NEWS – Union government has brought changes to Surrogacy (Regulation) Rules, 2022

WHAT IS NEW

• Allow couples certified with medical conditions to use donor gametes for surrogacy, provided at least one gamete originates from the intending couple.
• Single women, including widows and divorcees, are mandated to use self-eggs and donor sperm for surrogacy, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
• The District Medical Board may certify the need for donor gametes based on the medical condition of either spouse in the intending couple, facilitating access to surrogacy using donor gametes

SURROGACY

Surrogacy is a reproductive arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate mother, carries and delivers a child for another person or couple, known as the intended parents

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021:

• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 was introduced to address the legal and ethical issues surrounding surrogacy in India.
• The Act prohibits commercial surrogacy, allowing only altruistic surrogacy, where the surrogate mother volunteers to carry the child without any financial gain.
• It outlines eligibility criteria for intending couples and surrogate mothers, including a requirement for a close relative to be the surrogate
• Eligibility Criteria:
  • The Act defines eligibility criteria for intending couples, including a requirement for at least five years of a stable marital relationship and the inability to conceive a child.
  • It specifies that only Indian citizens can avail of surrogacy services in the country.