In recent news, the Centre has put forward modifications to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act (RBD), 1969, aiming to facilitate a national database for registered births and deaths. The necessity for keeping records of birth and death occurrences in India became obligatory with the implementation of the RBD Act in 1969. Each event is documented, corresponding to its place of occurrence.
Motivation behind the Amendments
The key focus of this proposed amendment is to streamline various sections of the existing RBD Act, 1969, in an attempt to make it more user-friendly. This idea was instigated with the vision of making the Act’s provisions easy to comprehend and follow by the general public.
Notable Proposed Changes
One of the fundamental changes suggested is the maintenance of a unified data system by the Chief Registrar. This individual, appointed by the States, will be responsible for upholding a consolidated database at a State level. Additionally, this information will be integrated with the national data that the Registrar General of India (RGI) maintains under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs. At present, the duty of registering births and deaths falls upon the local registrar, who is appointed by the States.
Another pivotal point of the amendment involves the introduction of “Special Sub-Registrars.” These individuals will be appointed in times of disaster and will be entrusted with the power and responsibilities of on-the-spot registration of deaths and issuing relevant extracts as required.
Potential Applications of the Updated Data
The enhanced and comprehensive data could serve multiple purposes beyond just record keeping. It could facilitate updating the National Population Register (NPR) under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the electoral register as per the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and also the databases for Aadhaar under the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Other essential databases, including ration card under the National Food Security Act, 2013, passport under the Passport Act and driving license under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 could also be updated.
Currently, the NPR contains a database of 119 crore residents and as per the Citizenship Rules, 2003, it is the first step to creating the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The updated NPR and the first phase of the Census will be conducted simultaneously by the RGI.
In Conclusion
While the proposed amendments to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, are still under discussion, their approval could significantly simplify and streamline the existing system, paving the way for a more accessible and user-friendly process. It could also provide a much-needed update to crucial national databases, facilitating more effective and efficient governance in the country. Thus, while there may be challenges to their implementation, the potential benefits could be significant and far-reaching.