NEW DELHI, SEPT 17: The provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 will come into force from October 1, 2026, tightening the procedure for delayed registration of births and deaths.
Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan announced the effective date through a Gazette notification issued on Wednesday.
The amendment bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament and became law after receiving the President’s assent last month.
The amended law introduces stricter requirements for delayed registration, particularly for cases reported more than two years after the birth or death occurred.
Under the new provisions, applications submitted after one year but within two years of the event will require an order from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate. The concerned official will be required to verify the details before allowing registration, subject to payment of the prescribed fee.
For applications submitted more than two years after the event, the law requires an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, introducing a higher level of scrutiny.
The amendment modifies Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which was earlier amended in 2023. The government has stated that the changes are aimed at making provisions governing delayed registration more stringent and encouraging the timely reporting of births and deaths.
Registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the law. Birth and death certificates issued under the Act serve as important legal documents and can be used as evidence to establish the birth or death of an individual.
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, provides the legal framework for recording vital events and related matters across the country.
The previous amendments to the Act came into force on October 1, 2023. The latest changes are set to take effect three years later, from October 1, 2026.
