The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition Of Sex Selection) Act

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 10 May 2019

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Goel A, Bell D, Babu V, et al. The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition Of Sex Selection) Act. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 23 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36736

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-36736

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/36736

rID:

36736

Article created:

8 May 2015, Ayush Goel ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Ayush Goel had no recorded disclosures.

View Ayush Goel's current disclosures

Last revised:

10 May 2019, Daniel J Bell ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.

View Daniel J Bell's current disclosures

Revisions:

7 times, by 6 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Obstetrics

Tags:

india, pcpndt, pndt

Synonyms:

PCPNDT
Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act (PNDT)

The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition Of Sex Selection) Act (PCPNDT) is a statute enacted to stop the female feticide that has resulted in declining female sex ratio in India.

As per census 2011, adult sex ratio in India is 943 females per 1000 males and child sex ratio is 919 females per 1000 males.

In 1994, Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act (PNDT) was passed by the Indian government, and came into effect on 1^st January 1996. However, there were frequent advances in science and preconception sex selection became possible. To include this, amendments were made to the act and in 2003 it was renamed the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition Of Sex Selection) Act.

Salient features of the act

The act is strict in its rules:

absolute prohibition of sex determination/selection
- no communication can be made about the sex of the fetus in any manner
the techniques must be conducted by qualified persons only
every center/institute conducting these tests must be registered under the act
- applications are sent for registration to appropriate authority (AA) by filling form A with an application fee of 3000-4000 (INR)
  - approved applicants will receive form B as a certificate that must be displayed in the center, the certificate is valid for five years
    - one month before the expiry of the certificate, renewal request should be sent in form A to the appropriate authority
  - rejected applicants will receive a form C as rejection certificate
before conducting a test, appropriate form must be filled, which in case of sonography is form F (patient details, indication of the test, patient's declaration that she does not want to know the sex of fetus, doctor's declaration that he/she has not determined/conveyed the sex of fetus, etc.)
- all the records (including referral slips) must be maintained
- form F specifies 23 indications under which sonography/sonographically assisted invasive procedures can be done
- a complete report of all such tests conducted in a month must be sent to the AA by 5^thday of the subsequent month
any change in equipment, employee or address must be informed to AA
every center/institute must display a notice delineating that sex determination/selection is prohibited under law
- a copy of the act and rules must be available in the center/institute
prohibition of sale of equipments/machines etc. to anyone who is not registered under the act

Anyone not fulfilling the rules is punishable under the act.

if need may, appeals against the decision of the authorities may be made to the higher authority (see implementing authorities below)

Implementing authorities

central supervisory board (CSB)
state/union territory supervisory board (SSB/UTSB)
advisory committee and appropriate authorities at three levels
- state
- district
- subdistrict