Topic: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources
1) Recently Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016. Examine the need, key provisions and associated concerns of the bill.(250 words)
Why this question:
The Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019 on Tuesday. The Bill aims to regulate the practice of surrogacy in India and allow only “ethical altruistic surrogacy”.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must examine in detail the key provisions of the bill , the concerns and issues involved along with the need of such a law in place to regulate surrogacy in the country.
Directive:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we have to look into the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Define what you understand by Surrogacy.
Body:
Explain the following –
Surrogacy is a form of assisted reproductive treatment (ART) in which a woman carries a child within her uterus on behalf of another person or couple. Recently Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 which seeks to regulate commercial surrogacy which has become a flourishing industry in the country.
Discuss the need for the Bill – to curb unethical practices present in the medical industry with respect to surrogacy, women health aspects, to prohibit commercial surrogacy.
What are the key provisions of the bill?
Explain in detail the possible concerns – It does not allow single women or men, or gay couples to go in for surrogacy, clarity in case of unhealthy child born out surrogacy and its acceptance is missing etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude that sanctioning altruistic surrogacy will enforce emotional and societal pressure on close female relatives without any compensation for immense emotional and bodily labour of pregnancy involved in surrogacy as well as loss of livelihood.
