Congratulations. Here is everything to sort out in the first weeks and months, in order, with official fees and links. Tick each step off as you go; your list stays on this device.
Official fee: Free within 21 days, with the first certificate. ₹20 late fee from day 22 to day 30 (model rules)source
The birth is registered where it happened, with the municipality, gram panchayat or the registrar your state names. For a hospital birth the hospital reports it; for a home birth the head of the household must report it. Ask for the registration number before you leave the hospital, and check the parents’ name spellings on the form.
Time: 1 registrar visit or an online request, where your state allows it
Official fee: Free within 12 months (model rules)source
If you registered without a name, add it once the naamkaran is done. Apply to the same registrar with the registration number. Do it early: every later document (Aadhaar, school, passport) copies the name from the birth certificate.
When: From birth; follow the dates on the MCP card
Time: 10 minutes to register on U-WIN
The first vaccines are given at birth, and the rest follow at fixed weeks under the Universal Immunization Programme, free at government health centres. U-WIN keeps a digital record of every dose and gives a QR-coded e-vaccination certificate. Keep the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card safe; the ANM or ASHA updates it too.
When: Register in pregnancy; claim the last instalment after birth and vaccines
Time: 1 visit to the Anganwadi centre or ASHA
If it applies: For eligible mothers: PMMVY has income and category rules, and is not for women in regular government jobs
PM Matru Vandana Yojana pays ₹5,000 for the first child in two instalments, and ₹6,000 for a second child if she is a girl, to the mother’s Aadhaar-linked bank account. The later instalment needs the birth registered and the first vaccines done, so the two steps above matter. Janani Suraksha Yojana gives separate cash help for a delivery in a government or accredited hospital; the amount depends on your state and area.
Official fee: Enrolment free. Biometric update free at ages 5 to 7 and 15 to 17source
Take the birth certificate and one parent’s Aadhaar to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment centre. A child below 5 gives no fingerprints or iris scan; only a photo is taken and the parent’s Aadhaar is linked. Note the dates for the mandatory biometric update at 5 and again at 15, or the Aadhaar can stop working for school and scheme use.
When: After the birth certificate and Baal Aadhaar
Time: 20 minutes online, or 1 office visit
If it applies: Only if your family has a ration card
If your family has a ration card, apply to add the new member on your state’s food department portal or at the ration office. Most states ask for the birth certificate and often the child’s Aadhaar. The rules and any fee are set by your state.
When: In the first weeks; check your policy’s time limit
Time: 1 call or email to the insurer or HR
If it applies: If your family has PM-JAY or a health insurance policy
If your family is covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, ask at the Ayushman Mitra desk or check the beneficiary portal about adding the baby. If you have private or office health insurance, tell the insurer or HR about the birth soon; policies set their own time limits for adding a newborn. Read your policy wording rather than assuming the baby is covered.
A Sukanya Samriddhi account can be opened for a girl below 10 at a post office or an authorised bank, with her birth certificate. You can deposit ₹250 to ₹1.5 lakh in a financial year, and only one account is allowed per girl. The interest rate is set every quarter by the government.
Time: 30 minutes online, then 1 Passport Seva Kendra visit
Official fee: ₹1,750 (36 pages, minor). Tatkaal ₹2,500 extrasource
If it applies: Only if the baby will travel abroad
Only needed if you plan to travel abroad. Apply on Passport Seva as a minor; the passport is valid for 5 years or until the child turns 18, whichever is earlier. Carry the birth certificate and the parents’ documents, and use the Document Advisor on the portal for your exact case.
If it applies: Only if an investment in the child’s name asks for PAN
A baby does not need a PAN for a birth certificate, Aadhaar, vaccines or SSY. It is useful only if you invest in the child’s own name where PAN is asked. Minors cannot use the free Instant e-PAN service; a parent applies through the PAN routes listed on the Income Tax e-Filing portal.
What is the first thing to do after the baby is born?
Make sure the birth is registered within 21 days. In a hospital birth the hospital reports it, but ask for the registration number before you leave. Registration and the first certificate are free within 21 days under the model rules.
We have not chosen a name yet. Can we still register?
Yes. Register the birth now without a name. Under the model rules you can add the name free within 12 months of registration.
Is Baal Aadhaar compulsory, and what does it cost?
Enrolment is free. A child below 5 gives no fingerprints; the parent’s Aadhaar is used. The biometric update at 5 and again at 15 is mandatory and free at ages 5 to 7 and 15 to 17.
How much does PM Matru Vandana Yojana give?
The Ministry of Women and Child Development says ₹5,000 for the first child in two instalments, and ₹6,000 for a second child if she is a girl, paid to the mother’s bank account. Register through your Anganwadi worker or ASHA, or on the PMMVY portal.
Sources
Last checked: . Fees and rules change, and many differ by state. Always confirm on the official site before you pay. This is general information, not legal advice.