Primary Objectives

• Prohibition of sex selection: To prohibit sex selection and to regulate the use and to prevent misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques
• Prevention of sex-selective procedures: To prohibit the selection of sex using procedures
• Legal restrictions on family members: Relatives and the husband of a pregnant woman are prohibited from seeking or encouraging the conduct of sex-selection techniques. Section 2(o), 3A and 4

Background and Context

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 was enacted to address the declining sex ratio in India due to female foeticide. The Act aims to prevent the misuse of diagnostic techniques for sex determination and subsequent termination of female foetuses.

Key Provisions

The Act establishes a comprehensive framework to regulate pre-natal diagnostic techniques while ensuring they remain available for legitimate medical purposes such as detecting genetic abnormalities and chromosomal disorders.

"The Act seeks to balance the legitimate medical use of diagnostic techniques with the prevention of their misuse for sex determination."