Registrar General of India (RGI)

Registrar General of India (RGI) Latest News

The Registrar General of India (RGI) has recently issued a strong caution to both government and private hospitals across the country for failing to comply with legal requirements concerning the timely reporting of births and deaths.

About Registrar General of India (RGI)

• In 1949, the Government of India established a permanent organisation under the Ministry of Home Affairs, headed by the Registrar General and Ex-Officio Census Commissioner of India.
• This position's role is mainly to ensure a systematic collection of statistics related to India’s population size, growth, and distribution.
• The RGI is also responsible for implementing the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
• Administrative Structure: The Registrar General is typically a civil servant of Joint Secretary rank.
  • The office also conducts demographic and linguistic surveys in addition to the decennial Census.

Key Functions of the RGI

• Conducting the Census of India: The Census of India offers detailed data about the demographic, socio-economic, and geographic characteristics of the population.
  • Since its first complete round in 1881, the Census has been conducted 15 times, with the most recent in 2011.
  • Post-1949, the Census was conducted under the RGI and Census Commissioner.
• Linguistic Survey of India (LSI): Conducted alongside the decennial Census, this survey provides a comprehensive picture of the linguistic diversity in India.
  • It is instrumental for educational and social planning in different States.
  • The first Linguistic Survey was completed by George Abraham Grierson in 1928.
• Civil Registration System (CRS): It is a mandatory system for birth and death registration in India.
  • It serves as a real-time, continuous population data collection mechanism.
  • Hospitals, especially government ones, are expected to act as registration authorities.

Registrar General of India (RGI) FAQs

Q1. What are the RGI’s primary functions?
Ans. Conducting the Census, overseeing vital statistics (birth/death registration), and managing the National Population Register (NPR).

Q2. Why has the 2021 Census been delayed?
Ans. Pandemic disruptions, fund reallocation to welfare schemes, and debates over caste enumeration methodology.

Q3. How does the RGI support policymaking?
Ans. Through datasets like the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), which informed the Mission Parivar Vikas.

Q4. What recent reforms have impacted the RGI?
Ans. The 2023 Digital Census initiative, integrating Aadhaar for real-time data accuracy.

Source: TH