Proposed Changes in Birth Reporting:
Parents of newborn children will soon need to record their religion individually in the proposed Birth report, departing from the existing practice of declaring the ‘religion of the family,’ The Hindu Reported. The shift aligns with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ Model Rules. Before implementation, state governments must be notified and adopt the new form. Additionally, the religion of parents will be individually recorded for adoption cases.
Establishment of a National-Level Database:
A national-level database will be established to maintain records of births and deaths. This database holds the potential to update various other databases, including Aadhaar numbers, property registrations, ration cards, electoral rolls, passports, driving licenses, the National Population Register (NPR), and more.
Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023:
Both Houses of Parliament approved the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023, during the Monsoon Session. The Lok Sabha passed the bill on August 1, followed by the Rajya Sabha’s approval through a voice vote on August 7.
Effective from October 2023, the Birth Certificate will serve as the sole document required for accessing various essential services, such as enrolling in educational institutions, obtaining a driving license, compiling voter lists, acquiring an Aadhaar number, registering marriages, and securing government employment, among others.
Home Ministry’s Statement:
The Home Ministry expressed that the new Act would aid in creating a database of registered births and deaths, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of public service delivery and social benefits through digital registration.
Notification of Implementation:
The Central Government, exercising its powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023 (20 of 2023), has appointed October 1, 2023, as the date for the Act’s provisions to come into force.
