New Delhi, July 30: The Central Government on Thursday introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, proposing stricter legal provisions for delayed registration of births and deaths to ensure timely reporting, strengthen the civil registration system and prevent misuse of identity-related documents.
The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla invited members to oppose its introduction. As no objections were raised by any member, the Bill was formally introduced in the House.
The proposed legislation seeks to amend Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, introducing a more stringent process for registrations sought after a prolonged delay.
As per the Bill, registrations delayed between one and two years will continue to be processed under the existing approval mechanism. However, in cases where a birth or death is sought to be registered more than two years after the occurrence, approval will now require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class (JMFC) or a Metropolitan Magistrate, replacing the current provision under which such approvals can be granted by a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Executive Magistrate.
The amendment aims to strengthen the legal framework governing delayed registrations by ensuring greater judicial oversight in cases involving significant delays. The government believes the move will discourage unnecessary delays in registration and help prevent fraudulent claims that could be used to obtain official identity documents through improper means.
Officials said the proposed changes are intended to encourage citizens to register births and deaths within the prescribed time limits, improve the integrity and reliability of India’s Civil Registration System and enhance the accuracy of demographic records used for governance and public policy planning.
The government has also underlined that a birth certificate has become a foundational legal identity document and is increasingly required for access to education, government welfare schemes, healthcare, employment, passports and various other public services. Timely and accurate registration, officials said, is therefore essential to ensure effective service delivery and maintain credible national records.
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act was last amended in 2023 as part of the government’s efforts to modernise the country’s civil registration framework. The latest amendment, approved earlier this month by the Union Cabinet, forms part of the Centre’s legislative agenda for the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
If passed by Parliament, the Bill will establish a stricter legal framework for delayed birth and death registrations while promoting prompt reporting and strengthening the authenticity of official identity records across the country.
