Overview The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 gave its in‑principle approval to the Kerala Nativity Card Bill . The Bill seeks to replace the existing Nativity Certificate with a permanent, photo‑affixed Nativity Card , which will serve as an authoritative document for state‑provided services and other social requirements. The move comes amid heightened debates on electoral roll revisions and citizenship concerns across India. Key Developments Development 1: The Cabinet’s approval on 18 February 2026 follows an earlier in‑principle nod on 24 December 2025 , signalling the government’s intent to institutionalise the card before the State Assembly reconvenes on 23 February 2026 . Development 2: The Bill defines a ‘native’ as a person born in Kerala who has never accepted foreign citizenship, or a descendant of such a person, thereby widening eligibility to Keralites born outside the state for livelihood reasons. Development 3: Administration of the card will be handled by the Tahsildar of the concerned taluk, with registers maintained at village offices; applicants must submit a prescribed form and pay a nominal fee. Important Facts Fact 1: Individuals who have relinquished Indian citizenship are ineligible, and any card holder who later renounces citizenship will see the card become null and void. Fact 2: The Nativity Card will be recognised as an authoritative document for accessing state services, subject to a government notification specifying the exact circumstances of its use. UPSC Relevance This development touches upon several UPSC syllabus areas: GS Paper II (Polity & Governance) – federal‑state relations, administrative reforms, and the legal basis of identity documents; GS Paper III (Economics & Social Development) – implications for welfare delivery and social inclusion; and GS Paper I (History & Geography) – the concept of ‘nativity’ and its historical evolution in Indian federalism. Potential questions may explore the constitutional validity of state‑issued identity documents, comparative analysis with similar schemes in other states, or the impact on electoral roll integrity. Way Forward For effective implementation, the Kerala government must issue clear guidelines on the card’s acceptance across departments, ensure digitisation of records to prevent fraud, and coordinate with the Election Commission to align the Nativity Card with electoral roll verification processes. Monitoring mechanisms should be established to address grievances and to periodically review the definition of ‘native’ in light of migration trends.