THE BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT, 1886

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ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
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CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
SECTIONS
1. Short title and commencement.
2. Extent.
3. Definitions.
4. Saving of local laws.
5. Powers exercisable from time to time
CHAPTER II
GENERAL REGISTRY OFFICES OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
6. Establishment of general registry offices and appointment of Registrars General.
7. Indexes to be kept at general registry office.
8. Indexes to be open to inspection.
9. Copies of entries to be admissible in evidence.
10. Superintendence of Registrars by Registrar General.
CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS
A.—Application of this Chapter
11. Persons whose births and deaths are registrable.
B.—Registration Establishment
12. Power for State Government to appoint Registrars for its territories.
13. [Omitted.].
14. Registrar to be deemed a public servant.
15. [Repealed.].
16. Office and attendance of Registrar.
17. Absence of Registrar or vacancy in his office.
18. Register books to be supplied and preservation of records to be provided for.
C.—Mode of registration
19. Duty of Registrar to register births and deaths of which notice is given.
20. Persons authorised to give notice of birth.
21. Persons authorised to give notice of death.
22. Entry of birth or death to be signed by person giving notice.
23. Grant of certificate of registration of birth or death.

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SECTIONS
24. Duty of Registrars as to sending certified copies of entries in register books to Registrar General.
25. Searches and copies of entries in register books.
26. Exceptional provision for registration of certain births and deaths.
D.—Penalty for False Information
27. Penalty for willfully giving false information.
E.—Correction of Errors
28. Correction of entry in register of births or deaths.
CHAPTER IV
AMENDMENT OF MARRIAGE ACTS
29. [Repealed.].
30. [Repealed.].
31. [Repealed.].
CHAPTER V
SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO CERTAIN EXISTING REGISTERS
32. Permission to persons having custody of certain records to send them within one year to Registrar
General.
33. Appointment of Commissioners to examine registers.
34. Duties of Commissioners.
35. Searches of lists prepared by Commissioners and grant of certified copies of entries.
35A. Constitution of additional Commissions for purposes of this Chapter.
CHAPTER VI
RULES
36. Rules.
37. [Repealed.].

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 THE BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES REGISTRATION ACT, 1886
ACT NO. 6 OF 18861
[8th March, 1886.]
An Act to provide for the voluntary Registration of certain Births and Deaths, for the
establishment of General Registry Offices for keeping Registers of certain Births, Deaths and
Marriages, and for certain other purposes.
WHEREAS it is expedient to provide for the voluntary registration of births and deaths among certain
classes of persons, for the more effectual registration of those births and deaths and of the marriages
registered under Act 3 of 18722, or the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 (15 of 1872) and of certain
marriages registered under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 18653 (15 of 1865), and for the
establishment of general registry offices for keeping registers of those births, deaths and marriages;
AND WHEREAS it is also expedient to provide for the authentication and custody of certain existing
registers made otherwise than in the performance of a duty specially enjoined by the law of the country in
which the registers were kept, and to declare that copies of the entries in those registers shall be
admissible in evidence;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Births, Deaths and Marriages
Registration Act, 1886; and
(2) It shall come into force on such day4 as the Central Government, by notification in the Official
Gazette, directs.
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[2. Extent.—This Act extends to the whole of India except [the territories which, immediately
before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States].]
3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or
context,—“sign” includes mark, when the person making the mark is unable to write his name;
“prescribed” means prescribed by a rule made 9*** under this Act; and
“Registrar of Births and Deaths” means a Registrar of Births and Deaths appointed under this
Act.
4. Saving of local laws.—Nothing in this Act, or in any rule made under this Act, shall affect any law
heretofore or hereafter passed providing for the registration of births and deaths within particular local
areas.

1. This Act has been extended to and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (w.e.f. 1-7-1965) by Reg. No. 6 of 1963, s. 2
and the First Schedule (with modification), to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 and the Schedule (with
modification).
2. See now the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (43 of 1954).
3. See now the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 (3 of 1936).
4. The 1st October, 1888, see Gazette of India, 1888, Part I, p. 336.
5. Sub-section (3) rep. by Act 12 of 1891, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
6. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for section 2.
7. It has been declared in force in the Sonthal Parganas by s. 3 of the Sonthal Parganas Settlement Regulation, 1872 (3 of 1872).
It has also been partially extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941).
8. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2), Order 1956, for “Part B States”.
9. The words “by the G.G. in C.” rep. by the A.O. 1937.

