Parliament approves Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha Tuesday approved the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026 following its prior passage in the Lok Sabha. The bill, introduced by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, seeks to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969.
Its primary objective is to implement stricter provisions for delayed registrations and to promote timely reporting of births and deaths.
Under the new provisions, if a birth or death is reported to the Registrar more than one year but within two years after the event, registration will require the approval of either the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate based on verification of the event's authenticity.
Conversely, for cases where registrations occur more than two years post-event, only a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class can approve the registration.
During the debate regarding the bill, Rai underlined that these amendments are a response to potential misuse associated with delayed registrations. He reiterated the government's commitment to ensure that every child born in India is duly registered and that timely documentation of deaths is equally prioritized.
This amendment aims to prevent discrepancies and manipulation in birth and death registrations thereby safeguarding the integrity of vital records and minimising irregularities.