LUCKNOW: Five year old Pavika, a kindergarten student, has been repeatedly asked by her school to submit her birth certificate.But for her father, Ankur, obtaining the document has meant weeks of running between govt offices, trying to complete the delayed registration process.Families like his, who missed registering a birth on time, often face legal hurdles while seeking school admission, passports or govt benefits.To address such cases, the Centre has brought into force the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2026 from October 1 (Thursday).The ministry of home affairs notified that the amended provisions will now govern delayed registration of births and deaths across the country.The amendment lays down a clear legal process depending on how late the registration is sought.If a birth or death is reported after one year but within two years, registration can now be done only after an order from the district magistrate, sub divisional magistrate, or an executive magistrate authorised by the district magistrate.The authority must verify the facts before granting approval, and the prescribed fee will apply.For cases where the delay exceeds two years, the law requires an order from a judicial magistrate first class with jurisdiction over the area where the birth or death occurred.The magistrate will verify the correctness of the claim before permitting registration.The amendment act received the president’s assent on August 6, 2026, while the Centre’s September 16 notification fixed October 1 as the date on which the new provisions would come into force.
