Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026, Provision, Criticism

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 31 July 2026 to make delayed registration of births and deaths more stringent. The Bill further amends the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969, which was last amended in 2023. The main objective of Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026 is to strengthen verification, reduce fraudulent registrations and introduce stricter legal scrutiny for registrations made after long delays.

Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026

The Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by the Minister of State for Home Affairs after receiving Union Cabinet approval on 20 July 2026. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on 31 July 2026 through a voice vote. The bill is being criticised as it was approved without debate as Opposition members continued protests over the alleged police crackdown on students during the 20 July Parliament march, resulting in repeated disruptions inside the House.

Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026 Provisions

The Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026 revises the approval process for delayed registration and introduces stronger verification and judicial oversight.

• Stricter delayed registration: The Bill amends Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969 (as amended in 2023) to strengthen verification before delayed birth or death registration.
• Approval for 1-2 years delay: Birth or death registration delayed for more than one year but up to two years requires prior approval from the District Magistrate (DM), Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), or an authorised Executive Magistrate.
• Mandatory verification process: The competent authority must verify the accuracy of the reported birth or death details before granting approval. Registration is allowed only after verification and payment of the prescribed fee.
• Judicial approval after two years: Applications submitted more than two years after the occurrence of a birth or death require an order from a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), making judicial verification compulsory.

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Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill 2026 Criticism

The Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026 has raised concerns regarding implementation, accessibility, verification procedures and delays in registration services.

• Longer Registration Process: Requiring approval from multiple authorities for delayed birth or death registration may increase the time needed to obtain official registration certificates.
• Higher Procedural Burden: People applying after long delays may need to submit additional documents and complete several verification stages, making the registration process more complicated.
• Increased Judicial Workload: Assigning registration cases delayed by more than two years to the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) may increase the workload of judicial authorities.
• Challenges for Rural Areas: Applicants from remote and rural regions may face difficulties in reaching magistrates, arranging required documents and completing legal procedures for delayed registration.
• Need for Uniform Implementation: Experts have highlighted the need for clear guidelines, standard verification methods, adequate administrative capacity and public awareness to ensure genuine applicants are not affected while preventing fraudulent registrations.