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 5. Powers exercisable from time to time.—All powers conferred by this Act may be exercised from
time to time as occasion requires.
CHAPTER II
GENERAL REGISTRY OFFICES OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES
6. Establishment of general registry offices and appointment of Registrars General.—(1) Each
State Government—
(a) shall establish a general registry office for keeping such certified copies of registers of births
and deaths registered under this Act, or marriages registered under Act 3 of 18721 (to provide a form
of marriage in certain cases) or the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 ( 15 of 1872), or, beyond the
local limits of the ordinary original civil jurisdiction of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay,
under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 18652 (15 of 1865), as may be sent to it under this Act, or
under any of the three last-mentioned Acts, as amended by this Act; and
(b) may appoint to the charge of that office an officer, to be called the Registrar General of Births,
Deaths and Marriages, for the territories under its administration:
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7. Indexes to be kept at general registry office.—Each Registrar General of Births, Deaths and
Marriages shall cause indexes of all the certified copies of registers sent to his office under this Act, or
under Act 3 of 18721 the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872 (15 of 1872), or the Parsi Marriage and
Divorce Act, 18652 (15 of 1865), as amended by this Act, to be made and kept in his office in the
prescribed form.
8. Indexes to be open to inspection.—Subject to the payment of the prescribed fees the indexes so
made shall be at all reasonable time open to inspection by any person applying to inspect them, and
copies of entries in the certified copies of the registers to which the indexes relate shall be given to all
persons applying for them.
9. Copies of entries to be admissible in evidence.—A copy of an entry given under the last
foregoing section shall be certified by the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, or by an
officer authorised in this behalf by the State Government and shall be admissible in evidence for the
purpose of proving the birth, death or marriage to which the entry relates.
10. Superintendence of Registrars by Registrar General.—Each Registrar General of Births,
Deaths and Marriages shall exercise a general superintendence over the Registrars of Births and Deaths in
the territories for which he is appointed.
CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS
A.—Application of this Chapter
11. Persons whose births and deaths are registrable.—(1) The persons whose births and deaths
shall, in the first instance, be registrable under this Chapter are the following, namely:—
(a) in 4[the territories to which this Act extends] the members of every race, sect or tribe to which
the Indian Succession Act, 18655 (10 of 1865) applies, and in respect of which an order under section
332 of that Act is not for the time being in force, and all persons professing the Christian religion;

1. See now the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (43 of 1954).

2. See now the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 (3 of 1936).
3. Sub-section (2) rep. by the A.O. 1937.
4. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2), Order 1956, for “a Part A State or a Part C State”.
5. See now the Indian Succession Act, 1925 (39 of 1925), s. 3.

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(2) But the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, may 2*** extend the operation of
this Chapter to any other class of persons either generally or in any local area.

B.—Registration Establishment

12. Power for State Government to appoint Registrars for its territories.—The State Government
may appoint, either by name or by virtue of their office, so many persons as it thinks necessary to be
Registrars of Births and Deaths for such local areas within the territories under its administration as it
may define and, if it sees fit, for any class of persons within any part of those territories.

13. [Power for Central Government to appoint Registrars for Indian States]. Omitted. by the A.O.
1950.

14. Registrar to be deemed a public servant.—Every Registrar of Births and Deaths shall be
deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

15. [Power to remove Registrars].—Rep. by the A.O. 1937.

16. Office and attendance of Registrar.—(1) Every Registrar of Births and Deaths shall have an
office in the local area, or within the part of the territories or dominions for which he is appointed.

(2) Every Registrar of Births and Deaths to whom the State Government may direct this sub-section
to apply shall attend at his office for the purpose of registering births and deaths on such days and at such
hours as the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages may direct, and shall cause to be placed in
some conspicuous place on or near the outer door of his office his name, with the addition of Registrar of
Births and Deaths for the local area or class for which he is appointed, and the days and hours of his
attendance.

17. Absence of Registrar or vacancy in his office.—(1) When any Registrar of Births and Deaths to
whom the State Government may direct this section to apply3, not being a Registrar of Births and Deaths
for a local area in the town of Calcutta, Madras or Bombay is absent, or when his office is temporarily
vacant, any person whom the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages appoints in this behalf,
or, in default of such appointment the Judge of the District Court within the local limits of whose
jurisdiction the Registrar’s office is situate, or such other officer as the State Government appoints in this
behalf, shall be the Registrar of Births and Deaths during such absence or until the State Government fills
the vacancy.

