No Mother Should Leave a Hospital Without Her Child’s Birth Certificate in Hand: RGI to States

New Delhi — In a significant step toward improving civil documentation and legal identity across India, the Registrar General of India (RGI) has issued a directive to all State governments instructing that birth certificates must be issued to mothers of newborns before they are discharged from hospitals — particularly government-run hospitals, which account for over 50% of all institutional births in the country. The directive aims to streamline birth registration, reduce delays, and ensure every child born in India receives an official identity document from the outset of life. A Push for Universal Birth Registration The RGI’s office emphasized that integrating birth registration into the hospital discharge process would significantly close the gap in unregistered births — especially among rural and low-income populations. “No mother should leave a hospital without her child’s birth certificate in hand,” a senior RGI official stated. “It is a fundamental right and the first legal recognition of a child’s identity.” Currently, although India’s institutional birth rate has increased significantly, timely issuance of birth certificates remains inconsistent due to logistical and bureaucratic delays. Why It Matters A birth certificate is not just a record — it is a gateway to citizenship, identity, and access to rights. It is essential for: Enrolling in school Obtaining Aadhaar and passports Accessing healthcare and welfare schemes Legal recognition of age and nationality Children without birth certificates are at greater risk of exclusion from education, healthcare, and government support. Integration with Digital Systems The RGI has asked States to leverage digital platforms and link civil registration systems with hospital records to ensure automatic generation of birth certificates at the time of discharge. Some States have already adopted real-time digital registration and are working with municipal and health departments to ensure accurate, on-site issuance of certificates. The directive includes training of hospital administrative staff, coordination with local registrars, and periodic monitoring of compliance levels. Expected Impact Improved birth registration coverage, particularly in under-served regions Reduction in time and paperwork for parents Increased access to entitlements and services for all children Legal identity guaranteed from birth Conclusion With this directive, the RGI reinforces the government’s commitment to universal legal identity and documentation for every citizen, starting at birth. The move is expected to make birth certificates not just easier to obtain — but automatic and immediate — ensuring that no child is left behind in the documentation process.