What are prenatal diagnostic procedures?

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Prenatal diagnostic procedures include any gynaecological, obstetrical or medical procedures such as ultrasonography, taking or removing samples of amniotic fluid, blood or any other tissue or fluid of a person, in order to conduct any prenatal diagnostic tests for sex selection, before or after conception.(( Section 2(i), Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.))

The purpose of these procedures is to obtain material to conduct prenatal diagnostic tests to increase the chances of getting an embryo of a particular sex.

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What does the law prohibit?

The law prohibits conducting sex selection or prenatal diagnostic procedures, determining and communicating the sex of the foetus, selling machines for sex determination and advertising sex determination facilities.

What are the offences and punishments under this law ?

Under the Indian law, every offence under the sex selection law is cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

What is sex selection?

Sex selection includes any procedure, technique, test or administration or prescription or provision of anything to ensure or increase the probability that an embryo will be of a particular sex.

When are prenatal diagnostic procedures permitted?

The Indian law allows the use of prenatal diagnostic procedures in certain limited circumstances, mentioned herein.

Who does the law apply to?

The law prohibits anyone from doing or allowing any sex selection procedures and regulates every person who could be involved in the process of sex selection.

Where can prenatal diagnostic procedures be conducted?

The law states that only Genetic Counselling Centres, Genetic Laboratories and Genetic Clinics (registered centres) that are registered under the law can conduct permitted prenatal diagnostic procedures.