The Birth and Death Registration Act comes into force on October 1: What does it mean? Who will be affected?

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act is a newly enacted law that aims to tighten regulations on late registration of births and deaths, it will come into force on 1 October. Registrar General of India Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan confirmed the date recently.

Birth and Death Registration Act effective October 1

Both Houses of Parliament passed the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Act, 2026. It became a law after the assent of President Draupadi Murma.

Narayan shared the notification through the Gazette: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 (12 of 2026), the Central Government hereby appoints 1st October, 2026 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.”

What is the law about?

The new law amended Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023) “to make provisions for late registration more stringent,” the law said, according to news agency PTI.

“This will encourage timely reporting of birth and death events,” the bill also said.

Who is likely to be affected?

The Bill focuses mainly on the provisions of the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1969. This provision will mainly affect people who register a birth or death more than a year after the event.

The new law tightens the existing norms while imposing an order of a Magistrate (First Class) to register births and deaths if it is done more than one year after the event, PTI reported.

With this Act in force, the registration of a birth or death that is delayed by more than one year requires an order from a District Magistrate, Subordinate Judge or a Designated Executive Magistrate.

That rule will continue to apply for delays of up to two years under the new rule, the report said.

In case of further delay, e.g. after two years from its occurrence, such births and deaths will be registered only on the order of a Magistrate of the First Class.

In all cases, a strict verification of the correctness of the information will follow. The official must first verify the details of the event before proceeding to register the birth or death after paying the appropriate fee, PTI added.

Registration of births and deaths is mandatory by law. The certificate issued under the law provides legal identity for school admission, Aadhar card registration, passport and more.

A birth or death certificate is admissible as proof of a person’s birth or death.

The law was previously amended in 2023 and the provisions of the amended law became effective on October 1 of the same year.

According to the government, the amendments are to “encourage timely reporting” of vital events such as births and deaths.