Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs6
- Articles1
Background
Understanding legal frameworks for social issues, governance challenges in implementation, ethical dimensions of medical technology, role of state in regulating private practice.
The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, is an Indian parliamentary act that prohibits sex selection, before or after conception, and regulates the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for detecting genetic abnormalities or sex-linked disorders. Its primary objective is to prevent the misuse of modern medical technologies for sex determination leading to female foeticide.
Facts & tables
- Enactment
- 1994, amended in 2003.
- Objective
- Prohibit sex selection and regulate diagnostic techniques.
- Key Provisions
- Bans advertisement of sex determination, mandates registration of diagnostic centres, prescribes penalties for violations.
- Implementing Authority
- Appropriate Authorities at central, state, and district levels.
| Provision | Description |
|---|---|
| Prohibition of Sex Selection | Bans any technique for determining the sex of the fetus. |
| Regulation of Diagnostic Centres | Mandates registration and regular inspection of ultrasound clinics and genetic counselling centres. |
| Punishment for Violations | Imposes imprisonment and fines for illegal sex determination and related activities. |
| Advisory Committees | Establishes Central and State Supervisory Boards and Appropriate Authorities for implementation. |
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Nodal ministry |
| Appropriate Authorities (Central, State, District) | Implementation & enforcement |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Enacted 1994, amended 2003.
- Prohibits sex selection, regulates diagnostic tests.
- Aims to prevent female foeticide.
- Mandates registration of centres.
- Enforced by Appropriate Authorities.
Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2021 | Factual recall |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2016 | Purpose or function of a policy tool, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
Timeline
-
Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Purpose or function of a policy tool, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2021
Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
-
Gurugram sex ratio dips to 862, DC orders intensified campaign against illegal sex determination
The PC-PNDT Act, 1994, is a crucial legal framework in India designed to combat female foeticide by prohibiting sex selection and strictly regulating pre-natal diagnostic techniques.
See also
Past papers
2016–2023 · 6 questions
In the news
Gurugram sex ratio dips to 862, DC orders intensified campaign against illegal sex determination
The PC-PNDT Act, 1994, is a crucial legal framework in India designed to combat female foeticide by prohibiting sex selection and strictly regulating pre-natal diagnostic techniques.
Try these PYQs
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: In 2013, NFSA was enacted to provide food security to 67% of the population in the form of highly subsidized food grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per Kg for wheat and rice respectively. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) methodology so even non-BPL will also benefit. Statement 2 is correct: Under the NFSA, to issue ration cards the eldest woman of a household aged 18 years or above would be considered as head. Hence, this statement is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months, says the official act.
‘SWAYAM’, an initative of the Government of India, aims at
Under SWAYAM or Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds programme of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, professors and faculties from centrally funded institutions like IITs, IIMs, central universities will offer online courses to citizens of India. SWAYAM is an instrument for self-actualisation providing opportunities for life-long learning. Here, learners can choose from hundreds of courses, virtually every course that is taught at the university/college/school level and these shall be offered by the best of the teachers in India and elsewhere.
With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with a cluster approach.
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme.
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro-irrigation equipment.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Statement 1 is correct. The Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion aims to demonstrate improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with a cluster approach. Statement 2 is also correct. Millets are mainly grown in regions of low annual rainfall and poor arid soil. It is inadequate, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, depend on the cultivation of millets. Hence these farmers benefit from the scheme and have a larger stake in this scheme. Statement 3 is not correct. There is no such provision to encourage commercial crop farmers to shift to millet cultivation.
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements
1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for PMKVY, not the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Statement 2 is Correct. PMKVY goes beyond technical skills training and incorporates soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital literacy to make participants more employable. Statement 3 is Correct. A core objective of PMKVY is to bridge the gap between the skills of the unregulated workforce and industry requirements by aligning them with the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). This standardization helps ensure a minimum level of competency and improves employment opportunities.
Show 1 more PYQs
Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School?
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar - He was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School. As the secretary of the Bethune School established in 1849, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar did important work in the field of higher education for women in India. - Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's most significant contribution was his advocacy for widow remarriage and girls' education, leading to the enactment of the Hindu Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. Annie Besant: - In September 1916, Annie Besant along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak established the All-India Home Rule League. - In 1917, Annie Besant was elected the President of the Indian National Congress (INC) Calcutta session, becoming the first woman to hold this position. - In 1898, she founded the Central Hindu College in Benares. Theosophists from abroad assisted in this effort, and the institution eventually became the foundation for Banaras Hindu University. - She also established the Central Hindu School for Girls in Varanasi, advancing female education in India. Debendranath Tagore: - He founded the Tattvabodhini Sabha and Adi Brahmo Samaj. Sarojini Naidu: - In recognition of her service during the plague epidemic in India, the British government honored her with the ‘Kaisar-i-Hind’ Medal.
- In 1925, she became the first Indian woman to be elected president of the Indian National Congress (INC) during its Kanpur Session and held the position until 1928. - In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi chose her to lead the Salt Satyagraha, a nonviolent protest against the British monopoly on salt production. - She also accompanied Gandhi to London for the second session of the Round Table Conference in 1931, which ultimately remained inconclusive.