Registration Of Births And Deaths (Amendment) Act To Come Into Force On Oct 1

NEW DELHI, Sept 16: The provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026, which tighten the rules for delayed registration of births and deaths, will come into force from October 1, Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan said on Wednesday.

In a gazette notification, Narayan said the Central Government had appointed October 1, 2026, as the date on which the provisions of the amended Act would come into force.

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by both Houses of Parliament and became law after receiving the President’s assent last month.

The amended law makes delayed registration more stringent, particularly for applications filed more than two years after the occurrence of a birth or death.

It amends Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, as amended in 2023, to strengthen provisions governing delayed registration and encourage timely reporting of vital events.

Under the new provisions, applications made after one year but within two years of the birth or death will require an order from a District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an authorised Executive Magistrate. The official will have to verify the correctness of the event before registration, besides ensuring payment of the prescribed fee.

For applications filed more than two years after the event, an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class will be mandatory, introducing a higher level of scrutiny.

The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, makes registration of births and deaths mandatory and provides for the issuance of certificates that serve as legal proof of a person’s birth or death.

The Act was last amended in 2023, with the amended provisions coming into force from October 1 that year.

The Government has said the latest changes are aimed at ensuring timely reporting and strengthening the registration system for vital events. (Agencies)