In a bid to control entry of Maoist insurgents, the government of India has started issuing national identity cards to citizens living along the Nepal-India border.

According to a report in Asian News International, the Indian government aims to create and maintain a new population register with the issuance of the new Multi-purpose National Identity Cards.

The 350m-rupee pilot project is being implemented along the border of 13 states and will be extended to other states, added the report.