The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of Home
Section
Section 1 Short title, extent and commencement. 1 docs
(1) This Act may be called the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force in a State on such date 1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:
Provided that different dates may be appointed for different parts of a State.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force in a State on such date 1 as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint:
Provided that different dates may be appointed for different parts of a State.
11st October, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 1718, dated 22nd, November, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the following areas of the State of Jammu and Kashmir:—
the area comprised within the jurisdiction of the Police Station of Ramnagar in Udhampur district.
the area comprised within the jurisdiction of the Police Station of Kupwara in Baramulla district.
the area comprised within the limits of the Municipalities of Jammu and Srinagar.
the area comprised within the limits of Town Area Committees of Anantnag, Kathua and Leh.
1st May, 1974 vide notification No. G.S.R. 379, dated 22-3-1974 in the Union territory of Mizoram.
1st January, 1971 vide notification No G.S.R. 1927, dated 21-11-1970, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
1st January, 1971 vide notification No. G.S.R. 2027, dated 24-11-1970, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Manipur.
1st April, 1974, vide notification No. G.S.R. 106, dated 16-1-1971, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
1st October, 1971, in the whole of the State of Nagaland vide notification No. G.S.R. 1324, dated 30-8-1971, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i), dated 11-9-1971.
1st July, 1972, in the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh vide notification No. G.S.R. 552, dated 11-4-1972, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i).
1st April, 1972, in the whole of State of Tripura vide notification No. G.S.R. 202(E), dated 17-3-1972, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i).
1st December, 1972 vide Notification No. G.S.R. 463(E), dated 21-11-1972, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i) also in the area comprised within the limits of cantonments of Barrackpore, Labong and Jalapahar in the State of West Bengal
1st July, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 973, dated 26th June, 1972, extended to the Union territory of Delhi.
1st April, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 514, dated 21st March, 1970, Gazette of India, sec. 3(i), in the areas of the State of Assam except:—
(i) the district of United Khasi & Jaintia Hills excluding the areas comprised within the limits of:
(a) Municipality of Shillong
(b) Contonment of Shillong
(ii) the entire district of Garo Hills
(iii) the entire district of United Mikir and North Cachar Hills
(iv) the entire district of Mizo Hills.
In the State of West Bengal except:
(i) The area comprised within the limits of Corporation of Calcutta;
(ii) the area comprised within the limits of Howrah Municipality;
(iii) Fort Villiam; and
(iv) the area comprised, within the limits of cantonments of Barrackpore, Labong and Jalapahar.
1st April, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 461, dated 7th March, 1970, see Gazette of India, sec. 3(i), in the States and the Union territories:
STATES
1. Andhra Pradesh 8. Mysore
2. Bihar 9. Orissa
3. Gujrat 10. Punjab
4. Haryana 11. Rajasthan
5. Kerala 12. Tamil Nadu
6. Madhya Pradesh 13. Uttar Pradesh.
7. Maharashtra
UNION TERRITORIES.
1. Chandigarh
2. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands.
the area comprised within the jurisdiction of the Police Station of Ramnagar in Udhampur district.
the area comprised within the jurisdiction of the Police Station of Kupwara in Baramulla district.
the area comprised within the limits of the Municipalities of Jammu and Srinagar.
the area comprised within the limits of Town Area Committees of Anantnag, Kathua and Leh.
1st May, 1974 vide notification No. G.S.R. 379, dated 22-3-1974 in the Union territory of Mizoram.
1st January, 1971 vide notification No G.S.R. 1927, dated 21-11-1970, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu.
1st January, 1971 vide notification No. G.S.R. 2027, dated 24-11-1970, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Manipur.
1st April, 1974, vide notification No. G.S.R. 106, dated 16-1-1971, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i) in the Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
1st October, 1971, in the whole of the State of Nagaland vide notification No. G.S.R. 1324, dated 30-8-1971, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i), dated 11-9-1971.
1st July, 1972, in the Union territory of Arunachal Pradesh vide notification No. G.S.R. 552, dated 11-4-1972, see Gazette of India, Part II, sec. 3(i).
