The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday decided to introduce a nativity card as a new identification document to prove residency as part of measures to address contemporary concerns related to citizenship checks. Announcing the decision at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Cabinet had approved in-principle the issuance of a permanent nativity card with a photo in place of the nativity certificate currently being issued in the State.
“The plight of people who find it difficult to prove their existence is worrying. For this, the person should have an authentic and legally backed document. The government intends to introduce such a document in Kerala. The card can be used for services related to the State government and for other needs. The tahsildars will be responsible for distributing the card,” he said.
The nativity certificate, in its current form, is a document that proves the birth and long-term residence of a person in a State. However, it is not a legally binding document. At present, a nativity certificate has to be obtained several times in connection with each need. The government had received complaints in this regard. With the introduction of the card, these problems will be resolved. The Revenue department has been tasked with submitting the draft law to give legal validity to the nativity card for the consideration of the Cabinet in consultation with the Law department, he said.
Published – December 24, 2025 07:58 pm IST
