GOVERNMENT REQUIRES NOTING PARENTS’ RELIGION IN BIRTH REGISTRATIONS.

Why in the news?
Government mandates recording parents’ religion in birth registration, aiming for enhanced data accuracy and national database integration.

source:medium

About the Inclusion of Parents’ Religion:

  • The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed Model Rules requiring parents to separately declare their religion during child birth registration.
  • Previously, only the family’s religion was noted; now, both parents’ religions will be recorded, pending adoption by State governments.
  • All births and deaths will be digitally registered via the Centre’s Civil Registration System portal.
  • The database may update the National Population Register (NPR) and other official records like Aadhaar, electoral rolls, and ration cards.
About Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023:

  • Amendment : Modify the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.

Key Features:

  • Digital Birth Certificates: Introduce digital certificates for various purposes, streamlining documentation.
  • Aadhaar Integration: Link Aadhaar details of parents and informants to birth certificates.
  • Expanded Aadhaar Inclusion: Include Aadhaar details from various reporting authorities.
  • Centralised Database: Establish a centralised database for efficient record management.
  • Database Usage: Besides birth certificates, the database will update the National Population Register, ration cards, and property registrations.
  • What is National Population Register (NPR):
  • Purpose: Database listing all usual residents of the country, aiming for a comprehensive identity record.
  • Usual Resident Definition: Individuals residing in a place for at least six months, with intent for another six months.
  • Generation: Compiled through house-to-house enumeration during the “house-listing” phase of the Census.
  • Establishment: First collected in 2010, updated in 2015, holding details of 119 crore residents.
  • March 2020 Amendment: Ministry of Home Affairs amended Census Rules for electronic data storage and self-enumeration by respondents.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/government-to-record-parents-religion-to-register-births/article68028953.ece#:~:text=When%20registering%20the%20birth%20of,governments%20before%20they%20are%20implemented.