Parliament Clears Bill On Births, Deaths Registration, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Rajya Sabha has passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
• The Bill aims to amend sub-section (3) of Section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, making provisions for delayed registration more stringent.
• Under the new provisions, registrations delayed by more than two years will require an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class.
• Registrations delayed between one and two years will continue to be approved by an Executive Magistrate.
• The Union Home Ministry stated the amendment seeks to encourage timely reporting of births and deaths.

Detailed Insights:

• The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, is a central legislation that mandates the compulsory registration of births and deaths across India to ensure uniform vital statistics.
• The Civil Registration System (CRS), operating under this Act, is crucial for documenting vital events and generating demographic data essential for policy formulation and welfare delivery.
• A 2023 amendment to the Act made birth certificates the primary proof for various identity documents, including Aadhaar, passports, and voter rolls, increasing their significance.
• The current 2026 amendment addresses concerns about fraudulent registrations by introducing stricter scrutiny for long-delayed cases.
• Timely registration provides accurate data for assessing health and social policies, understanding demographic trends, and supporting local planning.
• The Registrar General of India coordinates the registration activities nationwide, while state governments implement the system through local authorities.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969: Central legislation making birth and death registration compulsory across India.
• Civil Registration System (CRS): India's official mechanism for continuous, permanent, and mandatory recording of births, deaths, and stillbirths.
• Delayed Registration: The process for registering births or deaths after the prescribed period of 21 days.
• Judicial Magistrate First Class: A judicial officer who will now approve birth and death registrations delayed by more than two years.
• Executive Magistrate: An administrative officer who will continue to approve registrations delayed between one and two years.