The birth certificate is the most important identity document for an individual which is most useful to prove the date as well as the place of birth.

Why you need the Birth Certificate?
The necessity for a birth certificate arises to avail benefits from a gamut of services offered by the government to its citizens. We require the birth certificate to avail the following facilities:

To prove parentage and family relationship For admission into Educational Institutes. For recruitment in Armed Forces. To exercise the Right to vote. For availing an insurance policy. To obtain driving licenses. For obtaining Passport. To avail PAN Card. For claiming the right to marry at the legally permissible age. For settlement of inheritance and property rights.

Legality of Birth Certificate
In India it is mandatory under the Law (as per the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969), to register every birth with the concerned State/UT within 21 days of its occurrence. The government accordingly has provided a very structured system for registration of birth, with the Registrar General at the Centre and Chief Registrars in the states, running through district registrars to the village and town registrars at the periphery.

Eligibility criteria to avail Birth Certificate
Any individual who is the citizen or NRI born in the state are eligible for availing the birth certificate. The birth certificate is issued to the parents in favour of child on the basis of application and specific amount deposited with application form to the concerned authority.

Procedure for Registering Birth Certificate
There is a defined process to obtain the Birth certificate in Orissa. Normally, head of the house or nearest relative of the head of the house or oldest person in the family, in case the event is occurring in the house is to inform the concerned authority about birth, i.e. to the Medical officer in-charge or any other officer authorized by him, in case of institutional event.

After delivery of the child in case of institutions i.e. hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, etc. the authorities have to register the birth reports to the registrar of birth and death of the concerned jurisdictions.
In case of domiciliary births the household is entitled to submit the reports to the concerned authority for registering the birth event.
In case the birth occurs in the jail, it is to be informed to the concerned jailer.
If the birth occurs in hostel, dharmasala, boarding house, lodging house etc. the event is to be informed to the concerned person-in-charge.
In case the birth occurs in moving vehicle, the person-in-charge of the vehicle is to be informed about the birth.

Birth Certificate Application Forms
The required form can be available from Municipal Corporations / Municipalities / NACs / Other concerned local authority and it can be downloading by the applicant in some cases.

Necessary Documents to be attached with the application form
Child's Name.
Date of Birth.
Order of birth Institution's name where the child was born.
Father's & mother's name.
Permanent address.
You can also send the discharge slip from the hospital / nursing home / health centre attached with the application form.
Availability of Certificate
The individual can avail the birth certificate within a specified time as fixed by the authority after furnishing the formalities.

Concerned Authority for Registration of Birth/Issuance of Birth Certificate/Registering Complain
a)In urban areas, the following concerned authorities are responsible for Registration of Birth/Issuance of Certificate/Registration of Complain
1) Registrar (Birth and Death) –cum- Health Officer for Municipal Corporations
2) Executive Officer for Municipalities/NACs
b) In rural areas, the following concerned authorities are responsible for Registration of Birth/Issuance of Certificate/Registration of Complain
1) Medical Officer in charge UGPHC (Upgraded Primary Health Centre)/CHC (Community Health Centre)/PHC (Primary Health Centre).