Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has accused the Congress party of undermining democracy through alleged discrepancies in the registration of births and deaths. This statement was made while he defended the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was introduced for debate and passage after receiving approval from the Lok Sabha on July 31, despite protests and disruptions from opposition parties.

The primary objective of the proposed Bill is to enhance the procedures for delayed registration of births and deaths. It is intended to strengthen verification measures to diminish the chances of misuse. Rai emphasized that the amendment aims to improve transparency, accountability, and the authenticity of the birth and death registration process in India.

During his address, Rai highlighted significant improvements in civil registration over the past decade. He noted a considerable increase in the registration rates of births, which rose from 86.6 per cent in 2014 to 99.1 per cent by 2024. The registration of deaths also experienced an enhancement, climbing from 72.5 per cent to 99.4 per cent over the same timeframe.

Details of Proposed Changes to Registration Procedure

Rai elaborated on the proposed changes concerning delayed registrations. According to the amendments, if information regarding a birth or death is submitted after two years, it will only be registered upon obtaining an order from a Judicial Magistrate of the first class. He stressed the importance of preventing misuse of the delayed registration process by implementing stricter requirements.

In his remarks, Rai asserted that the government’s intent is to ensure the accurate recording of every birth and death event in the country. He remarked that efforts have been made to digitalise the registration system, thereby strengthening its overall integrity. The minister conveyed the government’s commitment to guarantee that every child’s birth in India is duly recorded.

Rai further accused the Congress of having facilitated situations where individuals were allegedly issued birth certificates without meeting the necessary eligibility criteria. He inferred that certain states were overlooking these issues. He expressed the government’s determination to prevent such practices in the future.

Rajya Sabha Session Marked by Opposition Protests

Throughout the day, the Rajya Sabha session was interrupted multiple times due to opposition protests related to comments made concerning Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Leaders from Congress, including Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded accountability from the government regarding allegations about misappropriation of donations for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and police actions taken against students during Congress-led protests.

Rai clarified that the new amendments would not disrupt the existing registration process for births and deaths if the information is provided within one year. For registrations made within 21 days, the current procedure remains unchanged. Delayed registrations would continue to require additional fees and may need permission from relevant authorities based on the timeframe of the submission.

In concluding his statements, Rai indicated that India is making significant strides toward achieving universal registration of births and deaths. He referred to commendations received from various international representatives at a ministerial-level conference dedicated to the topic. Under the auspices of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, he expressed confidence in India’s progress towards this critical objective.

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