1st April, 1972, in the whole of State of Tripura vide notification No. G.S.R. 202(E), dated 17-3-1972, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i).
1st December, 1972 vide Notification No. G.S.R. 463(E), dated 21-11-1972, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3(i) also in the area comprised within the limits of cantonments of Barrackpore, Labong and Jalapahar in the State of West Bengal
1st July, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 973, dated 26th June, 1972, extended to the Union territory of Delhi.
1st April, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 514, dated 21st March, 1970, Gazette of India, sec. 3(i), in the areas of the State of Assam except:—
(i) the district of United Khasi & Jaintia Hills excluding the areas comprised within the limits of:
(a) Municipality of Shillong
(b) Contonment of Shillong
(ii) the entire district of Garo Hills
(iii) the entire district of United Mikir and North Cachar Hills
(iv) the entire district of Mizo Hills.
In the State of West Bengal except:
(i) The area comprised within the limits of Corporation of Calcutta;
(ii) the area comprised within the limits of Howrah Municipality;
(iii) Fort Villiam; and
(iv) the area comprised, within the limits of cantonments of Barrackpore, Labong and Jalapahar.
1st April, 1970, vide notification No. G.S.R. 461, dated 7th March, 1970, see Gazette of India, sec. 3(i), in the States and the Union territories:
STATES
1. Andhra Pradesh 8. Mysore
2. Bihar 9. Orissa
3. Gujrat 10. Punjab
4. Haryana 11. Rajasthan
5. Kerala 12. Tamil Nadu
6. Madhya Pradesh 13. Uttar Pradesh.
7. Maharashtra
UNION TERRITORIES.
1. Chandigarh
2. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindivi Islands.
Section 2 Definitions and interpretation. 10 docs
(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
1[(a) "Aadhaar number" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016);
(aa) "adoption" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (2) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);]
2[(ab)] "birth" means live-birth or still-birth;
1[(b) "database" means the organised collection of data, generally stored and accessed in electronic form from a computer network;]
3[(ba)] "death" means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live-birth has taken place;
(c) "foetal death" means absence of all evidence of life prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy;
(d) "live-birth" means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or show any other evidence of life, and each product of such birth is considered live-born;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(f) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof;
(g) "still-birth" means foetal death where a product of conception has attained at least the prescribed period of gestation.
(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any area shall, in relation to that area, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.
1[(a) "Aadhaar number" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (a) of section 2 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 (18 of 2016);
(aa) "adoption" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (2) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);]
2[(ab)] "birth" means live-birth or still-birth;
1[(b) "database" means the organised collection of data, generally stored and accessed in electronic form from a computer network;]
3[(ba)] "death" means the permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after live-birth has taken place;
(c) "foetal death" means absence of all evidence of life prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception irrespective of the duration of pregnancy;
(d) "live-birth" means the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which, after such expulsion or extraction, breathes or show any other evidence of life, and each product of such birth is considered live-born;
(e) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(f) "State Government", in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof;
(g) "still-birth" means foetal death where a product of conception has attained at least the prescribed period of gestation.
(2) Any reference in this Act to any law which is not in force in any area shall, in relation to that area, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that area.
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 3 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Clause (a) re-numbered as clause (ab) by s. 3, ibid.(w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Clause (b) re-numbered as clause (ba) by s. 3, ibid.(w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Clause (a) re-numbered as clause (ab) by s. 3, ibid.(w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Clause (b) re-numbered as clause (ba) by s. 3, ibid.(w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 3 Registrar General of India. 1 docs
1[Registrar General of India.]--(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a person to be known as the 1[Registrar General of India], India.
(2) The Central Government may also appoint such other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purpose of discharging under the superintendence and direction of the 2[Registrar General of India], such functions of the 2[Registrar General of India] under this Act as he may, from time to time, authorise them to discharge.
(3) The 2[Registrar General of India] may issue general directions regarding registration of births and deaths in the territories to which this Act extends, and shall take steps to co-ordinate and unify the activities of Chief Registrars in the matter of registration of births and deaths 3[and the database of registered births and deaths and submit] to the Central Government an annual report on the working of this Act in the said territories.
