The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, amid strong protests from Opposition parties and transgender rights activists who alleged the legislation dilutes the right to self-identification.
The Bill, introduced on March 13 by Union Minister Virendra Kumar, seeks to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
It proposes a revised definition of transgender persons focused on those facing severe social exclusion due to biological conditions, excluding self-perceived gender identities outside specified categories.
A key provision requires individuals to obtain a certificate of identity issued by a District Magistrate after examination by a medical board headed by a Chief Medical Officer or Deputy Chief Medical Officer. The certificate will enable changes to first names in official documents.
The government said the amendments aim to protect vulnerable individuals.
Supporting the Bill, BJP MP Mukesh Dalal said it would strengthen legal protections for the transgender community.
The passage followed a procedural shift led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who prioritised the Bill over the Finance Bill, prompting objections from Opposition members over the urgency.
Opposition parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and NCP, sought to refer the Bill to a parliamentary committee for wider consultation. Critics said the draft was not placed in the public domain as required under the 2014 pre-legislative consultation policy.
Congress MP S. Jothimani called the Bill a regressive step, arguing that identity cannot be determined through medical screening. Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria also opposed the provisions, while DMK MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian warned against state interference in personal identity.
Trinamool Congress MP June Maliah said the Bill fails to adequately protect one of the country’s largest transgender populations, and NCP leader Supriya Sule termed it an anti-transgender measure introduced in haste.
The Telugu Desam Party backed the legislation, with MP Byreddy Shabari describing it as a historic step.
Ahead of the debate, transgender activists met the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, who later said the Bill undermines the right to self-identify and imposes invasive procedures. The legislation has drawn criticism for potentially rolling back rights recognised in the 2014 NALSA judgment.
Despite objections, the government proceeded with the vote and secured passage.
The Bill is scheduled to be taken up next in the Rajya Sabha.