The International Planned Parenthood Federation is deeply concerned by the proposed amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, recently introduced in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian Parliament.
Reports indicate that the amendments may remove the recognition of self-perceived gender identity and introduce more restrictive mechanisms for determining who is recognised under the law. These changes risk undermining the principle of self-determination, in this case a person’s right to determine their own gender identity. Self-determination is a cornerstone of dignity, bodily autonomy, and human rights, as affirmed by the NALSA v. Union of India judgement.
By shifting recognition of gender identity away from individuals and toward medical and administrative authorities, the proposed amendments will reinforce medical gatekeeping, stigma, and exclusion.
“Self-determination is not a procedural formality. It determines whether trans and gender-diverse groups can safely exist, access care, and be recognized in their daily lives. The proposed amendments erase entire parts of our communities, particularly transmasculine and gender-diverse people who already face immense structural exclusion. When the State places barriers between people and their identities, it pushes communities further away from essential healthcare and support systems” says Silvester Merchant, Community Engagement and Partnerships Lead, IPPF South Asia Region.
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Any attempt to undermine self-determination or restrict legal recognition directly harms the lives of trans and gender-diverse communities. We will continue to push back — together with communities — against measures that deepen exclusion and limit access to health and dignity. - Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director (Interim), IPPF South Asia Region
For trans and gender-diverse communities, restrictive legal recognition is closely linked to reduced access to healthcare, including gender-affiming services, HIV prevention and treatment services, and broader sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion services for transmasculine persons.
The proposed Bill also raises urgent concerns for intersex people, whose realities risk being misrepresented within a gender identity framework. Intersex variations relate to natural diversity in sex characteristics, and conflating these with gender identity can obscure the specific violations intersex people face, including non-consensual medical interventions.
“IPPF works with trans and intersex-led organisations to expand access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, challenge stigma in health systems, and advocate for rights-based policies. Any attempt to undermine self-determination or restrict legal recognition directly harms the lives of trans and gender-diverse communities. We will continue to push back — together with communities — against measures that deepen exclusion and limit access to health and dignity”, reaffirms Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director (Interim), IPPF South Asia Region.
This development reflects a broader global trend of increasing opposition to gender diversity in South Asia and across the globe, signalling a regressive shift in protections for transgender and gender-diverse communities. In Sri Lanka, a recent legal petition seeks to suspend gender recognition processes and halt programmes that enable people to legally affirm their gender.
IPPF stands in unwavering solidarity with transgender, intersex, and gender diverse communities across India, as they mobilize against the proposed amendments. We will actively work alongside community-led movements to resist regressive policies, defend self-determination, and advance access to sexual and reproductive health and rights of trans, intersex and gender-diverse communities.
Featured image courtesy: The Hindu/R. Ragu
