This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2240, addressed to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, concerning deaths during COVID-19. The question references news reports citing Civil Registration System (CRS) data indicating approximately 25.8 lakh more deaths in India in 2021 compared to 2019 (the last pre-COVID year). This figure is purportedly six times the official COVID death tally of 3.3 lakh for that year, after accounting for natural population increase. The question also asks whether deaths were underreported during the COVID-19 period, the reasons for any underreporting, whether the government has reviewed the report, details of discrepancies found in death reports (state-wise), and whether undercounting of deaths occurred in states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, clarifies that the registration of births and deaths falls under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, amended in 2023. The Registrar General of India (RGI) coordinates registration activities at the central level, while State Governments/UT Administrations implement the system. The mortality figures cited from the CRS data represent the number of registered deaths reported by States/UTs due to *all* causes of death.
Key Entities Referenced
COVID-19: A disease that caused a global pandemic, heavily impacting public health and mortality.
Civil Registration System (CRS): A government record-keeping system for vital events like births and deaths, used for demographic and public health analysis.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for public health and family welfare policies and programs.
Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 amended in 2023: The Indian legislation governing the registration of births and deaths, providing the legal framework for the CRS.
Registrar General of India (RGI): The central authority responsible for coordinating and unifying registration activities under the CRS at the national level.
Gujarat: A state in India where undercounting of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic was allegedly witnessed.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where undercounting of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic was allegedly witnessed.
Shri Prataprao Jadhav: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the parliamentary question.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2240
TO BE ANSWERED ON01.08.2025
DEATHS DURING COVID-19
2240 SHRISVENKATESAN:
SHRISACHITHANANTHAM R:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH & FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the news reports quoting the official data from the
Civil Registration System(CRS)that India registered around25.8 lakhmore deathsdue toCovid
in 2021as compared to2019, the last pre-Covid year which is nearlysix timesthe official Covid
death tallyof 3.3lakh inthat yearafter accountingfor a naturalincrease inpopulation during the
two-year periodandif so, the details thereof;
(b) whether deathswere underreportedduring the Covid-19 periodandif so, the reasons therefor;
(c)whether the Government hasconducted anyreviewof the said report;
(d) if so, the details of discrepancies if any, found in the death reports during the said period in
the country, State-wise;
(e) whether undercounting of deaths were witnessed in States like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
which saw 33timesand18timesmore deaths thanthe Statesofficial count; and
(f) if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (f) Under Civil Registration System (CRS), the registration of births and deaths is done
under the provisions of the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969 (amended in
2023). Registrar General of India (RGI) at the Central level coordinates and unifies the activities
of registration throughout the country, while the system is implemented by State
Governments/UTAdministrations.
The mortality figures under the Civil Registration System (CRS) data, as referred to in some
news report,represent numberof registered deaths asreportedbyStates/UTs, due to allcauses of
death.
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