Overview
- In 2020, India recorded about 8.8 million deaths, roughly 80% were registered and only around 2 million had a doctor-certified cause.
- North India averaged just 13% medical certification, Delhi hovered near 57–60%, and Union Territories like Lakshadweep reached about 94–95% with Goa near universal coverage.
- The study grouped states and UTs into three clusters, with the largest group of 23 states averaging about 18% certification alongside low doctor density and weak reporting from hospitals.
- High-performing states and UTs reported 60–63% certification, supported by far greater hospital reporting compliance than in lower-performing regions.
- Public health experts warn that poor cause-of-death data skews disease-burden estimates, weakens outbreak detection, and misdirects health spending, underscoring the need to make certification routine.