Loading page, please wait…
What is Surrogacy? - UPSC Social Issues
What is What is Surrogacy? in UPSC Social Issues?
What is Surrogacy? is a key topic under Social Issues for UPSC Civil Services Examination. Key points include: Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents.. It involves a surrogate mother and intended parents, defined by their roles.. In India, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.. Understanding this topic is essential for both UPSC Prelims and Mains preparation.
Why is What is Surrogacy? important for UPSC exam?
What is Surrogacy? is a Medium-level topic in UPSC Social Issues. It is tested in both Prelims (factual MCQs) and Mains (analytical answer writing). Previous year UPSC questions have frequently covered aspects of What is Surrogacy?, making it essential for comprehensive IAS preparation.
How to prepare What is Surrogacy? for UPSC?
To prepare What is Surrogacy? for UPSC: (1) Study the comprehensive notes covering all key concepts on Vaidra. (2) Practice previous year questions on this topic. (3) Connect it with current affairs using daily updates. (4) Revise using key takeaways and mind maps available for Social Issues. (5) Write practice answers linking What is Surrogacy? to related GS Paper topics.
Key takeaways of What is Surrogacy? for UPSC
- Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents.
- It involves a surrogate mother and intended parents, defined by their roles.
- In India, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.
- Commercial surrogacy is banned in India to prevent exploitation and commodification.
- The ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, complements surrogacy laws by regulating fertility clinics and practices.
What is Surrogacy?
Medium⏱️ 7 min read
social issues
📖 Introduction
Understanding Surrogacy: A Core Definition
Surrogacy is a sophisticated reproductive arrangement involving a third party. It is designed to assist individuals or couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term on their own.
This process typically involves a formal, often contractual, agreement. This agreement meticulously outlines the responsibilities and expectations of all parties involved.
Definition: Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate mother, agrees to carry and deliver a baby for another individual or couple, referred to as the intended parents.
Key Parties in a Surrogacy Arrangement
A surrogacy arrangement fundamentally involves two primary sets of parties, each with distinct roles and legal standing.
- Surrogate Mother: This is the woman who physically carries the pregnancy to term and delivers the baby. She is sometimes simply called the surrogate or gestational carrier.
- Intended Parents: These are the individual or couple for whom the baby is being carried. They are the ones who will assume legal parenthood of the child immediately after birth.
The essence of surrogacy lies in this agreement: a woman voluntarily undertakes gestation for others, thereby enabling them to achieve parenthood.
The Process of Carrying and Delivering
The role of the surrogate mother is paramount, as she undergoes the entire physical and often emotional journey of pregnancy and childbirth.
Modern surrogacy typically relies on Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). This often includes In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), where embryos are created externally and then transferred to the surrogate's uterus.
For UPSC, it is vital to grasp the ethical, legal, and social dimensions of surrogacy, beyond just the medical procedure. Questions frequently focus on policy implications and societal impact.
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman carries a pregnancy for intended parents.
- •It involves a surrogate mother and intended parents, defined by their roles.
- •In India, only altruistic surrogacy is permitted under the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021.
- •Commercial surrogacy is banned in India to prevent exploitation and commodification.
- •The ART (Regulation) Act, 2021, complements surrogacy laws by regulating fertility clinics and practices.
🧠 Memory Techniques
98% Verified Content
📚 Reference Sources
•The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, Government of India
•Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India official documents
•Parliamentary Debates and Standing Committee Reports on Surrogacy Legislation
•Academic and Legal Journals on Reproductive Rights and Bioethics in India