The Rajya Sabha has cleared the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill 2026, despite opposition from MPs who questioned the government's haste to pass the bill and called for wider community consultation.
Minister Virendra Kumar hailed the bill as a symbol of the government's mission to ensure justice to marginalized sections of society, but opposition MPs raised concerns over the certification process and the potential for "fake" transgender individuals to exploit the system.
International human rights frameworks make a clear distinction between transgender identity and biological sex characteristics, but the bill has been widely panned in demonstrations, public hearings, and press conferences across the country.
Over 60,000 emails have been sent to Members of Parliament and political representatives in a sustained campaign, and 40,000 signatures were collected for a joint statement rejecting the bill.
DMK MP Tiruchi Siva said the bill would violate Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution and that the Supreme Court would strike it down.
Opposition MPs also raised concerns over the lack of a redressal mechanism for transgender individuals who have had their certification requests rejected.
