Lok Sabha Passes Bill Tightening Delayed Births and Deaths Registration

The Indian Parliament’s lower house, called the Lok Sabha, approved a new law that changes how people can register births and deaths that are reported late.

If someone files a birth or death certificate more than two years after the event, a judge must approve it instead of a local official.

For filings between one and two years late, a local magistrate still approves them.

The new law also says the government must check the facts of every late registration and a fee will be set.

The goal is to stop fake certificates and encourage people to report births and deaths quickly, within 21 days.