Birth Certificate: – The birth certificate is an important document issued by the government as it establishes the identity and belonging of an individual. A Birth Certificate or a Janam Praman Patra is an official document that is much more than just a piece of paper. In this article, we will discuss all the critical aspects of a Janam Praman Patra that you should be aware of.
What is a Birth Certificate?
It is a legal document that records the birth of a child, including other general information such as the child’s name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, and parents’ names. In India, it is a proof of citizenship. Janam Praman Patra is required for various purposes such as school admission, obtaining a passport, obtaining a driving license, etc.
Who Can Obtain a Birth Certificate?
In India, anyone born in the country, whether currently residing here or abroad as an NRI (Non-Resident Indian), can obtain a Janam Praman Patra. If the birth was not registered within the usual 21-day period, individuals can still apply for either a delayed birth certificate or an NABC (Non-Availability of Birth Certificate) as proof. This delayed birth registration facility is available for both Indian citizens and NRIs, so unregistered births can be legally documented later.
The process is straightforward, allowing people to secure their birth records regardless of when or where they were born, making it easier to handle official paperwork like passports, school admissions, or legal matters.
For NRIs, the Indian government has made these rules more flexible. They can apply for birth certificate online from abroad using online portals, ensuring their birth records remain valid and accessible. Whether you’re an Indian resident or living overseas, the system is designed to help you get the necessary documents without unnecessary hassle.
Purpose of a Birth Certificate
The Birth Certificate is a document of significant importance for Indian citizens as it serves multiple crucial purposes. The following are some of the purposes served by a Janam Praman Patra:
- It establishes an individual’s identity and citizenship.
- It enables an individual access to various rights, privileges, and social security benefits available only to citizens.
- It verifies Parental Lineage as it is an official record that contains the name of the child’s parents.
- It is crucial evidence in legal matters involving family disputes, inheritance, or child custody.
- In some cases where no other official proof of age exists, the Janam Praman Patra can also be used as age proof.
- It is essential to present the Birth Certificate for accessing age in case of various age-restricted services such as enrolling in school, applying for a driver’s license, and participating in certain legal activities.
- It is required to obtain a passport for international traveling.
Required Documents for Janam Praman Patra
- Birth certificate from the hospital
- Statement of birth from hospital or place where baby was born
- Parents’ marriage certificate
- Parents’ identification documents
- Aadhaar card
- Address Proof
How to Obtain a Janam Praman Patra in India?
Janam Praman Patra in India can be obtained through an offline process. Given below is the step-by-step offline process that one should follow to get a Janam Praman Patra in India:
Step 1: First, you need to visit your local registrar’s office. This could be the municipal corporation office if you live in a city or the gram panchayat office if you’re in a rural area.
Step 2: Get a birth registration form from the office. If the birth occurred in a hospital, the medical officer in charge might have already given you this form. For home births, you’ll get the form directly from the registrar’s office.
Step 3: Carefully fill out the registration form with all required details like the child’s full name, gender, date and exact time of birth, place of birth, and complete details of both parents.
Step 4: Attach all the necessary supporting documents with the application form. Check Documents according to birth place:
- Hospital Birth: Discharge slip or Birth report
- For Home Birth: ID proof (Aadhaar card/Voter ID), Address Proof(Ration Card/Bill)
Step 5: Once your form is complete and documents are ready, submit them to the registrar’s office.
Step 6: Then pay the required registration fee at the office counter. The fee amount varies slightly between states but is generally very nominal. Keep the receipt safe for future use.
Step 7: After that the registrar’s office will verify all the details provided. This verification process usually takes a few working days, though the duration can vary depending on your location.
Step 8: Once verification is complete, you’ll be notified to collect the birth certificate. Or in some states you can check application status online with the receipt number/application number.
Note: This is the generalized process. However, the actual process for obtaining a Janam Praman Patra varies slightly across various states/UTs.Â
Online application process to obtain a Birth Certificate
Some of the states provide facilities for obtaining a Birth Certificate online. Following are the steps that one has to follow to apply and get an online Birth Certificate:
Step 1: Visit the official website of Birth and Death Registration (Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India) by clicking this link: https://crsorgi.gov.in/web/index.php/auth/login.
Step 2: If you don’t have a User ID and Password, create one by clicking the “General Public Sign Up” button.
Step 3: Go to the “Login” section, enter your User ID and Password, Captcha Code shown on the screen, and click the “Login” button.
Step 4: Click on the “Birth” section and then on the “Add Birth Registration” button.
Step 5: Enter the required details in the form (such as Date of Birth, Gender, Name, Place of Birth, Parent’s names and contact details, etc.) and then click the “Save” button.
Step 6: Enter the educational and occupation details of the child’s parents. Enter details of the mother’s age and health care facility where the child was born.
