Parliament Clears Birth Death Bill Amid Protests

Parliament Clears Birth Death Registration Amendment Bill Amid Protests

Why in the News ?

Parliament has passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, introducing stricter provisions for delayed registration of births and deaths. The legislation was cleared amid Opposition protests over other issues, including demands for accountability on recent incidents.

Parliament cleared the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill amid protests, tightening rules for delayed registration and updating civil records law.

Key Provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026

  • Parliament has passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after its approval by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
  • The amendment seeks to strengthen the registration framework by making delayed registration more stringent and ensuring greater authenticity of records.
  • Under the new provisions:

○   Registration of a birth or death after one year can only be carried out on the order of a Judicial Magistrate after verification.

○   The objective is to discourage delayed or fraudulent registrations while ensuring accurate civil records.

  • The Government stated that universal registration is essential to provide every individual with a legal identity and maintain reliable demographic records.
  • According to the Government, birth registration has increased from 86.6% (2014) to 99.1% (2024), while death registration has improved from 72.5% to 99.4% during the same period.

Parliamentary Proceedings and Significance

  • The Bill was passed amid repeated disruptions and protests by Opposition members over unrelated political issues.
  • The Opposition demanded discussions on issues including alleged police action against protesting students and other matters before allowing normal legislative business.
  • The Government emphasized that strengthening the civil registration system would:

○   Improve the accuracy of official demographic databases.

○   Prevent misuse of outdated records.

○   Strengthen governance and public service delivery.

○   Enhance the integrity of electoral and administrative records.

  • The legislation also reflects India’s continued efforts to achieve near-universal Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) coverage.
  • A robust registration system supports effective policy formulation, resource allocation, and population planning.

About Registration of Births and Deaths :

●  Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969:

○   Provides the legal framework for the compulsory registration of births and deaths in India.

○   Implemented by State Governments through designated local registrars.

●  Importance of Birth Registration:

○   Establishes legal identity.

○   Facilitates access to education, healthcare, passports, and welfare schemes.

○   Protects child rights.

●  Importance of Death Registration:

○   Enables issuance of death certificates.

○   Supports inheritance, insurance, pension claims, and accurate public health statistics.

○   Helps maintain updated population and electoral records.

●  Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS):

○   A continuous, permanent, and universal system for recording births, deaths, and other vital events to support governance and evidence-based policymaking.