4[(4) The Registrar General of India shall maintain the database of registered births and deaths at the National level and it shall be obligatory upon the Chief Registrars and the Registrars to share the data of registered births and deaths to such database.
(5) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 17 and with the prior approval of the Central Government, the database of registered births and deaths maintained under sub-section (4) may, on request, be made available to the authorities dealing with the preparation or maintenance of database relating to--
(a) population register;
(b) electoral rolls;
(c) Aadhaar number;
(d) ration card;
(e) passport;
(f) driving licence;
(g) property registration; and
(h) such other databases at the National level as may be notified,
and the authority shall inform the action taken, within such period as may be notified from time to time, to the Central Government:
Provided that the preparation or maintenance of database relating to electoral rolls in clause (b) shall be without prejudice to the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950).]
(2) The Central Government may also appoint such other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purpose of discharging under the superintendence and direction of the 2[Registrar General of India], such functions of the 2[Registrar General of India] under this Act as he may, from time to time, authorise them to discharge.
(3) The 2[Registrar General of India] may issue general directions regarding registration of births and deaths in the territories to which this Act extends, and shall take steps to co-ordinate and unify the activities of Chief Registrars in the matter of registration of births and deaths 3[and the database of registered births and deaths and submit] to the Central Government an annual report on the working of this Act in the said territories.
4[(4) The Registrar General of India shall maintain the database of registered births and deaths at the National level and it shall be obligatory upon the Chief Registrars and the Registrars to share the data of registered births and deaths to such database.
(5) Subject to the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 17 and with the prior approval of the Central Government, the database of registered births and deaths maintained under sub-section (4) may, on request, be made available to the authorities dealing with the preparation or maintenance of database relating to--
(a) population register;
(b) electoral rolls;
(c) Aadhaar number;
(d) ration card;
(e) passport;
(f) driving licence;
(g) property registration; and
(h) such other databases at the National level as may be notified,
and the authority shall inform the action taken, within such period as may be notified from time to time, to the Central Government:
Provided that the preparation or maintenance of database relating to electoral rolls in clause (b) shall be without prejudice to the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (43 of 1950).]
1. Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for "Registrar-General, India" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 2, ibid, for "Registrar-General" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid, for "and submit" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
4. Ins. by s. 4 , ibid (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 2, ibid, for "Registrar-General" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Subs. by s. 4, ibid, for "and submit" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
4. Ins. by s. 4 , ibid (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 4 Chief Registrar. 11 docs
(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint a Chief Registrar for the State.
(2) The State Government may also appoint such other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purpose of discharging, under the superintendence and direction of the Chief Registrar, such of his functions as he may, from time to time, authorise them to discharge.
(3) The Chief Registrar shall be the chief executive authority in the State for carrying into execution the provisions of this Act and the rules and orders made thereunder subject to the directions, if any, given by the State Government.
(4) The Chief Registrar shall take steps, by the issue of suitable instructions or otherwise, to co-ordinate, unity and supervise the work of registration in the State for securing an efficient system of registration and shall prepare and submit to the State Government, in such manner and at such intervals as may be prescribed, a report on the working of this Act in the State along with the statistical report to in sub-section (2) of section 19.
(2) The State Government may also appoint such other officers with such designations as it thinks fit for the purpose of discharging, under the superintendence and direction of the Chief Registrar, such of his functions as he may, from time to time, authorise them to discharge.
(3) The Chief Registrar shall be the chief executive authority in the State for carrying into execution the provisions of this Act and the rules and orders made thereunder subject to the directions, if any, given by the State Government.
(4) The Chief Registrar shall take steps, by the issue of suitable instructions or otherwise, to co-ordinate, unity and supervise the work of registration in the State for securing an efficient system of registration and shall prepare and submit to the State Government, in such manner and at such intervals as may be prescribed, a report on the working of this Act in the State along with the statistical report to in sub-section (2) of section 19.
Section 5 Registration divisions. 11 docs
The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, divide the territory within the State into such registration divisions as it may think fit and prescribe different rules for different registration divisions.
Section 6 District Registrar.
