The Supreme Court on 10 August 2026 asked the Union government and the State of Assam to reply to petitions seeking issuance of National Identity Cards to persons whose names appear in the NRC of August 2019.
Key Developments
- Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe issued notice to the Union and Assam governments.
- Petitions were filed by Jamiat Ulema‑i‑Hind, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) and the Assam Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad.
- Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Manish Goswami urged the courts to order re‑verification of the NRC list and to start the appeal process for excluded persons.
Important Facts
- More than 3.11 crore names are in the NRC but have not received identity cards.
- Approximately 19 lakh persons were excluded from the NRC.
- The exercise has cost over ₹1,600 crore and remains stalled because the follow‑up steps under Section 14A and related rules have not been implemented.
- The petition argues that the delay causes uncertainty and arbitrary treatment for those whose names are included.
Exam Relevance
Understanding this case helps aspirants in several ways:
- It illustrates the interaction between the Citizenship Act, 1955 and state‑level processes like the NRC.
- The issue ties to the