NCW panel to review IVF, ART clinic laws; ex-Delhi HC judge to lead
Synopsis
India's top women's rights body has formed a high-level judicial panel to scrutinise IVF and ART clinic laws — an acknowledgement that mandatory registration alone has failed to stop unethical practices. With medical tourism raising sex-selection concerns and no uniform treatment protocols in place, the committee's SOPs could reshape how fertility clinics operate nationwide.
Key Takeaways
The NCW has constituted a committee on 9 July to review laws governing IVF clinics and ART centres in India.
The panel is led by Justice Asha Menon , former judge of the Delhi High Court .
It will review the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 , the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021 , and 2026 Amendment Rules .
The committee will propose SOPs and identify gaps enabling exploitation or fraudulent practices in fertility clinics.
The NCW flagged that medical tourism in the fertility sector risks circumventing safeguards against sex selection.
Absence of uniform treatment protocols across states has left women exposed to inconsistent care and financial exploitation.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has constituted a multidisciplinary committee to review the regulatory framework governing IVF clinics and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centres across India, the commission announced on Thursday, 9 July. The panel will be led by Justice Asha Menon, former judge of the Delhi High Court, and is mandated to propose reforms aimed at protecting women seeking fertility treatment.
Scope and Mandate of the Committee
The committee is tasked with reviewing the implementation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the relevant Amendment Rules notified in 2026. It will examine existing safeguards on consent, privacy, and biological traceability, and identify regulatory gaps that may enable exploitation or fraudulent practices.
The NCW stated that the panel will propose Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best practices for ART clinics and IVF centres to promote ethical treatment, standardised clinical protocols, and greater transparency across the sector.
Who Is on the Panel
The committee brings together experts spanning judiciary, medicine, forensic science, law enforcement, gynaecology, public policy, and representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The NCW said the multidisciplinary composition is intended to ensure a comprehensive examination of legal, ethical, medical, and administrative issues linked to assisted reproductive technologies.
Why the Review Was Needed
The NCW acknowledged that mandatory registration under the National ART and Surrogacy Registry has not been sufficient to prevent unethical practices. The commission flagged a growing concern over the rise of medical tourism in India's fertility sector, which, according to the NCW, risks circumventing legal safeguards — including those aimed at preventing sex selection.
The absence of uniform treatment protocols across states has also been cited as a gap, leaving women vulnerable to unnecessary procedures, inconsistent standards of care, and financial exploitation, the commission noted.
What the Recommendations Could Change
The committee's findings are expected to guide future legal, policy, and administrative reforms aimed at strengthening governance of the ART ecosystem. The NCW reiterated that reproductive healthcare must be guided by the principles of dignity, informed choice, transparency, and accountability.
With India's fertility treatment industry expanding rapidly and cross-border patients increasingly seeking services here, the panel's recommendations could have significant implications for how clinics are monitored, licensed, and held accountable. A timeline for the submission of recommendations has not yet been made public.
Point of View
A problem that existing law has not addressed. Whether a committee report translates into enforceable reforms will depend on whether the Ministry of Health acts on the recommendations — a step that is far from guaranteed given the pace of past ART-sector reforms.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the NCW formed a committee to review IVF and ART clinic laws?
The NCW constituted the committee amid growing concerns over irregularities in fertility clinics, including unethical practices that mandatory registration has failed to prevent. The panel will identify regulatory gaps and recommend reforms to better protect women seeking assisted reproductive treatment.
Who is leading the NCW committee on IVF regulation?
The committee is led by Justice Asha Menon, a former judge of the Delhi High Court. The panel also includes experts from medicine, forensic science, law enforcement, gynaecology, public policy, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which laws will the NCW panel review?
The committee will review the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Amendment Rules notified in 2026. It will also examine safeguards on consent, privacy, and biological traceability.
What is the concern about medical tourism in India's fertility sector?
The NCW has flagged that the rise of medical tourism in fertility treatment risks circumventing India's legal safeguards, including those designed to prevent sex selection. Cross-border patients may be used to bypass regulations that apply to domestic clinics.
What will the committee's recommendations lead to?
The recommendations are expected to guide future legal, policy, and administrative reforms to strengthen governance of the ART ecosystem. They will also inform the development of Standard Operating Procedures for IVF and ART clinics to ensure ethical treatment and patient protection.