(1) The State Government may appoint a District Registrar for each revenue district and such number of Additional District Registrars as it thinks fit who shall, subject to the general control and direction of the District Registrar, discharge such functions of the District Registrar as the District Registrar may, from time to time, authorise them to discharge.
(2) The District Registrar shall superintend, subject to the direction of the Chief Registrar, the registration of births and deaths in the district and shall be responsible for carrying into execution in the district the provisions of this Act and the orders of the Chief Registrar issued from time to time for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The District Registrar shall superintend, subject to the direction of the Chief Registrar, the registration of births and deaths in the district and shall be responsible for carrying into execution in the district the provisions of this Act and the orders of the Chief Registrar issued from time to time for the purposes of this Act.
Section 7 Registrars.
(1) The State Government may appoint a Registrar for each local area comprising the area within the jurisdiction of a municipality, panchayat or other local authority or any other area or a combination of any two or more of them:
Provided that the State Government may appoint in the case of a municipality, panchayat, or other local authority, any officer or other employee thereof as a Registrar.
(2) Every Registrar shall, without fee or reward, enter in the register maintained 1[,electronically or otherwise,] for the purpose all information given to him under section 8 or section 9 1[in respect of births and deaths which has taken place in his jurisdiction] and shall also take steps to inform himself carefully of every birth and of every death which takes place in his jurisdiction and to ascertain and register the particulars required to be registered.
(3) Every Registrar shall have an office in the local area for which he is appointed.
(4) Every Registrar shall attend his office for the purpose of registering births and deaths on such days and at such hours as the Chief Registrar may direct and shall cause to be placed in some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of the office of the Registrar a board bearing, in the local language, his name with the addition of Registrar of Births and Deaths for the local area for which he is appointed, and the days and hours of his attendance.
(5) The Registrar may, with the prior approval of the Chief Registrar, 2[appoint Sub-Registrars and, in the event of any disaster or epidemic, appoint Special Sub-Registrars] assign to them any or all of his powers and duties in relation to specified areas within his jurisdiction.
1[Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, the expressions, --
(i) "disaster" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (d) of section 2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005);
(ii) "epidemic" means the epidemic referred to in the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (3 of 1897).]
Provided that the State Government may appoint in the case of a municipality, panchayat, or other local authority, any officer or other employee thereof as a Registrar.
(2) Every Registrar shall, without fee or reward, enter in the register maintained 1[,electronically or otherwise,] for the purpose all information given to him under section 8 or section 9 1[in respect of births and deaths which has taken place in his jurisdiction] and shall also take steps to inform himself carefully of every birth and of every death which takes place in his jurisdiction and to ascertain and register the particulars required to be registered.
(3) Every Registrar shall have an office in the local area for which he is appointed.
(4) Every Registrar shall attend his office for the purpose of registering births and deaths on such days and at such hours as the Chief Registrar may direct and shall cause to be placed in some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of the office of the Registrar a board bearing, in the local language, his name with the addition of Registrar of Births and Deaths for the local area for which he is appointed, and the days and hours of his attendance.
(5) The Registrar may, with the prior approval of the Chief Registrar, 2[appoint Sub-Registrars and, in the event of any disaster or epidemic, appoint Special Sub-Registrars] assign to them any or all of his powers and duties in relation to specified areas within his jurisdiction.
1[Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, the expressions, --
(i) "disaster" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (d) of section 2 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (53 of 2005);
(ii) "epidemic" means the epidemic referred to in the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (3 of 1897).]
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 6 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "appoint sub-Registrars and" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 6, ibid., for "appoint sub-Registrars and" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 8 Persons required to register births and deaths.
