Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 introduced on March 12, 2026.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, (“Bill”) introduced by Dr. Virendra Kumar, seeks to modify the existing The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 (“Act”) to more precisely define who qualifies for legal protection and to introduce stricter penalties for specific crimes. The primary shift in the Bill is a move away from “self-perceived identity” toward a definition based on biological and medical criteria, such as congenital variations in sex characteristics, chromosomal patterns, or specific socio-cultural identities like Hijra or Kinner. The government argues that the previous definition was too vague, making it difficult to ensure benefits reach those facing genuine biological and social exclusion while also creating conflicts with other existing laws.

To implement these changes, the Bill introduces a new “authority,” which is a medical board led by a Chief Medical Officer that will assist District Magistrates in verifying the identity of applicants for transgender certificates. It also mandates that medical institutions must report details of individuals undergoing gender-affirming surgeries to the government. While the Bill narrows the definition of a transgender person, it clarifies that those issued a certificate are entitled to change their first name on all official documents, including birth certificates. Additionally, the Bill adjusts the composition of the National Council for Transgender Persons to ensure regional representation from across India by officials at the rank of Director. A significant portion of the amendment is dedicated to reforming section 18 regarding “Offences and Penalties”. While the original Act prescribed a maximum of 2 (two) years’ imprisonment for most abuses, this Bill introduces “graded punishments” for more severe crimes. For example, the kidnapping or abduction of an adult to forcibly change their identity through mutilation or chemical procedures can now result in 10 (ten) years to life imprisonment. If the victim is a child, the punishment is increased to rigorous life imprisonment with a minimum fine of INR 5,00,000/- (Rupees Five Lakh). The Bill also targets those who coerce individuals into begging or forced labour while presenting as transgender, setting penalties between 5 (five) and 14 (fourteen) years depending on whether the victim is an adult or a child. These changes are intended to address extreme forms of exploitation and violence that the government feels were not adequately covered under the previous legal framework.