STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

(The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023)

1. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (18 of 1969) (the Act) was enacted to provide for the regulation of registration of births and deaths and for matters connected therewith.

2. The Act has not been amended so far since its inception. In order to keep pace with the societal change and technological advancements during the period of its operation and to make it more citizen friendly, there is a need to amend the Act. Based on the consultations held with the State Governments, general public and other stake holders, it is proposed to amend certain provisions of the Act in form of a Bill, namely

the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

3. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, inter alia, provides for the following, namely:—

(i) to insert provisions for digital registration and electronic delivery of certificate of births and deaths for the benefit of public at large;

(ii) to create a National and State level database of registered births and deaths which would help in updating other databases resulting in efficient and transparent delivery of public services and social benefits;

(iii) to provide for use of the Birth Certificate as a single document to prove the date and place of birth of a person born on or after the date of commencement of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, for admission to an educational institution, issuance of a driving licence,  preparation of a voter list, registration of a marriage, appointment to a post in Central Government or State Government or a local body or public sector undertaking or in any statutory or autonomous body under the Central Government or State Government, issuance of a passport, issuance of an Aadhaar number and any other purpose as may be determined by the Central Government in order to enhance the public convenience and to avoid multiplicity of documents to prove date and place of birth in the country;

(iv) to change the ordering authority from Magistrate of the first class or Presidency Magistrate to District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate in the case of     delayed information of any birth or death to the Registrar after one year of its occurrence and submission of self-attested document instead of an affidavit made before a Notary Public in the case of delayed information of any birth or death to the Registrar after thirty days but within one year of its occurrence;

(v) to facilitate registration process of adopted, orphan, abandoned, surrendered, surrogate child and child to a single parent or unwed mother;

(vi) to make it mandatory for all medical institutions to provide a certificate as to the cause of death to the Registrar and a copy of the same to the nearest relative;

(vii) to appoint Special "Sub-Registrars" in the event of disaster or epidemic for speedy registration of deaths and issue of certificates;

(viii) to collect Aadhaar numbers of parents and informant, if available, in case of birth registration;

(ix) to address the grievances of general public aggrieved by any action or order of the Registrar or District Registrar; and

(x) to enhance the penalties provided in the Act.

4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.