President Murmu Approves Bill Tightening Rules for Delayed Birth and Death Registration
New law requires magistrate approval for registration applications filed more than two years after a birth or death, aiming to promote timely reporting of vital events.
NEW DELHI, Aug 11: President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, bringing into force stricter provisions for registering births and deaths reported after the prescribed period.
The legislation, passed by both Houses of Parliament, amends Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which was last amended in 2023. The changes are aimed at strengthening scrutiny of late applications and encouraging people to report vital events within the stipulated timeframe.
Under the amended provisions, applications submitted more than one year but within two years of a birth or death will require an order from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate.
The concerned authority will have to verify the correctness of the details relating to the event before permitting registration. Applicants will also be required to pay the prescribed fee.
For applications submitted more than two years after the birth or death, the new law introduces a higher level of scrutiny. Such cases will require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class before registration can take place.
The Union Cabinet had cleared the proposal for introduction of the amendment on July 20. The government said the stricter framework would encourage timely reporting of births and deaths and strengthen the reliability of official records.
Registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. Certificates issued under the legislation serve as important legal documents and can be used as evidence to establish the occurrence of a person’s birth or death.
The 1969 legislation provides the legal framework for registering vital events and related matters across the country. Its major provisions were amended in 2023, with the revised law coming into effect on October 1 that year.
The latest amendment further strengthens the verification process for delayed cases while retaining administrative approval for applications submitted within two years of the event.
The government expects the revised system to improve the accuracy of vital statistics and promote greater compliance with statutory reporting requirements.
