Parliament Passes Bill Tightening Rules for Delayed Birth, Death Registrations

New Delhi: Parliament on Tuesday passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing stricter procedures for delayed registration of births and deaths to prevent fraudulent entries and enhance the credibility of India's civil registration system. The Bill, which was approved by the Lok Sabha on Friday, received the Rajya Sabha's nod through a voice vote amid continued Opposition protests, completing the parliamentary approval process. The Upper House was later adjourned for the day as protests persisted. Piloting the legislation, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the amendments are aimed at strengthening the integrity of the registration process while ensuring that genuine applicants continue to receive legal recognition after proper verification. He said birth and death certificates are foundational legal documents used for numerous administrative and legal purposes, making it essential to safeguard the registration process against misuse. The amendment revises the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, with a particular focus on registrations sought more than two years after the occurrence of a birth or death. Under the new provisions, applications filed between one and two years after the event will continue to require approval from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate having jurisdiction over the area. However, applications submitted after a delay of more than two years will now require an order from a First-Class Judicial Magistrate instead of an executive authority. The government said the change will ensure greater judicial scrutiny and significantly reduce the possibility of fraudulent or fabricated entries being added to official records. The legislation also makes factual verification mandatory in every delayed registration case. Authorities will be required to verify the authenticity of the reported birth or death before granting approval. Applicants seeking delayed registration will also have to pay a prescribed fee, which will be notified through rules framed under the Act. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, birth and death certificates issued under the Act serve as legally admissible proof of these events. The government believes stronger verification mechanisms will help curb fraudulent registrations while ensuring that genuine cases continue to receive legal recognition. The Centre also said the amendments are expected to encourage timely registration of births and deaths within the prescribed 21-day period, thereby improving the completeness, accuracy and reliability of the country's civil registration system. Birth registration remains essential as birth certificates serve as the primary legal identity document for school admissions, passports, Aadhaar enrolment, electoral rolls, inheritance claims and access to government welfare schemes. Likewise, death certificates are required for inheritance matters, insurance claims, pension benefits, property transfers, closure of bank accounts and updating official records. The amendment comes nearly three years after Parliament enacted major reforms in 2023 to modernise and digitise the country's civil registration system, allowing birth certificates to serve as a single document for multiple government services. The government has maintained that despite the 2023 reforms, additional safeguards for delayed registrations were necessary to preserve the integrity of official records and prevent misuse through enhanced legal scrutiny.