union government was trying to include National Population Register-related questions in the upcoming census.
- When
- Vijayan made the remarks on August 19, 2026; the census is expected to resume in 2027.
- Where
- The issue concerns India, with specific implications for Kerala.
- Why
- Vijayan said questions about parents’ birthplaces and religion could support a future National Register of Citizens and divide people.
Vijayan and Critics
Government and Supporters
Purpose of the census questions
Vijayan and Critics
Vijayan says questions about parents’ birthplaces and religion could be a backdoor for the NPR and eventually the NRC, and should be removed.
Government and Supporters
The Union government and its supporters are described as maintaining that the Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC are not linked; the reports do not provide a specific response about the reported questions.
Connection between NPR and NRC
Vijayan and Critics
Vijayan cites a 2018–19 Union Home Ministry report saying the NRC would be prepared by filtering data from the NPR and calling the NPR a first step toward the NRC.
Government and Supporters
The articles distinguish the NPR and NRC as separate exercises and report the government’s position that the CAA and NRC are not linked.
Kerala government’s response
Vijayan and Critics
Vijayan criticizes the Congress-led UDF government for remaining silent and asks whether it will oppose the alleged agenda.
Government and Supporters
The articles report the UDF government’s alleged silence but do not include a detailed response from it.
- Speaker
- Pinarayi Vijayan, former Kerala chief minister and Leader of Opposition
- Reported questions
- Respondents’ religion and the places of birth of both parents
- Population register
- The National Population Register is described as a list of India’s usual residents
- Citizens’ register
- The National Register of Citizens is described as an exercise to identify Indian citizens and undocumented immigrants
- Vijayan’s concern
- He said the NPR could be a preparatory step for the NRC and that citizenship must not be linked to religion
- Kerala’s 2019 decision
- The previous LDF government suspended activities connected with updating the NPR in the state
- Upcoming census
- Census operations are expected to resume in 2027
