In a decisive move to strengthen the Civil Registration System (CRS) and ensure accountability, the Registrar General of India (RGI) has issued a strong caution to both private and government hospitals across the country. The directive stems from growing concerns that hospitals are delaying the registration of births and deaths, despite legal mandates requiring prompt reporting. As the nation edges closer to achieving 100% registration, these lapses threaten the integrity and timeliness of vital statistics that play a critical role in policy-making, governance, and public service delivery.
In This Article:
Why Timely Registration Matters
Timely birth and death registration in India isn’t merely a bureaucratic formality—it’s the cornerstone of demographic documentation. From determining the size and structure of the population to planning healthcare, education, and welfare services, accurate civil registration data is indispensable. With the Census exercise delayed since 2021, the Civil Registration System has become the primary tool for tracking population dynamics.
However, despite registering nearly 90% of births and deaths nationwide, India has yet to close the gap. According to the Registrar General’s March 2025 circular, the remaining 10% largely remains unregistered due to hospitals either not reporting incidents in time or deflecting the responsibility onto grieving families. This failure is not just an administrative bottleneck—it undermines citizens’ legal rights and the country’s demographic database.
Hospitals Flouting the Law
Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, amended in 2023, all births and deaths must be reported within 21 days. The amendment also designates hospitals as registrars under the Central Government’s Civil Registration System portal. Yet, instances have surfaced where hospitals, particularly in the private sector, ask relatives to handle the registration themselves, directly violating the law.
The RGI’s office noted: “Some hospitals neither initiate the process nor inform the concerned registrars, waiting for relatives to come forward. In some cases, they even deny responsibility altogether.” Such negligence delays the issuance of official documents and increases the emotional and logistical burden on families during already difficult times.
To ensure compliance, the RGI reminded states that under Section 23(2) of the RBD Act, registrars and institutions failing to report such events are liable to penalties. This includes fines for delayed or non-registration—a clause that could now see increased enforcement in light of ongoing violations.
The Seven-Day Rule
A crucial part of the new protocol is the mandate for registrars to issue birth and death certificates within seven days of event reporting. From October 1, 2023, the digital birth certificate has become the single, legally recognized document to validate a person’s date of birth—essential for everything from school admissions to job applications and marriage registration.
However, the RGI’s notice pointed out that even after receiving data from hospitals or individuals, some registrars fail to input the information into the online portal promptly. The resulting delays disrupt the life planning of citizens who rely on these documents for accessing services and benefits.
Data That Powers Governance
The impact of such negligence extends beyond individuals. Civil registration records are the backbone of national datasets, feeding into the National Population Register (NPR), electoral rolls, ration card databases, and property registration systems. When data is not reported or updated in real-time, the ripple effect compromises transparency and efficiency across multiple public domains.
Adding to the urgency is the fact that the government hasn’t released the Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System or the Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death since 2020. Without current and complete data, India risks working with outdated assumptions about its population—a scenario with significant policy consequences.
Toward a Citizen-Centric System
The RGI’s statement not only calls for institutional accountability but also highlights the need for a more citizen-friendly registration process. Digital systems must be streamlined, staff should be trained, and hospitals held accountable for their registrar roles.
For India to truly achieve universal registration, all stakeholders—health institutions, state governments, registrars, and the public—must work in synergy. Timely and accurate birth and death registration is not just a statutory requirement; it is a social responsibility and a fundamental right.
By – Jyothi
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