Birth certificate to be the key for admission, licenses, voting, Aadhaar, marriage, jobs, etc
On Wednesday, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the implementation of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023. As per a report, the Ministry said, “It will help create a database of registered births and deaths which eventually would ensure efficient and transparent delivery of public services and social benefits and digital registration.”
The Central Government has set the date for the Act to come into force as of October 1, 2023. This will make the Birth Certificate the sole document for accessing a range of vital services: Admission to educational institutions, obtaining a driver’s license, inclusion in voter lists, obtaining an Aadhaar number, registering marriages, and securing government employment.
With the implementation of this new legislation, the Registrar General of India will gain the capacity to enhance the efficiency of tracking births and deaths. This will involve the collaboration of Chief Registrars and Registrars in sharing relevant information. Additionally, a corresponding database will be maintained at the state level.
Previously, specific individuals were mandated to notify the registrar of births and deaths. For instance, in the case of a newborn, it was the responsibility of the medical officer overseeing the hospital where the child was born to report the birth. However, the new Act introduces an additional requirement, stipulating that in cases of births, the designated individuals must also provide the Aadhaar numbers of both the parents and the informant.
The roster has been broadened to encompass adoptive parents in the case of non-institutional adoption, biological parents for children born through surrogacy, and the sole parent in instances of single-parent or unwed mother births, as defined individuals.
As per the Act, the national database may serve alternative purposes, such as the population register, electoral rolls, and ration cards, subject to approval from the central government. The regional database can be accessed by state-level authorities for integration with other databases, subject to the consent of state governments.
In the event that an individual is dissatisfied with any action or directive issued by registrars, they have the right to file an appeal within 30 days of said order. The relevant authorities are obligated to render their decision within 90 days from the date of the appeal. To simplify, the Act helps in regulating and registering the number of births and deaths.
