Parliament has cleared the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after the Rajya Sabha approved it by voice vote, following its passage in the Lok Sabha last week.
The legislation seeks to strengthen the verification process for delayed birth and death registrations in an effort to curb fraudulent entries in official records while ensuring genuine applicants continue to receive legal recognition.
Under the amended law, applications filed between one and two years after a birth or death will continue to require approval from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or Executive Magistrate.
However, registrations sought after a delay of more than two years will now require an order from a First-Class Judicial Magistrate, replacing the earlier executive approval process.
The Bill was passed amid persistent Opposition protests that disrupted proceedings, resulting in little to no debate in either House.
The government says the amendments will improve the integrity of India’s civil registration system, while critics have raised concerns over the limited parliamentary discussion on legislation with significant public implications.
Stricter Verification for Delayed Registrations
The amendment introduces mandatory factual verification for every delayed registration and requires applicants to pay a prescribed fee, the details of which will be notified separately through rules.
Moving the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the objective is to strengthen the credibility of birth and death records without creating unnecessary hardship for genuine citizens.
He stated that birth and death certificates form the basis of several legal and administrative processes and therefore require stronger safeguards against misuse.
According to the government, shifting approvals for registrations delayed by more than two years to the judiciary is expected to ensure greater scrutiny and reduce the possibility of fabricated or fraudulent entries.
During the parliamentary proceedings, the legislation was passed amid continued sloganeering and disruptions by Opposition members, limiting substantive discussion on its provisions.
Why the Amendment Matters
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, makes registration of births and deaths mandatory across India. Birth certificates serve as foundational identity documents required for school admissions, passports, Aadhaar enrolment, electoral rolls, government employment, marriage registration and access to welfare schemes.
Death certificates are equally important for inheritance claims, insurance settlements, pension benefits, property transfers and updating official records.
The amendment builds upon wider reforms introduced in 2023 that modernised the country’s civil registration framework by allowing birth certificates to function as a single document for multiple public services.
The government argues that while digitisation has improved accessibility, delayed registrations remained vulnerable to misuse and therefore required additional legal safeguards.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also criticised the Opposition for not participating in discussions despite opportunities being provided, while Opposition parties maintained protests over unrelated issues during the Monsoon Session.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Accurate birth and death records are fundamental to an inclusive and transparent governance system. Stronger safeguards against fraud can improve the credibility of public databases and ensure benefits reach the right people.
At the same time, any stricter verification process must remain accessible, affordable and efficient so that vulnerable families, especially those in rural or marginalised communities, are not burdened by additional procedural hurdles.
Equally important is meaningful parliamentary debate, which allows legislation affecting millions of citizens to be scrutinised in the public interest.
As India strengthens its civil registration framework, the focus should remain on balancing accountability with accessibility. Do you think stricter verification will improve trust in official records, or could it make it harder for genuine applicants to secure delayed registrations? Share your thoughts in the comments.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
— DD News (@DDNewslive) August 4, 2026
The Bill further amends the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as earlier passed by Lok Sabha.@nityanandraibjp @HMOIndia @AmitShah @PIB_India @MIB_India #RajyaSabha #LokSabha… pic.twitter.com/uz7tTTkbpD
