President Draupadi Murmu (Image Source: Internet)
New Delhi: The process of obtaining delayed birth and death certificates in India is set to become easier after President Droupadi Murmu approved the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026. The new law changes the approval mechanism for delayed registrations by reducing judicial involvement and giving more powers to administrative authorities.
The amendment brings significant changes to Section 13 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which deals with cases where information about a birth or death is not submitted within the prescribed period. Under the revised legal framework, delays of more than one year but up to two years can now be approved by District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates or authorised Executive Magistrates after verification.
Earlier, such delayed registrations required approval from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class, making the process longer and more dependent on court proceedings. The amendment aims to simplify the procedure for citizens while maintaining strict legal checks in cases involving longer delays. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 was passed by both Houses of Parliament before being sent to the President for assent. The law will come into force from a date to be notified by the Central Government.
The biggest reform introduced by the new law is the transfer of authority for certain delayed registrations from judicial officers to executive authorities. If information about a birth or death is provided after one year but within two years from the date of occurrence, the registration can now be completed after receiving an order from the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate or an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate.
The officer approving the registration must have jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death occurred. Before allowing registration, the concerned authority will verify the correctness and authenticity of the information submitted by the applicant. The applicant will also be required to pay the prescribed registration fee as applicable under the rules.
The amendment gives District Magistrates a larger role in managing delayed civil registrations. The law allows the District Magistrate to authorise an Executive Magistrate for approving delayed registration cases between one and two years. The amendment also clarifies that an Executive Magistrate refers to an officer appointed under Section 14(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. This change is expected to improve administrative efficiency and reduce unnecessary burden on courts.
Although the amendment reduces judicial intervention, it does not completely remove court supervision. For applications submitted after two years from the date of birth or death, registration will continue to require an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class. The Judicial Magistrate will examine the available documents, verify the facts and decide whether the registration request is genuine. This provision has been retained as a safeguard against fraudulent registrations, incorrect entries and misuse of official records.
Before the amendment, any request for delayed registration made after one year required judicial approval. This often created difficulties for citizens who faced genuine delays due to lack of awareness, documentation issues, administrative problems or other unavoidable circumstances.
The new law creates a two-level approval system. Delayed registrations between one and two years will now be handled by administrative authorities, while delays beyond two years will continue to require judicial approval. The reform is expected to make the process faster, reduce court workload and improve accessibility for citizens.
The Central Government introduced the amendment to strengthen India’s civil registration system and encourage timely reporting of births and deaths. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 serves as the legal foundation for maintaining official records of vital events across the country. Birth and death registration data is essential for governance, population statistics, welfare planning, identity documentation and legal procedures.
Accurate records also help citizens access important documents required for education, employment, property matters, inheritance claims, passports and government benefits. The government believes that simplifying delayed registration procedures will increase compliance and ensure more people have access to legally recognised records.
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was approved by Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The Lok Sabha passed the legislation, followed by approval from the Rajya Sabha. The Bill amended provisions under Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which governs delayed registration cases. The legislative changes were introduced to create a balance between easier access to registration services and stronger verification mechanisms.
Birth and death certificates are among the most important legal documents issued by government authorities. A birth certificate is required for school admission, passport applications, government schemes, employment records, age verification and identity-related purposes. A death certificate is necessary for inheritance procedures, insurance claims, pension benefits, property transfer and other legal matters. Any delay in obtaining these documents can create major difficulties for families. The amended law is expected to provide relief by reducing unnecessary legal procedures in genuine delayed cases.
The new amendment is expected to benefit citizens who could not register births or deaths within the normal reporting period. For delays up to two years, applicants can now approach administrative authorities instead of seeking judicial approval, making the process simpler and faster.
However, cases delayed beyond two years will continue to face stricter scrutiny through judicial approval. The reform represents a shift towards a more efficient civil registration system while preserving legal safeguards against misuse. Once notified by the Central Government, the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 will bring a major change in how delayed birth and death registrations are processed across India.
