Bill to regulate surrogacy tabled in LS

NEW DELHI: Aiming to ban commercial surrogacy to protect exploitation of women, the government on Monday introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, in Lok Sabha that seeks to allow only altruistic surrogacy by infertile Indian couples from a “close relative”.
Only Indian couples who have been legally married for at least five years would be allowed to opt for surrogacy.
The bill seeks to “allow ethical altruistic surrogacy to the intending infertile Indian married couple between the age of 23-50 years and 26-55 years for female and male, respectively”.
The bill proposes to prohibit foreigners, NRIs and PIOs from commissioning surrogacy in the country.
Even singles, homosexuals and live-in couples cannot apply for surrogacy. Besides, couples who already have children will not be allowed to opt for surrogacy.