Monsoon session of Parliament is going on. During this period, the government is preparing to discuss and pass many important bills. Meanwhile, on Wednesday (July 29), Union Home Minister Amit Shah will present the Birth and Death Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The main objective of this new bill is to make the rules for delayed registration in cases of birth and death stricter.
In this bill, the approval of District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Executive Magistrate is mandatory for delay of 1 to 2 years in registration of births and deaths. If there is a delay of more than 2 years, the case will go to the Judicial Magistrate, who will issue orders after examining the facts. This bill has been distributed among the MPs.
Fees will have to be paid for late registration
To prevent fraud, thorough verification will be done by the authorities before any late registration. Apart from this, prescribed fees will also have to be paid for late registration. However, the exact amount will be notified separately through rules made under the Act.
Certificates can be obtained online
Birth and death records of the entire country are being digitized and added to a central database. This database will be linked to Aadhar card, voter list, ration card and passport. Birth certificate can be used as the sole main document for school admission, driving license and government jobs. Citizens will be able to easily get certificates online.
Registration of births and deaths mandatory
The government believes that these security measures will reduce the possibility of fake registration. Registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1969. Birth certificate is the first legal identity document of a person. It is necessary for school admission, passport, Aadhaar card making, voting rights, inheritance claims, government welfare schemes and many other legal and administrative functions.
Similarly, death certificate is an essential legal document which is used in inheritance matters, insurance claims, pension benefits, transfer of property, closing bank accounts and updating government records. In the Statement of Objects and Reasons annexed to the Bill, it is mentioned that certificates issued under the Act are legally acceptable as proof of birth or death of a person.
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