​​​​​​​New Delhi, July 9: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has set up a high-level expert committee to conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and regulatory framework governing IVF clinics, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centres, and gamete banks. The initiative aims to strengthen safeguards for women's reproductive rights while ensuring their dignity, safety, and well-being.

The move comes amid increasing concerns over alleged irregularities in India's rapidly growing ART sector. Retired Delhi High Court judge Justice Asha Menon has been appointed as the chairperson of the committee.

The panel comprises experts from diverse fields, including the judiciary, medicine, forensic science, law enforcement, gynaecology, public policy, and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. According to the NCW, the multidisciplinary composition is intended to enable a thorough assessment of the legal, ethical, medical, and administrative issues associated with assisted reproductive technologies.

Although registration under the National ART and Surrogacy Registry is mandatory for all ART clinics and gamete banks, the Commission noted that regulatory compliance alone has not been enough to curb unethical practices in the sector.

The NCW also highlighted concerns arising from the growth of fertility-related medical tourism, warning that it could potentially be used to bypass India's legal safeguards, including restrictions aimed at preventing sex selection. It further pointed to the lack of uniform treatment protocols across states, saying stronger oversight is needed to protect women from unnecessary medical procedures, inconsistent standards of care, and financial exploitation.

The committee will examine the implementation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, and the Amendment Rules notified in 2026. It will review existing safeguards related to informed consent, privacy, and biological traceability, identify regulatory and procedural gaps that could facilitate exploitation or fraudulent practices, and recommend measures to strengthen institutional accountability.

In addition, the panel will propose Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best practices for IVF clinics and ART centres to encourage ethical treatment, standardised clinical protocols, and greater transparency across the fertility sector.

The committee's recommendations are expected to shape future legal, policy, and administrative reforms aimed at improving governance of India's ART ecosystem while ensuring comprehensive safeguards for women seeking fertility treatment.

Reiterating its commitment to women's rights, the NCW stated that reproductive healthcare must be guided by the principles of dignity, informed choice, transparency, and accountability, ensuring every woman accessing assisted reproductive services receives safe, ethical, and rights-based care.