Registrar General of India (RGI) released a circular alerting hospitals about the consequences of failing to register births and deaths within the stipulated 21-day period

In March, the Registrar General of India (RGI) issued a notice to hospitals regarding their failure to comply with the requirement of registering births and deaths within a 21-day timeframe.

The notice highlighted that 10% of such occurrences remain unregistered, despite the 2023 amendment to the Registration of Birth and Death Act, which mandates complete digital registration.

What is it?

It is a legal process under the Civil Registration System (CRS) that requires the documentation of every birth and death that takes place in India.

Governing Authority:

The system is overseen by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Chief Registrars are designated by state governments, while Registrars function at the local level (panchayats and municipalities).

Governing Law:

The Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act of 1969, which was amended in 2023, enforces mandatory digital registration. Section 23(2) of the Act imposes penalties for negligence by registrars, increasing the fine from ₹50 to ₹1,000 as per the amendment.

Registration Procedure:

Government hospitals serve as official registrars, while private hospitals are required to report events to registrars. Registration must occur within 21 days of the event. Following October 1, 2023, all records will be maintained digitally via the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal.

2023 Amendment Highlights:

Birth certificates issued through the CRS are now the only valid documents for verifying date of birth for purposes such as school admissions, government employment, marriage registration, and electoral rolls and property registration. Data from the CRS will automatically update the National Population Register (NPR), ration card database, and other central schemes