Issue Birth Certificates Before Discharge From Hospital: RGI Directs States

In a country with over 143 crore population, a birth certificate is a crucial evidence of citizenship and it is required a child requires it to exercise various rights and privileges.

In a major development, the Registrar General of India (RGI) has directed all States to issue birth certificates to mothers of newborn children before they leave hospitals, according to a report in The Hindu. The process of registration of a child should be completed within a week after the baby's birth.

What RGI Said In The Letter?

In a letter dated June 12, 2025, the RGI said, "You will appreciate that this office, in its endeavour of making the registration process smooth and user-friendly, has taken several steps to improve the Civil Registration System, including amendment to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, corresponding amendment to State Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, development of a new Central CRS portal etc. In view of the increased importance of the birth certificate, it is the need of the hour that the certificate is delivered to the mother of the new-born child before her discharge from the hospital, especially by the government hospitals where more than 50% of total institutional births occur," the June 12, 2025 letter by the RGI office said.

After it was discovered that 10% births were not getting registered, the RGI in March had warned the private and government hospitals to report incidents of birth and death within 21 days, as it was discovered that many medical institutions were not abiding by the law, the report said.

Importance Of Birth Certificate

In India, the issuance of birth certificates is governed by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969. It is an official document that records details such as the child's name, parents' names, date and place of birth, and gender. This document serves as legal proof of identity, age, and citizenship, and is required for accessing various government services and documents.

Notably, it is a key document for school admissions, government services, obtaining identity documents, and asserting rights such as voting and inheritance.

Many states offer online registration through their portals or the national portal (such as crsorgi.gov.in). Applicants can fill out the form online, print it, and submit it to the Registrar's office with supporting documents.

The Chief Registrar in each state oversees the process, while local registrars handle registrations at the grassroots level.