1. Short title and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Births, Deaths and Marriages
Registration Act, 1886; and
(2) It shall come into force on such day4
as the Central Government, by notification in the Official
Gazette, directs.
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[2. Extent.—This Act extends7
to the whole of India except 8
[the territories which, immediately
before the 1st November, 1956, were comprised in Part B States].]
3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or
context,—“sign” includes mark, when the person making the mark is unable to write his name;
“prescribed” means prescribed by a rule made 9
*** under this Act; and
“Registrar of Births and Deaths” means a Registrar of Births and Deaths appointed under this
Act.
4. Saving of local laws.—Nothing in this Act, or in any rule made under this Act, shall affect any law
heretofore or hereafter passed providing for the registration of births and deaths within particular local
areas.
1. This Act has been extended to and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (w.e.f. 1-7-1965) by Reg. No. 6 of 1963, s. 2
and the First Schedule (with modification), to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 11 of 1963, s. 3 and the Schedule (with
modification).
2. See now the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (43 of 1954).
3. See now the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936 (3 of 1936).
4. The 1st October, 1888, see Gazette of India, 1888, Part I, p. 336.
5. Sub-section (3) rep. by Act 12 of 1891, s. 2 and the First Schedule.
6. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for section 2.
7. It has been declared in force in the Sonthal Parganas by s. 3 of the Sonthal Parganas Settlement Regulation, 1872 (3 of 1872).
It has also been partially extended to Berar by the Berar Laws Act, 1941 (4 of 1941).
8. Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2), Order 1956, for “Part B States”.
9. The words “by the G.G. in C.” rep. by the A.O. 1937.
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5. Powers exercisable from time to time.—All powers conferred by this Act may be exercised from
time to time as occasion requires.