The Centre revised the rules a year after the SC received petitions from women nationwide, (Image: Representative/Shutterstock)
The advisory stated that single women (widows or divorcees) choosing surrogacy must use their own eggs and donor sperm for the surrogacy procedures
The Centre has revised the surrogacy rules, permitting married couples to utilise a donor’s egg or sperm if one of the partners is experiencing a medical condition. According to the latest notification released on Wednesday, the District Medical Board is now required to confirm whether either the husband or wife is facing a medical condition that mandates the use of a donor gamete.
“In case when the District Medical Board certifies that either husband or wife constituting the intending couple suffers from a medical condition necessitating use of donor gamete, then surrogacy using donor gamete is allowed,” the notification stated.
The advisory further added that surrogacy using donor gametes is permitted, provided that the child born through surrogacy must have at least one gamete from the intending couple. Consequently, if both partners have medical issues or are unable to provide their own gametes, they are ineligible to pursue surrogacy.
Additionally, single women (widows or divorcees) choosing surrogacy must use their own eggs and donor sperm for the surrogacy procedures.
The amendment comes one year after the Supreme Court received petitions from women nationwide, following its approval for a woman with a rare congenital disorder to pursue surrogacy using a donor egg.
In March 2023, the central government issued a notification prohibiting the use of donor gametes for couples seeking surrogacy.
(With inputs from agencies)