Birth Certificate New Rules : A birth certificate is one of the most essential documents in a person’s life. It serves as official proof of the date, time, and place of birth of an individual. Whether it is for school admission, applying for government schemes, passports, or other identity-related purposes, the birth certificate holds legal importance everywhere.
Recently, new rules have been issued in Bihar regarding the process of making a birth certificate. If you are planning to apply for a birth certificate, it is important to know these changes in order to avoid any delays or complications.
New Rules for Birth Certificate Issuance
The Bihar government has introduced new regulations for the issuance of birth certificates. According to the new rule, if a child’s birth certificate is applied for after one year of birth, the applicant will now be required to take permission from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).
Earlier, permission was needed from the Deputy Development Officer (VDO). But under the revised system, the authority has now been shifted to the SDM. This step has been taken to ensure greater transparency and accuracy in the issuance of certificates.
Urban and Rural Areas: Different Authorities
The responsibility for issuing birth and death certificates has been clearly defined for urban and rural areas.
- In urban areas – The task will be managed by the Assistant or Block Statistics Officer who will act as the registrar for issuing certificates.
- In rural areas – The responsibility has been given to the Panchayat Secretary.
This decision has been made to ensure that there are no discrepancies or fraudulent activities in the process of certificate issuance.
Patna DM Issued an Official Order
The District Magistrate of Patna, Dr. Thyagarajan SM, has officially issued a circular to all registrars and SDMs to implement this new process.
According to the order, birth or death certificates must be applied for within 21 days of the incident. In such cases, residents of:
- Urban areas need to submit applications to the Assistant or Block Statistics Officer.
- Rural areas need to approach the Panchayat Secretary.
For applications beyond the 30-day period, particularly in the case of death certificates, additional documents will be required. These include:
- Post-mortem report
- FIR copy (First Information Report)
- Court order, if applicable
This ensures that no fraudulent death certificates are issued and that the authenticity of the application is verified.
Documents Required for Birth Certificate
To apply for a birth certificate under the new rules, applicants will need to provide valid documents as proof. These may include:
- Hospital or doctor’s report of birth
- Record from the Anganwadi/Sevika register
- School certificate (if applicable)
- PAN card
- Aadhaar card
- Driving license (DL)
- Passport
- Service book (for government employees)
These documents will serve as supporting evidence to confirm the identity of the applicant and the accuracy of the details being registered.
Rules for Delayed Applications
The rules for delayed applications have also been clearly outlined under the new system:
- For birth certificates applied after one month in rural areas, permission from the Block Statistics Officer is required.
- For birth certificates applied after one year in urban areas, mandatory permission from the SDM will be required.
Since the number of delayed applications has been increasing in recent times, the government has decided to tighten the rules to prevent misuse and ensure accountability.
Why This Rule is Important?
The introduction of these new rules has multiple benefits:
- Transparency – It reduces the chances of fraudulent birth or death certificates being issued.
- Accountability – By involving senior officers like the SDM, the government ensures better monitoring of the process.
- Ease of Process – By clearly defining authorities for rural and urban areas, people will know exactly where to apply.
- Legal Validity – Ensuring that only genuine documents are issued helps in strengthening the legal system.
Conclusion
The new rules for birth certificate issuance in Bihar highlight the government’s effort to ensure that such an important document is issued with complete transparency and authenticity. Now, applicants must be mindful of the deadlines and the authorities responsible in their respective areas.
If you are planning to apply for a birth certificate, make sure you collect all the required documents and submit your application within the stipulated time to avoid additional verification procedures.
