Parliament Passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill in Monsoon Session

The Rajya Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, completing its parliamentary approval after previous clearance by the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session. The newly enacted legislation introduces stricter legal frameworks for delayed registrations of births and deaths across all states and union territories. Under the updated provisions, any birth or death reported after a delay of more than two years will now require a formal order from a first-class judicial magistrate rather than executive authorities. This shifts the final verification authority for late applications from executive officers, such as District Magistrates, directly to the judicial system to eliminate fraudulent entries and forged certificates. For delays occurring between one and two years, approval will remain under the jurisdiction of executive magistrates, maintaining continuity for minor administrative delays. Union Ministers defending the legislation stated that the reform ensures the integrity of the national population database, which serves as the foundational registry for social welfare distribution, passport issuance, and electoral rolls. The bill also establishes a centralized digital database mechanism to streamline data sharing between state registries and central government agencies. Opposition members raised procedural queries regarding potential administrative hurdles for rural applicants, urging the government to simplify access to judicial magistrates in remote areas. Ministry officials clarified that digital portals and standardized mobile applications will assist citizens in submitting necessary documentation directly to judicial officers. Legal experts noted that shifting late-registration oversight to the judiciary provides a higher standard of evidentiary scrutiny, curbing document falsification schemes. The act is set to take effect following presidential assent and formal notification in the official gazette, marking a key modernization step for India’s civil registration system.