The Nagaland government has made birth certificates the only mandatory document for school admissions, government jobs and access to official services after notifying the Nagaland Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Rules, 2024, on February 8, 2025.
Advisor S Sethronkyu Sangtam said the move aims to strengthen civil registration and create a uniform, legally sound system for establishing identity across the state. The rules align with the amended Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which came into force nationwide on October 1, 2023.
Under the new rules, birth certificates will be required for school admissions, government employment, driving licences, UID registration, marriage certificates and other official purposes. They will also be the sole proof of date and place of birth for those born on or before October 1, 2023, replacing alternative documents such as school certificates.
To ensure accessibility, 1,474 registration centres have been set up across the state, covering all villages, health centres and urban offices. The rules also simplify delayed registration procedures and prohibit abbreviations in names on birth certificates to ensure standardisation.
