India Passes Transgender Rights Amendment Bill

India's Parliament has passed the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Amendment Bill, 2026, narrowing the legal definition of transgender individuals and eliminating the right to self-identification, a move that has ignited protests from activists and opposition lawmakers in New Delhi.

The bill cleared the Lok Sabha earlier this month and the Rajya Sabha on March 25, 2026, through a voice vote despite walkouts by opposition members demanding review by a Select Committee. Introduced by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar, the legislation amends the 2019 Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act, which had allowed individuals to obtain identity certificates based on self-declaration without medical intervention. The amendments now require verification by a medical board, comprising a chief medical officer or equivalent, before a district magistrate issues a certificate. This process may involve additional expert consultations if needed, and certificates permit changes to names on official documents like birth certificates and passports.

Under the revised definition, transgender persons are limited to those with specific sociocultural identities such as...