Registration of Birth and Death

Source:  TH

Context: The Registrar General of India (RGI) issued a circular in March, warning hospitals for non-compliance in registering births and deaths within 21 days.

• The circular noted that 10% of such events go unregistered, despite the 2023 amendment to the Registration of Birth and Death Act mandating 100% digital registration.

About Registration of Birth and Death:

• What is it?
  • A statutory process under the Civil Registration System (CRS) that mandates the recording of every birth and death occurring in India.
• Governing Authority:
  • Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) oversees the system.
  • Chief Registrars are appointed by State governments, and Registrars operate at local levels (panchayats, municipalities).
• Governing Law:
  • Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, amended in 2023, makes digital registration mandatory.
    • Section 23(2) of the Act penalises negligence by registrars with a fine (enhanced to ₹1,000 from ₹50 in the amendment).
  • Registration Procedure:
    • Government hospitals act as official registrars.
    • Private hospitals must report events to registrars.
    • Registration must be done within 21 days of the event.
    • Post October 1, 2023, all records are maintained digitally through the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.
  • 2023 Amendment Highlights:
    • Birth certificates from CRS are now the sole valid document for proving date of birth for: School admissions, Government jobs, Marriage registration, and Electoral rolls and property registration.
    • Data from CRS will automatically update the: National Population Register (NPR), Ration card database, and Other central schemes.