Lok Sabha passes The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016, here are the key points

Amidst adjournments and sloganeering Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016. The bill permits surrogacy for couples who cannot conceive.

Here are 10 highlights from the bill:

1. Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a couple commissions a surrogate mother to carry their child.
2. Other than medical expenses no payment can be made to the surrogate mother.
3. The couple intending to go for surrogacy must be Indian citizens having married for five years.
4. Taking up surrogacy for a fee, advertising or exploiting the surrogate mother is punishable with imprisonment for 10 years and fine up to Rs 10 lakh.
5. Surrogacy is permitted only for couples who cannot conceive a child.
6. The surrogate must be a close relative of the couple. Though, the term ‘close relative’ is not clearly defined.
7. The child born from surrogacy will be deemed to be the biological child of the intending couple.
8. Both the surrogate mother and the intending couple need eligibility certificates from the appropriate authority.
9. For an abortion besides complying with Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, the consent of surrogate mother and approval of appropriate authority is also required.
10. The intending couple has no say in the consent of abortion.

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