Lok Sabha Passes Births and Deaths Amendment Bill Amid Protests

The Lok Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, via voice vote on July 31, 2026. The legislation, introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, establishes a two-tier system for delayed registrations. Registrations delayed by one to two years now require approval from a District or Sub-Divisional Magistrate, while those delayed by more than two years require an order from a Judicial Magistrate (First Class).

The bill passed without debate because Opposition members staged protests and sloganeering in the House. These demonstrations focused on a police crackdown during a parliament march on July 20, and Opposition members demanded the attendance of Home Minister Amit Shah.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Opposition's lack of participation, noting that the government had intended to hold a discussion on the legislation. During the session, BJP MP Dilip Saikia presided as Chair, and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi received an extension for a report concerning the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025.