Birth Certificate now primary legal identity in Nagaland

Government enforces amended registration rules

Our Correspondent
Kohima | January 21

Nagaland Economics & Statistics, Evaluation and Information Technology & Communication, Advisor H Sethrongkyu Sangtam today announced that the birth certificates will henceforth serve as the sole and mandatory document for school admissions, government employment and a wide range of official services in Nagaland following the enforcement of the Nagaland Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

Addressing a press conference in Kohima, the Advisor underscored that registration of births and deaths is not merely a family formality but a critical state function that establishes an individual’s legal identity and enables evidence-based planning for social welfare programmes.

“Every birth and death marks a significant milestone not only for a family, but also for the State,” he said, stressing that civil registration forms the backbone of governance, service delivery and public accountability.

He informed that civil registration is a continuous, permanent and compulsory process covering vital events such as births, deaths, marriages, fatal deaths and divorces. At the national level, the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI) under the Ministry of Home Affairs oversees the implementation of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, while in Nagaland, the Department of Economics and Statistics has been the implementing authority since 1974.

Sethrongkyu said the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 was amended by Parliament in 2023, with the revised Act coming into force nationwide from October 1, 2023. In line with this, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly passed the Nagaland Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which were notified on February 8, 2025.

As part of efforts to improve access, the state has established 1474 registration centres across Nagaland. In rural areas, registration units have been set up in every recognised village, with government teachers designated as registrars. Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres also function as registration units, where the nurse-in-charge acts as the registrar. In urban areas, registration facilities are available at the Directorate of Economics and Statistics, offices of District Economics and Statistics Officers, and all district hospitals, where senior nurses or designated nursing staff issue certificates.

Highlighting a key provision of the amendment, the Advisor said that under the new rules, a birth certificate is now the only valid document for school admissions, government job appointments, issuance of driving licences, registration for Unique Identification (UID), marriage certificates and other official purposes. “From now on, the birth certificate will be the only document to prove your identity,” he said, urging citizens to take registration seriously.

He further clarified that the birth certificate will be the sole proof of date and place of birth for persons born on or before October 1, 2023, for all official purposes. This marks a significant shift from earlier practices where documents such as matriculation certificates were often accepted as proof of birth.

Several procedural changes aimed at simplifying registration were also outlined. For delayed registration beyond 30 days but within one year, the requirement of an affidavit sworn before a notary public has been abolished. Instead, a self-attested document along with approval from the competent authority will suffice. For registrations delayed beyond one year, the authority to approve has been shifted from a First Class Magistrate to the District Magistrate or an authorised Sub-Divisional Magistrate to expedite the process.

Under the amended rules, abbreviations will no longer be permitted in a child’s name on the birth certificate, and all medical institutions—government or private—are now mandated to issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) to ensure accurate health records.