(2) When any such Registrar of Births and Deaths for a local area in the town of Calcutta, Madras or
Bombay is absent, or when his office is temporarily vacant, any person whom the Registrar General of
Births, Deaths and Marriages appoints in this behalf shall be the Registrar of Births and Deaths during
such absence or until the State Government fills the vacancy.

(3) The Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages shall report to the State Government all
appointments made by him under this section.

18. Register books to be supplied and preservation of records to be provided for.—The State
Government shall every Registrar of Births and Deaths with a sufficient number of register books of
births and of register books of deaths, and shall make suitable provision for the preservation of the
records connected with the registration of births and deaths.

1. Clause (b) omitted by the A.O. 1950.

2. The words “with the previous approval of the G. G. in C.,” omitted by the Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
3. The section has been declared by the Government of Madras to apply to all Registrars appointed by that Government under
section 12, see Mad. R. and O.

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 C.—Mode of registration

19. Duty of Registrar to register births and deaths of which notice is given.—Every Registrar of
Births and Deaths of notice of a birth or death within the local area or among the class for which he is
appointed, shall, if the notice is given within the prescribed time and in the prescribed mode by a person
authorized by this Act to give the notice, forthwith make an entry of the birth or death in the proper
register book:

Provided that—

(a) if he has reason to believe the notice to be in any respect false, he may refuse to register
the birth or death until he receives an order from the Judge of the District Court directing him to make
the entry and prescribing the manner in which the entry is to be made; and

(b) he shall not enter in the register the name of any person as father of an illegitimate child,
unless at the request of the mother and of the person acknowledging himself to be the father of the
child.

20. Persons authorised to give notice of birth.—Any of the following persons may give notice of a
birth, namely:—

(a) the father or mother of the child;

(b) any person present at the birth;

(c) any person occupying, at the time of the birth, any part of the house wherein the child was
born and having knowledge of the child having been born in the house;

(d) any medical practitioner in attendance after the birth and having personal knowledge of birth
occurred;

(e) any person having charge of the child.

21. Persons authorised to give notice of death.—Any of the following persons may give notice of a
death, namely:—

(a) any relative of the deceased having knowledge of any of the particulars required to be
registered concerning the death;

(b) any person present at the death;

(c) any person occupying, at the time of the death, any part of the house wherein the death
occurred and having knowledge of the deceased having died in the house;

(d) any person in attendance during the last illness of the deceased:

(e) any person who has seen the body of the deceased after death.

22. Entry of birth or death to be signed by person giving notice.—(1) When an entry of a birth or
death has been made by the Registrar of Births and Deaths under section 19, the person giving notice of
the birth or death must sign the entry in the register in the presence of the Registrar:
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[Provided that it shall not be necessary for the person giving notice to attend before the Registrar or
to sign the entry in the register if he has given such notice in writing and has furnished to the satisfaction
of the Registrar such evidence of his identity as may be required by any rules made by the State
Government in this behalf.]

1. Ins. by Act 9 of 1911, s. 2.

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 (2) Until the entry has been so signed, 1[or the conditions specified in the proviso to sub-section (1)
have been complied with] the birth or death shall not be deemed to be registered under this Act.
(3) When the birth of an illegitimate child is registered, and the mother and the person acknowledging
himself to be the father of the child jointly request that person may be registered as the father, the mother
and that person must both sign the entry in the register in the presence of the Registrar.
23. Grant of certificate of registration of birth or death.—The Registrar of Births and Deaths
shall, on application made at the time of registering any birth or death by the person giving notice of the
birth or death, and on payment by him of the prescribed fee, give to the applicant a certificate in the
prescribed form signed by the Registrar, of having registered the birth or death.
24. Duty of Registrars as to sending certified copies of entries in register books to Registrar
General.—(1) Every Registrar of Birth and Deaths in 2[the territories to which this Act extends] shall
send to the Registrar General of Birth, Deaths and Marriages for the territories within which the local area
or class for which he is appointed is situate or resides, at the prescribed intervals, a true copy certified by
him, in the prescribed form, of all the entries of births and deaths in the register book kept by him since
the last of those intervals:
Provided that in the case Registrars of Births and Deaths who are clergymen of the Churches of
England, Rome and Scotland the Registrar may, if so directed by his ecclesiastical superior, send the
certified copies in the first instance to that superior, who shall send them to the proper Registrar General
of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
In this sub-section “Church of England” and “Church of Scotland” means the Church of England and
the Church of Scotland as by law established respectively; and “Church of Rome” means the Church
which regards the Pope of Rome as its spiritual head.
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25. Searches and copies of entries in register books.—(1) Every Registrar of Births and Deaths
shall, on payment of the prescribed fees, at all reasonable times, allow searches to be made in the register
books kept by him, and give a copy of any entry in the same.
(2) Every copy of an entry in a register book given under this section shall be certified by the
Registrar of Births and Deaths, and shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the birth or
death to which the entry relates.
26. Exceptional provision for registration of certain births and deaths.—Notwithstanding
anything in section 19, the 5[State Government] may make rules6 authorising Registrars of Births and
Deaths, on conditions and in circumstances to be specified in the rules, to register births and deaths
occurring outside the local areas or classes for which they are appointed.
D.—Penalty for False Information
27. Penalty for willfully giving false information.—If any person willfully makes, or causes to be
made, for the purpose of being inserted in any register of births or deaths, any false statement in
connection with any notice of a birth or death under this Act, he shall be punished with imprisonment for
a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