(1) It shall be the duty of the persons specified below to give or cause to be given, either 1[orally or in writing with signature], according to the best of their knowledge and belief, within such time as may be prescribed, information to the Registrar of the several particulars 2[including the Aadhaar number of parents and the informant, if available, in case of birth,] required to be entered in the forms prescribed by the State Government under sub-section (1) of section 16,--
(a) in respect of births and deaths in a house, whether residential or non-residential, not being any place referred to in clauses (b) to (e) the head of the house or, in case more than one household live in the house, the head of the household, the head being the person, who is so recognised by the house or the household, and if he is not present in the house at any time during the period within which the birth or death has to be reported, the nearest relative of the head present in the house, and in the absence of any such person, the oldest adult 3*** person present therein during the said period;
2[i(aa) in respect of non-institutional adoption, the adoptive parents; (ab) in respect of birth of a child to a single parent or unwed mother from her womb, the parent;
(ac) in respect of birth of a child through surrogacy, the biological parent;]
(b) in respect of births and deaths in a hospital, health centre, maternity or nursing home or other like institution, the medical officer in charge or any person authorised by him in this behalf;
(c) in respect of births and deaths in a jail, the jailor in charge;
(d) in respect of births and deaths in a choultry, chattram, hostel, dharmasala, boarding-house, lodging-house, tavern, barrack, toddy shop or place of public resort, the person in charge thereof;
4[i(da) in respect of a child who is taken on adoption from the Specialised Adoption Agency, the person in-charge of the Specialised Adoption Agency.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this clause, the expression "Specialised Adoption Agency" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (57) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);
(db) in respect of an orphan or abandoned child or surrendered child in any child care institution, the person in-charge or caretaker of the child care institution.
Explanation-For the purposes of this clause, the expressions "abandoned child" or "child care institution" or "orphan" or "surrendered child" shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in clauses (1), (21), (42) and (60) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);
(dc) in respect of birth of a child through surrogacy in a surrogacy clinic, the person in-charge of the surrogacy clinic.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this clause, the expressions "surrogacy" and "surrogacy clinic" shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in clauses (zd) and (ze) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 (47 of 2021);]
(e) in respect of any new-born child or dead body found deserted in a public place, the headman or other corresponding officer of the village in the case of a village and the officer in charge of the local police station elsewhere:
Provided that any person who finds such child or dead body, or in whose charge such child or dead body may be placed, shall notify such fact to the headman or officer aforesaid;
(f) in any other place, such person as may be prescribed.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government, having regard to the conditions obtaining in a registration division, may by order require that for such period as may be specified in the order, any person specified by the State Government by designation in this behalf, shall give or cause to be given information regarding births and deaths in a house referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) instead of the persons specified in that clause.
(a) in respect of births and deaths in a house, whether residential or non-residential, not being any place referred to in clauses (b) to (e) the head of the house or, in case more than one household live in the house, the head of the household, the head being the person, who is so recognised by the house or the household, and if he is not present in the house at any time during the period within which the birth or death has to be reported, the nearest relative of the head present in the house, and in the absence of any such person, the oldest adult 3*** person present therein during the said period;
2[i(aa) in respect of non-institutional adoption, the adoptive parents; (ab) in respect of birth of a child to a single parent or unwed mother from her womb, the parent;
(ac) in respect of birth of a child through surrogacy, the biological parent;]
(b) in respect of births and deaths in a hospital, health centre, maternity or nursing home or other like institution, the medical officer in charge or any person authorised by him in this behalf;
(c) in respect of births and deaths in a jail, the jailor in charge;
(d) in respect of births and deaths in a choultry, chattram, hostel, dharmasala, boarding-house, lodging-house, tavern, barrack, toddy shop or place of public resort, the person in charge thereof;
4[i(da) in respect of a child who is taken on adoption from the Specialised Adoption Agency, the person in-charge of the Specialised Adoption Agency.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this clause, the expression "Specialised Adoption Agency" shall have the same meaning as assigned to it in clause (57) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);
(db) in respect of an orphan or abandoned child or surrendered child in any child care institution, the person in-charge or caretaker of the child care institution.
Explanation-For the purposes of this clause, the expressions "abandoned child" or "child care institution" or "orphan" or "surrendered child" shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in clauses (1), (21), (42) and (60) of section 2 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (2 of 2016);
(dc) in respect of birth of a child through surrogacy in a surrogacy clinic, the person in-charge of the surrogacy clinic.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this clause, the expressions "surrogacy" and "surrogacy clinic" shall have the same meanings as respectively assigned to them in clauses (zd) and (ze) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 (47 of 2021);]
(e) in respect of any new-born child or dead body found deserted in a public place, the headman or other corresponding officer of the village in the case of a village and the officer in charge of the local police station elsewhere:
Provided that any person who finds such child or dead body, or in whose charge such child or dead body may be placed, shall notify such fact to the headman or officer aforesaid;
(f) in any other place, such person as may be prescribed.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the State Government, having regard to the conditions obtaining in a registration division, may by order require that for such period as may be specified in the order, any person specified by the State Government by designation in this behalf, shall give or cause to be given information regarding births and deaths in a house referred to in clause (a) of sub-section (1) instead of the persons specified in that clause.
1. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for "orally or in writing" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Ins. by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. The word "male" omitted by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
4. Ins. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Ins. by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. The word "male" omitted by s. 7, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
4. Ins. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 7 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 9 Special provisions regarding births and deaths in a plantation. 1 docs
In the case of births and deaths in a plantation, the superintendent of the plantation shall give or cause to be given to the Registrar the information referred to in section 8:
Provided that the persons referred to in clauses (a) to (f) of sub-section (1) of section 8 shall furnish the necessary particulars to the superintendent of the plantation.
Explanation.—In this section, the expression "plantation" means any land not less than four hectares in extent which is being prepared for the production of, or actually produces, tea, coffee, pepper, rubber, cardamom, cinchona or such other products as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify and the expression "superintendent of the plantation" means the person having the charge or supervision of the labourers and work in the plantation, whether called a manager, superintendent or by any other name.
Provided that the persons referred to in clauses (a) to (f) of sub-section (1) of section 8 shall furnish the necessary particulars to the superintendent of the plantation.
Explanation.—In this section, the expression "plantation" means any land not less than four hectares in extent which is being prepared for the production of, or actually produces, tea, coffee, pepper, rubber, cardamom, cinchona or such other products as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify and the expression "superintendent of the plantation" means the person having the charge or supervision of the labourers and work in the plantation, whether called a manager, superintendent or by any other name.
Section 10 Duty of certain persons to notify births and deaths and to certify cause of death.
(1) It shall be the duty of--
(i) the midwife or any other medical or health attendant at a birth or death,
(ii) the keeper or the owner of a place set apart for the disposal of dead bodies or any person required by a local authority to be present at such place, or
(iii) any other person whom the State Government may specify in this behalf by his designation, to notify every birth or death or both at which he or she attended or was present, or which occurred in such areas as may be prescribed, to the Registrar within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.
1[(2) Where death occurs in any medical institution providing specialised treatment or general treatment, every such institution, irrespective of ownership, shall, free of charge, provide a certificate of the cause of death, including the history of illness, if any, signed by the medical practitioner who attended that person during his recent illness to the Registrar in such form as may be prescribed and provide a copy of such certificate to the nearest relative.
(3) In the event of death of any person occurring in any place other than medical institution, and such person was, during his recent illness, attended to by a medical practitioner, such medical practitioner shall, after the death of that person, free of charge, forthwith issue, a certificate of the cause of death, including the history of illness, if any, to the person required under this Act to give information concerning the death in such form as may be prescribed, and the person, on receipt of the certificate, shall deliver the same to the Registrar at the time of giving information of the death as required under this Act.]
(i) the midwife or any other medical or health attendant at a birth or death,
(ii) the keeper or the owner of a place set apart for the disposal of dead bodies or any person required by a local authority to be present at such place, or
(iii) any other person whom the State Government may specify in this behalf by his designation, to notify every birth or death or both at which he or she attended or was present, or which occurred in such areas as may be prescribed, to the Registrar within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed.
1[(2) Where death occurs in any medical institution providing specialised treatment or general treatment, every such institution, irrespective of ownership, shall, free of charge, provide a certificate of the cause of death, including the history of illness, if any, signed by the medical practitioner who attended that person during his recent illness to the Registrar in such form as may be prescribed and provide a copy of such certificate to the nearest relative.
(3) In the event of death of any person occurring in any place other than medical institution, and such person was, during his recent illness, attended to by a medical practitioner, such medical practitioner shall, after the death of that person, free of charge, forthwith issue, a certificate of the cause of death, including the history of illness, if any, to the person required under this Act to give information concerning the death in such form as may be prescribed, and the person, on receipt of the certificate, shall deliver the same to the Registrar at the time of giving information of the death as required under this Act.]
