Surrogacy in India: Political and commercial framings

Abstract

India stood as a ‘baby cradle’ for the world, and a preferred destination for IVF and surrogacy. Based on the empirical research in different cities in India, and secondary sources, the authors address the policy shifts and the process in which surrogacy became a debatable issue. From unregulated commercial gestational surrogacy, the policy shifted to proposing a complete ban on commercial surrogacy allowing only altruistic surrogacy for Indian couples. The law on surrogacy is still in its making and various stakeholders are advocating towards reversal of the proposed ban, as it will incur financial huge losses for the IVF clinics and surrogates. It is yet to be seen when the law will be passed and what will be the final decision, who will monitor and regulate it.