Understanding Birth & Death Registration in Bihar

The registration of births and deaths is a statutory requirement as per the **Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969**. This act mandates that every birth and death occurring within the country must be registered with the concerned local authority.

Why are these certificates important?

• Birth Certificate: Proof of date and place of birth, age, identity, nationality, for school admission, voter ID, passport, driving license, marriage, employment, etc.
• Death Certificate: Essential for claiming inheritance, insurance benefits, pension, settling property disputes, re-marrying, and for statistical purposes.

Registration Authorities in Bihar:

• Rural Areas: The Medical Officer In-charge of the Primary Health Centre (PHC) or the Sub-Registrar (appointed by the local government, often at Panchayat/Block level) is the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
• Urban Areas: Health Officer/Chief Officer of Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils, or Nagar Panchayats.

The **Civil Registration System (CRS) portal** of the Registrar General of India plays a central role in enabling online registration and issuance of these certificates across states, including Bihar.

Birth Certificate Application in Bihar

Mandatory Registration Period:

• Births must be registered within **21 days** of occurrence. This period typically incurs no fee.
• Delayed registrations have specific procedures and may involve nominal fees and additional documents.

Online Application (Recommended):

The primary portal for online birth registration in Bihar is the **Civil Registration System (CRS) portal** of the Registrar General of India, in conjunction with Bihar's ServicePlus portal (RTPS).

1. Visit the CRS Portal: Go to https://crsorgi.gov.in/web/index.php/auth/signUp
2. General Public Sign Up: If you are a new user, click on "General Public Sign Up" and create an account using your mobile number and email ID. This generates a login ID.
3. Login: Use your registered credentials to log in.
4. Select "Add Birth Registration": On the dashboard, choose the option to register a new birth.
5. Fill the Application Form:
   • Enter details about the child (name if decided, date and time of birth, place of birth - hospital/home, gender).
   • Enter details about the mother and father (names, Aadhaar numbers, permanent address, religion, occupation).
   • Information about the informant (usually a parent or hospital authority).
   • Address of parents at the time of birth and permanent address.
6. Upload Documents:
   • Hospital Birth: Discharge summary/Birth report from the hospital.
   • Home Birth: Affidavit from parents, Aanganwadi Sevika/Ward Councilor's recommendation letter, identity proof of parents.
   • Identity Proof of Parents (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, etc.)
   • Address Proof of Parents (Ration Card, Electricity Bill, etc.)
   Ensure documents are scanned clearly and are within specified size limits (usually PDF/JPEG).
7. Review and Submit: Carefully review all entered information. Once satisfied, submit the application. You will receive an application reference number.
8. Track Status: You can track the status of your application on the CRS portal using the reference number.
9. Download Certificate: Once approved, the digitally signed birth certificate can be downloaded from the CRS portal or the RTPS Bihar portal: https://serviceonline.bihar.gov.in/ (under "Download Certificate").

Offline Application:

You can also apply offline by visiting the concerned Registrar's office (Nagar Parishad, Nagar Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, PHC, or Block Office) in your area. Obtain the application form, fill it, attach required documents, and submit it. An acknowledgment receipt will be provided.

Fees and Timelines:

• Within 21 days: No fee.
• After 21 days but within 30 days: ₹2 (Late fee).
• After 30 days but within 1 year: ₹5 (Late fee), requires an order from the BDO/Sub-Divisional Officer and an affidavit.
• After 1 year: ₹10 (Late fee), requires an order from the Executive Magistrate/First Class Magistrate and an affidavit.
• Issuance Time: If applied within 21 days, generally within a few days to 1 week. For delayed registrations, it can take up to 30 days or more after all approvals.

Death Certificate Application in Bihar

Mandatory Registration Period:

• Deaths must be registered within **21 days** of occurrence. No fee for timely registration.
• Delayed registrations require additional procedures and fees.

Online Application:

Similar to birth certificates, death certificates can also be applied for through the **Civil Registration System (CRS) portal**.

1. Visit the CRS Portal: https://crsorgi.gov.in/web/index.php/auth/signUp
2. Login: Use your registered credentials (or sign up if new).
3. Select "Add Death Registration": Choose the option to register a new death.
4. Fill the Application Form:
   • Details of the deceased person (name, age, sex, date and time of death, place of death - hospital/home/other).
   • Cause of death (as per medical certificate if in hospital).
   • Parents'/Spouse's details.
   • Permanent address of the deceased.
   • Details of the informant (usually a family member or hospital authority).
5. Upload Documents:
   • Hospital Death: Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) issued by the hospital.
   • Home Death: Affidavit from the informant, a letter from Ward Councilor/Mukhiya, Cemetery/Ghat receipt (if applicable).
   • Identity Proof of Informant (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID).
   • Address Proof of Informant.
   • Deceased's identity/address proof (if available).
6. Review and Submit: Carefully check all details before final submission. Note down the application reference number.
7. Track Status & Download: Track your application status on CRS, and once approved, download the digitally signed death certificate.

Offline Application:

Submit a duly filled application form along with the required documents to the concerned Registrar's office (Nagar Parishad, Nagar Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, PHC, or Block Office).

Fees and Timelines:

• Within 21 days: No fee.
• After 21 days but within 30 days: ₹2 (Late fee).
• After 30 days but within 1 year: ₹5 (Late fee), requires an order from the BDO/Sub-Divisional Officer and an affidavit.
• After 1 year: ₹10 (Late fee), requires an order from the Executive Magistrate/First Class Magistrate and an affidavit.
• Issuance Time: Similar to birth certificates, usually a few days to a week for timely registrations, and up to 30 days or more for delayed ones.

General Documents Required (Common for both Birth & Death)

• Aadhaar Card: Of applicant/parents/informant (mandatory for online services).
• Identity Proof: Voter ID, Passport, Driving License.
• Address Proof: Ration Card, Electricity Bill, Water Bill.
• Application Form: Duly filled (online or offline).
• Affidavit: (For delayed registration or home events, specifying details of birth/death and reason for delay).
• Hospital Certificate/Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD): For institutional births/deaths.
• Passport-size Photographs: Of applicant/parents (sometimes required for offline applications).
• Ward Councilor/Mukhiya/Aanganwadi Sevika's Recommendation Letter: For home events.
• Cemetery/Ghat Receipt: For death registration in some cases.

Always verify the exact list of documents and formats on the official portals or with the local Registrar's office, as requirements can vary based on the specific circumstances (e.g., home birth vs. hospital birth, delayed registration).

Important Considerations & Helplines

• Accuracy: Ensure all details provided are accurate and consistent with other documents. Any discrepancies can cause delays or rejection.
• Original Documents: Keep original documents ready for verification when submitting applications offline or during any physical verification process.
• Timely Registration: Registering births and deaths within the stipulated 21 days is highly recommended to avoid late fees and complex procedures.
• Digital Signature: Certificates issued online are typically digitally signed and are legally valid for all purposes.
• Correction of Errors: If there are errors in an issued certificate, a separate application for correction needs to be filed with the Registrar's office, usually with supporting affidavits and proofs.
• Helpline: For any queries related to civil registration services in Bihar, you can often find contact details on the respective district NIC websites or the ServicePlus Bihar portal.
• Civil Registration System (CRS) Contact: You can find contact details and FAQs on the national CRS portal for general queries related to birth and death registration nationwide.

The digitization efforts aim to make the process of obtaining Birth and Death Certificates more citizen-friendly and efficient, reducing the need for multiple visits to government offices.