Birth and death registration rules to get stricter from October 1: What changes under new law
Birth and death registration rules will become stricter from October 1. Here’s what the new law says about delayed registration and court approval
PTC Web Desk: The rules for registering births and deaths after a long delay are set to become stricter from October 1, 2026, following the implementation of the new amendment law.
Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan announced the date in a gazette notification issued on Wednesday. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 was passed by both Houses of Parliament and became law after receiving the President’s assent last month.
The new law changes the procedure for late registration of births and deaths. In cases where more than two years have passed since the event, applicants will now need an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class before the registration can be completed.
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What happens if registration is delayed?
For applications made after one year but within two years of a birth or death, an order from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) or an authorised Executive Magistrate will continue to be required.
The official concerned will also have to verify the details of the birth or death before allowing the registration. The applicant will need to pay the prescribed fee as part of the process.
For cases filed more than two years after the event, the new law introduces a higher level of judicial scrutiny. A Judicial Magistrate First Class will have to issue the required order.
Why has the government changed the rules?
The amendment changes Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which deals with delayed registration.
The government has said the changes are aimed at making the process for delayed registrations more stringent and encouraging people to report births and deaths within the required time.
Registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the 1969 law. Birth and death certificates are important legal documents and can be used as evidence of a person's birth or death.
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act was also amended in 2023, with the revised provisions coming into effect on October 1, 2023.
The government had said those changes were intended to improve the timely reporting of births and deaths and strengthen the registration system.