1. Ins. by Act 9 of 1911, s. 2.

2. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2), Order 1956, for “Part A States or Part C States”.
3. Sub-section (2) omitted by the A.O. 1950
4. The proviso rep. by the A.O. 1937.
5. Subs. by Act 9 of 1911, s. 3 for “G.G. in C.”.
6. For rules made under section 26 conjointly with sections 28 and 36, see Gazette of India, 1888, Part. I, p. 336, and different
local Rules and Orders. All rules made by the G.G. in C. under this Act, before 1911, shall be deemed to have been made by
the State Governments, see section 6 of Act 9 of 1911.

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 E.—Correction of Errors

28. Correction of entry in register of births or deaths.—(1) If it is proved to the satisfaction of a

Registrar of Births and Deaths that any entry of a birth or death in any register kept by him under this Act
is erroneous in form or substance, he may, subject to such rules1 as may be made by the 2[State
Government] with respect to the conditions and circumstances on and in which errors may be corrected,
correct the error by entry in the margin, without any alteration of the original entry, and shall sign the
marginal entry and add thereto the date of the correction.

(2) If a certified copy of the entry has already been sent to the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and
Marriages, the Registrar of Births and Deaths shall make and send a separate certified copy of the original
erroneous entry and of the marginal correction therein made.

CHAPTER IV

AMENDMENT OF MARRIAGE ACTS

29. [Addition of new section after section 13, Act 3 of 1872]. Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1938 (1 of
1938), s. 2 and the Schedule.

30. [Amendment of the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872]. Rep. by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid.

31. [Addition of new section after section 8 of the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1865]. Rep. by
s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid.

CHAPTER V

SPECIAL PROVISIONS AS TO CERTAIN EXISTING REGISTERS

32. Permission to persons having custody of certain records to send them within one year to
Registrar General.—If any person in 3[the territories to which this Act extends] has for the time being
the custody of any register or record of birth, baptism, naming, dedication, death or burial of any persons
of the classes referred to in section 11,subsection (1), or, of any register or record of marriage of any
persons of the classes to which Act III of 1872 or the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872(15of 1872) or
the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1865 (15 of 1865) applies, and if such register or record has been
made otherwise than in performance of a duly specially enjoined by the law of the country in which the
register or record was kept, he may, 4[at any time before the first day April, 1891,] send the register or
record to the office of the Registrar General or Births, Deaths and Marriages for the territories within
which he resides, 5***.

33. Appointment of Commissioners to examine registers.—6[(1) Any State Government in the case
of registers or records sent under section 32 to the Registrar General for the territories under its
administration, 7*** may appoint so many persons as it 8*** thinks fit to be Commissioner for examining
such registers or records.]

1. For rules made under section 26 conjointly with sections 28 and 36, see Gazette of India, 1888, Part. I, p. 336 and different
local Rules and orders. All rules made by the G.G. in C. under this Act, before 1911, shall be deemed to have been made by
the State Government, see section 6 of Act 9 of 1911.
2. Subs. by Act 9 of 1911, s. 3 for “G.G. in C.”.
3. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2), Order 1956, for “a Part A State or a Part C State”.
4. Subs. by Act 16 of 1890, s. 1, for “within one year from the date on which this Act comes into force”.
5. Certain words including the proviso which was inserted by Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and the Schedule, omitted by the A.O. 1950.
6. Subs. by Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and the First Schedule, for sub-section (1).
7. Certain words omitted by the A.O. 1950.
8. The words “or he, as the case may be,” rep. by the A.O. 1937.

