The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 29 July 2026 to further amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The Bill seeks to make the provisions relating to delayed registration of births and deaths more stringent in order to encourage timely reporting of such events.
Clause 1 of the Bill provides that the legislation shall be called the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 and that it will come into force on a date to be notified by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.
The Bill proposes to substitute Section 13(3) of the Act dealing with delayed registration of births and deaths.
Under the proposed Section 13(3), where information regarding a birth or death is furnished after one year but within two years from its occurrence, registration shall be permitted only on an order of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death occurred. The authority must verify the correctness of the birth or death before issuing the order, and registration shall be subject to payment of the prescribed fee.
The Bill also inserts an explanation defining “Executive Magistrate” to mean an Executive Magistrate appointed under Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
A new Section 13(3A) is proposed to provide that where delayed information is furnished after two years from the occurrence of the birth or death, registration shall be permitted only on an order of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class having jurisdiction over the area where the event took place. The Judicial Magistrate must verify the correctness of the birth or death before passing the order, and the prescribed fee is also payable.
According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons, the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 regulates registration of births and deaths, and the certificates issued under the Act provide legal identity and are admissible as evidence of birth or death. It notes that the Act was amended in 2023 and the amended provisions came into force on 1 October 2023. Following consultations with State Governments, Union Territories and other stakeholders, the Government proposes these amendments to make delayed registration provisions more stringent and encourage timely reporting of births and deaths.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons specifically states that the Bill seeks to:
- require an order of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or authorised Executive Magistrate for registrations made after one year but within two years;
- require an order of a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class for registrations sought after two years; and
- strengthen the framework governing delayed registration of births and deaths.
The Financial Memorandum states that enactment of the Bill would not involve any recurring or non-recurring expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of India.
The Memorandum Regarding Delegated Legislation states that the Bill empowers State Governments to make rules relating to matters of detail under the existing rule-making provisions of the Act and describes the delegation as being of a normal character.
AS INTRODUCED IN LOK SABHA on 29th July 2026
Bill No. 140 of 2026
THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026
A
BILL
further to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
BE it enacted by Parliament in the Seventy-seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows:—
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Amendment of section 13.
In the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, in section 13, for sub-section (3), the following sub-sections shall be substituted, namely:—
‘(3) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after one year but within two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or by an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death has taken place, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Executive Magistrate” means the Executive Magistrate appointed under sub-section (1) of section 14 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
(3A) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death has taken place, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.’.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (18 of 1969) (the Act) was enacted to provide for regulation of registration of births and deaths and for matters connected therewith.
2. The registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the Act and the certificate issued under the Act provides legal identity to an individual. A certificate of birth or death is admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the birth or death of a person. The Act was amended in 2023 and the provisions of the amended Act came into force with effect from 1st October, 2023. Based on the consultations held with the State Governments/UTs and other stakeholders, it is proposed to amend sub-section (3) of section 13 of the Act in form of a Bill, namely the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in order to make provisions of delayed registration more stringent. This will encourage timely reporting of event of birth and death.
3. Further, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 provides for the following, namely:—
i. any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after one year but within two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or by an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death;
ii. any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death.
4. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives.
AMIT SHAH.
NEW DELHI;
The 24th July, 2026.
FINANCIAL MEMORANDUM
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, if enacted would not involve any expenditure either recurring or non-recurring from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India.
MEMORANDUM REGARDING DELEGATED LEGISLATION
Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend sub-section (3) of section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 and involves matters for which rules may be made. The State Government is empowered under section 30 to make rules under the existing provisions of the Act for carrying out the purposes of the said section.
2. The matters in respect of which rules may be made under the aforesaid provisions are matters of detail and it is not practicable to provide them in the Bill itself. The delegation of legislative powers is, therefore, of a normal character.
ANNEXURE
EXTRACT FROM THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS ACT, 1969
(18 OF 1969)
* * * * *
13. Delayed registration of births and deaths.
(1) * * * * *
(3) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after one year of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or by an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death has taken place, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Executive Magistrate” means the Executive Magistrate appointed under sub-section (1) of section 20 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.
* * * * *
LOK SABHA
A
BILL
further to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
(Shri Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation)
