(1) This Act may be called the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, 1886; and
(2) It shall come into force on such day1as the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette directs.
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1. Came into force on 1st October, 1888, See Gazette of India, 1888, Pt. I, p. 336.
2. Sub-section (3) rep. by Act 12 of 1891, sec. 2and Sch.
Section 2 - Extent
1[ 2.Extent.--
ThisAct extends2 to the whole ofIndia except 3 the territorieswhich immediately before the 1st November, 1956, were comprisedin Part B States].]
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1. Subs. by theA.O. 1950, for the former section.
2. It has beendeclared in force in the Santhal Parganas by sec. 3 of the Santhal ParganasSettlement Regulation, 1872 (III of 1872). It has also been partially extendedto Berar by the Berar Laws Act1941 (4 of 1941).
3. Subs. by theA.O. (No. 2), 1956, for "Part B States".
Section 3 - Definitions
In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context, --
"sign" includes mark, when the person making the mark is unable to write his name;
"prescribed" means prescribed by a rule made1[ ** * * *] under this Act; and
"Registrar of Births and Deaths" means a Registrar of Births and Deaths appointed under this Act.
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1. The words "by the G.G. in C." rep. by the A.O. 1937.
Section 4 - Saving of local laws
Nothing in this Act, or in any rule made under this Act, shall affect any law heretofore or hereafter passed providing for the registration of births and deaths within particular local areas.
Section 5 - Power exercisable from time to time
All powers conferred by this Act may be exercised from time to time as occasion requires.