Bill in Parliament to increase the use of birth certificate as ID proof
The birth certificate may now be used as a single document for a variety of services, such as admission to a school, employment with the government, and obtaining an Aadhaar number, according to a bill that Union Minister of State for the Home Nityanand Rai tabled in the Lok Sabha.
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023’s statement of objects and reasons claims that it would also assist in building a national and state-level database of births and deaths that would eventually ensure effective and transparent delivery of public services, social benefits, and digital registration.
However, Congress leader Manish Tewari argued that the House lacked the “legislative competence to do so” and opposed the Bill’s introduction. He claimed that the Bill violated his right to privacy, violated the principle of separation of powers, and was afflicted by the disease of excessive delegation. However, the Bill was ultimately introduced by voice vote and would be discussed at a later time.
The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, according to the Union Minister, has never been altered. Once the amendment Bill was approved, it would make it easier to introduce provisions for electronic transmission of birth and death certificates as well as digital registration in order to build a national and state-level database. It would facilitate the updating of other databases, resulting in transparent public service delivery.