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 (2) The Commissioners so appointed shall hold office for such period as the 1[authority appointing
them], by the order of appointment, or any subsequent order, directs.
34. Duties of Commissioners.—(1) The Commissioners appointed under the last foregoing section
shall enquire into the state, custody and authenticity of every such register or record as may be sent to the
Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages under section 32;
and shall deliver to the Registrar General a descriptive list or descriptive lists of all such registers or
records, or portions of registers or records, as they find to be accurate and faithful.
(2) The list or lists shall contain the prescribed particulars and refer to the registers or records, or to
the portions of the registers or records, in me prescribed manner.
(3) The Commissioners, shall also certify in writing, upon some part of every separate book or
volume containing any such register or record, or portion of a register or record, as is referred to in any
list or lists made by the Commissioners, that it is one of the registers or records, or portions of registers or
records, referred to in the said list or lists.
35. Searches of lists prepared by Commissioners and grant of certified copies of entries.—(1)
Subject to the payment of the prescribed fees, the descriptive list or lists of registers or records, or
portions of registers or records, delivered by the Commissioners to the Registrar General of Births,
Deaths and Marriages shall be, at all reasonable times, open to inspection by any person applying to
inspect it or them, and copies of entries in those registers or records shall be given to all persons applying
for them.
(2) A copy of an entry given under this section shall be certified by the Registrar General of Births,
Deaths and Marriages, or by an officer or person authorised in this behalf by the State Government and
shall be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the birth, baptism, naming, dedication, death,
burial or marriage to which the entry relates.
2
[35A. Constitution of additional Commissions for purposes of this Chapter.—(1) 3*** The State
Government 4[may by notification in the Official Gazette] appoint more Commissions5 than one for the
purposes of section 33, each such Commission consisting of so many and such members, and having its
functions restricted to the disposal, under this Act and the rules there under, of such registers and records
sent under section 32 to the Registrar General, as may be specified in the notification.
(2) If more Commissions than one are appointed in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section
(1), then references in this Act to the Commissioners shall be construed as references to the members
constituting a Commission so appointed.]
CHAPTER VI
RULES
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[36. Rules.— [(1) The State Government, for each State 8*** may make rules to carry out the
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purpose of this Act.]

(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may—
(a) fix the fees payable under this Act;

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1920, s. 2 and Sch. 1, for “G.G. in C”.

2. Section 35A was added by the Births, Death and Marriages Registration Act, (1886) Amendment Act, 1890 (16 of 1890), s. 2,
which was repealed by the Devolution Act, 1920 (38 of 1920), s. 3 and the Second Schedule. The present sub-section (1) was
subs. for the original sub-section by the Devolution Act, 1920 (38 of 1920), s. 2 and the First Schedule, and sub-section (2),
was inserted by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1934 (24 of 1934), s. 2 and the First Schedule.
3. The words “The Central Government or” omitted by the A.O. 1950.
4. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “if he or it thinks fit, may by notification in the Gazette of India or the local Official Gazette, as the
case may be”.
5. For Commissioners appointed under this section, see Gazette of India, 1890, Pt. I, p. 744.
6. Subs. by Act 9 of 1911, s. 4, for section 36.
7. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for sub-section (1).
8. The words “and the Central Government for British subjects in Indian States” omitted by the A.O. 1950.

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 (b) prescribe the forms required for the purposes of this Act;
(c) prescribe the time within which, and the mode in which, persons authorised under this Act to
give notice of a birth or death to a Registrar of Births and Deaths must give the notice;
(d) prescribe the evidence of identity to be furnished to a Registrar of Birth and Deaths by
persons giving notice of a birth or death in cases where personal attendance before such Registrar is
dispensed with;
(e) prescribe the registers to be kept and the form and manner in which Registrars of Births and
Deaths are to register births and deaths under this Act, and the intervals at which they are to send to
the Registrar General of Births, Deaths and Marriages true copies of the entries of births and deaths in
the registers kept by them;
(f) prescribe the conditions and circumstances on and in which Registers of Births and Deaths
may correct entries of births and deaths in registers kept by them;
(g) prescribe the particulars which the descriptive list or lists to be prepared by the Commissioner
appointed under Chapter V are to contain, and the manner in which they are to refer to the registers or
records, or portions of registers or records, to which they relates; and
(h) prescribe the custody in which those registers or records are to kept.
(3) Every power to make rules conferred by this Act is subject to the condition of the rules being
made after previous publication.
(4) All rules made under this Act shall be published in the Official Gazette and on such publication
shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.]
37. [Procedure for making and publication of rules]. Rep. by the Births, Deaths and Marriages
Registration (Amendment) Act, 1911 (9 of 1911) s. 5.

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