The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 has sparked a heated debate in the Indian Parliament, with the government hailing it as a reform and the opposition calling it 'draconian'.
The bill aims to provide protection to transgender persons, but the opposition has slammed it for taking away the right to self-determination of identity and demanded that it be sent to a standing committee for proper consultations.
Social justice and empowerment minister Virendra Kumar said the bill includes a provision for the establishment of a medical board and district magistrates will issue identity cards to transgender persons.
However, Congress MP Jyothimani criticized the bill, saying it has been brought without consultations from transgender people and shows the government's 'callous' attitude.
She said the bill narrows the definition of transgender and gives limited definition of transgender people, which is 'unfair exclusion' and not based on constitutional principles.
Other opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party and DMK, also slammed the government for allegedly interfering with the right to self-determination of identity.
The bill seeks to give a precise definition of the term 'transgender' and exclude 'different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities' from the proposed law's ambit.
