This document summarizes the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 in India. The key points are: 1) It provides for uniform registration of births and deaths across India and mandates the compulsory reporting and registration of all births and deaths within 21 days. 2) State governments are responsible for implementing the Act according to model rules provided by the central government. 3) It aims to improve the civil registration system and make birth/death certificates available as legal proof for various purposes. Accurate vital statistics can also help plan health and development programs. 4) However, low priority, lack of coordination and awareness remain challenges to effective implementation of the registration system.

1. Registration of Births and
Deaths Act, 1969
Presented by
Dr.Priyanka R. Phonde.

2. Definitions and interpretation
• (a) “birth” means live-birth or still-birth;
• (b) “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 shows 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.

3. Historical Background
• The history of civil registration in India dates back
to the middle of the nineteenth century. It started
with the registration of deaths with a view to
introducing sanitary reforms for control of
pestilence and disease and not so much for
studying population trends.
• Against this background of municipalities of acts
and rules governing civil registrations in various
parts of the country, a central legislation on the
subject was considered absolutely necessary to
bring about improvement in the system.

4. • The Registration of Births and Deaths Bill was introduced in
the Rajya Sabah in 1964, which was passes in the Budget
Session of 1964 – 1965 but lapsed on the dissolution of the
Parliament.
• The Bill was again passed by the Rajya Sabha on February
27, 1968.
• The Lok Sabha passed the Bill on May 27, 1969 with certain
amendments. These amendments were approved by the
Rajya Sabha on May 16, 1969.
• The Bill was passed by both houses of Parliament received
the assent of the President on May 31, 1969. It was notified
in the Gazette of India Extraordinary, Part II Section I on
June 2, 1969.

5. • As per provisions of the Registration of Births
and Deaths Act, 1969 registration of every
birth and death is compulsory. The persons
who are responsible, are to report the events
of births and deaths to their nearest
Registration Units within 21 days of
occurrence of such events failing which late
fees for delayed registration are charged.

6. This Act provides for
• Uniform law across the country on the
registration of births and deaths
• Compulsory reporting and registration of all
births and deaths
• Implementation of the Act is the responsibility of
the State Governments
• Rules framed by the state governments are based
on a model set of rules provided by the Central
Government (Registrar General, India).

7. This Act actually states ..
• A Birth or Death has to be reported for registration, within 21 days of occurrence. Free copy
of the certificate can be obtained at the time.
• Birth and Death registration is to be done at the place of occurrence.
• Any birth or death of which information is given to the registrars, after the expiry of twenty
one days, but within thirty days of occurrence, shall be registered on payment of a late-fees.
• Any birth or death of which information is given to the Registrar, after thirty days of
occurrence, but within one year shall be registered only with the written permission of the
Officer prescribed in this behalf and on payment of late-fee.
• Any birth or death which has not been reported within one year of its occurrance, shall be
registered only on orders of the First Class Judicial Magistrate and on payment of a late-fees.
• Entry of name of the child is a must, and can be done free of cost within 12 months from the
date of registration. After 12 months, the name can be registered by paying a fee.However, a
name cannot be registered after 15 years, from the date of registration of the birth. Name,
once entered cannot be changed.
• It is the responsibility of the Medical Officer incharge of the hospital or Primary Health
Centre, where the Delivery / death, has taken place, to report the Birth / Death, for
registration.
• It is the responsibility of the Head of the Household / Nearest relative, to report the Births /
Deaths that takes places in households.

8. The persons responsible for doing
Births and Deaths Registration are as
follows:
Area Birth and Death Registrars
Village Panchayats Village Administrative Officers
Town Panchayats Sanitary Inspectors / Executive Officers
Corporation / Municipal Areas Sanitary Inspectors of the Division
Plantations / Estates Estate Manger / Plantation Manager

9. Significance / Benefits of Registrations
• On registration of birth/death a person gets Certificate of Birth/Death
which is extremely useful as well as a valid legal proof for different
purpose at different level.
• For instance a certificate of birth helps one in getting admission in School,
inclusion of name in ration Card, getting citizenship certificate, registration
as a Voter, getting employment marriage settlement etc.
• Again a Certificate of Death helps the concerned family in distribution of
properties among the survivors, getting final payment from
Banks, insurance claims, family pension etc.
• It benefits the nation and society also in planning and budget of the
country.
• It facilitates calculation of birth rate, death rate, population growth rate
etc.
• It also helps in assessing the health status of the nation/society and in
formulation of policies.

10. Initiatives to improve registration
UNICEF works with the office of the Registrar General of India, the respective state
governments and NGO partners to create an enabling environment so that every
child is registered and gets a birth certificate. The focus of these partnerships have
been to strengthen the civil registration system at national, state and district levels.
The aim is to:
• Accelerate and improve the birth registration service delivery system.
• Facilitate demand creation amongst parents, guardians, community leaders and
service providers for registration and issuance of birth certificates.
• Enhance compilation, analysis and use of the vital statistics collected through the
civil registration system to inform planning and programming.
• Pilot specific interventions targeting the most vulnerable (i.e., children in ‘hard to
reach areas’ and ‘hard to reach children’).
• Create mass awareness through publicity campaigns
• Computerization in a number of urban local bodies have resulted in quicker and
faster registration services.

11. Key Issues & Challenges
• Low priority accorded to registration and general
apathy
• Lack of inter-departmental co-ordination
• Inadequate budget allocation by the States for
Civil Registration work
• Low levels of knowledge amongst registration
functionaries about the processes and
procedures of registration, reporting and
management of data
• Lack of regular monitoring and supervision of civil
registration work in the states

12. Penalties
• (1) Any person who-
• (a) fails without reasonable cause to give any information
• (b) gives or causes to be given, for the purpose of being
inserted in any register of births and deaths , any
information which he knows or believes to be false
regarding any of the particulars required to be known and
registered : or
• (c) refuses to write his name, description and place of
abode or to put his thumb mark in the register as required
by section 11, shall be punishable with fine.
• (2) Any Registrar or Sub-Registrar who neglects or refuses,
without reasonable cause, to register any birth or deaths
occurring in his jurisdiction ,shall be punishable with fine.
• (3) Any medical practitioner who neglects or refuses to
issue a certificate and any person who neglects or refuses
to deliver such certificates shall be punishable with fine.

13. THANK YOU