Revamped Birth Certificate Usage for Essential Services

Revamped Birth Certificate

Revamped Birth Certificate: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs is gearing up for a noteworthy shift in the way birth certificates are employed for essential services, with the changes scheduled to be enforced starting on October 1, 2023. These alterations, driven by the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, aim to streamline public service delivery and enhance transparency across the country.

Key Amendments in the Act

Establishment of a National Birth and Death Registry: The amended Act introduces a national registry for births and deaths, overseen by the Registrar General of India. In addition, state-level Chief Registrars and Registrars will manage corresponding databases, simplifying record-keeping procedures.

Expanded Reporting Criteria: Unlike the previous system where specific individuals, like medical officers, were primarily responsible for reporting births and deaths, the amended Act broadens the scope. It now includes adoptive parents for non-institutional adoptions, biological parents for births through surrogacy, and single parents or unwed mothers for their child’s birth.

Authorized Data Sharing: The Act now permits the sharing of the national birth and death database with authorized bodies, subject to central government approval. Similarly, state-level databases can be shared with state-sanctioned entities, streamlining data access for designated purposes.

Improved Appeals Mechanism: In cases of disputes with actions or orders issued by a Registrar or District Registrar, individuals now have the option to appeal to the respective District Registrar or Chief Registrar within 30 days of receiving the order. This ensures a fair and expedited appeals process.

Utilizing Revamped Birth Certificate

Educational Institution Admissions: Effective October 1, 2023, birth certificates will become mandatory for admission to educational institutions, including schools and colleges.

Driving License Applications: Securing a driving license will now necessitate the presentation of a birth certificate as an essential document.

Voter List Preparation: Birth certificates will play a pivotal role in the meticulous preparation of voter lists, contributing to transparent electoral processes.

Aadhaar Enrollment: Obtaining an Aadhaar number will require the submission of a birth certificate as a supporting document, ensuring accurate identity verification.

Marriage Registration: Registering marriages will now entail providing birth certificates as part of the documentation process, reinforcing the legal recognition of marital unions.

Government Job Appointments: Aspiring candidates seeking government positions will need to include a birth certificate as a crucial document during the application and verification procedures.

Parliamentary Endorsement

During the Monsoon Session, both houses of Parliament, namely the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha, endorsed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Rajya Sabha gave its approval on August 7, while the Lok Sabha followed suit on August 1. This collective parliamentary support signifies the official recognition and approval of these substantial changes in birth certificate usage for essential services, with the aim of enhancing public service delivery throughout the nation.

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