The Lok Sabha on Friday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests by the Opposition. The Bill seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and introduces stricter rules for registering births and deaths that are reported late.
The bill was moved by Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and was passed without a discussion due to the uproar in the House. The new bill changes the process for registering births and deaths that are reported after a long delay. Under the proposed rules, delayed registrations will require approval from different authorities depending on how late the report is made.
Stricter Rules For Delayed Registration
The government said the changes aim to make delayed registrations more carefully verified and encourage people to report births and deaths on time. According to the bill, if a birth or death is reported more than one year but within two years after the event, it can be registered only after approval from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate. The authority will first verify the details before allowing registration.
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Stricter Rules After Two Years Delay
If the information about a birth or death is given after more than two years, the registration process will become stricter. In such cases, registration will be allowed only through an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class after verifying the authenticity of the information.
Existing Rule For Delayed Registration
Under the current law, delayed registrations of more than one year require approval from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an authorised Executive Magistrate. The new bill introduces a two-level system based on the period of delay.
Why Was The Amendment Introduced?
The government said birth and death certificates provide legal identity to individuals and are important official documents. The amendment aims to ensure that delayed registrations are properly checked, prevent misuse, and promote timely reporting of births and deaths.