India - March 2026

In March 2026, India’s Parliament adopted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, which received presidential assent on 30 March. The amendment revises the framework for legal gender recognition by removing self‑identification and introducing mandatory medical certification. It also narrows the statutory definition of transgender persons by limiting legal recognition to specific traditionally recognised gender‑diverse communities i.e. Hijra and Kinner and to persons with intersex variations. This excludes individuals whose gender identity is based on self‑identified gender alone i.e. trans men, trans women, or gender non-binary people. The bill departs from the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling linking gender self‑determination to constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity, and it is now being challenged before the Supreme Court and High Courts. The bill passed amid opposition walkouts and criticism over limited consultation, while the government argued the changes were necessary to target protections and prevent misuse of welfare schemes.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, BBC News, Times of India, ABP Live, PRS India , The Tribune