Section 2:
Definitions.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,
(a) "Appropriate Authority" means the Appropriate Authority appointed under section 17;
(b) "Board" means the Central Supervisory Board constituted under section 7;
1
[(ba) "conceptus" means any product of conception at any stage of development from
fertilisation until birth including extra embryonic membranes as well as the embryo or foetus;
(bb) "embryo" means a developing human organism after fertilisation till the end of eight weeks
(fifty-six days);
(bc) "foetus" means a human organism during the period of its development beginning on the
fifty-seventh day following fertilisation or creation (excluding any time in which its development has
been suspended) and ending at the birth;]
(c) "Genetic Counselling Centre" means an institute, hospital, nursing home or any place, by
whatever name called, which provides for genetic counselling to patients;
(d) "Genetic Clinic" means a clinic, institute, hospital, nursing home or any place, by whatever
name called, which is used for conducting pre-natal diagnostic procedures.
2
[Explanation. - For the purposes of this clause, "Genetic Clinic" includes a vehicle, where
ultrasound machine or imaging machine or scanner or other equipment capable of determining sex of
the foetus or a portable equipment which has the potential for detection of sex during pregnancy or
selection of sex before conception, is used;]
(e) "Genetic Laboratory" means a laboratory and includes a place where facilities are provided
for conducting analysis or tests of samples received from Genetic Clinic for pre-natal diagnostic test.
2
[Explanation. --For the purposes of this clause, "Genetic Laboratory" includes a place where
ultrasound machine or imaging machine or scanner or other equipment capable of determining sex of
the foetus or a portable equipment which has the potential for detection of sex during pregnancy or
selection of sex before conception, is used;]
(f) "gynaecologist" means a person who possesses a post-graduate qualification in gynaecology
and obstetrics;
3
[(g) "medical geneticist" includes a person who possesses a degree or diploma in genetic science
in the fields of sex selection and pre-natal diagnostic techniques or has experience of not less than two
years in any of these fields after obtaining--
(i) any one of the medical qualifications recognised under the Indian Medical Council Act,
1956 (102 of 1956); or
(ii) a post-graduate degree in biological sciences;]
(h) "paediatrician" means a person who possesses a post-graduate qualification in paediatrics;
4
[(i) "pre-natal diagnostic procedures" means all gynaecological or obstetrical or medical
procedures such as ultrasonography, foetoscopy, taking or removing samples of amniotic fluid,
chorionic villi, embryo, blood or any other tissue or fluid of a man, or of a woman before or after
conception, for being sent to a Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic for conducting any type of
analysis or pre-natal diagnostic tests for selection of sex before or after conception;]
(j) "pre-natal diagnostic techniques" includes all pre-natal diagnostic procedures and pre-natal
diagnostic tests;
5
[(k) "pre-natal diagnostic test" means ultrasonography or any test or analysis of amniotic fluid,
chorionic villi, blood or any tissue or fluid of a pregnant woman or conceptus conducted to detect
genetic or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or congenital anomalies or
haemoglobinopathies or sex- linked diseases;]
(l) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(m) "registered medical practitione"r means a medical practitioner who possesses any recognised
medical qualification as defined in clause (h) of section 2 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956
(102 of 1956), and whose name has been entered in a State Medical Register;
(n) "regulations" means regulations framed by the Board under this Act;
6
[(o) "sex selection" includes any procedure, technique, test or administration or prescription or
provision of anything for the purpose of ensuring or increasing the probability that an embryo will be
of a particular sex;
(p) "sonologist or imaging specialist" means a person who possesses any one of the medical
qualifications recognised under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956) or who possesses
a post-graduate qualification in ultrasonography or imaging techniques or radiology;
(q) "State Board" means a State Supervisory Board or a Union territory Supervisory Board
constituted under section 16A;
(r) "State Government" in relation to Union territory with Legislature means the Administrator of
that Union territory appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution.]
Notes:
1 Ins. by Act 14 of 2003, s. 4 (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).
2 Added by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).
3 Subs. by Act 14 of 2003, s. 4, for clause (g) (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).
4 Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for clause (i) (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).
5 Subs. by s. 4, ibid., for clause (k) (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).
6 Ins. by s. 4, ibid. (w.e.f. 14-2-2003).