Digital Birth Certificate: The central government of India has tabled and passed the Registration of Births & Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
There are several reasons for this kind of transformation. Basically, the central government has a master plan to create master data. It is going to be a centralised database that will ensure service delivery to people in no time. The accessibility of data will be laser-fast, so will be the complementary services.
Besides, this database will help in updating the National Population Register, ration cards, and property registration. These all government services will take place in a jiffy, as there will be no excuse of the birth data being destroyed or damaged. It will be like making that birth data immortal.
Birth & Death Bill, 2023
On August 1 2023, The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Precisely, this bill is associated with the usability of the digital issuance of a birth proof. Simply put, the digital certificate is likely to be the only document accepted for admission to educational institutions. Also, it will be sought if people want to have driving licences, government jobs, passports, or Aadhaar card, voter ID card. In addition, the registration of marriages will be possible with it.
What’s the benefit?
Certainly, it’s a very smart act of the central government to avoid struggling with multiple documents or certificates in order to discover the real or authentic date & place of birth through digital birth certificate in India or any other detail.
All Indian States Agreed
This bill has been unanimously passed. Typically, the Minister of State for Home-Nityanand Rai cleared the fact that all states in India agreed upon this. Certainly, the provision of the legislation was shared with all members for consultation beforehand. Upon considering it seriously, all agreed and passed the bill.
Mr. Rai had the reason behind it, which is to ensure that people can access government services.
Earlier, NPR (which stands for National Register of Citizens as per Citizenship Act) was introduced in 2010 to firstly collect sensitive details from locals. It was then made up-to-date through door-to-door survey for authentic details. Through this way, the government collected a database of 119 crore residents.
Amendment
Although the opposition profusely protested against the bill, it was passed with majority. Mr. Rai conveyed that the change was the need of the hour. The Act has not been updated so far since it was formed in 1969. This update was introduced to walk hand in hand with societal change and digital advancements. Most of the backend operations are digitized, and the government wants to introduce citizen-friendly services digital birth certificate, which makes it compulsory to amend this Act.
This amendment has nothing to do with the actual procedure of obtaining a birth certificate from India. The digital issuance of this certificate is already popular and has been done. But, the hard copy of the birth certificate is soon going to be offbeat.
The process to obtain your birth proof will be similar. Just the way of procuring and keeping it will be different.
How to Obtain Your Birth Proof?
Getting it in India online involves several steps. The process can vary from state to state here in India. For sure, it is the subject matter of the state or union territory’s governments and their regulation, where the candidate (eligible for the proof) was born. India has 28 states and 8 union territories. All are different regions, and also have their own online portals for this very purpose. You may search their portals or websites. Exploring them can take you to their official websites. You may access and then, download the digital birth application form. Later, complete it providing all necessary details, such as location and date of birth, parents’ name and other details.
Here in particular, let’s discover a general procedure of to apply for your birth certificate online in India.
Step 1. Visit the Official Website
Browse the official website of the Municipal Corporation or local authority in the area where the applicant was born. Alternatively, this website can help you: https://services.india.gov.in/service/detail/birth-certificate-1 . For NRIs, the website of the embassy will be the place to apply from.
Step 2. Register for an Account
The next step is to create your account on that website. It will provide options to share credentials like email and then, set a password.
Step 3. Log In
Once registered, log in to your account using the credentials you just created.
Step 4. Initiate the Birth Certificate Application
Now, search for the option in the menu to apply for a birth certificate. This may be under “Services” dropdown options or a similar section on the website. You can download the application form from here.
Step 5. Fill in the Required Information
Once found the application, you will have to open the application and provide various details, including the name of the child, date of birth, place of birth, parents’ names, and other relevant information. Here, you should ensure that all the details are valid, accurate, and matches the details on the hospital records. It’s good to proofread and even, check every detail before submission.
Step 6. Upload Supporting Documents
This is for enclosing all supporting proofs to verify your application. Upload supporting documents such as the hospital’s birth notification, identity proof of parents, and address proof. Here, you should have scanned copies of these documents in the prescribed format to enclose.
Step 7. Pay the Fee
Now comes the service charge. There is usually a fee associated with obtaining a birth certificate online. This fee may vary per state or union territory. Also, NRIs may have to follow a different fee structure. So, inquire about it and make the payment using the available online payment options.
Step 8. Submit the Application
Upon providing & enclosing all the required information and documents, submit the application. This step will initiate an application/reference number or acknowledgment receipt. Keep it saved.
Step 9. Verification and Processing
This is for the municipal authorities- a local civil body that looks into these matters. It will verify the information provided and process your application. This can require multiple days or weeks in case of NRIs, so be patient.
Step 10. Download the Birth Certificate
You will receive a notification once your application is verified and approved. Now that your application is approved, log in to your account on the website with the same credentials, and download the birth certificate. It is often available in PDF format, which you can save and print as needed.
Optional: Collect a Physical Copy (if required):
In some cases, you may need to visit the municipal office in person to collect a physical copy of the birth certificate. This is a rare case, but may have to visit because the competent authority requires it.
Conclusion
The central government has understood the need for digital processing. So, it introduced the provision to accept digital birth certificate for various government services. You should note that the specific process and requirements may vary by state or union territory. It’s essential to check the official website of the local authority where you were born for the most accurate and up-to-date information on obtaining a digital birth certificate online.