4. Regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques.- On and from the commencement of this Act,—
1. no place including a registered Genetic Counselling Centre or Genetic Laboratory or Genetic
Clinic shall be used or caused to be used by any person for conducting pre-natal diagnostic
techniques except for the purposes specified in clause (2) and after satisfying any of the conditions specified in clause (3);
2. no pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall be conducted except for the purposes of detection of
any of the following abnormalities, namely:—
(i) chromosomal abnormalities;
(ii) genetic metabolic diseases;
(iii) haemoglobinopathies;
(iv) sex-linked genetic diseases;
(v) congenital anomalies;
(vi) any other abnormalities or diseases as may be specified by the Central Supervisory Board;
3. no pre-natal diagnostic techniques shall be used or conducted unless the person qualified to do
so is satisfied for reasons to be recorded in writing that any of the following conditions are
fulfilled, namely:—
(i) age of the pregnant woman is above thirty-five years;
(ii) the pregnant woman has undergone of two or more spontaneous abortions or foetal loss;
(iii) the pregnant woman had been exposed to potentially teratogenic agents such as drugs,
radiation, infection or chemicals;
(iv) the pregnant woman or her spouse has a family history of mental retardation or physical
deformities such as, spasticity or any other genetic disease;
(v) any other condition as may be specified by the Central Supervisory Board;
Provided that the person conducting ultrasonography on a pregnant woman shall keep complete record
thereof in the clinic in such manner, as may be prescribed, and any deficiency or inaccuracy found
therein shall amount to contravention of provisions of section 5 or section 6 unless contrary is proved
by the person conducting such ultrasonography;
4. no person including a relative or husband of the pregnant woman shall seek or encourage the conduct of any pre-natal diagnostic techniques on her except for the purposes specified in clause (2).
5. no person including a relative or husband of a woman shall seek or encourage the conduct of
any sex-selection technique on her or him or both.
5. Written consent of pregnant woman and prohibition of communicating the sex of foetus.
1. No person referred to in clause (2) of section 3 shall conduct the pre-natal diagnostic procedures
unless—
NDT Act, 1994 & Amendments
(a) he has explained all known side and after effects of such procedures to the pregnant woman
concerned;
(b) he has obtained in the prescribed form her written consent to undergo such procedures in
the language which she understands; and
(c) a copy of her written consent obtained under clause (b) is given to the pregnant woman.
2. No person including the person conducting pre-natal diagnostic procedures shall communicate
to the pregnant woman concerned or her relatives or any other person the sex of the foetus by
words, signs or in any other manner.
6. Determination of sex prohibited.- On and from the commencement of this Act,—
(a) no Genetic Counselling Centre or Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic shall conduct or
cause to be conducted in its Centre, Laboratory or Clinic, pre-natal diagnostic techniques
including ultrasonography, for the purpose of determining the sex of a foetus;
(b) no person shall conduct or cause to be conducted any pre-natal diagnostic techniques including ultrasonography for the purpose of determining the sex of a foetus;
(c) no person shall, by whatever means, cause or allow to be caused selection of sex before or
after conception.