Marriage Registration in Arunachal Pradesh: Recording Act

Arunachal Pradesh has its own law, the Arunachal Pradesh Recording of Marriage Act, 2008, which asks for every marriage, including one performed by tribal custom, to be recorded. In practice the district Deputy Commissioner’s office is where couples go.

By TrueSaath · published 2026-10-22 · checked October 2026

Official portal: Arunachal eServices

The state's own law

The Arunachal Pradesh Recording of Marriage Act, 2008 (Act No. 1 of 2009) was published in the state gazette in February 2009. Section 3 says that all marriages solemnised in the state on or after the Act comes into force, in any form recognised under the personal law or custom of the husband and wife or either of them, shall be compulsorily recorded. That wording matters in a state where most marriages follow the customary practices of the community. The Act does not replace those customs or decide whether a customary marriage is valid. It creates a public record of a marriage that has already taken place under them.

Recorders and reporters

The Act sets up a chain of officers:

a Chief Marriage Recorder for the state;
a District Marriage Recorder for each district, and Sub-Divisional Marriage Recorders under them;
Marriage Reporters for urban and rural areas, who collect information about marriages in their area and pass it to the Sub-Divisional Marriage Recorder.

Notice boards outside these offices are to be in the local language and English.

How a marriage is recorded

Under section 7, within 60 days of the marriage the husband must, and the wife may, either:

tell the Sub-Divisional Marriage Recorder or the Marriage Reporter about the marriage orally, in which case the officer fills in the memorandum (Form A); or
prepare and sign a memorandum in Form A, with the signatures or thumb impressions of both spouses and two witnesses from the locality, and deliver it in person or by registered post.

An acknowledgement is given in Form B. The officer may not refuse a memorandum just because the marriage took place outside their area. After the 60 days, section 8 still allows the memorandum to be filed, on payment of a late fine.

Section 10 is the reassurance many families need: a marriage is not invalid only because it was not recorded. Section 13 adds that a recorded marriage is presumed valid unless the contrary is proved, and the certificate is issued in Form C.

Where to go in practice

District administrations handle marriage certificates. West Kameng district, for example, says its certificate is issued by the Marriage Officer at the Judicial Branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Bomdila, and links to the state’s Arunachal eServices portal for applying online. Ask your own DC office which officer and form to use, as practice can differ between districts.

Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act

The Hindu Marriage Act does not apply to members of Scheduled Tribes unless the Central Government directs otherwise, so many tribal couples in the state register under the state Act instead. Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh couples who are not Scheduled Tribe members can use the Hindu Marriage Act.

The Special Marriage Act, 1954 is open to any couple, including inter-community and inter-religion couples, through the district Marriage Officer, with a 30-day notice period. See court marriage under the Special Marriage Act.

Documents

Expect age proof, address proof, photographs, proof of the ceremony and identity proof for witnesses. The general list is in our documents checklist. If the marriage happened long ago, see registering a marriage after the wedding.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws, forms and procedures change, so confirm the current steps with the registering office before you apply. For your own situation speak to a lawyer, or get free legal aid through your District Legal Services Authority; NALSA’s legal aid helpline is 15100.

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Questions people ask

Does Arunachal Pradesh require customary marriages to be recorded?

Yes. Section 3 of the Arunachal Pradesh Recording of Marriage Act, 2008 covers marriages in any form recognised under the personal law or custom of the parties.

How many days do we have to record a marriage in Arunachal Pradesh?

Section 7 gives 60 days from the marriage. A memorandum can still be filed later under section 8, with a late fine.

Is a marriage in Arunachal Pradesh invalid if it was never recorded?

No. Section 10 of the Act says a marriage is not invalid only because it was not recorded.

Who gives the marriage certificate in an Arunachal district?

District administrations issue it. In West Kameng, for example, it comes from the Marriage Officer at the Judicial Branch of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Sources

Checked in October 2026. Rules, fees and portals change; confirm on the official site before you apply.

The national guides

Hindu Marriage Registration under Section 8 HMAhindu marriage registration Court Marriage under the Special Marriage Actcourt marriage process Documents for Marriage Registrationdocuments required for marriage registration Inter-Religion Marriage Registration in Indiainter religion marriage registration Marriage Certificate Onlinemarriage certificate online NRI Marriage Registration and Apostille in Indianri marriage registration Late Marriage Registrationlate marriage registration Name Change after Marriagename change after marriage

Other states

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