1. Subs. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 8, for sub-sections (2) and (3) (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 11 Informant to sign the register.
Every person who has orally given to the Registrar any information required under this Act shall write in the register maintained in this behalf, his name, description and 1[place of abode and put his signature thereto, and, if he cannot write], shall put his thumb mark in the register against his name, description and place of abode, the particulars being in such a case entered by the Registrar.
1. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for "place of abode, and, if he cannot write" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 12 Certificate of registration of births or deaths
1[12. Certificate of registration of births or deaths.--The Registrar shall, as soon as the registration of a birth or death has been completed, but not later than seven days, give, free of charge, electronically or otherwise under his signature, to the person who gives information under section 8 or section 9, a certificate extracted from the register relating to such birth or death in such form and manner as may be prescribed.]
1. Subs. by s. 10, ibid., for section 12 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 13 Delayed registration of births and deaths.
(1) Any birth or death of which information is given to the Registrar after the expiry of the period specified therefor, but within thirty days of its occurrence, shall be registered on payment of such late fee as may be prescribed.
1[(2) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after thirty days but within one year of its occurrence, shall be registered only with the written permission of the District Registrar or such other authority, on payment of such fee and on production of self-attested document in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
2[(3) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after one year but within two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a District Magistrate or Sub-Divisional Magistrate or by an Executive Magistrate authorised by the District Magistrate, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death has taken place, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.
Explanation---For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression “Executive Magistrate” means the Executive Magistrate appointed under sub-section (1) of section 14 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023).
(3A) Any birth or death of which delayed information is given to the Registrar after two years of its occurrence, shall be registered only on an order made by a Judicial Magistrate of the first class, having jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death has taken place, after verifying the correctness of the birth or death and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed.]]
(4) The provisions of this section shall be without prejudice to any action that may be taken against a person for failure on his part to register any birth or death within the time specified therefor and any such birth or death may be registered during the pendency of any such action.
1. Subs. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 11 for sub-sections (2) and (3) (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by Act 12 of 2026, s. 2, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 1-10-2026).
Section 14 Registration of name of child.
Where the birth of any child has been registered without a name, the parent or guardian of such child shall within the prescribed period give information regarding the name of the child to the Registrar either orally or in writing and thereupon the Registrar shall enter such name in the register and initial and date the entry.
Section 15 Correction or cancellation of entry in the register of births and deaths. 10 docs
If it is proved to the satisfaction of the Registrar that any entry of a birth or death in any register kept by him under this Act is erroneous in form or substance, or has been fraudulently or improperly made, he may, subject to such rules as may be made by the State Government with respect to the conditions on which and the circumstances in which such entries may be corrected or cancelled, correct the error or cancel the entry by suitable entry in the margin, without any alteration of the original entry, and shall sign the marginal entry and add thereto the date of the correction or cancellation.
Section 16 Registrars to keep registers in the prescribed form.
(1) Every Registrar shall keep in the prescribed form a register of births and deaths 1ic956electronically or otherwise,] for the registration area or any part thereof in relation to which he exercises jurisdiction.
(2) The Chief Registrar shall cause to be printed and supplied a sufficient number of register books for making entries of births and deaths according to such forms and instructions as may, from time to time, be prescribed; and a copy of such forms in the local language shall be posted in some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of the office of every Registrar.
(2) The Chief Registrar shall cause to be printed and supplied a sufficient number of register books for making entries of births and deaths according to such forms and instructions as may, from time to time, be prescribed; and a copy of such forms in the local language shall be posted in some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of the office of every Registrar.
1. Ins. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 12 (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 17 Search of births and deaths register 10 docs
(1) Subject to any rules made in this behalf by the State Government, including rules relating to the payment of fees and postal charges, any person may--
(a) cause a search to be made by the Registrar for any entry in a register of births and deaths; and
1[(b) obtain, electronically or otherwise, a certificate of birth or death from such register and issued in such form and manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that no certificate relating to any death, issued to any person, shall disclose the particulars regarding the cause of death as entered in the register.]
