All you need to know about draft surrogacy Bill

The Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved a draft bill to regulate surrogacy.

A Group of Ministers had recently cleared the bill and had referred it to the Union Cabinet for a final call.

Here are the salient features of the proposed Bill.

2. As per the 2009 Law Commission Report, the artificial reproduction treatment industry is Rs. 25,000 crore industry.

3. The Bill aims to prevent exploitation of women, especially those in rural and tribal areas.

4. The Bill promises to ensure parentage of children born out of surrogacy is “legal and transparent.”

5. The new Bill proposes complete ban on commercial surrogacy.

6. As per the Bill, only legally-wedded Indian couples can have children through surrogacy, provided at least one of them have been proven to have fertility-related issues.

7. Foreigners, even Overseas Indians, are barred from commissioning surrogacy.

8. A woman will be allowed to become a surrogate mother only for altruistic purpose and under no circumstances money shall be paid to her, except for medical expenses.

9. Unmarried couples, single parents, live—in partners and homosexuals cannot opt for surrogacy as per the new bill.

10. Surrogacy regulation board will be set-up at Central and State-level.