Review of PCPNDT Act in the offing
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, requested a review of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, due to implementation challenges.
Background
The PCPNDT Act, 1994, regulates diagnostic techniques to prevent sex-selective abortions. Currently, three individuals received ₹1 lakh rewards for reporting violations, and 70 cases are pending in court proceedings.
Facts for Prelims
- Act / BillPCPNDT Act: Enacted in 1994 to regulate pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques.
- FactRegistration of pregnant women is currently conducted at 10 weeks of pregnancy (previously 12 weeks).
- FactFines have been levied against three doctors and five nurses for violations under the Act.
For Mains
Q. Critically analyze the challenges in enforcing the PCPNDT Act, 1994, and suggest measures to curb the practice of sex-selective abortion in India.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Enforcement gap: Difficulty in monitoring private clinics and clandestine diagnostic procedures
- Legal bottleneck: High volume of pending court cases delaying punitive actions against violators
- Data integrity: Challenges in verifying the authenticity of information provided by informants
Keywords: Sex-selective abortion · Regulatory oversight · Legislative review · Public health governance · Gender imbalance
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