Surrogacy it seems is on the increase in India as a way for many couples to have a child. However much of this is via tourism rather than home grown.<\/p>\n
This has worried the Indian Government who has now decided to try and regulate what is described as the practice of renting a womb. Hundreds of births last year resulted from surrogacy.<\/p>\n
As the law stands today, a woman younger than 21 or older than 35, cannot act a as a surrogate. Nor is any Indian woman allowed to carry more than 5 live births; this number also includes her own children.<\/p>\n
Known as the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) Regulation Bill, the legislation aims to strengthen the existing law by preventing a potential surrogate to have more than 3 embryos implanted. The spouse of any surrogate must also approve the behaviour.<\/p>\n
Finally, and perhaps more controversially, only Indian citizens can act as surrogates. Further, medical authorities are banned from sending the woman abroad.<\/p>\n
Speaking with reporters, the medical director of the Rotunda Centre for Human Reproduction in Mumbai, Dr. Gautam Allahbadia said: \u201cSurrogacy will be easiest to do in India.<\/p>\n