Chennai To Send Birth Certificates Directly On WhatsApp

The Greater Chennai Corporation has introduced a new digital initiative under which birth certificates of newborns will be sent directly to parents through WhatsApp, making access to civic documents faster and more convenient.

According to an official release issued on Monday, parents who register the birth of their child at hospitals within the Corporation’s jurisdiction will receive the birth certificate in PDF format on the mobile number provided during registration. Until now, certificates were primarily available through the Corporation’s official website.

The civic body said parents can also download the document later through the Corporation’s WhatsApp chatbot by messaging 94450 61913 and entering the registered mobile number linked to the birth registration.

Corporation Commissioner J Kumarakurbaran said the initiative is part of efforts to make civic services more accessible through digital platforms and reduce the need for people to visit government offices for basic documentation.

The move places Chennai among a growing number of Indian cities adopting WhatsApp-based governance services. Several states and municipalities, including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, have already launched chatbot-driven public service platforms offering access to certificates, bill payments and grievance redressal.

However, Chennai’s latest system stands out for automatically sending birth certificates directly to parents through WhatsApp immediately after registration, a feature not yet widely implemented by other civic bodies in the country.