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Mumbai Detects 19,700 Birth Records Lacking Proof and Centralises Corrections

Centralising approvals to prevent fraud has caused months-long delays for students and other applicants.

Overview

  • BMC officials disclosed on July 20–21 that a Special Investigation Team is examining about 19,700 birth records found without required supporting documents and that FIRs and disciplinary action have been launched against staff.
  • The civic body stopped routine corrections on April 16, 2026, and moved all approval authority to the Executive Health Officer to curb misuse of the registration system.
  • The centralisation and the earlier technical migration from the BMC’s SAP system to the national Civil Registration System created a large backlog that is now blocking genuine corrections and hurting students seeking visas and university admissions.
  • To speed verifications and restore services the BMC has asked the Central Registrar to return ward-level editing rights, begun scanning historical records back to 1960, and is introducing draft-preview checks before finalising entries.
  • Corporators from multiple parties are pressing for regular audits, time-bound clearance plans and temporary online relief windows for urgent cases, and officials say restoring ward powers depends on approval from the Central Registrar.