| Syllabus: GS-II Subject: Society and Social Justice Topic: Welfare schemes, mechanisms, laws and institutions related to Women and children, Issue: Surrogacy. |
Context: Indians are turning to commercial surrogacy abroad due to restrictive laws in India.
Gist:
- The Surrogacy Regulation Act of 2021 only allows altruistic surrogacy under specific conditions.
- Increasing numbers of privileged Indians are opting for surrogacy in the US, Canada, and Latin American countries.
Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021:
- Objective: Regulation of surrogacy practices and protection of rights for surrogate mothers and children.
Key provisions:
- Establishment of Boards: The Act sets up
- National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board (NATSRB) and
- State Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Boards (StART Boards)
- Only altruistic surrogacy is allowed, meaning no commercial transactions can take place.
- Intended couples must be:
- A legally married Indian man and woman.
- The woman should be between 25-50 years old and the man between 26-55 years old.
- Not have any biological, adopted or previously surrogate children.
- Alternatively, a single Indian woman between 35-45 years old (widow or divorcee) can also avail surrogacy if medically necessary.
