Parliament passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 after the Rajya Sabha approved it following the Lok Sabha's earlier passage by a voice vote, amid an Opposition-led walkout. The Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 13, 2026, amends the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

Key provisions: (1) The Bill removes the broad definition of 'transgender' from the 2019 Act and replaces it with a closed list of categories, limiting legal recognition to historically accepted socio-cultural groups such as hijra and kinner, as well as intersex individuals. Trans men, trans women, and gender non-binary persons who self-identify are no longer covered under the new definition. (2) Certification now requires examination by a designated Medical Board headed by a Chief Medical Officer or Deputy CMO before the District Magistrate issues identity documents. (3) New offences include kidnapping or causing grievous hurt to force a transgender identity — carrying 10 years to life imprisonment and a fine of ₹2 lakh for adult victims, and life imprisonment with a ₹5 lakh fine for child victims.

Criticism: Human Rights Watch, LiveLaw, and civil society groups have called the Bill a 'huge setback' as it removes the right to self-determination of gender identity recognised under the Supreme Court's landmark NALSA judgment (2014). The requirement of a Medical Board certificate has been termed pathologising and violative of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.