(2) All 2[certificates] given under this section shall be certified by the Registrar or any other officer authorised by the State Government to give such 2[certificates] as provided in section 76 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), and shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the birth or death to which the entry relates.
3[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the certificate referred to in sub-section (2) or section 12, shall be used to prove the date and place of birth of a person who is born on or after the date of commencement of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, for the purposes of--
(a) admission to an educational institution;
(b) issuance of a driving licence;
(c) preparation of a voter list;
(d) registration of a marriage;
(e) appointment to a post in the Central Government or State Government or a local body or public sector undertaking or in any statutory or autonomous body under the Central Government or State Government;
(f) issuance of a passport;
(g) issuance of an Aadhaar number; and
(h) any other purpose as may be determined by the Central Government.]
(a) cause a search to be made by the Registrar for any entry in a register of births and deaths; and
1[(b) obtain, electronically or otherwise, a certificate of birth or death from such register and issued in such form and manner as may be prescribed:
Provided that no certificate relating to any death, issued to any person, shall disclose the particulars regarding the cause of death as entered in the register.]
(2) All 2[certificates] given under this section shall be certified by the Registrar or any other officer authorised by the State Government to give such 2[certificates] as provided in section 76 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872), and shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the birth or death to which the entry relates.
3[(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the certificate referred to in sub-section (2) or section 12, shall be used to prove the date and place of birth of a person who is born on or after the date of commencement of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, for the purposes of--
(a) admission to an educational institution;
(b) issuance of a driving licence;
(c) preparation of a voter list;
(d) registration of a marriage;
(e) appointment to a post in the Central Government or State Government or a local body or public sector undertaking or in any statutory or autonomous body under the Central Government or State Government;
(f) issuance of a passport;
(g) issuance of an Aadhaar number; and
(h) any other purpose as may be determined by the Central Government.]
1. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for clause (b) (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for "extracts" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
2. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for "extracts" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
3. Ins. by s. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 18 Inspection of registration offices
The registration offices shall be inspected and the registers kept therein shall be examined in such manner and by such authority as may be specified 1[in general or special order by the Chief Registrar".
1. Subs. by Act 20 of 2023, s. 14, for "by the District Registrar" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023).
Section 19 Registrars to send periodical returns to the Chief Registrar for compilation.
(1) Every Registrar shall send to the Chief Registrar or to any officer specified by him, at such intervals and in such form as may be prescribed, a return regarding the entries of births and deaths in the register kept by such Registrar.
(2) The Chief Registrar shall cause the information in the returns furnished by the Registrars to be compiled and shall publish for the information of the public a statistical report on the registered births and deaths during the year at such intervals and in such form as may be prescribed.
(2) The Chief Registrar shall cause the information in the returns furnished by the Registrars to be compiled and shall publish for the information of the public a statistical report on the registered births and deaths during the year at such intervals and in such form as may be prescribed.
Section 20 Special provision as to registration of births and deaths of citizens outside India. 10 docs
(1) The 1[Registrar General of India] shall, subject to such rules as may be made by the Central Government in this behalf, cause to be registered information as to births and deaths of citizens of India outside India received by him under the rules relating to the registration of such citizens at Indian Consulates made under the Citizenship Act, 1955 (57 of 1955), and every such registration shall also be deemed to have been duly made under this Act.
(2) In the case of any child born outside India in respect of whom information has not been received as provided in sub-section (1), if the parents of the child return to India with a view to settling therein, they may, at any time within sixty days from the date of the arrival of the child in India, get the birth of the child registered under this Act in the same manner as if the child was born in India and the provisions of section 13 shall apply to the birth of such child after the expiry of the period of sixty days aforesaid.
(2) In the case of any child born outside India in respect of whom information has not been received as provided in sub-section (1), if the parents of the child return to India with a view to settling therein, they may, at any time within sixty days from the date of the arrival of the child in India, get the birth of the child registered under this Act in the same manner as if the child was born in India and the provisions of section 13 shall apply to the birth of such child after the expiry of the period of sixty days aforesaid.
1. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for "Registrar-General" (w.e.f. 1-10-2023)