Registration of births and deaths is compulsory and the National population policy 2000 has targeted 100% of registration of births and deaths as a national goal. Under section 8, it shall be the duty of the person specified below to give or cause to be given, either orally or in writing according to the best of their knowledge and belief within such time as may be prescribed, information to the registrar of the births and deaths even still births, as follows.

1. If in a house, the head of a house
2. If in a hospital, health center, etc, the medical officer in charge
3. In a jail, the jailor
4. In a choultry, hotel etc the person in-charge
5. In a public place, the sarpanch / police officer
6. In a plantation, the superintendent

Such a record gives an identity to the child.
Section 6 of the act, provides for the appointment of the district registrar. In the state of Andhra Pradesh the district medical and health officer / district revenue officer /district panchayat officer shall be acted as the district registrar and additional district registrar.
Section 7 of the act, provides for the appointment of registrar for local area or compromising the area within the jurisdiction of a municipality, panchayat or other local authority or any other area. In Andhra Pradesh tashildar or assistant statistical officer shall act Mandal registrar and panchayat secretary shall act as a rural or village registrar.