Proof of life: On the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026

The article discusses the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026, which modifies the 1969 Act. The amendment mandates a judicial magistrate's order for birth registrations delayed by over two years, while shorter delays still require an executive magistrate's order. This change follows a 2023 amendment that made birth certificates the primary proof of date and place of birth for various essential services and documents (school admission, voter rolls, passport, Aadhaar, driving licence, government jobs). The 2026 amendment aims to curb fraudulent registrations, but the article criticizes the lack of parliamentary debate and raises concerns about the increased burden on disadvantaged applicants and the potential for wrongful exclusion of legitimate citizens, questioning the evidentiary basis for the two-year threshold.