On Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Civil Registration System (CRS) mobile application, aimed at integrating technology with governance to streamline the registration of births and deaths across the country. Shah noted that the app would enable citizens to register these vital events from any location, at any time, and in their state’s official language, significantly reducing registration time.
Under the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Act, 2023, all births and deaths occurring from October 1, 2023, are required to be digitally registered through the Centre’s portal, dc.crsorgi.gov.in. This digital birth certificate will serve as a single document for various purposes, including school admissions, government job applications, and marriage registrations. The centralized database will also support updates to the National Population Register (NPR), ration cards, property records, and electoral rolls.
Data for the NPR, initially collected in 2010 and updated in 2015, covers information on 119 crore residents. According to the Citizenship Act, NPR is the first step towards establishing the National Register of Citizens.
In addition to launching the CRS app, Shah unveiled a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at the Census Building in the capital. He praised Patel as a unifying force for India, stating, “This statue of the Iron Man, a symbol of struggle and sacrifice for national interest, will continue to inspire everyone as a testament to his unwavering dedication to establishing democratic values in the country.”