The government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha seeking to amend the law governing the registration of births and deaths by making provisions for registration after a delay of more than two years more stringent, in a bid to encourage citizens to report such events on time.Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid protests by opposition members in the Lok Sabha, who demanded the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the House during the ongoing debate on the anti-paper leak Bill.Under the existing law i.e. Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, registration of a birth or death delayed by more than one year requires an order from the district magistrate (DM), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) or an executive magistrate before the entry can be made.The proposed amendment introduces a two-tier approval mechanism based on the extent of delay. Under this, for registration delays between one and two years, the existing process will continue, with applicants requiring approval from the DM, SDM or an executive magistrate with jurisdiction over the place where the birth or death occurred.However, for cases where registration has been delayed by more than two years, the approval process will become stricter. Such registrations will require an order from a first-class judicial magistrate, transferring the authority from the executive to the judiciary.The Bill, which was cleared by the Union Cabinet on July 20, seeks to amend Section 13(3) of the 1969 Act, which was earlier amended in 2023. The proposed changes aim to make provisions related to delayed registration more stringent.“This will encourage timely reporting of event of birth and death,” the Bill’s statement of reason said.The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, provides for the regulation and registration of births and deaths and related matters. Registration of such events is mandatory under the law, and certificates issued under the Act serve as legal proof of an individual’s birth or death.