India introduces Bill to tighten delayed birth and death registration rules

The government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to make delayed registration of births and deaths more stringent, with the stated aim of encouraging citizens to report such events on time.

Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amid protests by opposition members, who demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the House during the ongoing debate on the anti-paper leak Bill.

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As per parliamentary procedure, Speaker Om Birla invited opposition members to oppose the introduction of the Bill. After no member spoke against it, Rai introduced the proposed legislation.

The Bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet on July 20, seeks to amend Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which was earlier amended in 2023. The proposed changes aim to make provisions related to delayed registration more stringent.

"This will encourage timely reporting of event of birth and death," the Bill said.

Under the existing law, registration of a birth or death delayed by more than one year requires an order from the district magistrate (DM), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), or an executive magistrate before the entry can be made.

The proposed amendment introduces a two-tier approval mechanism based on the extent of delay.

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For registrations delayed between one and two years, the existing process will largely continue, with applicants requiring approval from the DM, SDM, or an executive magistrate with jurisdiction over the place where the birth or death occurred.

However, for cases where registration is delayed by more than two years, the approval process will become stricter. Such registrations will require an order from a first-class judicial magistrate, transferring the authority from the executive to the judiciary.

The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, provides for the regulation and registration of births and deaths and related matters. Registration of such events is mandatory under the law, and certificates issued under the Act serve as legal proof of an individual's birth or death.

The Act was amended in 2023, with the revised provisions coming into effect from October 1 of that year.