Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026:
The Lok Sabha has passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 through a voice vote without any debate, which seeks to strengthen the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 by tightening norms for delayed registration and aligning legal provisions with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023.
Key Provisions:
- Registration of births and deaths delayed beyond two years will require an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC).
- Delayed registration between one and two years will continue to require approval from a District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an authorised Executive Magistrate.
- Replaces references to the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 with the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, updating the definition of “Executive Magistrate.”
- The amendments aim to promote timely reporting of births and deaths, improving the reliability of civil registration records.
Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969: - The Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 (amended in 2023) mandates the registration of all births, deaths, and stillbirths at the place of occurrence.
- The Registrar General of India (RGI) oversees the national system, while Chief Registrars, District Registrars, and Local Registrars manage registration and issuance of certificates.
- Since October 2023, all registrations are maintained digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS).
Reporting Timeline: Births, deaths, and stillbirths must be reported within 21 days of occurrence; delayed registration attracts the prescribed late fee.
