What is the science of ‘surrogacy’ and its strict laws in India? Know everything:

New Delhi. The advancement of medical science has paved the way for those couples to become parents who cannot have a child naturally due to some physical disability. Surrogacy is a technique in which a woman willingly provides her womb to give birth to someone else’s child. However, in India, the rules regarding this are very strict so that commercial exploitation can be prevented.

There are mainly two types of surrogacy:

Gestational Surrogacy:

This is the most common method. In this, the ‘egg’ and ‘sperm’ of the intended parents are combined in the lab (through IVF technique) and then the prepared embryo is implanted in the uterus of the surrogate mother. In this, the child has no genetic relation with the surrogate mother.

Traditional Surrogacy:

In this, the surrogate mother’s eggs are used, hence she is also the biological mother of the child. Now the practice of this method has almost ended in India.

New rules of surrogacy in India (Surrogacy Act 2021)

The Government of India has enacted stringent laws to regulate surrogacy:

Altruistic Surrogacy: Only altruistic surrogacy is now allowed in India. This means that the surrogate mother cannot be given any money or commercial benefits in exchange for the womb (except for medical expenses and insurance cover).

Restrictions on commercial surrogacy: ‘Commercial surrogacy’ is completely banned in India. Doing so is a legal offence.

Who can become a parent? Only those Indian couples who have been married for at least 5 years and have medical proof that they are unable to have a child. (Recently the rules have been relaxed somewhat).

Why is surrogacy needed?

Congenital problem or absence of it in the uterus.

Repeated miscarriage.

Many attempts at IVF (in vitro fertilization) have failed.

Heart disease or other serious conditions where pregnancy can be life-threatening.