Birth Registration in India – When, How And Why

Why is Birth Registration Important in India?

The statistics show that about 38% of Children in India below five years of age do not have registered births. The government doesn’t demand birth certificates immediately after a newborn’s birth. So out of carelessness and some other factors, many caregivers take birth registration lightly.

Later, these children face lots of problems to prove their age and nationality. A person who does not have registered birth is denied basic health facilities by government hospitals. Documents such as a driving license, passport, and marriage certificate need a birth certificate to be made.

If you register your little one’s birth on time, you help the government and yourself. The government can record the birth and keep a track of your baby’s age. Keeping that in mind, they come up with Yojanas, facilities for children, budgets, and so on. Without having basic knowledge about the citizens, the government cannot make vital decisions that decide everyone’s well-being in the nation.

When and How to Register Your Baby’s Birth?

The process is convenient, you simply have to get in touch with your local authorities. If you live in a city, contact the Municipal corporation. And in rural areas, Tehsildar or the Gram Panchayat Office will guide you. The medical officer in charge will help you to fill out the form in every case of hospital birth. If your delivery has happened in a hospital, a form will be given to you to fill out within 21 days. 

The following step-by-step guide can be referred to for birth registration

1. Step-1

Obtain the form from your medical officer in charge or from above mentioned local authorities.

2. Step-2

Fill out the form with as much accuracy as you can. Take someone’s help or search the difficult terms that you don’t understand on Google, and fill them in. Return the form within 21 days.

3. Step-3

Information such as the verification of birth, time of birth, place, date, nursing home verification, and parents’ verification is done by the registrar or the form provider. You need not worry about this part.

4. Step-4

Once the registrar verifies all this information, you will be given a birth certificate of your baby.

Remember, you should always keep visiting the registrar’s office for a few days. If the verification is complete early, you’ll be given that before 21 days.

But if for any reason, someone couldn’t register this within this period, the period of one month from the delivery is there. However, a late fee is required for this.

After 30 days have passed, you might face some difficulties, but still registration is possible. An affidavit, permission from a local authority, and a late fee will be needed. Any period which follows the one-year mark necessitates the help of a magistrate.

Benefits of Birth Registration in India

Birth registration and the birth certificate which follows, form the foundation of your baby’s identity. There are several benefits of this as well

• Compulsory for taking admission to schools
• Serves as proof of age for employment
• Necessary for proving age at marriage
• Makes one eligible for social security benefits like healthcare, education, etc.
• Useful for insurance procedures to prove one’s age
• Registers one in the National Population Register (NPR)

Is Birth Registration Compulsory in India?

Yes, the law makes it mandatory to register a birth in India. According to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, of 1969, you should record your baby’s birth within 21 days of delivery.

What Happens if You Don’t Register Your Baby’s Birth?

Birth registration is the sole way to have your newborn’s birth certificate. A birth certificate confirms a child’s age and his existence. 

Not having a birth certificate can

1. Exposes Children to Crimes

Criminals traffic children, and make their false identities to deceive the government. Since the government also doesn’t have the official registration of the concerned child, their activities become easy. People exploit children by manipulating their age, and showing them as a few years older – so that they can force them into work. Taking the broader picture into consideration, you will see many teenagers staying in other states and countries for studying.

Trafficking and illegal adoption are the risks of not registering the birth. In such cases, a legal identity such as a birth certificate can help if other forms of documents are not present for some reason. It urges the government to help if the person is of their nation. You might have seen the same on the news.

2. Health Facilities, and Functioning 

Moving forward, routinely getting vaccinated and other healthcare services are only possible if your baby has a birth certificate. Bank account opening, registering for a voter ID, obtaining a passport, legally buying or inheriting property, social help, entering the job market legally, all this becomes hassle free with a birth certificate.

Birth registration in India is a very simple process if done at the right time. So make your baby’s future easy by establishing their identity with a birth certificate. Your newborn enjoys all the rights and benefits of being a citizen of India if they have a registered birth. Sometimes, confusion can take place to differentiate between birth registration and birth certificate. There’s no difference, a birth certificate is simply the proof/paper of birth registration.

FAQ’s

1. Is Registration of Birth Compulsory in India?

Yes, birth registration is compulsory under Indian law. A birth certificate should, ideally, be made within 21 days of occurrence or birth.

2. What is the Cost of Birth Registration in India?

The registration process costs Rs. 20 if you register early, but it costs more once the 21-day phase has been crossed.

3. What Are the Documents Required to Get a Birth Certificate?

To get a birth certificate, you may need a few documents like

• Both the parents’ birth certificate
• Marriage certificate of the baby’s parents
• A letter from the hospital as proof of birth
• Both the parents’ identify proof

Read Also: Guide To Compulsory & Optional Vaccines For Babies