The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act has come into force today. The Act has amended the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. The objective of this act is to prevent delays in the registration of births and deaths and to encourage people to register in a timely manner.

The act provides that if a birth or death is reported to the Registrar more than one year but within two years, it may be registered only with the approval of the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, or an Executive Magistrate.

According to the act, a birth or death that is reported to the Registrar for more than two years will only be registered upon a Judicial Magistrate of the First Class’s order.

The Act also mandates that the designated authority must verify the authenticity of the reported birth or death before granting permission for delayed registration.

The registration of births and deaths is mandatory, and the certificate issued provides legal identity to an individual. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill was passed by Parliament during the Monsoon Session in August this year.