GVMC makes CRS registration mandatory for private hospitals and clinics
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has made it mandatory for all private hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics within its jurisdiction to register on the Civil Registration System (CRS) portal for recording births and deaths. The directive is part of the civic body’s effort to strengthen vital statistics management and ensure greater accuracy in the issuance of official certificates.
GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg said that institutions already enrolled and holding CRS login credentials can continue their operations, while those that have not yet registered must complete the process at the earliest. “The initiative is aimed at streamlining the issuance of birth and death certificates and improving the quality of services extended to citizens,” he said.
The CRS portal, developed by the Office of the Registrar General of India, provides a unified digital platform for the registration of births and deaths. Authorities believe that mandatory adoption by all healthcare institutions will not only reduce delays and discrepancies in issuing certificates but also help maintain a centralised database for planning and policy-making.
Hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics where births and deaths occur have been directed to approach the Public Health Department at the GVMC head office to obtain CRS portal user IDs for their establishments. The system will enable institutions to directly upload details, which can later be verified and authenticated before certificates are issued to families.
The Commissioner also drew attention to another important requirement: the mandatory entry of a child’s name in the Birth Certificate in cases where the child is more than 15 years old from the date of birth. Parents who have not registered their child’s name must complete the process before the deadline of January 21, 2026.
“After this date, names of children who have crossed 15 years of age will not be incorporated into the Birth Certificate,” Mr. Garg clarified. He urged parents to utilise the opportunity without delay and avoid last-minute difficulties.
The GVMC has been emphasising the need for complete and accurate birth and death records as they serve as legal documents for individuals and vital data for the administration. Officials have pointed out that timely registration prevents complications later in life when certificates are required for education, employment, property rights, and other legal purposes.
Mr. Garg appealed to healthcare institutions to extend full cooperation in the registration drive and to parents to ensure their children’s names are properly recorded. “This is not just a procedural formality but an important legal right and a civic responsibility,” he said.