Starting from October 1, birth certificates will become a singular document enabling citizens to access a wide range of services, including admission to educational institutions, marriage registration, driver’s license issuance, and government job appointments. The move is part of the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, aimed at enhancing efficiency and transparency in public service delivery and digital registration.

Implementation Date Announced The Union Home Ministry disclosed the implementation date for the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, which empowers the Registrar General of India to maintain a national database of registered births and deaths. This database will be accessible to chief registrars appointed by states and local registrars appointed for specific areas. A similar state-level database will also be maintained.

Expanding the List of Specified Persons The Act expands the list of specified persons responsible for reporting births and deaths. It now includes adoptive parents for non-institutional adoption, biological parents for births through surrogacy, and the single parent or unwed mother in the case of childbirth. These specified persons will provide the Aadhaar numbers of the parents and the informant.

Utilization of the National Database Apart from streamlining services, the national database may be used for other purposes, including population registers, electoral rolls, and ration cards, subject to central government approval. Local databases will serve state-level authorities dealing with various databases, contingent on state government approval.

Appeal Mechanism The Act introduces an appeal mechanism. If an individual is dissatisfied with any action or order by registrars, they can file an appeal within 30 days. The concerned officials must provide their decision within 90 days from the date of the appeal.

Enhancing Data Reporting Previously, reporting births and deaths required specific individuals to report to registrars. The new Act mandates the specified persons to provide the Aadhaar number of parents and informants in cases of births, further integrating Aadhaar into the documentation process.

This initiative aims to create a unified, efficient, and transparent system for availing government services and benefits while leveraging the Aadhaar system for streamlined record-keeping.