Step 7: Upload the reporting document and click the “Save” button. Download Reporting form PDF.
Step 8: Check all the information carefully and click the “Edit” button if you want to make any changes; if all the information is correct, click the “Submit” button.
Step 9: You will be directed to the “Login Page.” Login Again with your credentials.
Step 10: Click the “Print Reporting Form” button on the right-hand side. Then click on the “Print” button.
Step 11: Check the Registrar’s Office Address mentioned in the printed Reporting Form. You must submit this Reporting Form and a copy of the Adhaar Card of the child’s father at the Registrar’s office.
Step 12: You will receive an email when the certificate is ready. You can download Birth Certificate from the email or collect a hard copy from the Registrar’s Office.
Note: Generally, making a Janam Praman Patra takes 15-20 days. However, it may take longer in exceptional cases.
Time to Apply for Birth Registration
In India, the birth of a child should be registered within 21 days. If you do it within 21 days, there is no fee—it is completely free. Even if you miss this time, you can still register the childbirth within 1 year, but you will have to pay a late fee. The late registration fee is different in each state. You can do the registration at your local municipal office, panchayat office, or the government hospital where the baby was born.
Birth Certificate Application Fee
If you register a birth within 21 days, the fee is just ₹20. However, if delayed, it’s considered a “Delayed Registration.” No extra charges apply if registered within a year, but after that, a small late fee may be added. Birth certificate online apply late fees may vary state by state. To confirm exact late fees, you will have to visit your nearby Registrar’s office or eMitra center.
For registrations after 21 days, additional late fees apply, and some states may require extra documents. Each state has its own rules, so costs and processes can differ slightly. Always confirm the details with your local registration authority to avoid surprises. Simple and affordable, the system ensures every birth gets documented properly.
Download Birth Certificate Online
If you have successfully applied for your newborn’s Janam Praman Patra and want to download it, you can easily do it online. For the Birth Certificate download, you have to do it as per your State/UT. The detailed state-wise processes for your query of ‘download Birth Certificate Online‘ are given below in the list:
If you still want to know the general birth certificate download process, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit your UT’s/State’s Registrar of Birth and Deaths portal.
Step 2: Find Birth Certificate Download /Application Status button.
Step 3: Now enter your Janam Praman Patra Application number and other asked details.
Step 4: You will be redirected to a page where you can Download Birth Certificate, if it gets approved by the relevant authorities.
How to apply Birth certificate after 1 year
If you did not register your child’s birth in one year, then this step-by-step process will help you with late Birth Certificate Registration:
Step 1: Visit the SDM Court in your area.
Step 2: Get the Delayed Birth Order form and fill in all the required information in this form.
Step 3: Now you will have to attach the following documents to this Delayed Birth Order form:
- Aadhar Card of Parents (both mother & father)
- Address proof (3-month electricity bill/Rent Agreement/any other)
- Get an affidavit in the name of the child from any notary office/lawyer.
- Passport size photograph of parents
Step 4: Now submit this complete form with the required documents in SDM court.
Step 5: They will provide you with an application number or slip for the delayed birth order.
Step 6: After 14 to 21 days, the delayed birth order will be approved. You can track it using the application number.
Step 7: Now you can download this birth order and apply for the Birth Certificate of your child using the official portal of your State/UT.Â
Step 8: Online Application process for birth certificates is the same as mentioned in this article. Only one thing is different, and that is uploading the delayed birth order as a supportive document.
FAQs
Q. Is the Birth Certificate an official document?
Ans. Yes, it is an official document that can be used as age proof in certain circumstances.Â
Q. What is the application fee for obtaining a Birth Certificate?
Ans. It is issued free of cost for the first time. But if you have lost it, you may have to pay a nominal fee ranging from Rupees 50-150 depending on the rules prescribed by the State Government. Â
Q. Can a Birth Certificate be obtained without the child’s name?
Ans. Yes, as we know that the child is named after a few days of birth, there is an option to obtain the Birth Certificate without the child’s name. Â
Q. How to add my child’s name to the Birth Certificate?
Ans. First, you have to obtain a ‘Birth Certificate correction/update’ form from the gram panchayat or municipal corporation office of the place where your child was born. Then, get an affidavit from the local notary and go to the office to request a change in your Birth Certificate regarding adding your child’s name.
Q. What documents are required to add/change my baby’s name on the Birth Certificate?
Ans. You will require the update form, a valid Birth Certificate, an affidavit from the local notary, address proof, and an Aadhar card.Â
Q. What is the time limit for Birth Certificate registration?
Ans. From the date of occurrence, the usual time limit is 21 days to report your child’s birth.Â
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed all the essential aspects of a Birth Certificate. We hope you find this article helpful and informative. Knowing all these things about this certificates will help you utilize them effectively and ensure you keep them safe throughout your life. For more such articles, please keep visiting our website regularly.
